2009 CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS
PICKLEVILLE PLAYHOUSE
Annie Get Your Gun:
Annie Oakley - Backwoods woman, an incredible talent as a markswoman, has
no idea about nuthin' cept shootin.' She immediately falls head over heels for
Frank, who prefers a more dainty type of woman. A happy, endearing country
girl who is an amazing markswoman. Illiterate, not very "lady-like". Strong
singer-comedian who carries the show. (Mezzo-Belt) Low G-High F
Frank Butler - A suave sharpshooter in Buffolo Bill's show - he enjoys his status
as a heartbreaker and star of the show, and would like to keep it that way.
Low A-High F.
Tommy Keeler - a dashing young knife-thrower with the Wild West Show, part
Native American, and very much in love with Winnie. Tenor or High Baritone
Low B flat – High F. Two duets with Winnie.
Winnie Tate - Dolly's 17-year-old sister. Tommy throws knives at her and hopes
to marry her as soon as she turns 18. Mezzo Soprano or Soprano. Low B flat –
High F. Two duets with Tommy.
Dolly Tate - Frank Butler's "lovely" assistant, an over-the-top, bigoted,
ambitious and mean-spirited woman whose principal role is to make everyone
else miserable. She does this in a very funny way.
Buffalo Bill Cody - middle-aged soldier/Indian scout turned showman, runs the
"Wild West Show" that features sharpshooters Annie Oakley and Frank Butler,
and plenty of musicians, cowboys, cowgirls, Indians and assorted family
members. Low B – High F.
Charlie Davenport - middle-aged manager of the Wild West Show, always
setting the scene for this show-within-a-show.
Chief Sitting Bull - leader of the Sioux Nation, adopts Annie as his daughter and
puts his money into show business with the Wild West Show in order to be near
her. Has keen insight into human nature, which he shares through many oneliners.
Pawnee Bill - owner of the Far East Show; Buffalo Bill's former partner and
current rival.
Little Jake - Annie's 8-to-10-year-old brother, her "bird dog" who flushes out
game for her to shoot. Extra points if he can make "armpit noises." Boy Soprano
or Alto. Low B flat-High D.
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Mary, Jessie, Nellie - Annie's 10-to-14-year-old sisters, also part of the family
hunting business. Sopranos/Altos. Low B flat-High D.
The Ensemble: Cowboys, Indians, Roustabouts, Squaws, Cowgirls, Royals of
Europe, New York Socialites. Special talents for members of the ensemble
include rope twirlers, guitar pickers, gymnasts and tumblers, mandolin or
fiddle players, tap dancers, Indian hoop dancers, and whistlers. All voice types
needed.
The Hanging of El Bandito:
Sheriff Rowdy – The perfect melodrama hero. Young, handsome, charming,
humble and determined to capture and hang the evil Juanito Bandito.
Sam – Our heroine. Sweet but strong willed Indian girl who falls for Sheriff
Rowdy while being forced to work with Bandito and his gang.
Billy – One of Bandito’s two outlaw sidekicks. Hilariously ignorant. Comedic
timing is key. Rap / hip hop skills are preferred as the outlaws do “break it
down” on more than one occasion. Billy may be played by a male or female.
Happy – the dumbest of the two sidekicks. Also hilarious. Both Happy and Billy
speak in a thick western drawl and play together most of the show.
William – got bumped on the head a while back and hasn’t been himself since.
Certifiably insane man who follows Sally into town. Will plays a variety of
different character types, from pirate to Brittish royalty.
Sally – female bounty hunter sent to capture Bandito. Has a secret history
that’s revealed at the end of the show. Older than Sam. Confident and cool.
Juanito Bandito – Evil Spanish villain seeking revenge from the Sheriff after
nearly losing his life in the gallows. Of all the roles listed, Bandito is the only
one that has already been cast
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Audition readings for The Hanging of El Bandito 2009
READING #1
ROWDY / SAM
-This is part of the first scene in the show. SAM works for Bandito and has come to the hanging
disguised as a newspaper reporter from back east. It’s extremely important that SAM and
ROWDY establish chemistry right off so that the audience “roots” for their relationship
throughout the show. As you can see, there isn’t much time or dialog to establish the needed
chemistry, so it must be shown mostly in the subtext during the last part of this section.
SAM
Can you confirm reports that the US government awarded you with a $2,000 bounty for
Bandito’s capture?
ROWDY
Yes I can.
SAM
And what do you plan to do with all of that money?
