Rope
by Patrick Hamilton
Presented by the hobnob theatre
134 South Main Street, Butler, PA 16001
PLAY SYNOPSIS
Believing themselves to be intellectually superior to their contemporaries, two young university students, Wyndham Brandon and Charles Granillo, have murdered fellow student Ronald Kentley as an expression of their supposed intellectual superiority. With Kentley’s body still warm, they proceed to host a party for his friends and family atop the locked chest in which his corpse is hidden. Throughout the night, speculation arises among the guests as to the contents of the chest. Tension increases during the evening as Rupert, a former teacher/housemaster of Brandon and Granillo, becomes suspicious as to the whereabouts of young Ronald Kentley and the reason for the strange dining arrangement.
Rope explores themes of intellectual superiority, morality, and the consequences of unchecked arrogance, culminating in the unraveling of their perfect crime as their guests, including Ronald’s father and a former teacher, become suspicious. The play is inspired by the real-life case of Leopold and Loeb, two American students who murdered a young boy in 1924. First produced and published in 1929, and adapted for film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1948, Rope remains one of the classics of the thriller genre, and its themes are still relevant today.
As an interesting side note, there is a Butler connection to this story. Joan Chandler, who played a leading role in the Alfred Hitchcock film, was born and raised in Butler and attended Butler High School. Her father, William Carl Cheeseman, was a Butler businessman who managed a local car dealership.
CHARACTERS – DESCRIPTION & AGES
Wyndham Brandon* – Male, approximately 25-30 years old (Leading role, 301 lines) A wealthy, charming and intelligent young man who is also a cold-blooded murderer. Feeling superior in all things, and a dangerously firm believer in Friedrich Nietzche’s Übermensch (Superman) concept.
Charles Granillo* – Male, approximately 25-30 years old (Leading role, 112 lines) Brandon’s friend and accomplice in the murder. He is less confident and more nervous. Well-thought-of as courteous and friendly by others, he grows more nervous and panicked and struggles to hide it, even with a few drinks as the night goes on.
Kenneth Raglan – Male, approximately 20-25 years old (Supporting role, 72 lines) Younger than Brandon and Granillo, Kenneth looks up to Brandon. Simple and quite hopeless, but overall likable with a sense of humor and fun to any dinner party.
Leila Arden – Female, approximately 20-25 years old (Supporting role, 90 lines) Representing an ignorant and obnoxious society, and with pure young innocence, Leila is a beautiful and flirtatious young woman who is a close friend of the murdered victim.
Sir Johnstone Kentley – Male, approximately 60-65 years old (Small role, 46 lines) The father of the murdered victim, Sir Johnstone, is a placid old man, previously in positions of power, though he’s never abused it like Brandon and Granillo. Now retired, he’s an avid book collector and cares for his family, including his invalid wife.
Rupert Cadell* – Male, approximately 30-40 years old (Leading role, 214 lines, with several extended monologues) Former teacher/housemaster to Brandon and Granillo, Rupert is a charismatic, observant and calculating poet who suffers from an injury and mental anguish after experiencing WWI. He is easily aggravated, especially by the younger Leila and Kenneth, whom he approaches with sarcasm. Cadell is a complex and compelling character — a philosopher, cunning detective, and a cheeky rival to Brandon and Granillo, with an angry, vengeful force of malice hidden by the mask of a witty artist.
Sabot/Mrs. Wilson – Male/Female, approximately 30s-50s (Small role, 30 lines) Cast as either a French servant or an English maid, this role is Brandon and Granillo’s hired help, who sets up for the dinner party. Dutiful and attentive, Sabot/Mrs. Wilson always does their best to please the young masters and their guests.
* Although it is not explicitly stated in the dialogue, the author subtly presents Brandon and Granillo as gay lovers. The play also suggests that Rupert Cadell may be gay, implying that the three of them could have been involved in a love triangle at some point in the past.
AUDITION INFORMATION
Pre-registration is requested so we know how many people will attend each audition session and can notify participants should inclement weather necessitate a schedule change.
In-Person Auditions:
hobnob studio theatre, 134 South Main Street, Butler, Pennsylvania
Sunday, January 4, 6:00 pm and Monday, January 5, 6:00 pm
Call or text 724-496-0995 if you have questions, need directions or are delayed.
Video Auditions:
Individuals who are unable to attend an in-person audition session may submit a video using any of the audition scenes provided below, plus a short monologue of their choice. Deadline to submit a video audition is Monday, January 5, at 6:00 pm. Send links to duane.peters@me.com.
Audition Time Commitment:
Auditions will be conducted in a round-robin style, with actors reading multiple parts in different scene groupings. Each audition session may last up to two hours.
Callbacks:
If necessary, in-person callbacks will be Wednesday, January 7, and/or Thursday, January 8, at 7:00 pm at the Studio Theatre.
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE
Rehearsals will be held at the hobnob studio theatre, 134 South Main Street, in downtown Butler.
The initial cast meeting and first read-through are tentatively set for Saturday, January 17, 11:00 am. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be issued following the initial cast meeting.
Generally, rehearsals will be held weeknights, usually three evenings, per week (although not all characters will rehearse every evening), from January 18 until March 7. Rehearsals begin promptly at 7:00 pm and usually end no later than 9:45 pm. Please note on your audition form whether the 7:00 pm start time will present an issue due to work or commute conflicts.
Tech and final rehearsals will be held Sunday, March 8, through Wednesday, March 11.
Critical Rehearsal Period:
Monday, March 2 through Wednesday, March 11. Please note on your audition form any existing or potential conflicts that would prevent you from attending a rehearsal during this period.
PERFORMANCES
Preview (for invited guests) – Thursday, March 12, 7:30 pm
Public Performances – Friday, March 13, 7:30 pm; Saturday, March 14, 7:30 pm; Sunday, March 15, 2:30 pm; Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm; Friday, March 20, 7:30 pm; and Saturday, March 21, 7:30 pm.
Please reserve Wednesday, March 18, for either a brush-up rehearsal or an additional performance. The cast call is one hour before showtime. The house opens 30 minutes before show time.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR – Duane Peters Rope will be the third production Duane has directed for the Hobnob Theatre Company. He previously directed Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest and Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, both to critical acclaim. Duane also directed The 39 Steps for the Butler Little Theatre. He has many years of experience directing and designing productions for community theatre companies, primarily in Central Pennsylvania.