Get ready for
Bad Auditions on Camera

A perfect choice for Westmount’s Dramatis Personae during COVID-19

By Byron Toben

Dramatis Personae, the community theatre of Westmount, has found the perfect play for it during this COVID-19 isolating situation. It must have 13 roughly equal time roles for its 13 talented amateur actors and it must be Zoom-friendly.

All this fell into place with Bad Auditions On Camera by the U.S. husband and wife team of Ian McWethy and Carrie McCrossen.

Ably directed by professional actor Christopher Moore, the plot involved a harried casting director (Karen Sauter) requiring a quick replacement for a show whose cast lost a defence lawyer in a courtroom drama.

In this search, she is aided by Roger (Brian Bradley) who keeps feeding her mostly inept candidates (perhaps with a hidden agenda of his own).

Brian Bradley and Karen Sauter – Image: frames from Bad Auditions on Camera

The varied auditioners, described by their peculiarities, were played by:

Jenny Chopra – problem son
George Karpurzas – overly theatrical actor
Doreen Tang – fast low reader
Malcolm McRae – macho guy
Linda Nourse – Internet personality
Rashed Chowdhury – always out of frame
Chris Moore – clown
Clive Brewer – computer inept
Ellen Rubin – having a nervous breakdown
Ann Gamsa – commercial actor
Ann Elbourne – “going to the sewer”

All these candidates were either rejected by the casting director for various problems or decided to withdraw themselves.

At the end of the show, the audience was presented with a virtual ballot to vote on who should win the role. Thus, the winner may vary each night of the run.

As usual, techie Roger Jochym compiled the pre-show background music. Mr. Bradley doubled as the webmaster, all going without a hitch.

At the end of the show, the audience was presented with a virtual ballot to vote on who should win the role. Thus, the winner may vary each night of the run.

Lots of amusing little bits by all the players. One I particularly enjoyed was when Mr. Moore, attired as a clown reading the role well, was asked by the casting director, “Good job, but why are you wearing that costume?” To which he replied wonderingly, “Costume?”

Special mention to Mr. Chowdhury, presently in Turkey, for getting up at 2 am his time to perform.

Bad Auditions on Camera continues until Monday, November 9 at 8 pm.
Tickets are $10.

Get your link to see the show via Zoom at brownpapertickets.com

Images: frames from Bad Auditions on Camera

More articles from Byron Toben

Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.