auditions

[helenic]

After talking to the_alchemist on Saturday about the CULES panto of Peter Pan, I made the decision that although nothing was likely to come of it, I was going to finally get round to doing some auditions this term. Cambridge seems to be the university with the largest amount of plays on at any one time - about, what, twenty a term? more than that? - and many of them are quite bad, which means I stand a chance (as a first-time actor) of getting a part in one. With the apparent emphasis on quantity over quality, Cambridge, however long I'm going to be here for, is probably the only opportunity I'll ever have to be in a production. I should take advantage of it.

During the conversation with Catriona I established that audition information was to be found in Varsity, one of the two big student newspapers, but I didn't manage to get hold of one until the next day. I discovered that all the auditions were scheduled on the first weekend of term - the 17th and 18th - and as they all took place in the late afternoon and evening, I couldn't make any of the ones on Sunday due to choir commitments, and I had of course already missed the Saturday ones. Still, I noticed there were a couple of productions which continued auditioning until Monday, and an advert for Yeomen of the Guard for a principle alto saying to arrange an audition by email. These looked promising; I industriously noted them down in my diary.

I emailed the Yeomen of the Guard organisers and discovered they are also auditioning tonight. The part on offer is Dame Carruthers and they want to hear a prepared piece. Unfortunately, I don't know Yeomen, and have left my Best of G&S at home. The only score I could get hold of is Pirates, and Ruth (the alto) doesn't have any interesting solos which would really show off my voice - particularly not if I only have an hour or so to learn one. I don't think, therefore, I'm going to be able to do it. It's a real shame, because Dame Carruthers, from the look of what I've seen online, is a fantastic character part and she has a couple of quite fun songs - besides which a singing audition would be good experience for me. It's a pity they aren't just asking me to sight-read, because that's something I can do with relative ease. But a prepared piece is assumed to be one demonstrating the best of your ability, and I just don't have anything non-churchy I could take with me. It's disappointing, but I'm going to try and get to the other auditions on tonight: "Smorgasbord", a Corpus Playroom production which will apparently showcase five new plays from student writers, and the Christ's College radio play, which I'm possibly more suited to than the stage, although to be honest the Corpus thing doesn't exactly sound prestigious.

I'm also auditioning tomorrow, for the Tolkien Society's charity recording of the radio play of Lord of the Rings. This is something I am absolutely desperate to get involved in (since I missed mirabehn's by a few months), although I have no idea which character I should ask for if given the choice. Elrond? Faramir? Celeborn? My immediate choice would be Merry, but I have no doubts he will be much fought-over. (People who know both me and the book: who would you cast me as?) The other thing that's happening is the result of pleasingly good timing: I was discussing the Cambridge Greek Play with the_lady_lily after lectures today and wondering when auditions were going to be advertised when lo, I checked my email only half an hour later and there were the details in my inbox. Needless to say I've contacted them, although as it's Oedipus Rex which has all of one female character I doubt it will come to anything. I suppose I could play the Messenger as a strapping young lad. I like messenger speeches.

Comments

[fairymelusine.livejournal.com]

New York is a lovely place, but its sad absence of accessible G&S is a source of great pain to me.

[the-alchemist.livejournal.com]

1. I'm fairly sure that if you want to audition for Peter Pan or the other CULES production (can't remember what it is) it's not too late. You're very likely to get in, but it's not likely to be a good standard, and I'm not sure whether there will be performances for students. Email or ring Daniel on dms46@cam.ac.uk or 07817 886 115 sharpish if interested.

2. Could you forward me the Oedipus information?

3. Also whatever info you've got on the Tolkien Society thing. Particularly an email address of an organiser - I'm not sure whether I'll be auditioning, but I'd still like to offer Elly's script.

4. I generally find it's best to be completely honest about parts. Tell them you're really keen to read Merry, but think he'll be popular, then tell them your second and third choices too. I think you'd be a great Merry.

That applies to Yeoman too, if it's not too late. Just tell them you've only just found out about the auditions and do your best.

[libellum.livejournal.com]

1. right. I shall ring him now. Did not many people audition, then? I haven't seen it advertised.

2. Have forwarded emails.

3. Anna (Tolkein person)'s email address is aes42@cam.ac.uk.

4. Right, thanks :)

The thing is I've been emailling them today, which was when I found out a prepared piece was needed. I know I've had the entire day to sort one out (although work's got in the way a bit) but do you really think I should turn up without anything ready and just offer to sight-read? Or should I try to pull something together in the next hour? Argh. I think I've decided to do the radio play one first as I've never done an audition before and this is likely to be the least intimidating.

[the-lady-lily.livejournal.com]

It was rather amazing timing, wasn't it?

With the apparent emphasis on quantity over quality, Cambridge, however long I'm going to be here for, is probably the only opportunity I'll ever have to be in a production. I should take advantage of it.

Never underestimate the possibilities put forward by local am dram societies. My father made a great Widow Twanky (and other pantomime dames) for many years until my mother made him give it up. We still have the flower (sic) he used in baking the panto cake...

[libellum.livejournal.com]

true! I'm actually auditioning for a part in a panto - it's a "victorian comedy of manners" or something so I'm desperately crossing my fingers the part in question is a waiflike male street kid. Not that I have ANY reason to assume that's what it'll be, but here's hoping. Probably I'll end up with a Cecily-type, ugh. Have decided to ask for Merry in LOTR but realise I will most likely be given Galadriel if I'm given a part at all (which, let's be honest here, I should be - it's voice acting, which I can do, it's based on the character interpretations in the BBC version, which I know by heart, and it's LOTR for goodness' sake!! Also I doubt many thesps will have heard about it as it's a Tolkien Soc project, so the competition shouldn't be too harsh).

I'm having so much work stress. Not sure about the Calling tonight. argh.

[leonato.livejournal.com]

Do audition for Yeomen! Don't worry about not having much prepared, there should be enough in Ruth to show what you can do. Alternatively do you have anything non-G+S you can do (I auditioned with some Gershwin)? Or any G+S you know but don't have music for so they can provide the score?

Audition anyway, even with not much prepared, I'm playing Wilfred, so there's an incentive (or not) :-)

[libellum.livejournal.com]

unfortunately you've posted this too late - I didn't go in the end. If no-one else did and you still don't have a Dame Carruthers let me know, as I might be able to sort something out ... I thought about Gershwin but Bess goes a bit too high for me. I should have just gone for Ruth. *kicks self*

I am, however, auditioning for the CULES "A diary of a nobody" tonight - do you know anything about it? My First Ever Auditions last night were fun but quite mediocre. They weren't impressed by my "smug git" interpretation of Ariel, either.