Synopsis

The spectacular comedic characters, unforgettable relationships, and emotional truths of Jane Austen’s classic novel are brought to life in Kate Hamill’s brilliantly funny, fast-paced stage adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, which utilizes a chorus of lively Gossips to enhance the sense of a socially stifling world, and encourages inventive choreography, bold characterization, and creative doubling to produce a fresh take on a well-beloved story.

When their father dies unexpectedly, the future seems bleak for the Dashwood sisters of Norland Park, as their older half-brother inherits the estate, and they are impoverished. Spineless brother John and his haughty, stingy wife, Fanny, establish themselves immediately after the funeral, leaving Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters as unwelcome guests in their own home. A silver lining emerges when Fanny’s kind, mild-mannered brother, Edward Ferrars, comes for a visit, and develops a friendship with sensible eldest sister, Elinor. Sensitive, emotional middle sister Marianne is sure that Edward is passionately in love, but cautious Elinor takes nothing for granted. The Dashwoods move to their new home, a cottage on the estate of cousin Sir John Middleton, before the romantic potential can be realized. Once established in rural Devonshire, Marianne acquires two suitors of her own: Colonel Brandon, whose age and quietly melancholy disposition leave her cold, and John Willoughby, a handsome, dashing man, passionately fond of poetry, who rescues her from a rainy ramble gone awry. Eagerly giving her heart to Willoughby, Marianne does not bother to hide her preference, scorning the strictures of convention and the scoldings of her elder sister that she should modify her behavior or risk damaging her reputation. When Willoughby leaves without warning or promise, cutting off all contact, and is discovered to have married a wealthy heiress, Marianne’s heartbreak endangers her health and exposes her to the ridicule of society. And when Elinor discovers that Edward is secretly engaged to manipulative fortune-hunter Lucy Steele, her own hopes for happiness are dashed. Supported by their love for each other, the Dashwood sisters must navigate the delicate rules of Regency society, and question their own fixed characters and beliefs, before they can arrive at not-quite-fairytale happy endings.

Actors

All actors must be fully vaccinated. No exceptions.  Upon arrival, please be masked and prepared to show proof of vaccination.  You may unmask once onstage for your audition.

With the exception of the actors portraying Elinor and Marianne, all actors will play multiple characters.  For the production, actors will be expected to adopt an English accent.

The script of Sense and Sensibility does not identify the gender, race, color, or ability of any character – those auditioning can & will be considered for every role.

Characters

Please note: character descriptions are directly from the script

• Elinor Dashwood – the eldest Dashwood sister; sensible
• Marianne Dashwood – the middle Dashwood sister; sensitive
• Margaret Dashwood – the youngest Dashwood sister; 10-13 years old
• Dashwood – mother to the Dashwood sisters
• John Dashwood – half-brother to the Dashwood sisters
• Edward Ferrars – a gentleman; a bachelor
• Fanny (Ferrars) Dashwood – wife to John Dashwood and sister to Edward; nasty
• Colonel Brandon – an older bachelor; over 45 years old
• John Willoughby – an unusually handsome young man
• Sir John Middleton – a country gentleman; distant relation to Mrs. Dashwood
• Jennings – a good-natured, boisterous woman; mother-in-law to Sir John; a terror to the countryside
• Lady Middleton – an over-bred lady
• Lucy Steele – a young girl from no fortune
• Anne Steele – Lucy’s sister; indiscreet
• Robert Ferrars – a callow young man; Edward Ferrars’ younger brother
• Gossips – a chorus of high-society creatures
• Servants – including Thomas
• Doctor

Auditions

Initial auditions will be held on Sunday, November 14^th between 4 – 7 pm and Monday, November 15^th between 7 – 10 pm.

For your audition, actors should prepare a 2-minute monologue of their choice.  This monologue should showcase your emotional range and – most importantly – highlight your personal connection to the language of the piece you have selected. Sign up for your audition time using SignUp Genius at the following link:   https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4EAEAF2CA2FF2-sense

Note: your monologue can be from any play, from any period

Call-back auditions, if necessary, will be held at 7 pm on Tuesday, November 16^th  – it is imperative that actors reserve this date.

Rehearsals

Rehearsals will be scheduled Sunday through Thursday each week, though not every one of those nights in any given week.  A full rehearsal schedule will be determined once casting has been confirmed.

Performances

Performances – except where noted – are at 8:00 PM.

Performance dates: Friday/Saturday, February 25, 26; Thursday/Friday/Saturday, March 3, 4, 5; Thursday/Friday/Saturday, March 10, 11, 12.

IMPORTANT NOTE

There is a 2:00 PM matinee in addition to the 8:00 PM performance each Saturday, for a total of ELEVEN performances.

Conflicts with performance dates will affect casting decisions

Note:

Vokes strives to be an inclusive and anti-racist organization, and we welcome and encourage a community of all colors, genders/gender non-conformity, body types and abilities to join us.

Vokes strives to cast our shows from the individuals who come to the audition, and we seek to be as flexible and conscious as possible with our casting.

In the spirit of preserving opportunities for actors who have traditionally been underserved by the entertainment community and allowing them to tell their own stories, we will neither cast a white/Caucasian actor in a role specifically written for a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) actor, nor a cisgender actor in a role specifically written for a transgender or non-binary/gender non-conforming actor. For any role written for a character with a specific disability or neurodivergence, we will prioritize, to the best of our abilities, actors who are living that experience.

Sexual, physical or verbal harassment/abuse of any kind will not be tolerated within our organization. Above all, we value work ethic, fostering talent, and any opportunities to expand our creativity as an artistic organization.