Auditions: Tuesday, November 15, 7-10pm, Chapman Theatre
Callbacks: Wednesday, November 16, 7-10pm, Chapman Theatre
A NUMBER by Caryl Churchill
Rehearsals and performances of A NUMBER conflict with CENDRILLON.
All Sophomore and higher Theatre Majors must prepare a monologue no longer than 2 minutes.
Please read the script located in the script archive.
There will be selections to read provided for freshmen and non-majors
Questions? Contact Jackson Berland at jacksonberland2000@ksu.edu
A Number
In a not so distant future where human cloning is a possible and accessible, a widowed father, Salter, gives up on his 5 year old son, Bernard, who has been neglected after his mothers passing. Salter clones his son and is granted a fresh start with a genetically identical son who is none the wiser to the situation. This turn of the century play deals with the question of nature vs nurture. Are we born as the people we are? Or do we become who we are through the circumstances of our upbringing? This play also deals with ownership of identity. What happens when there are many versions of you, exactly you, but free to make their own decisions. Do you become diluted? Or are you still entirely yourself?
Synopsis – This play takes place 35 years after the initial cloning. There are 20 new versions of the original Bernard. Salter chooses one of them to be his new Bernard. New Bernard learns about the cloning and Salter lies to him about not being the original. Old Bernard comes back to Salter to confront him about abandonment. Old Bernard kills new Bernard to torture Salter and then leaves for good. Salter goes on a mission to meet the other 19 clones. He meets Michael Black, a clone, who lives a very healthy
and stable life separated entirely from Salter. This inability to recognize Bernard in this new clone leaves Salter with deeply unsatisfying results to his search.
Tech Dates: February 9-12; Dress Dates: February 13-15
Performance Dates: February 16, 17, 18, 19
Rehearsals begin Sunday, January 8th (a week before classes start) and run weekly: Sunday – Thursday from 7-10pm.
This conflicts with KCACTF which we will work around
accordingly.
A Number contains the following charged material:
– Child abandonment
– Neglect
– Drug and Alcohol addiction
– Suicide
– Murder
– Dysfunctional Father/Son relationship
– Mild adult language
A Number Character Descriptions
Director Name: Jackson Berland
Production Name: A Number
These disclosures are to allow for fully informed consent for everyone working on the production.
Character Descriptions and Requirements
Salter (early 60’s, male presenting)
Reluctant father to Bernard 1, chosen father of Bernard 2. Neglectful father who spends his time trying to cover the sins of his past.
This character must:
– Discuss suicide
– Reconcile with a dead child
– Discuss addiction – drugs and alcohol
– Mild adult language
*The next three characters are played by the same actor*
Bernard 1( 40 years old, male presenting)
Salters first and original son. He is abandoned by his father from the age of 5 and suffers with a lot of unprocessed trauma and hurt.
This character must:
– Discuss the desire to murder someone
– Confront parental neglect
– Recount the incident of murdering someone
– Mild adult language
Bernard 2 (35 years old, male presenting)
One of the clones of Bernard 1, chosen by Salter as his new chosen child. Well- mannered, curious and frightened, enduring an identity crisis as a clone.
This character must:
– Discuss the fear of being murdered
– Discuss suicide
Michael Black (35 years old, male presenting)
Another clone of Bernard 1. Happy, healthy, normal, stable. Total disconnect to Salter