OPEN CALL AUDITION: The Cottage - June 13, 2026

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

The Cottage
Written by: Sandy Rustin

Directed by: Brian McManus

Production Dates:
September 23 – October 10, 2026 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on September 27 & October 3 at 2:30 pm (Sundays)
All actors must be available for all performances. 

Open Call Audition:
Auditions  will be held on:

Saturday, June 13, 2026 at 1:00 pm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to fill out your audition card – onstage readings will commence at 1:00pm sharp.  

Audition Location:
Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
(Please use 235 Besserer Street entrance.)

Backstage Orientation:
Simultaneously with the audition, A BACKSTAGE ORIENTATION and tour of the theatre will be offered by a member of the Volunteer Committee for anyone interested in working behind the scenes on any future production. Descriptions of each of the various Volunteer Positions can be found in the Volunteer section of this website.

Synopsis:
At Sylvia’s annual naughty weekend with her lover Beau, her hopes for their permanent future together are derailed when their spouses show up with surprisingly different agendas. Inspired by screwball comedy and bedroom farce with all the arch elegance of Noel Coward, this recent Broadway hit puts the ladies in the driver’s seat.

Character Descriptions & Audition Sides

  • Sylvia
    • Attractive, impetuous and married to Clarke, the younger brother.
    • Smitten with Beau, the older brother.
    • Disenchanted with her marriage and sex life.
    • Eager to assert herself, possibly suffragette and Mama’s favourite.
  • Beau
    • The older brother.
    • Attractive and married to Marjorie.
    • A lawyer – entitled, self absorbed.
    • A womanizer and a little shallow.
  • Marjorie
    • A hugely pregnant woman of stature.
    • A Baroness – late Victorian,
      perhaps something of a catch in Mama’s eyes.
    • Married to Beau but apparently infatuated with Clarke.
      Competes with Sylvia
  • Clarke
    • Married to Sylvia.
    • Not overly secure or self aware.
    • An accountant and father of Marjorie’s baby
    • Competes with Beau
  • Deirdre
    • Beau’s unlikely paramour diminutive and plain.
    • A prostitute – (unencumbered by post Victorian norms).
    • A free spirit, flighty yet insightful.
    • Also impulsive and, ironically, less economically disadvantaged.
    • Married to Richard.
  • Richard
    • Previously William, Sylvia’s betrothed,
    • A rather dubious WW1 deserter in hiding as…
    • …a mild-mannered serial killer,
    • Recently divorced from Deirdre
  • The Gardener
    • – a breath of fresh air
    • This is a one-line cameo for the last gag. This could be shared. 

Sides

  1. Breakfast (p.10-13) – Sylvia & Beau
  2. Hello Marjorie (p.20-23) – Marjorie & Beau, Marjorie; Sylvia
  3. Hello Clarke (p.24-27) – Clarke, Beau, Sylvia; Marjorie
  4. Hello Deirdre (p.28-31) – Deirdre, Marjorie, Beau, Clarke & Sylvia
  5. Divorce is murder (p.34-36) – Deirdre, Marjorie, Beau, Clarke & Sylvia
  6. A wife always knows (p.49-50) – Beau & Marjorie
  7. Slightly murderous (p.57-60) – Sylvia, Clarke, Richard
  8. Beau to the Rescue (p.62) – Beau, Sylvia & Richard
  9. Crumpets and Clarke (p.66-68) – Sylvia & Richard
  10. Deirdre’s Revenge (p.69-71) – Richard, Sylvia & Deirdre