ROWDY
I dunno. Maybe we’ll build us a Subway or somethin’.
SAM
A subway? Don’t you think that would be a bit premature?
ROWDY
No I don’t mean like a subway for transportation. I mean a subway for eatin’. Everybody
knows that a subway restaurant is a town’s first step on the road to civilization.
SAM
I see. Last question. Juanito Bandito and his gang have been the thorn in the side of every
western territory from here to the Mississippi. How does it feel to be the man responsible for
their capture?
ROWDY
Oh shucks, it weren’t nothiin’.
SAM
This could mean the beginning of the end of lawlessness on the western frontier and it’s all
thanks to you! You’ve got to feel some sort of pride or accomplishment.
ROWDY
I was just doin’ my duty ma’am.
SAM
(impressed and taken by him)
Very well Mr. Angus.
ROWDY
Rowdy ma’am. The name’s Rowdy. And yours?
SAM
Sam. You can just call me Sam.
ROWDY
Well O.K. Sam.
(starts to walk away, then SAM stops him)
SAM
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Rowdy?!
ROWDY
Yes ma’am?
SAM
(takes his hand)
Um, good luck.
ROWDY
Well, uh … thanks?
(Sam nods)
SAM
You’re welcome.
ROWDY
(flustered by her touch)
Yeah .. well we got a whole lot a people here wantin’ to see Bandito get hung, so ... Better
not be disappointing them. We’ll see you around?
SAM
Oh, I’m sure you will.
ROWDY
(tips his hat)
Ma’am.
SAM
Sheriff.
READING #2
BILLY / HAPPY / BANDITO
-These characters have all just narrowly escaped death thanks to SAM’s skill with a revolver.
BILLY and HAPPY are still scared to death of the Sheriff, but BANDITO is just angry.
HAPPY
So boss, you want us to start packin’ up camp?
BANDITO
What are you talking about?
BILLY
Sheriff’ll be sendin’ out a search party I’m sure. If’n we don’t hightail it outta here before
sundown, we might as well hang ourselves and save him the trouble.
BANDITO
No we will not be going anywhere.
BOTH
What?!
BANDITO
I must have my revenge.
BILLY
Really? Cause I was fairly uncomfortable with that rope around my neck and I kinda hoped we
might could just forego on the revenge thing and skeedadle.
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BANDITO
Never!!!
BILLY
Or not, whatever.
BANDITO
He must pay!
HAPPY
Sure as shootin’.
BILLY
Amen to that!
BANDITO
But how?
BILLY
Good question.
HAPPY
I was just thinkin’ about that myself.
BANDITO
We must think.
BILLY
Think!
HAPPY
You know I think I tried that one time.
BILLY
What? Thinkin’?
HAPPY
Yep, and for those who haven’t tried it, it ain’t as easy as it looks.
BANDITO
We must make him cry. He must beg for the mercy like a little sissy girl. He must feel the
pain! But how?
HAPPY
I got it! Two words. Atomic wedgie.
BANDITO
No.
BILLY
Indian burns?
BANDITO
What? (BILLY gives him one) Ouch. No.
HAPPY
Paper cuts?
BANDITO
What?
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HAPPY
Papercuts.
BILLY
I think with the paper cuts it’s really all about the location.
HAPPY
Oooh, like a paper cut on your eyeball!
BILLY
Or in between your fingers!
HAPPY
Or toes!
BANDITO
You guys, please! You are making me woozie. This man came this close to killing us all and
the best you can come up with is paper cuts?
HAPPY
I actually said atomic wedgie.
BANDITO
Do you guys have frijoles instead of brains?!
HAPPY
Not as far as I know about.
BANDITO
Listen. I want not only to break his nose, but also to break his spirit. And to do this, we must
hit him where it really counts.
HAPPY
Oh boss, please no. That just ain’t ethical.
BILLY
This is a family show so…
BANDITO
Do you know where you must hit a man to make it really count?
(look at each other, then)
BILLY
Yep.
HAPPY
(voice cracking)
Pretty sure I’m familiar with the concept.
BANDITO
To make him beg for mercy like a little sissy girl we will hit him right in the finances.
HAPPY
Right in the who-nances?
BANDITO
The finances! The bank account. The pocket book! Comprenden?
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BILLY
Oh yeah sure. The pocketbook.
HAPPY
Smack him right in the finances. Got it! (wink wink)
BANDITO
You guys are so weird.
READING #3
SALLY / WILLIAM / ROWDY
-SALLY has just arrived in town to assist ROWDY in his search for BANDITO.
