Auditions consist of a cold reading from the script. Acting experience is not necessary, but role seekers should have a desire to share the experience of and commitment to live theater and the enjoyment of collaborating with other talented individuals.

Director Robin Richard is casting all roles. There are the 11 characters, 7 men and 4 women. Everyone will be expected to eventually learn the correct British accent for their character. Accents are not necessary at auditions.

Performances dates are May 5-15, 2016, with rehearsals beginning in March.

The play takes place in 1936 on Malbode Island off the coast of Devon in England. Ten strangers have been lured to the island and one by one they begin to get murdered.

The director is looking for CHARACTER types. Most of these people are NOT nice, gentle English folk. ALL have been accused of heinous crimes. I will be looking for Central Casting – British Version.

Justice Wargrave: Over 60 and very imposing. He is a recently retired Judge, lured to the island by a letter from a flighty acquaintance, he is indignant when faced with accusations, utterly sure of himself and his actions.

Vera Claythorne: 20’s and “modern”. She used to be the nanny for an upper-class family, but her charge died in a drowning accident under her care. She was cleared of any involvement at an inquiry, but the killer has other thoughts on the matter. As people die around her, she begins to lose her mind.

Phillip Lombard: 30’s, rugged, tough but romantic. A former Army man, he’s sent to the Island by an intermediary, under the story of acting as an ‘Assistant’ for anything his employer might need. In reality, he’s just been lured there to face punishment for his involvement in a Native massacre in Africa.

Emily Brent: Over 50. Bitter, Bible-tumper. A crotchety older woman, she goes to the Island for the promise of a free vacation, but finds herself accused of driving her servant girl to death. She hates “modern nudie parties and Gramaphones!”.

General Macarthur: Over 60. A distinguished retired Army man. The General is lured to the Island with the promise that some of his old friends are going to be there. When he arrives, however, he learns that he’s being called to take responsibility for a sending a subordinate off to death during wartime.

Dr. Armstrong: Over 40. Dapper and secretive. A popular physician to the London upper class, Dr. Armstrong is hired to come to the island for a medical consultation. He believes that he’s put his past behind him, that no one remembers that woman he killed on the operating table because he was drunk. Of course, that’s the very reason the killer has lured him to the Island.

Tony Marston: 20’s. A playboy. May be required to sing a little – but that isn’t carved in stone. A drunken rich boy, he ran two children over with his car, and was punished by having his license taken away for a year. The killer decides that he hasn’t been punished enough.

Rogers: Over 50. He and his wife are hired by Mr. Owen as the caretakers of the Island. They had murdered their last employer, wanting to collect on their inheritance.

Mrs. Rogers: Over 50. Rogers’ wife. She took part in the murder of their last employer. She’s been wracked by guilt, and hasn’t slept well since.

William Blore: Over 40. Has to be able to fake a South African accent (until he is discovered to be a fraud). A former police officer turned private detective, he was hired to watch all the other guests on the Island. Of course, that was just a story. Actually, he was lured to the Island because he had framed an innocent man for a serious crime, and the man had died in jail.

Frankie Narracott: 25-45. A local. She and her family run supplies and passengers to Malbode Island. Frankie is tough but pleasant.

The Dock-U-Mentaries Film Series continues on Friday, November 20th at 7:00 PM with The Lonely Dorymen, a 1968 National Geographic program about the Portuguese fishermen who fished for cod on the Grand Banks. Dock-U-Mentaries is a co-production of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, and the Working Waterfront Festival. Films about the working waterfront are screened on the third Friday of each month beginning at 7:00 PM in the theater of the Corson Maritime Learning Center, located at 33 William Street in downtown New Bedford. All programs are open to the public and presented free of charge.

