The Blue Comet

By Eden Phillpotts

The Bedale family of Hampstead has three big problems:

Expenses exceed income...
...a rogue comet is about to crash into the Earth…
...and their Australian relation is coming to visit.

It all adds up to one terribly polite comedy about the end of the world. A US national premiere performance of a groundbreaking 1926 science fiction stage play.

For fans of Don't Look Up, Night of the Comet, celestial apocalypse comedies, and anyone who would love reading a good book as the Earth is smashed to bits.

Produced by Madison Shakespeare Company at Bartell Theater's Drury Stage, 113 E. Mifflin St. , Madison

Performances: November 1-9, 2024

Performance Times:
November 1, 7:30 PM
November 2, 2:00 PM
November 3, 7:30 PM
November 7, 7:30 PM
November 8, 7:30 PM
November 9, 5:00 PM

Ticket Prices: $20

Call 608-661-9696 for more information. Tickets on sale at bartelltheatre.org/2024/the-blue-comet.

Auditions

Auditions will be held on the following days:

8/20/2024
8/21/2024
8/22/2024

Pre-register to audition August 20-22 for Madison Shakespeare Company's US national premiere production of pioneering celestial apocalypse science fiction stage comedy The Blue Comet by Eden Phillpotts, performing November 1-9 2024 at the Bartell Theatre's Drury stage. Register at madisonshakespeare.org/auditions .

Candidates must be at least 18 years old as of September 9, 2024. Pre-registration is not required but is strongly encouraged and requested.

Auditions are at the Bartell Theatre's Drury Stage, 113 E. Mifflin St. in Madison.

The production takes place in the London village of Hampstead in the year 1926, in the home of bibliophile Christopher Bedale, his sister Jane, and Christopher's three children. The Bedales face three simultaneous crises:

- Their expenses exceed their income
- A giant comet is on a collision course with Earth
- Their long-lost Australian relative is coming to visit.

All participants are expected to audition, rehearse, and perform with dialect suitable to their character.

Candidates are asked if possible to fill out and submit the audition form and conflict calendar to be posted shortly and submit to contact@madisonshakespeare.org .

Candidates may be asked to perform one or more monologues from the packet available at this link. Monologues do not need to be memorized.

Candidates may also be asked to perform from one or more selections from the script, which will be provided at a later date. You may wish to consult the unedited text of The Blue Comet for background.

Roles:

Nicholas Bedale, a householder and appreciator of fine texts [stage age 40+]

Jane Bedale, a woman of strong faith and opinions, sister to Nicholas and Lucas [stage age 40+]

Colonel Lucas Bedale, V.C., C.B., a keen investor, brother to Nicholas and Jane [stage age 40+]

Morris Bedale, a sensitive young man, son of Nicholas [stage age 18-30]

Millicent Bedale, a passionate young woman, daughter of Nicholas [stage age 18-30]

Elizabeth Bedale, an aloof young woman, daughter of Nicholas [stage age 18-30]

Christopher Bedale, an Australian young man, nephew to Nicholas [stage age 25-35]

James Parsons, a loyal, opinionated servant and husband [stage age 40+]

Mary Parsons, a loyal, opinionated servant and wife [stage age 40+]