Audition requirements for The Venetian Twins
Director Tessa Bremner
All actors have to be able to sing and have a general mastery of dance and movement. The music is generally not too demanding, except for the role of Beatrice, which is a coloratura soprano. The show has a sense of pantomime about it based very much on stock commedia dell arte characters.
The text is tight and depends on quick silver tongue and a good sense of comedy and timing.It is a delightful piece of theatre that should be fun to perform.
Zanetto/Tanino
Male 20s - ish.
Acrobatic, supple, quick-footed. Lithe. Quick silver feet and tongue.
Juggler and or able to do a neat acrobatic trick.
Able to be very ocker Aussie and also posh (received pronunciation) and change body shape and energy to encompass two characters.
SONG: Prepare: P.101 Jindyworoback (Aussie)
or
P.41 Never cross a man like me (Posh)
TEXT: pp. 4-6 & 16 & 26-28 (Zanetto & Tonino)
Pancrazio
Male 40s-50s.
Greedy, licentious, ambitious. Pantomime character. A lovable rogue.
Able to soft shoe shuffle
SONG: Prepare: P.22 Hiss the Villain
TEXT: pp. 6 & 35
Florindo
Male - 20-30s
Able to soft shoe shuffle and do some simple comedy sword fighting
SONG: Prepare: P48 Except
TEXT: pp. 12&14
Beatrice
Coloratura soprano 20s - ish
Able to move well and dance, (Spanish style) Romantic, fiery, gullible.
Comedy role
SONG: Prepare P.68 Gypsy Love. Traduced! and abandoned.
or
P.112 Beatrice’s Mad Scene.
TEXT: pp. 20
Judge
Male - 40s - 60s
Pompous, Pantalone type, mean, crafty.
SONG: Prepare: P.132 The Ballad of middle class tenacity.
TEXT: pp.2-4
Columbina
Female - 20s-40s
Warm, light-footed. Dextrous of tongue. Broadly Australian. Sensual.
SONG: Prepare: P.134 It’s a ballad of middle class tenacity.
or
SONG: P.78 A Little Mate.
TEXT: pp. 24-25
Rosina
20- ish
Spoilt brat, soubrette type. Pepper-tempered. Well-spoken. Lady like. Over the top posh.
SONG: Prepare: P.15 You are the girl.
TEXT: pp. 4-6 (with Zanetto) & 27-28 (with Tonino)
Arlecchino
Male 20s-40s
Physical. A sad hopeful servant. Expressive. Energetic, slothful, bright, stupid.
SONG: Prepare: P.78 A little mate.
or
SONG: P.1 Twins.
TEXT: pp. 22 & 24-25 & 26
Lelio:
Male. 20s-ish
Nephew of Judge. Proud, conceited. Able to move well and sword fight in comedic style.
SONG: Prepare: P.29 Rivalry Trio
TEXT: pp. 16
Policeman: Might double up with Judge.
Jeweller: Might double up with any of the men (apart from Tonino & Pancrazio)