For more than four centuries, young Portuguese fishermen followed their fathers to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and Greenland’s banks to fish the cold waters for cod. Intrepid men, set off for the Banks on schooners under full sail, then adrift in a flat-bottomed dory, they bait the hundred of hooks of their long-line, oblivious to fog, rain and Arctic wind, they labor 18 hours a day and haul up cod by the score. Frequently stopping in St. Johns, Newfoundland for provisions, these fishermen were known by Newfoundlanders as the “White Fleet” owing to the white sails of their schooners. This 1968 National Geographic program provides a rare window into this way of life. Retired Portuguese fisherman Manuel Vinagre, who participated in this fishery in the 1970s, will be on hand to share some of his own experiences following the film.

On Friday afternoon this female attempted to rob a liquor store on Cove Rd. with what was believed to be a pellet gun. She fled without obtaining anything. Anyone with information on her identity can contact Det. Paul Fonseca at 508-991-6300 ext. 79507 or leave an anonymous tip at 508-961-4584.

Recently, the Knights of Columbus Father Hogan Council #14236 beautified Dartmouth’s veterans memorials. They assisted with roughly 14 sites throughout town. Aided by rakes, mulch, weed whackers and a readiness to get on their hands and knees and clean stone statues, members worked hard and enjoyed the opportunity to help. Over a dozen members from the Knights council participated in the maintenance and beautification project during the Columbus Day weekend.

“What an honor it is for our council to serve our veterans, remember their sacrifice and support our community,” Chris Pereira, head of the council said. He added, “This is something we plan on doing a couple of times a year moving forward.” Deputy Grand Knight of the council, Sean Jackman, spearheaded the project. He said “A lot of these vets are from World War I. Their families are gone. We want to respect their memory and make sure the memorials look presentable.”

Patriotism is one of the four core values of the Knights along with Charity, Unity and Fraternity. The project was welcomed by the Dartmouth Veterans Advisory Board. The Knights look forward to the next time they will complete this project and other opportunities where they can support veterans and veteran causes.

The Knights of Columbus is a Roman Catholic fraternal service organization with over 15,000 councils and 1.9 million members in the United States. They participate in many charitable events and work with a variety of nonprofit groups to support the community. The Knights of Columbus stand for four core principles which are charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism. The Knights donated more than $173 million dollars to charity and volunteered over 71.5 million hours last year. These contributions are the most ever by The Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus Father Hogan Council serve the Dartmouth parishes of St. Julies and St. Mary’s.

Meet Joseph “The Beardfather” Arruda, a 36-year-old direct support residential staff, founder of Beards of New Bedford, and President of the South Coast Beard and Mustache Guild.

He also helps his wife run the gallery that she co-owns, TL6 the Gallery, which is located on William Street in downtown New Bedford.

After growing up in Somerset, and attending the University of Massachusetts, he moved to New Bedford in 2000 to be closer to his friends and this new community that he had become so fond of. His father’s family had lived here for generations and his grandfather was a fire fighter here for 40 years, so he always felt a strong connection to the city.

After deciding to grow a beard a few years back, he never would have understood then how much it would impact his life today. He created a page on Facebook titled “Beards of New Bedford”, where he chronicled the growth of his beard and, after garnering some attention from the community, other men’s beards as well. With the formation of a group of guys that were interested in growing and styling their facial hair, the South Coast Beard and Mustache Guild had come to life. They started holding beard competitions and have focused the proceeds of these events, which include different categories of beards and mustaches, to benefit charitable organizations. He really believes that by uniting with others in similar interests we can really make a change in our city.

“The Guild is home to welders, artists, photographers, professionals, and even some women, but the one thing that ties us together is our love for beards and wanting to help people.”

_________________________________________________________

Faces of New Bedford is a project by Colton Simmons. If you are interested in booking a shoot or getting prints from the series email all inquiries to colton@coltonsimmons.com

Follow Colton on Instagram: https://instagram.com/simmonscolton

Halloween has arrived and this year will be a bit warmer than the past few, but still mild. This time of year, there’s no way to avoid cooler mornings and evenings – we’ll have a low of 32 degrees Friday night, but temperatures for Trick Or Treating will be in the low 40s. Like last Sunday, this Sunday will have some precipitation. There are lots of things going on across the South Coast!

