Flowers for Algernon

by David Rodgers

Produced by James Wood

Directed by Terry DiMurro

This is the compelling story of Charlie, a mentally retarded man, and the strange interweaving of his life with that of Algernon, a mouse. Experimental surgery has been performed on Algernon increasing his intelligence fourfold. The operation is tried on Charlie, who rapidly changes from a moron to a genius, far more intelligent than his teacher, Alice Kinnian, or the doctors who created the operating technique. As Charlie approaches the peak of his brilliance, Algernon shows frightening symptoms of regression. The play becomes a race against time in which Charlie tries to keep his new intelligence long enough to save himself and thus continue what he and Alice have found.

The play is based on the Hugo and Nebula award winning book by Daniel Keys and was also made into the Cliff Roberson movie, Charlie.

ALL ROLES OPEN - see below for character descriptions
Please note the age is the look of the character not necessarily the age of the performer. Actors playing smaller roles will also be used for crowd scenes and will appear in both acts of the play

Audition will consist of cold readings from the script.
- No advance preparation required
- No resume ands headshot required
- No Appointment required

AUDITIONS

Friday, September 5, 2008, 7:00-9:00 PM

Saturday, September 6, 2008, 1:00-4:00 PM

Sterling Community Center, Quinn Room

PERFORMANCES

November 7, 8, 9, 14, 15 & 16, 2008

Sterling Middle School

ACTORS NEEDED
MALE
8 males ages 17 and up
1 male age 10-12
1 male age 13-16

FEMALE
16 Females ages 17 and up
1 female age 10-12


Male Character Descriptions

CHARLIE: He is a young man of thirty-two, retarded. He is the human test subject of an experiment to raise intelligence through a surgical process. He goes from retarded level to genious level and back to retatrded. He also grows emotionally. The actor playing this role requires a broad range.

TEENAGE CHARLIE: 14-15 year old seen in flashbacks

LITTLE CHARLIE: Charlie as a child 8-10 seen in flashback

DR. STRAUSS (could be played by a male or female): Dr. Strauss is a neuro-surgeon. Age late 40’s and up. Dr Strausss is pleasant and sensitive to the fact that they experimental subject is a human and not a mouse.

PROFESSOR NEMUR: Age late 40’s and up He is somewhat older than Dr. Strauss but less sensitive His focus is the experiment.

BURT: Burt is a laboratory technician, who is working on his PhD thesis. Late 20- early 40’ss. He is friendly and understanding towards Charlie.

FATHER: Late 50’s and up The father is faceless for the early scenes Charlie also tracks him down.

JOE: mid 20’s and up works at Donner's bakery. He often pull jokes at Charlie’s expense

FRANK 18 and up works at Donner's bakery. He often pull jokes at Charlie’s expense

MR. HARVEY: He is an older man.Member of the board of the foundation funding the experiment.

NURSE : ( Can be played by a mail or female ) Nurse for hospital where experiment is held


Female Character Descriptions

ALICE: Charlie’s adult education teacher, late 20’s to 30ish. She is the one who brings Charlie to the experiment. Later as Charlie changes ther kindness becomes love and a relationship develops between her and Charlie

DR. STRAUSS (could be played by a male or female): Dr. Strauss is a neuro-surgeon. Age late 40’s and up. Dr Strausss is pleasant and sensitive to the fact that they experimental subject is a human and not a mouse.

MOTHER: Late 50’s and up Charlie’s mother sceen in the first act as a faceless figure in flashback Later she is sought out by Charlie and is suffering from dementia.

CHILD NORMA: age 10- 11 Charlie’s little sister seen in flashback.

NORMA: In Act Two, Norma is twenty-six years old. She is already beginning to look tired, faded. She is taking care of Mother..

GINA: age 18 and up She is a clerk at the bakery.

ELLEN: Ellen is a pretty young girl. Friend of Joe and Frank.

MRS. DONNER :late 40’s and up Mrs. Donner is a motherly middle-aged Jewish lady. Owner of the Bakery

MRS. FELDMAN: She is a middle-aged woman, bakery customer

MRS. MOONEY: 30 and up Mrs. Mooney the landlady of the apartment Charlie takes with Algernon

MRS. NEMUR: 30 and up She is an attractive but cold woman, jealous of her husband's position.. very chic.

JACKIE WELBERG: 30 and up The older of the Welberg sisters who are mahjor contributers to the foundation funding the experiment. The practical one.

ANNE WELBERG: 30 and up The younger . Welberg sisters who are mahjor contributers to the foundation funding the experiment. The more enthusiastic one

BERNICE: 20 and up, retarded. Ellow classmate of Charlie

CONNIE 20 and up, retarded. Ellow classmate of Charlie

DORIS: 20 and up Laboratory technician who assists Bert..

CHAIRLADY: Chairperson of the foundation whi is funding the experiment and chair of the convention where the findings are being presnted.

NURSE : ( Can be played by a mail or female ) Nurse for hospital where experiment is held