Auditions For Theater Noir: ‘Laura’ By Town Players

Town Players of Newtown announces auditions for its September production of Laura, by Vera Caspary and George Sklar, to be directed by Charles Cowles, who sees the play as mystery with a stylish twist.

Movie buffs are familiar with the classic film noir of the same title, starring Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews. It is a classic of the genre, with a tough-guy detective, a decadent playboy, a cynical writer, and a beautiful woman who leaves a trail of broken hearts. The detective falls in love with the portrait of a dead woman as he tries to solve her murder. Sharp, clever dialogue carries the plot through its surprising twists and turns. And it’s filmed in glorious black and white.

Town Players will bring all of that, including the black-and-white look, to its intimate theatre on Orchard Hill Road in September.

Eight characters will move in and out of stark shadows, driven by murky motives. The five male roles are Mark McPherson, a tough-guy cop with a weakness for a pretty face (30s to 40s); Danny Dorgan, a teenager smitten with Laura and jazz; Waldo Lydecker, the older man in Laura’s life (40s to 60s); Shelby Carpenter, Laura’s no-good fiancé (30s); and Olson, another cop.

Women are Bessie Clary, Laura’s cook, housekeeper, and friend; Mrs Dorgan, a disappointed middle-aged woman; and a girl in her twenties or thirties.

Anyone interested in crew or tech work is also invited to attend the audition and speak with the director. Participation in this community theatre production is without pay.

Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script. Auditions will be held Sunday and Monday, July 9-10, from 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at Town Players, Little Theatre, Orchard Hill Road (off Route 25 just north of Sand Hill Plaza).

Production dates are Fridays and Saturdays, September 8 through 30, with one Sunday matinée on September 24.

For directions to the Little Theater, call 270-9144 or visit NewtownPlayers.org.

For more information about the auditions, call Charles Cowles at 426-6929.