(enter WILLIAM using his umbrella as a sword and his shirt tied around his head like a pirate)
WILL
Yo ho, yo ho a pirate’s life fer me.
SALLY
Oh no.
WILL
(SINGING)
Well shiver me timbers and shiver me timbs,
Drink up me hearties yo ho,
And shiver me timbers and shiver me timbs,
Drink up me hearties yo ho, Everybody!
Yo ho yo ho a pirate’s life for me.
Well hello thare ye fair maiden. I thought I’d went on and lost ya.
SALLY
Unfortunately, no.
ROWDY
Who’s the pirate?
SALLY
His name is William Pumpernickle.
WILL
Captain Willie I am, and who be this scurvy land-lubber?
(as WILL circles around inspecting ROWDY)
SALLY
He’s been following me ever since Kansas City. I thought I’d lost him this morning when I snuck
off the train, but he must have jumped ship.
WILL
He be not the evil Cap’n Blackbeard be he? Tell me and I’ll run him through straightaway!
ROWDY
No William, this is Sheriff Angus.
WILL
Sheriff Angus? That be a peculiar name for a pirate. Instead, I think I’ll call ye … PotBelly Joe.
SALLY
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(to ROWDY)
He has a small identity problem.
(WILL has begun to challenge the far left proscenium to a duel)
Earlier today he was King Arthur at the round table, yesterday he was one of Peter Pan’s lost
boys and right now it looks like he’s channeling his inner Johnny Dep.
WILL
Hand over that treasure or I’ll make ye walk the plank!
(ROWDY hides the money)
SALLY
What’s that?
ROWDY
Somethin’ that don’t belong to me no more.
SALLY
Wouldn’t happen to be the two thousand bucks you would have gotten to keep had you been
able to hang El Bandito?
ROWDY
Maybe it is.
SALLY
Can I see it?
ROWDY
(worried about WILL)
I don’t think that’d be such a good idea.
SALLY
Aw c’mon. I haven’t seen that much money in one place since I held up the Carson City bank.
ROWDY
Wait a minute. Didn’t Bandito rob the Carson City bank?
SALLY
With my help! I said we had a history didn’t I?
ROWDY
You’re an outlaw?
SALLY
A reformed outlaw. I ain’t proud of it, but I paid my dues and now I’m trying to write all of my
wrongs.
WILL
Isn’t she aaaaaaaawesome?!
ROWDY
(pause)
Is he okay?
SALLY
Yeah. He’s fine.
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READING #4
SAM / BANDITO
-SAM and ROWDY have just sung their big “love” song and are interrupted by Bandito. Sam has
to feign attraction toward BANDITO to give ROWDY a chance to escape without being seen.
The comedy lies in SAM saying that she loves him while in reality, the very sight of him makes
her want to “toss her cookies.”
BANDITO
Who is there?
SAM
It’s just me.
BANDITO
What are you doing? Did I hear … singing?
SAM
Um, no. No one was singing.
BANDITO
It was coming from over here …
(he goes toward where Sheriff’s hiding and SAM stops him with her hand)
SAM
No!
BANDITO
No?
SAM
No, you’ll wake the others. We must cherish this time … to be alone.
BANDITO
Alone?
SAM
Yes …
(sexy voice)
alone.
BANDITO
Alone! So my chiquitita bundle of Indian beauty, the truth is finally revealed.
SAM
You said it.
BANDITO
Tell me more.
SAM
I have fought against my feelings long enough.
BANDITO
Yes you have!
SAM
I can no longer control the … passion within my soul.
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BANDITO
No you can’t!
SAM
I must do what my heart is telling me to do!
BANDITO
Yes, yes! You must!
SAM
And so …
BANDITO
So?
SAM
And so …
BANDITO
Come, my love and kiss me. Kiss me like a thief in the night. Like a moth to the flame, like
dust in the wind! Kiss me now!
(Sheriff escapes as JB goes in for the kill)
SAM
No!!!
BANDITO
No?
SAM
The timing is not right.
BANDITO
It’s not?
SAM
No. We don’t want to do something rash!
BANDITO
I do. Wait. Did you say you have a rash?
SAM
No. I mean, yes.
BANDITO
So which? You have rash? Yes or no.
SAM
No.
BANDITO
Good. So now what is the problem? Is it me?
SAM
No, it’s just … something doesn’t seem quite right.
BANDITO
Ohhhh! Say no more, say no more. I read you.
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SAM
You do?
BANDITO
Loud and clear.
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