LET THE RIGHT ONE IN by John Ajvide Lindqvist; adapted for the stage by Jack Thorne
(PART OF THE IC CENTER FOR THEATRE & DANCE MAINSTAGE SEASON)
Auditions August 25; to sign up please email scheideg@ithaca.edu
Rehearsals begin Sept 3 and the play runs October 10-13.
(actors rehearse 20+ hours per week M-F evenings and one or two Saturday afternoons)
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN:
All roles are open to actors of any race/ethnicity and will be cast with college-age actors. Some actors will double as more than one role.
OSKAR, 12, masculine presentation, open to man-identifying actors. Victim of bullying with fantasies of violence. Has the urge to fight back but no means. Vulnerable, like a bunny without any sharp teeth yet. Falls in love with Eli. Stage combat, rear nudity, intimacy.
JONNY, 12-14, masculine presentation. If not older than Oskar, then certainly bigger and stronger. Bullies Oskar in order to feel powerful. Stage combat, rear nudity.
MICKE, 12-14, masculine presentation. If not older than Oskar, then certainly bigger and stronger. Jonny’s shadow. Used to be friends with Oskar. Morally aware but not strong enough to stand up for what’s right. Stage combat, rear nudity.
HAKAN, 45-55, masculine presentation. Jealous. The real monster. Devoted to Eli and kills for her, but is beginning to weaken. Stage combat.
TORKEL, 20+, masculine presentation. A businessman and one of Hakan’s victims. Stage combat.
KURT, 30s, masculine presentation. Sweet shop owner. Gentle hearted. Generous.
MUM, 30s, feminine presentation. Oskar’s mother, separated from his father. Loving but drinks too much wine. Her temper flares hot. Minimal stage combat.
ELI, 12 (or so it seems) In the text, the character of Eli is written to be AMAB, femme-presenting, genderqueer, non-binary, she/they. Needs to consume human blood to live and relies on a caretaker like Hakan to collect it. Calm, calculated, hungry. Superhuman athleticism and a soft spot for Oskar.
ELI: My name used to be Elias Jannson. My name is now Eli.
ELI: I’m not a boy…I’m nothing. Not a child. Not old. Not a boy. Not a girl. Nothing.
To cast Eli, we are seeking actors who are themselves genderqueer, non-binary, or trans-identifying. The actor themselves does not need to fall into any AMAB- or AFAB-specific categories. Stage combat, intimacy, rear nudity.
Please contact wdann@ithaca.edu if you’d like to learn more about the casting considerations for Eli.
HALMBERG, 40-50, masculine presentation. Dedicated–even obsessive–police commissioner following the string of murders. Stage combat.
JOCKE, 30s, masculine presentation. One of Eli’s victims. A wounded veteran who drinks too much. Helps others. Stage combat.
MR. AVILA, 30s, masculine presentation.Oskar’s gym teacher. Open-minded, supportive. Could have been the hero. He means well, but falls short of protecting Oskar. Stage combat.
NILS, 20+, flexible presentation, open to all. Hospital receptionist. Leaves their post to follow a lost child.
DAD, 35-45, masculine presentation. Oskar’s father, separated from mother. He loves Oskar but alcohol and distance get in the way.
JANNE, 35-55, masculine presentation. Dad’s friend/enabler. Children are in the way.
JIMMY, 17-18, masculine presentation. Jonny’s older brother. Insecurity has shaped this monster. Abusive, profane,violent.Seeks out revenge for his brother. Stage combat.
STEFAN, 20+, flexible presentation, open to all. A train conductor. Efficient, a concerned citizen.