IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) by Sarah Ruhl
AUDITIONS
Tuesday, November 15, 7-10pm, Chapman Theatre
CALLBACKS
Wednesday, November 16, 7-10pm, Chapman Theatre
All Sophomore and higher Theatre Majors must prepare a monologue no longer than 2 minutes
There will be selections to read provided for freshmen and non-majors
Questions? Please contact Dr. Arp-Dunham at joellead@ksu.edu
Please read the script located in the Script Archive.
IN THE NEXT ROOM (OR THE VIBRATOR PLAY) by Sarah Ruhl
Directed by Dr. Joelle Arp-Dunham
Performance dates: April 20-23 & 27-30; Chapman Theatre
In the Next Room: Or the Vibrator Play Audition Information
At the dawn of electricity and peak of “hysteria” diagnoses, Dr. Givings treats patients with an electric vibrator in his home medical office. His frustrated young wife wants some of this miraculous cure as something is missing in her life. Sarah Ruhl’s 2009 Tony nominated take on marriage, Victorian suppression of female sexual desire, the timeless struggles of motherhood and breastfeeding, jealousy and covert racism intertwine humor and pain in the untamed electricity of the body and soul.
Synopsis: Set in the 1880s at the dawn of the age of electricity and based on the historical fact that doctors used vibrators to treat “hysterical” women (and some men), the play centers on a doctor and his wife and how his new therapy affects their entire household.
In a seemingly perfect, well-to-do Victorian home, proper gentleman and scientist Dr. Givings has innocently invented an extraordinary new device for treating “hysteria” in women (and occasionally men): the vibrator. Adjacent to the doctor’s laboratory, his young and energetic wife tries to tend to their newborn daughter—and wonders exactly what is going on in the next room. When a new “hysterical” patient and her husband bring a wet nurse and their own complicated relationship into the doctor’s home, Dr. and Mrs. Givings must examine the nature of their own marriage, and what it truly means to love someone.
Tech Dates: April 11-13, 16 ; Dress Dates: April 17-19
Performance Dates: Thursday, April 20-23, & April 27-30
Rehearsals begin Sunday, March 5 and run weekly Sunday-Thursday from 7-10pm except for spring break. This schedule conflicts with the Spring Dance performance.
In the Next Room: Or the Vibrator Play contains the following charged material:
Sexism
Partial nudity (male chest)/undress/costume changes onstage
Sex/sexuality
Suggestive material including 3 characters having orgasms on stage
Mouth-to-mouth kissing
Intimate touch
Medical procedures
Animal cruelty/abuse (referenced)
Bigotry/violence/hateful language based on cultural or religious identity
Racism
Loss of a child
Infidelity
Pregnancy/childbirth (discussed)
Family dysfunction
Classism
These disclosures are to allow for fully informed consent for everyone working on the production.
Character Descriptions & Requirements
Catherine Givings (White, late 20s, female-presenting)
Wife to Dr. Givings, mother to their infant Letitia, full of life, but sexually and emotionally frustrated with her marriage.
The role of Catherine requires the following:
Performing mouth-to-mouth kissing with the actor playing Dr. Givings.
Receiving unwanted mouth-to-mouth kissing from the character of Dick Daldry.
Simulated slapping of the face of the actor playing Dick Daldry.
Undressing to & appearing in period style underclothes.
Performing simulated sexual stimulation from a vibrator leading to a simulated orgasm, with the actors playing Sabrina and Dr. Givings and by themselves.
Laying or striding atop the actor playing Dr. Givings in a sexually suggestive scene.
Singing a lullaby.
Dr. Givings (mid-40s, male-presenting)
Catherine’s husband, a devoted specialist in gynecological and hysterical disorders.
The role of Dr. Givings requires the following:
Explaining the medical use of the vibrator and simulating administering it to Sabrina, Catherine, and Leo.
Simulating the end of a gynecological exam on Elizabeth.
Speaks prejudice against Catholics and references animal experimentation.
Performing mouth-to-mouth kissing with the actor playing Catherine.
Undressing to & appearing in period style underclothes.
Having the actor playing Catherine laying or striding atop them in a sexually suggestive scene.
Elizabeth (Black, early-30s, female-presenting)
Sabrina’s housekeeper, and later a wet nurse for Catherine. Has a strong, loving marriage. She Is grieving over the recent death of her infant son.
The role of Elizabeth requires the following:
Simulating the end of a gynecological exam performed by Dr. Givens.
Simulated nursing (will only need the upper chest to be seen)
Undressing to & appearing in period style underclothes.
Discussing pleasurable sexual relations with her husband.
Sabrina Daldry (early 30s, female-presenting)
Wife to Dick Daldry, struggling with infertility, is being treated for hysteria by Dr. Givings as dictated by her husband.
The role of Sabrina requires the following:
Performing mouth-to-mouth kissing (once), hand-holding and hugging with the actor playing Annie.
Undressing to & appearing in period style underclothes.
Performing simulated sexual stimulation from a vibrator and manual manipulation leading to 5 simulated orgasms, with the actors playing Catherine, Dr. Givings and Annie.
Plays the piano (can be simulated)
Dick Daldry (mid-40s -50s, male-presenting)
Sabrina’s husband, often misogynistic, attracted to Catherine.
The role of Dick Daldry requires the following:
Using an archaic term that is racially offensive and tells a misogynistic joke.
Performing mouth-to-mouth kissing with the actor playing Catherine.
Performing unwanted mouth-to-mouth kissing with the actor playing Catherine. Simulated slapping of his face by the actor playing Catherine.
Leo Irving (mid-20s -30s, male-presenting)
An artist from England suffering from hysteria, attracted to Elizabeth.
The role of Leo requires the following:
Undressing to & appearing in period style underclothes.
Uses sex with a prostitute as metaphor
Performing simulated sexual stimulation from a vibrator leading to 2 simulated orgasms, with the actors playing Dr. Givings and Annie.
Annie (late 30s, female-presenting)
Unmarried assistant/midwife to Dr. Givings. Is attracted to Sabrina.
The role of Annie requires the following:
Performing mouth-to-mouth kissing (once), hand-holding and hugging with the actor playing
Sabrina.
Assisting Dr. Givings performing simulated sexual stimulation from a vibrator to the actors
playing Sabrina and Leo.
Performing simulated and manual manipulation on the character of Sabrina, bringing her to
climax.
Assists all patients in undressing.