As always, click on the title for more or detailed information on the event. Most of the events were pulled from our event calendar where you can find hundreds of local area events each month. The event calendar is FREE, so if you are a local business, and not taking advantage of FREE publicity, shame on you! Are you a local business and want to sponsor this high traffic, weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details. Have an event to add? Check out our tutorial. For more info, you can click on each title. Know of another event this weekend? Post a reply!

Friday, October 30th

Buzzard’s Bay Coalition Family Friday Explorations: Story Stroll at The Bogs (Mattapoisett) (5:00pm-6:00pm)
Get your whole family exploring the outdoors during Family Friday Explorations, a series of four free outings in October in Fairhaven and Mattapoisett offered by the Coalition. Through fun games and hands-on activities, your family will learn about the Buzzards Bay region’s animals, plants, and habitats. Family Friday Explorations is recommended for families with elementary school-aged children. FREE. Registration is required for all Bay Adventures. To RSVP, contact: Phone: (508) 999-6363 ext. 219 or Email: bayadventures@savebuzzardsbay.org. At the Bogs, Mattapoisett River Reserve.

Carnivale of the Arcane presents Supernatural Encounters (Westport) (5:00pm-10:00pm)
Your Fate Awaits…at the Carnivale of the Arcane’s 2015 Samhain Festival. Supernatural Encounters is the theme for this year’s 3-day multi-media extravaganza. The carnies return Halloween/Day of the Dead weekend. This evening: Candelit readings & healings, raffles, prizes, face painting, vendors, Labyrinth after dark. Sisters of Solace, 700 American Legion Hwy. Westport, MA. Click event title for poster with details.

Pumpkins Aglow at Edaville USA (6:00pm-10:00pm)
Back by popular demand, come see the garden of endless jack-o-lanterns. Dress in your Halloween costume and join the costume parades. You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our spooky train. Edaville is a safe and fun environment to celebrate Halloween with the whole family. Pumpkins Aglow is 6pm – 10pm EVERY Friday in October. 5 Pine Street, Carver, MA.

Samantha Johnson at the “Z” (8:00pm)
Experience the voice that has the nation buzzing! The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center proudly welcomes Samantha Johnson back to New Bedford with a fully-staged production of “HOME: Samantha Johnson in Concert!” on Friday, October 30 at 8PM! She will perform her hit songs from NBC’s America’s Got Talent, personal favorites and original music along with a stellar eight-piece band. Join her as she shares her musical journey that began right here, took her around the globe and landed her on national television.

Saturday, October 31st

The Perfect Pumpkin Party (10:00am-3:00pm)
Come to Audubon for our annual day of pumpkin fun! Try your hand at pumpkin golf, pumpkin ring-toss and pumpkin art. Join us for a different kind of fall celebration and find out just how much fun a pumpkin can be. Buy a pumpkin from our “patch” and decorate it with fun art supplies. Children in costume will receive a special prize. No need to register. Please note: Some of the art activities may be messy, so wear clothes that can get dirty. Free with admission. Audubon Environmental Education Center
1401 Hope Street, Bristol, RI.

Carnivale of the Arcane presents Supernatural Encounters (Westport) (10:00am-10:00pm)
Your Fate Awaits…at the Carnivale of the Arcane’s 2015 Samhain Festival. Supernatural Encounters is the theme for this year’s 3-day multi-media extravaganza. The carnies return Halloween/Day of the Dead weekend. This evening: This evening: 4 FREE presentations and workshops, Candelit readings & healings, raffles, prizes, face painting, vendors, Labyrinth after dark, costume contest. Sisters of Solace, 700 American Legion Hwy. Westport, MA. Click event title for poster with details.

