ROPE runs four weekends at the Ojai Art Center Theater, September 29th through October 22nd.

There is no pay.

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Saturday, July 8, 12 pm – 2 pm

Monday, July 10, 7 pm – 9 pm

Callbacks TBD if needed

Ojai Art Center, 113 So Montgomery Street, Ojai

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ROPE, by Patrick Hamilton, is a thrilling masterpiece of suspense and moral complexity.  The play is set on the first floor of a house in Mayfair, London in 1929. The story, thought to be based loosely on the Leopold and Loeb murder case in 1924, concerns two young university students, Wyndham Brandon and Charles Granillo, who have murdered fellow student Ronald Kentley as an expression of their supposed intellectual superiority, convinced they can commit the perfect crime. At the beginning of the play, Brandon and Granillo hide Kentley’s body in a chest and proceed to host a party for Kentley’s friends and family at which the locked chest containing his corpse is used to serve a late buffet meal. Suspicion arises among the guests as to the content of the chest.  Can Brandon and Granillo maintain their composure and avoid suspicion?  Or will their nefarious act be exposed?

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Brandon: Heavy line load. Arrogant aristocratic murderer, superior, aesthete, domineering. (male, playing age: 20/30s)

Granillo: Arrogant aristocratic murderer. Dominated by Brandon. (male 20/30s)

Kenneth Raglan: Favorable, light-hearted fellow student of Brandon and Granillo (male, 20/30s)

Leila Arden: Bright, sardonic, lithe and lovely spirit (female, 20/30s)

Sir Johnstone Kentley: Father of victim, posh, lordly and lover of books (male, 50+)

Mrs Debenham:  Very light line load.  Mostly seen not heard.  Sibling of victim’s mother. Absent minded, pre-occupied, dim, or Dementia (40+)

Rupert Cadell:  Has known Brandon and Granillo all their lives. Walks with a limp and a cane.  Brandon and Granillo consider this person almost their intellectual equal…almost.  Poetic and a dreamer. Gradually unravels the murder plot using old fashioned detective work (male, 30+)

Sabot: A surly but faithful French butler to Brandon and Granillo. (50+)

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Side Breakdowns:
Side 1: Brandon & Granillo

Side 2: All Characters

Side 3: Rupert & Sabot

Side 4: Brandon, Grano, Rupert, Raglan, Leila

Side 5: All Characters (no Granillo)

Side 6: Brandon, Garnillo & Raglan

Side 7: Brandon & Granillo

Side Mrs. Debenham: All Characters (no Granillo)

English accents required (except for Sabot, who is French).

For any questions, please reach out to Director Kimberly Demmary via email at filmscoutabout@yahoo.com or direct message through Facebook.