Crime and Punishment
by Penfold Theatre Company
Sep. 22 - Sep. 23 (2018)
As a police inspector interrogates a man about murder, we journey through the mind of the accused. What did he do? Why did he do it? And what would you be capable of in certain circumstances? Before Law & Order, there was Crime and Punishment. Performed in 90 minutes with only three actors, this chamber piece compresses all the tension and pathos of the novel into a powerful evening of theatre. Dive into the greatest crime story ever written, a tale of murder, motive and redemption that plumbs the depths of the human soul.
Let us enter the mind of Raskolnikov, our young yet jaded intellectual, as he takes us on a journey through his memories surrounding the terrible murders of two old women. As we meander through his mind, we watch Raskolnikov as he meets with the mean old pawnbroker Ivanova in an attempt to gather funds to pay off his debts. His distain of her is palpable, and though his station in life appears similar to hers, he feels strongly that his education and background renders him unto a class above. He views her as expendable, and thus (at first) has no moral qualms in taking her life. We view his conversations with Sonia, a young woman whose occupation as a prostitute shames her family and yet helps them survive. We see him being questioned over and over again by Inspector Porfiry about his whereabouts on the night Alyona Ivanova and her sister were killed. We later see recollections of his dealings with Lizaveta, the sister of the pawnbroker, as sweet and kind as Ivanova is cold and calculating. We learn of the bitter circumstances which drove Sonia to her current station in life from her father Marmeladov, a man that lives on if only in Raskolnikov’s memory. Through the swirling recollections and distant remembrances, we learn that Porfiry suspects Raskolnikov and follows him, trying for a confession. Time loses meaning as we travel backward and forward and as we cycle through, we wonder whether Raskolnikov can— or should— outwit the wily inspector.
A taut 90-minute play that will banish any bad memories you might have of trying to struggle through Dostoyevsky's book... Engrossing theater" -New York Times
Stunningly lean, taut and emotionally searing... a work of theatre that never feels like a condensation of a seminal 500-page novel, but rather has the swift, sharp impact of a blow from an ax." -Chicago Sun-Times
Auditions September 22 and 23, 2018
The production is directed by Marcus McQuirter. Performances run March 21st, 2019 - April 6th, 2019 at Ground Floor Theatre (979 Springdale Rd #122, Austin, TX 78702). A complete synopsis is below.
Roles
Raskolnikov. (m) A poverty-stricken former student who struggles to survive while attempting to help Sonia and avoid being caught for the murder of two old women.
Inspector Porfiry. (m) A smart and sly inspector, he is determined to elicit a confession from Raskolnikov for the murders. He is a master of mind-games and manipulation.
Sonia. (f) A young Christian woman who has to survive as a prostitute to support her family. She befriends Raskolnikov after he offers her support as she deals with the death of her father.
Note: The actors playing Porfiry and Sonia will also play other small roles.
All roles are paid. Equity and non-Equity actors are welcome. Actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition.
Reserving an audition
Auditions will be held Saturday 9/22 and Sunday 9/23. To request a time, please submit your information through the online audition form. You will receive a confirmation email reply with your exact audition time. You will be asked to perform a 1 minute monologue. We also request that you bring a headshot and resume to your audition.
Synopsis of the play
With a cast of three actors, Marilyn Campbell and Curt Columbus bring to life Fyodor Dostoevsky’s famous novel Crime and Punishment, the story of a lost student, Radion Romanovich Raskolnikov (Rah-SKOL-ni-kahv), and how and why he brutally murders Alyona Ivanova and her sister Lizaveta. Asking questions about repentance, redemption, and resurrection, Dostoevsky delves into the psychological trappings of a young academic who seems to be stuck in between two worlds; neither truly among the poor his current financial state has brought him down to, nor the gentry from which he fell.
