Making God Laugh
by Wimberley Players
Jun. 10 - Jun. 11 (2017)
Making God Laugh follows one typical American family over the course of thirty years' worth of holidays. Starting in 1980, Ruthie and Bill's grown children -- a priest, an aspiring actress, and a former football star -- all return home, where we learn of their plans and dreams as they embark on their adult lives. The empty-nester parents contend with their own changes, too, as old family rituals are trotted out and ancient tensions flare up. As time passes, the family discovers that, despite what we may have in mind, we often arrive at unexpected destinations.
The play explores the inescapable absurdity of family/life. The subtitle, A Comedy of Planners, infers the absurdist nature of this play. All of the characters’ plans and ideas are scrapped, shot down, fail. They are left clutching on to the rope keeping them afloat; tie that binds family together. Only by resigning and accepting the inevitable disappointment are they able to come together. This is not to say that it is dark and dreary, as absurdist pieces are sometimes interpreted. Rather, the failure is hilarious. Even at the end, as mother loses her mind, dad loses his strength, and all this kids have failed and given up on their individual dreams, it is the acceptance that allows them to remain sane and happy.
Directed by Jeremy White
Audition Dates: Saturday June 10, 2017 beginning at 3:00 pm and Sun June 11th beginning at 3:00 pm at Wimberley Playhouse, 450 Old Kyle Rd. Wimberley TX. 78676
Callbacks: Friday June 23rd beginning at 7:00pm. Callbacks are by invitation only.
Production Dates: Sept 8th – Oct 1st 2017. Fri/Sat curtain at 7:30, Sun at 2:30.
Process: Actors will be asked to read from the script. Sides will be provided at the theatre. Actors will be put in 1/2 hour slots depending on sign up order.
Please schedule a reserved audition time slot by emailing the address below. Bring a headshot and resume to the audition.
Characters: Note: This play takes place over three decades. As such, the characters will “age” over the course of the play (i.e. everyone gets fatter, probably). We are looking for actors who can reasonably pull off a 30 year progression in age with the help of costumes and some makeup. Anyone in the age ranges below will be considered. The range represents the characters’ ages from the start of the play to the end of the play. All looks are welcome to audition.
2 Female, 3 Male.
RUTHIE – Female. The mother. Age range late 40s – 70s.
BILL – Male. The father. Age range late 40s-70s.
RICHARD – Male. Eldest child. Age range mid/late 20s – 50s.
MADDIE – Female. Middle child. Age range. Mid 20s – Mid 50s.
THOMAS – Male. Youngest child. Age range. Early 20s – early 50s.
For information and to schedule audition, please email auditions@wimberleyplayers.org
