Director Tom Szalay is seen here preparing for a stage role in SOAP’s production of ‘Moon Over Buffalo.’ Szalay makes his directorial debut this spring with ‘Lend Me a Tenor.’
Photo contributed
A scheming soprano, a star-struck ingénue, a belligerent bellhop and a ne’er-do-well nerd are just a few of the roles director Tom Szalay needs to cast to get the South Okanagan Amateur Players’ next production, “Lend me a Tenor,” off the ground.
If you’re considering auditioning for a role but apprehensive about your musical ability, Szalay said there is no need for concern. Despite the title’s implication, he emphasized that Lend Me a Tenor is not a musical. But Szalay said it does hit the right notes.
“It’s 118 minutes of acting and two minutes of singing,” he said.
“We definitely want someone who can act and can passably sing. If they can sing well, that’s even better. But the focus is the acting.”
Hailed by the New York Times as one of the “funniest farces to appear on Broadway,” Lend Me a Tenor opens on the biggest night in the history of the Cleveland Grand Opera Company with world-renowned tenor Tito Merelli signed on to play Otello in their highlight production.
But chaos ensues when his wife mistakenly leaves him a “Dear John” letter and the distraught Mirelli is accidentally given a double dose of tranquilizers. Believing that the divo is dead, the excitable opera manager taps his hapless assistant, an aspiring singer named Max, to suit up and replace Merelli.
Meanwhile, the tenor’s jealous wife, his ambitious female co-star, Max’s young girlfriend and the flirtatious head of the opera guild are on the scene fighting, sometimes literally, for the star’s attention.
Since its first performance on London’s West End stage in 1986, Lend Me a Tenor has won three Tony awards and four Drama Desk awards as well as international critical acclaim for its author Ken Ludwig.
For Szalay the choice to bring the production to Oliver was based on the show’s content, rather than its accolades.
“It’s the diversity of it,” he explained. “You’ve got all these great characters with their various quirks and flaws. When you put them all together you got great chemistry. It’s a very high energy show.”
It’s not a surprise that the diversity would intrigue Szalay. The Oliver-born engineer is also the town’s municipal manger as well as an experienced actor, sound technician, photographer and stage manager. He has been involved with SOAP since 2002. Lend Me a Tenor will be Szalay’s directorial debut.
He said the chance to stage Ludwig’s award-winning farce, and be a part of the opening season of the Frank Venables Theatre was too good to resist. He noted that it’s also an opportunity to give back to the organization he loves.
“We have a lot of fun. The cast and crew members end up becoming like a family and you don’t even realize it until the show’s over and you find yourself missing going to rehearsals each week,” he noted.
But Szalay said SOAP is always looking to grow the “family” and encourages men and women of all ages and levels of experience to come out to auditions.
If you haven’t been bitten by the acting bug but still have an interest in the theatre, Szalay said there is still a role for you. He said SOAP is always in need of volunteers to help with lighting, sound, costumes, make-up and prompting. He hopes to see a lot of new faces.
Auditions will be held on Thursday, February 13 at 7 pm at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre at 5840 Airport Street in Oliver, and on Sunday, February 16 at 2 pm at the Osoyoos Art Gallery at 8713 Main Street in Osoyoos.
The audition will be a cold read. If you have any questions or to book an audition contact [email protected]
SOAP is a member group of the Oliver Community Arts Council. Their most recent productions include “Twisted Tales” and “Love, Loss and What I Wore.”
Erin Christie
Oliver Chronicle
