Audition Details

The auditions will be at 7.30 pm in the Foyer of The Fulbourn Centre, 31 Home End, Fulbourn, CB21 5BS

Rehearsals will start on Wednesday 10th June and be on Monday and Wednesday evenings.

It will be directed by Nick Gulvin and produced by Claire Milner.

Written by Arthur Miller, All My Sons is widely regarded as one of the most powerful pieces of theatre. It is an exciting drama that deals with the fragility of dreams and the dangers of greed and self interest.

At the time of the audition it will not be necessary to have perfected an American accent. We will work on the accent during the rehearsal period. It is a generic mid American accent. Each actor will receive an audio recording of the script read by Americans in order that they can tune their ear in. We will also work with a dialect coach over Zoom.

The playing ages are approximate and may vary.

Setting

The Keller's back yard, over one day in August 1947, Ohio, America

Synopsis

It tells the story of two families and how their lives are interwoven. It is 1947 small town Ohio in America. Joe Keller and Kate Keller have had two sons Larry and Chris. Larry is missing, presumed dead, in World War Two circa 3 years earlier. Chris is planning to ask Larry’s former sweetheart Ann Deever to marry him. Joe Keller ran a successful business with Ann’s father Steve. When it emerged that their company had shipped defective parts to the US Air Force, resulting in the death of 21 pilots, it was a local scandal and Steve ended up going to jail even though many thought Joe was responsible. Ann’s brother George has found out the truth and is planning to confront Joe and stop Ann from accepting Chris’s marriage proposal.

Roles

Joe Keller [60] Male

Joe is the fulcrum of the play and it his actions that have an impact on those around him.

Aged about 60, he is a self made man. The epitome of the American dream. He has, despite limited education, achieved financial success through building his company. It becomes clear during the course of the play that he has cut corners for his own self interest. He is genuinely puzzled when things start to unravel as to why, because he believes that he has done everything that could have been asked of him, being self reliant and provided for his family.

Kate Keller [60] Female

Kate is Joe’s wife and is a similar age, around 60.

She is a proud and determined woman who has successfully raised a family, and is also in many ways the epitome of the American dream. She has an unbearable grief at the continued loss of her son Larry in World War Two. She continues to believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that he will return. It becomes clear that if she accepts that Larry has died, she will have to confront the real wrongs that Joe has committed and she is fearful about having to do that.

Chris Keller [25 - 45] Male

Chris is Joe and Kate’s son.

Playing age 25 to 45. He is being groomed to take over Joe’s successful business. He is a World War Two veteran and has seen soldiers in his unit die in the war. He admires his father, but is struggling to escape from his shadow and that of his brother Larry missing in the War. Ann Deever to him represents the promise of a new better life.

Ann Deever [25 - 45] Female

Playing age 25 to 45. She is a vivacious sunny personality. She grew up next door to the Kellers. She believes that her father Steve was guilty of the crimes he was accused of. Her brother George will arrive in the play to explain that this is not the case. She has a developing relationship with Chris, and sees the good in him that he does not recognise in himself.

George Deever [25 - 45] Male

Playing Age 25 to 45. He is more serious than his sister Ann. He is now a lawyer. He has an absolute determination to bring the truth of the situation and stop Ann from marrying in to the Keller family. He remarks on how little in the Kellers world has changed, but for him life is now very different, when he learnt what really happened.

Jim Bayliss [40] Male

Playing Age 40 plus. He is a neighbour to the Kellers. He is the local GP which gives him status but he does not enjoy his work. His real love is science and would love to do research, which is a source of tension with his wife Sue.

Sue Bayliss [40] Female

Playing Age 40 plus. Married to Jim and neighbour to the Kellers. She believes that Jim is in danger of losing sight of his responsibilities if he pursues his dream of research. She is a forceful personality and is quite manipulative.

Frank Lubey [25 - 45] Male

Playing Age 25 to 45. He is fond of the Kellers and is willing to help Kate by preparing a horoscope for Larry, the missing son. He loves his wife Lydia, but is often frustrated by her, which provides for some funny moments.

Lydia Lubey [25 - 45] Female

Playing Age 25 to 45. Has known the Kellers and Deevers a long time. Good friends with Ann. At one time she may have married George, so there is a sense of a missed opportunity for George. There is a tender scene between Lydia and George with memories of the past and what may have been.

Bert [7 - 13] Male

Boy: Playing age 7 to 13.Son of one of the neighbours who has a good rapport with Joe.

Joe enjoys joking with Bert. Ironically they joke about jail, which Joe only narrowly avoided.