Holiday Movie Spook-A-Thon at the “Z”: Ghostbusters, Goonies & Hocus Pocus (11:00am)
Remember the time when you could pay one price and watch movies all day? Well, The Z offers you a triple feature Halloween Movie Spookathon featuring the frightfully fun classics of Hocus Pocus, Goonies and Ghost Busters! Load up on popcorn and settle in for a day of good ol’ movie fun! Schedule: 11:00am – Hocus Pocus, 12:45pm – Goonies
3:00pm – Ghostbusters.

Edaville USA: Halloween Party (Carver) (10:00am-6:00pm)
Edaville USA is excited to announce their first ever Halloween Party. Stop by before trick or treating and enjoy the day at Edaville. You can trick or treat at your favorite ride, and go for a ride on our famous Edaville Railroad, with Thomas the Tank Engine, and take part in our special activities. We’ll have costume parades, donuts on a string, and so much more. Edaville is a safe and fun environment to celebrate Halloween with the whole family.The $29 ticket includes admission from 10am-3pm. Everything is open and included with your party admission, except food, arcade games and gifts! Our amazing sponsors will be giving away candy and prizes throughout the day!

Horror and Ink at Gallery “X” (11:00am-5:00pm)
All month long you’ll be able to enjoy the horror or Halloween themed creations of local artists. Shows like this support not only the local artists, but one of the city’s last bastions of fantastic, local art. These venues allow local artists who can’t afford to have their own gallery, to be able to showcase their work to more people. Gallery X, 169 William Street, New Bedford.

Hayrides (Westport) (12:00pm-4:30pm)
It’s a great way to let the entire family see the vineyard. Westport Rivers Vineyard Hayrides every Saturday through Nov. 21. Weather-permitting. $5 per person, children under 2 are free. Ride times are approx. 20-30 minutes. Westport Rivers Vineyard, 417 Hixbridge Rd., Westport.

Acushnet Fire & EMS Department Halloween Parade (6:30pm)
Please join us for the annual “Halloween Parade” sponsored by the Acushnet Firefighters and Acushnet Police Associations. Parade steps off at 6:30pm from Town Hall and finishes at Fire Station #1.

Harvest of Horrors (6:30pm)
Guests first board a tram for a Haunted Hayride deep in the woods behind the 33-acre farm. The ride creeps along a dark, 1/2 mile long dirt road, where creatures begin to stir and attempt to stop visitors from returning home. The tram then drops passengers off at the entrance to the Haunted Forest, where the audience is separated into small groups as they enter. The winding outdoor path is 1/4 mile long(newly expanded for 2015) and is not for the faint of heart. Audiences thrill to encounter exhibits containing horrible monsters and other frightening scenarios (all in good fun, naturally), on their way to the exit.

Both the Haunted Hayride and Haunted Forest will feature live actors in elaborate costumes and make-up, professional animatronics, and special effects. Tony Andrews Farm, 394 Old Meetinghouse Road, East Falmouth. Recommended for ages 12 and older. $12. Call 508-527-0189. Dates: Oct. 10-11, 16-17, 23-24, 30-31.

Silent Movie! Nosferatu (6:30pm)
Nosferatu, the first-ever vampire movie, with its hideous looking count and ample creepiness, delivers the kind of spine-chilling moment that Halloween fans love. Watch it on the big screen at The Z, if you dare, while organist Bernie Anderson and The Z’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ provide the seat-shaking soundtrack to this wildly scary 1923 silent movie. Zeiterion Theater.

Rocky Horror Picture Show (9:30pm)
Let’s do the Time Warp again! Celebrate Transylvania-style as The Z brings back cult classic, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, with The RKO Army providing the live reenactment in front of the movie screen. Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick and Richard O’Brian, this movie owns an absolutely unique place in film history. If you’re a Rocky Horror fan, you know what to do! If you’re new to Rocky, you’re in for a sensation as audience participation is a must. This is an R-Rated performance, so leave all trick-or-treaters under 18 at home!

