ACCOMPLICE

Accomplice, a comedy thriller by Tony award winning Rupert Holmes.   Directed by Ben Hambling  

"a deliciously witty cocktail of a whodunit with a maniacally seamless plot where skullduggery emerges the winner! "    - The New York Times

"Part murder mystery, part sex farce and completely entertaining... Suspenseful, charming and funny."    - USA Today

Accomplice is a full length play for 4 actors (2 male, 2 female).

It begins as a straightforward English thriller (with a touch of English farce) set in a 1970s refurbished mill house. A sex starved wife and her lover plan to murder her stuffy husband. The husband is murdered on stage in front of the audience… But things are not as they seem, the husband reappears, and nobody is quite who the audience believes them to be.

It is all fun and games until someone loses a life.

This will be both a fun and challenging play to rehearse. The final result will give the audience the thrill of a roller coaster from laughs to gasps.

As the secrecy of the plot is of highest importance. Some further information will be provided to those that audition. A plot summary will be given to those offered roles.

Auditions:

Dates:  Saturday 22^nd February and Sunday 23^rd February  
Time: 10:30am – 1pm
Where: The Green Room, 16th Ave Theatre - enter down the side of the building   

For more information or to book an audition --  email the Production Manager on info@16avetheatre.co.nz 

Characters: 1970’s

Please note that the ages listed are only an indication of the character. Don’t let this
stop you from auditioning. It may be possible to age actors up or down
accordingly. An aspect of casting will be based on the relative visual age differences
as indicated below.

Also note that the characters listed below are the main characters but not the only
characters that are played by each actor. To maintain the secrecy of the plot the
other characters will only be reviled to those who are offered a role.

Derek Taylor - Male, Age: 40 to mid-50s.
Stuffy upper-class English. Suit tie and bowler hat. Founder and partner of a very successful finance/ investment business. Extremely routine in his daily life. Avoids actually doing any real work. Married to Janet but the thought of any sexual engagement with his wife seems like a task and a disruption to his routine.

Janet Taylor - Female, Age: 35 to 50 (slightly younger than Derek Taylor).
Upper-class English but possibly this is more from her marriage to Derek than her upbringing.
No longer travels into London with Derek during the week, choosing to remain instead at their weekend converted mill house in the country. As a sex starved wife, she has begun a secret affair with Jon.

Jon - Male, Age: 30 to 45 (a minimum of five years younger than Derek). 
Middle class English but has become quite wealthy as Dereks financial partner. Is the reason why the business is so successful.
A bit of a smooth talker who thinks highly of himself. Doesn’t mind spending his money and likes a good drink.  Married to Melinda but having a secret (or not secret) affair on the side with Janet. 

Melinda - Female, Age: Late 20’s to 40 (younger than Jon and Janet).  
Trophy wife of Jon.
Good looking and dresses to show. This attire borders on being a bit (70’s) slutty. Does not give the appearance of being particularly bright or at least this is what the others think. Though there may be more to her than realised.
Is having a secret relationship with Janet in which she is the submissive.
 (This role has a little less dialogue as Melinda does not come in to the play till the end of act 1. An experienced actress could have a lot of fun with this role, but so too someone with less experience).

For all roles, and particularly Melinda, please read carefully the content notes below. Do not hesitate to bring up any questions you may have at your audition.

Play Content Notes:
In a best attempt to be as transparent as possible the following are some notes regarding some of the content in the script that auditionees need to be aware of. If any of these pose an issue or uncertainty to you, please let us know at the audition.

The Director will discuss these with you in more detail at the time of your audition.
·   Well, it’s a thriller so there is murder, discussions about murdering and affairs
between married couples.

· There is little to no swearing in the script.

· This play contains sexual themes. Though as this is also a comedy, they are
mostly poised in a farcical way.

· There is a scene in which Jon and Janet have sex under a blanket whilst having
dialogue lines on how they plan to commit a murder. This will be directed in such
away to be humorous to the audience but will require some close (clothed)
contact between the actors under the blanket. Time and appropriate direction will
be given to this scene to make sure all parties are comfortable with it.

· Be aware that there are intimate scenes for all the characters in this play. All
characters are required to kiss. This includes a kiss between both females and a
short kiss between both males.

· The script discusses a suicide of a friend of the characters.

· Janet appears in one scene wearing only a man’s business shirt (mostly buttoned
up) and underwear.

· There is a scene in which Melinda enters wearing a coat. Taking it off she reveals
she is only wearing underwear (bra and panties, 70’s, so not a thong). She then
faces away from the audience and proceeds to take off her bra letting it drop to
the ground. The scene lasts approximately 10 seconds longer before she covers
herself.
As mentioned this is done with back to audience but would be in view of the other
3 cast members. The actress playing this part would be able to wear stick on bra
/ nipple covers. These would be covered in the production budget.
As a small but important part of the script deals with this ‘unveiling’ it is non-
negotiable. The person accepting this role would need to be comfortable in
performing this scene, realising that the production would come to a halt if they
were to change their mind.
Time and appropriate direction will be given to this scene to make sure the
performer is comfortable with it.

The Director will discuss this with you at the time of your audition.

Important notes

*     All cast and crew of this show must become (if you are not already) a member of 16 th Ave Theatre prior to rehearsals starting. Membership forms are available on-line www.16avetheatre.co.nz and payment can be made on-line or at the theatre via Eftpos

*    If you are cast in the show you must be available for all rehearsals (unless otherwise arranged) and of course be available for all productions dates.

*   If you are not available for any rehearsal dates, please let us know during your audition

*   While talent is the primary consideration when casting, a high level of commitment is essential. Our final choices for all roles will be made with this firmly in mind.

Rehearsals:

1st Read through:   Will be at some point in  March - working in with those cast.

Rehearsals will be: 

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 7.00pm – 9.00pm
Sundays: time to be confirmed once cast confirmed.

Some individual rehearsals may be scheduled outside of these times, working in with 
the availability of the individual cast member. Rehearsals will be held at 16th Ave Theatre, except for a small amount that may need to be relocated due to other performances in the venue. 

Final Production week rehearsals: August
Sunday 10^th August  - Double Sunday 
Monday to Thursday 15^th  a night off will be scheduled closer to the time based on where the cast are at.

Performance Dates:
August 2025
Friday 15^th August 2025 7.30pm Opening Night
Saturday 16th 7.30pm
Sunday 17^th  2.00pm Matinee

Wednesday 20th 7.30pm
Thursday 21^st  7.30pm
Friday 22nd 7.30pm
Saturday 23^rd  7.30pm
Sunday 24^th  2.00pm Matinee

Wednesday 27th 7.30pm
Thursday 28^th  7.30pm
Friday 29^th  7.30pm
Saturday 30th 7:30pm Finale Night