Auditions for Kiwi play

Auditions are always exciting. Who's going to read for us? Will we have enough players? Often that question translates to will we have enough men audition as there's often a shortage of male players. Will those who read be suitable? Do they fit the director's vision of the characters in the play? Often an actor will see the role differently to the way a director sees it and a lot depends on whether or not each party can accommodate the other's viewpoint.
For Bruce Mason's The Pohutukawa Tree which Repertory Theatre plans to produce early this year, director Phil Hudson needs to cast 13 actors, 10 Pakeha and three Maori. Phil told me that if he can't cast the play properly it won't go ahead. It is essential that we have three Maori actors.
There is an age range from late teens to middle age required. The three teenagers are Queenie, a Maori girl aged about 17 and Johnny, her brother, who is about 18. Roy is a young Pakeha chap probably about 21.
Sylvia Atkinson, the bride in this play, is 21 and her bridegroom, George Rawlings, is in his mid-20s. Sylvia's parents, Clive and Isobel Atkinson are a middle-aged couple who own the farm and orchard that the Mataira family work on. Although the Atkinsons are comparatively wealthy and tend to have a fairly patronising attitude towards the Mataira family there does exist a genuine respect between the two families.
Clive Atkinson and Aroha Mataira both have a real love of the land but Clive's love is tempered by pragmatism while Aroha's connection is a spiritual one. The land is her ancestral home, the only place where she feels complete.
Other smaller roles are those of Claude Johnson, Clive's wartime buddy, and Dr Lomas who delivered baby Sylvia 21 years earlier, so they will all be much the same age. Sergeant Robinson is probably of a similar age to this group but could conceivably be a little younger and the new Minister of the church, Athol Sedgwick, recently returned from active service in World War II must be at least in his late 20s.
The Pohutukawa Tree examines the impact of European settlement on the indigenous population after 100 years. Do the two races understand each other? We must bear in mind that Bruce Mason first published The Pohutukawa Tree more than 50 years ago. Have attitudes remained the same or changed and if so, how have they changed?
Whatever your conclusions, The Pohutukawa Tree remains a thought-provoking play, worthy of public interest and discussion. Come along and be a part of this iconic New Zealand play.
Pre-audition/information evening 6pm, Sunday, February 19 and auditions on Sunday, February 26 at midday.