Sunday, November 1st

Edaville USA (Carver) (10:00am-6:00pm)
We feature over 20 amusement rides including a Ferris Wheel, Carousel, Jumbo the Elephant, Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, 2 mile narrow gauge railroad, two steam locomotives and one diesel locomotive and much more. We are also the home of Thomas Land, which will be opening in August of 2015. Thomas Land will feature 11 Thomas themed children’s rides including Winston’s Skyline Express, Troublesome Trucks Runaway Coaster, Toby’s Tilting Tracks, Sodor Windmill, Sodor’s Cranberry Carousel, Rockin’ Bulstrode, Harold’s Lift-Off, Firefighting Flynn, Diesel Derby, Cranky’s Crane Drop and Bertie’s Bus Tours. We offer daily admission tickets, two day passes, season passes, birthday parties, group sales and gift cards. 5 Pine St, Carver. Phone: (508) 866-8190.

Carnivale of the Arcane presents Supernatural Encounters (Westport) (12:00pm-5:00pm)
Your Fate Awaits…at the Carnivale of the Arcane’s 2015 Samhain Festival. Supernatural Encounters is the theme for this year’s 3-day multi-media extravaganza. The carnies return Halloween/Day of the Dead weekend. This evening: This evening: Candelit readings & healings, raffles, prizes, Day of the Dead Prayer/Meditation Room, Vendors and Labyrinth. Sisters of Solace, 700 American Legion Hwy. Westport, MA. Click event title for poster with details.

Want to sponsor this weekend guide? Contact info@newbedfordguide.com for more details.

Earlier this week there was an unarmed robbery that took place at the 7-11 located at 1499 Acushnet Ave. The female clerk suffered a scratch to her hand during a struggle with the suspect.

The suspect entered the store and attempted to use a debit card that did not match his identification to buy a carton of cigarettes. When the transaction was declined, he jumped the counter and struggled with the clerk. He then fled on foot with several packs of cigarettes.

Shortly thereafter, Trooper Paul Gifford of the Massachusetts State Police alertly spotted the suspect who matched the description in the area of Sawyer and North Front St. A foot chase ensued and the suspect was taken into custody. Trooper Gifford is the arresting officer and the suspect will be arraigned this morning in New Bedford district court. He is facing unarmed robbery charges.

The stolen cigarettes were recovered and returned to the store.

Cedric Wade-McIlwain age 32 New Bedford

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced that a 53-year-old man accused of fraudulently receiving thousands of dollars for a bogus armed forces veterans’ charity has been convicted in Fall River Superior Court, and that proceeds seized during the investigation will be turned over to the Wounded Warriors Project charitable fund.

Gary Fincher, a homeless drifter from Texas, was pleaded guilty Monday to charges of larceny over $250 and misleading police.

On August 4, 2014, Sgt. Michael Ellsworth of the Mansfield Police Department witnessed Mr. Fincher soliciting donations for a charity called “Help for Homeless Vets.” Mr. Fincher was soliciting the donations outside of the Mansfield Stop and Shop grocery store. The defendant was seated at a table near the exit doors of the store, was wearing a veterans hat and an veterans ID badge. His table was stocked with signage and pamphlets for the “Help for Homeless Vets” charity. The defendant, in a brief exchange with Sgt. Ellsworth, said he had served in the military in 1979 and 1980.

Sgt. Ellsworth, a veteran himself, made inquiries to the Attorney General’s Office and was informed that “Help for Homeless Vets” was not a registered charitable organization. When Sgt. Ellsworth returned to the grocery store to speak with Mr. Fincher, the defendant had already packed up his table and was on the move.

Through further investigation by Mansfield Police, it was determined that Mr. Fincher was keeping the money donated to the non-existent charitable organization. $783 in cash was located in his vehicle and around $10,000 was in a bank account. After his arrest, the defendant admitted to police that he travelled the country accepting money from strangers under the pretense that he was collecting money for charity.

