The Audition - October 20th

Tonight was an absolute blast. The first read through of the script is on Monday the 27th, so that means a minimal amount of waiting to hear whether I got a part.

I was scheduled to work tonight until 7, but the auditions started at 6:30, so I had plans to leave work around 6:45 and drive right to the audition (about 45 minutes from where I work) in order to be seen before they ended at 9. However, I did not plan well, and realized that I was wearing pants that required heels and that my heels were extraordinarily loud and obnoxious. A former director once gave the sage advise that noisy heels are incredibly distracting during an audition and so should not be worn. So I thought, okay, I will run to the mall on my lunch break and find a cheap pair of quiet shoes that are tall enough to keep my cuffs off the floor. After 1 1/2 hours and 5 stores, I was convinced that such a shoe does not exist. So I decided I would have to leave work earlier in order to go home first and change both my pants and shoes. This actually worked well as Perfect Friend and I would be able to drive together rather than meet there. On the way home, my car started freaking up as I accelerated to 60. I kept it under 60 and it seemed fine, but then I noticed the temperature gauge said, well, HOT. So I frantically called my husband who told me that I had to pull over and shut the car off or I would ruin the engine. Argh. I did not have time for such nonsense. But I did as I was told...and...long story short...the car made it home, I put on new pants and shoes, and PF and I headed out to our Audition.

This play is a children's play written by the director who was, naturally, holding the auditions. It runs about an hour and has a cast of many children, a few parents, and a fierce witch who has spirits for servants and children for slaves. What could be more fun? We filled out our applications and waited to be called in to read some scenes. We were called in with about 8 children between the ages of about 8 and 17. Sadly, the director noticed that PF had a conflict that fell on the same date as a performance, so she was told she wouldn't be able to be cast, but that she could stay and read for fun if she wanted. She opted to stay in the room to watch the auditions. It was sad really...but I think it must be a much better way to get a "no."

So I read for one of the Mother parts, and I read for the Witch...and man was it fun! I think I would LOVE acting with kids...they are amazing! It was so incredible how uninhibited they were, and how friendly. One of the scenes was just a bunch of siblings fighting and not doing what they were told and these kids were so great...they all behaved just like real siblings. I loved it. And the other scene involved the witch and 4 of the kids reading the parts of the spirits...that was fun because I got to yell at them and point my fingers in their faces and try to terrify them. So, first I was mommy dearest, and then I was vile villain...either part would make me glad.

The best part though, was at the end when we were getting ready to leave and the two youngest girls walked by and smiled at me and one gave me a thumbs up and said, "Good Job." And then the other smiled at me and said, "Good Job." I said, "Thanks! You too!" I hope I get to see those girls again.