FLAVIO BETRAYED: A COMMEDIA
By Scott Ford
Original Compositions by Melissa Bergstrom
Directed by Rick Wyman

DIRECTOR’S NOTE
Flavio Betrayed is a high-spirited comedy, filled with disguise, deceit, insults, romance, friendship, stinky cheese, and outrageous hats. Told in the traditional Commedia style through an undeniably modern lens, this romantic romp follows the delightfully convoluted story of our hero Flavio, whose best friend is trying to steal the hand of his beloved Isabella, while her father attempts to marry her off to another suitor who is considerably past his prime. Penned by local playwright Scott Ford, this fast-paced comedy has something for everyone – highbrow humor, lowbrow humor, and everything in between. In the author’s own words, “Watching this play will make you feel smarter and dumber at the same time.”

The director is looking to assemble an ensemble of actors with strong comedic chops who are committed to making huge choices, take on a highly stylized & physical approach to storytelling, and aren’t afraid to sweat for a laugh. Experience with Commedia dell’arte, and/or improvisation is a plus.

AUDITION DETAILS
Auditions will be held in person on the evening of THURSDAY, AUGUST 6TH, from 6:30-8:30pm, and SATURDAY, AUGUST 8th, from 10:00am–12:00pm, at the Dassel History Center (901 First Street - Dassel, MN).

Interested actors should be prepared to read sides from the script and prepare a 30 second piece of music to be performed acapella.

Performance Run: October 9th-11th, and 16th-18th  (with two possible performances Saturday, October 17th).

Rehearsals begin Monday August 24th (with an initial read-through on August 19th) and will be Monday-Friday from 6:30pm-9pm in Dassel. Please come prepared with any schedule conflicts between August 19th and September 30th.

We cannot accept conflicts for rehearsals between OCTOBER 1ST and OCTOBER 8th, or any scheduled performances. Strike following the October 18th performance is mandatory for all cast members.

CALLBACKS
Callbacks will be held in person on the afternoon of SUNDAY, AUGUST 9TH, from 12:00–2:30 pm, at the Dassel History Center, and will consist of paired readings from the script.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
While all characters have a heightened level of physicality consistent with the play’s genre, some roles are highly physical in nature. These, along with any characters that will be masked, have been noted in the character descriptions.

PANTALONE: A miser who could make copper wire by pulling on a centesimo. Anxious to see his lovelorn daughter Flaminia happily wed at the lowest possible cost to him. Masked, wigged, and highly physical role (character is hunched over with knees bent and far apart for much of the play). Plays 40’s-early 50’s

FLAMINIA: Pantalone’s daughter. A spirited soul who is looking for love in all the wrong places. A lovelorn maiden whose lack of patience is outpaced only by her lack of subtlety. Plays 20’s to early 30’s

DOTTORE GRATIANO: A scholar. He has a lot to say, and he wants to hear every word of it. Pompous and blustery, but protective of his beloved daughter, Isabella. Masked, wigged, and highly physical role (comparing this character to a turtle spinning around on its back would not be an overstatement). Plays 40’s-early 50’s

ISABELLA: Our heroine, and Gratiano’s daughter. Intelligent, resourceful, and independent, yet dutiful to her father’s wishes. She is a lover of the arts, the beauty of life, and of Flavio. Plays 20’s to early 30’s

FLAVIO: Our hero and friend of Oratio.  An artist, tender soul, and self-proclaimed “Isabella Fella”, with the juiciest of eyes, and the left-iest of feet. Plays 20’s to mid-30’s

ORATIO: Friend of Flavio…if one’s friend were a scheming, dirty double-dealer plotting to be “Isabella’s Fella” himself and enlisting the service of a scrappy & cunning accomplice to help execute said dubious plan. Plays 20’s to mid-30’s

CAPTAIN SPAVENTO: A captain well past his prime who based on an arrangement with Gratiano believes himself to be “Isabella’s Fella”. A braggart with swagger, who sports the grandest hat in the land and never retreats from a battle without his ‘Holy Humdinger’ by his side. Masked and wigged role. Plays 40’s-early 50’s

PEDROLINO: Our narrator, and Gratiano’s servant. Clever, savvy, and kind, with a knack for ‘puzzling things out’. His devotion to Issabella and Gratiano is second to none, yet he still finds himself in the hot seat through no fault of his own. Masked and highly physical role. Plays 20’s to mid-30’s

COLUMBINA: Gratiano’s other servant. Not so clever, not so savvy, and not so devoted. Scrappy, cunning, and the perfect accomplice to help one execute a dubious plan…provided one’s first three choices weren’t available. Plays 20’s to 30’s

ARLECCHINO: Spavento’s servant. Good help is hard to find, and he certainly proves that. An opportunistic companion whose mastery of toadying knows no limits. Masked role. Plays 20’s to mid-30’s

BURRATINO: An innkeeper with a gleam in his eye, and a song in his heart. Proud purveyor of the most affordable lodgings in town, but the least reliable delivery service. Masked role. Plays 30’s-early 50’s

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"Flavio Betrayed" is produced with special permission from the author.