During his sentencing hearing in Fall River Superior Court Monday, Assistant District Attorney argued for a two to three years state prison sentence and also sought to have the seized money transferred to a reputable veterans charitable organization. Mr. Fincher’s defense argued for a 14 month state prison term.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Superior Court Judge Rene Dupuis sentenced Mr. Fincher to 14 months in state prison (deemed served due to his pretrial detention), and ordered that $8,979 be paid as restitution to the Wounded Warriors project, a nationally recognized veterans charity. Judge Dupuis also placed Mr. Fincher on supervised probation for three years. If he violates his probation, he faces up to 10 years in state prison.

“I am happy that the defendant has been held accountable for his despicable conduct. Holding himself out as collecting for a Veterans Organization, when in fact, he was stealing the money for himself. The defendant took advantage of the good will of the citizens of Bristol County,” District Attorney Quinn said. “Although I feel he deserved more prison time I am pleased that the monies seized from the defendant will be turned over to the Wounded Warrior Project. These are the individuals that deserve our gratitude and admiration for fighting to protect us and suffering life altering injuries.”

This morning, at approximately 7:18 a.m., troopers from the State Police Barracks in Springfield responded to reports of a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 91 Northbound at Exit 14 in West Springfield. Upon arrival, troopers discovered that a 2015 Honda Civic had been traveling northbound and for reasons still under investigation, exited the left lane into the median, and rolled over.

The vehicle came to rest on its wheels in the median. The man driving, who is yet to be identified, was determined to be deceased as a result of injuries sustained from the crash. After identification and next-of-kin notification is made, the driver’s name will be released.

The left two lanes were closed initially. The middle lane was reopened for traffic at approximately 8:54 a.m. The left lane remains closed as the reconstruction is still ongoing. The remaining facts and circumstances of the crash are currently under investigation by troopers from the Springfield Barracks. Troop B Headquarters, State Police Collision Analysis Reconstruction Section (CARS), State Police Crime Scene Services Section (CSSS), West Springfield Fire/EMS Department, Holyoke Fire Department, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT), all assisted on scene.

No further information is currently available. Please do not contact the barracks directly.

Inside Out: The New Bedford Fishing Industry Through Industry Eyes, is a multi-media exhibit featuring the work of six artists who are all employed in or retired from the local fishing industry. The exhibit which is on display at the main branch of the New Bedford Public Library (613 Pleasant Street) has been extended through November 30th. The public is invited to a gallery talk on November 12th (AHA night) from 7:00-8:00 pm. The exhibit, which features photographs of Alan Cass, Serina Gundersen, and Phil Mello, illustrations of Bob Bowers, knot work of Manny Vinagre, and boat models of Manuel Silva, is a project of the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.

At the gallery talk on November 12th, each of the artists will talk about the relationship between their work and their art. While many past exhibits have explored aspects of the working port and the fishing industry through the eyes of artists and photojournalists, this exhibit features the work of those on the inside. From this vantage point, these artists have access to what is often a closed world. Their often intimate work provides viewers a unique opportunity to see the fishing industry from the “inside out”.

Serina Gundersen’s photographs industry objects and provides an intimate portrait of a single family business. Phillip Mello documents shoreside workers over a forty year period. Alan Cass captures the everyday and extraordinary aspects of life at sea. Bob Bowers creates detailed drawings of the boats and their gear. Manny Vinagre uses his knot tying skills to create pieces that are both decorative and functional. Manuel Silva, who passed away in June, created, in miniature, the workboats on which he spent so much of his life. His son Joao DaSilva will talk about his work.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is dedicated to the preservation and presentation of the history and culture of New Bedford’s fishing industry through archives, exhibits, and programs. For more information contact the Center at 508-993-8894 or nbfishingheritagecenter@gmail.com.