Auditions

   Technically, I didn't need to be there this week, because I wasn't auditioning, not even for a Hot Box Girl (thanks, Mark!).  So many people had signed up to audition, that in order for the panel of judges to give each of them fair time, the rehearsal time this week had to be entirely dedicated to the auditions.  After all, there were seven potential Adelaides and four potential Sarahs to start with, quite apart from the 11 would-be Hot Box girls.  The rest of us were there for moral support, or to provide an audience.  Or possibly for the entertainment.  Whatever the reasoning, practically the entire choir was present, whether auditioning or not.  Perhaps we've all lost interest in The Apprentice by now...
   We sat at the wrong end of the hall in the school, possibly to save moving the piano any further from usual, and a length of table was arranged in front of us with chairs for the five judges, leaving the rest of the hall available for acting space.  Your panel tonight: Martin and Ali, aided by Sally, Andrew and Rina.  An odd number so there would be no need to fall back on the audience vote in case of a draw.
   Ali addressed us all before the auditions started, to remind those auditioning that as there were so many of them, they might be interrupted before they'd finished and it wasn't a criticism, and to remind the audience that we were there to enjoy the combined efforts of the auditioners, not to be critical. 
   So, on with the show.  A very brave Kim B was the first up, trying out for Miss Adelaide.  She'd already started singing when Martin first stopped her, to check that she was in tune for the rest of her Lament, but she was.  With a Brooklyn accent through and through and enthusiasm that went right on to the sneeze at the end of her first song, Kim is definitely to be commended for getting us off to a good start.  Then there was a scene with Steve V as Nathan, to see her acting abilities, leading into the song Sue Me, which they also did together.
   Next up was Catherine T, also trying out for Miss Adelaide.  This time Ian M was playing Nathan, Ian and Steve taking it in turns to play against the potential Miss Adelaides. 
   Then it was Christine's turn for show us an Adelaide, again with Steve as her Nathan.
   At which point, we stopped for some Sarahs.  There were seven potential Adelaides, after all, and we didn't want to get tired of the songs just yet!  The audition for Sarah began with some acting, so an Agatha, a General, and Arvide and a Sky were recruited first so that Amanda A could do her thing, with thanks to Jan, Viv, Neil and Luke M respectively.  Then there was a rendition complete with twirling of If I Were A Bell, which appeared to include a very passionate kiss, causing some consternation amongst audience members yet to perform their Sarahs. Do we *all* have to kiss him now?  Finally, a chunk of I Know, just to see if our Sarahs really can hit those high notes. (They could.)
   Caroline G was up next as Sarah, again with a support cast provided by Viv, Jan, Tim and Luke respectively.  This was the point at which we and all potential Sarahs discovered that no, you didn't have to kiss Luke just yet.
   Then we swapped back to Miss Adelaide again.  First up was Viv F, playing against Ian, and she swore when questioned afterwards that she didn't really push him, he was acting.  Viv was followed by the familiar face of Caroline G, who was also trying for Adelaide.  It's no wonder with four songs to learn and two libs to be familiar with, that she occasionally had a spot of bother with the words, but the audience were more than happy to join in a little to get her started again when they could.  Whether the panel found that helpful or not, they never said.  Steve was beginning to lose his voice by the end of Sue Me, so after promising us that a coffee break was almost upon us, Louise sat as a silent Sarah for Arvide to sing to, first Neil S-S and then Tim L.  Before all the men thought they'd got away with doing very little, it was time for a gamblers' scene and Mark H, Ian M, Iain T, Tim  and Luke all had an opportunity to gamble away their life savings.  Admittedly, Iain didn't have much to say, but it got them all up.
   The coffee break seemed very chatty to me, with a lengthy queue for the coffee and no audible raffle, but we had serious stuff to consider.  Next up: the Hot Box Girls.  A number of those auditioning were under 16 and had managed to get parental consent forms signed, and Ali commiserated with those who had learnt the dance but not had the forms signed.  There were still 11 of them altogether, including Rina from the judging panel.  Ali had the track lined up more or less, and the girls did their routine in groups of 3, 4 and then 4 somewhat eerily in complete silence in the centre of the room, while the music played out from behind us.  The judges deliberated and we were told to talk amongst ourselves briefly.
   Once they'd made whatever decisions they were going to make, we were back to more regular auditions.  Ian M and Iain T started off with the Fugue for the Tinhorns, with Martin taking up the third part.  I love that song!  Why did Ali have to stop them?! 
  Next we had another couple of Sarahs, Louise ('At last!') with the Neil-based ensemble cast supporting, and then Jan.  For which we needed a different General, because talented as Jan is, she can't play Sarah and the General at the same time, so Amanda A stepped back up.
  Finally we all got a chance to sing (though Martin may have regretted it) as Ian M tried out Nicely-Nicely's role with Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat.  We learnt those parts two whole weeks ago, you know, you can't expect us to remember them from all that long ago! Oh, you can.  Oops. 
  Amanda A then had a go at Adelaide.  Surprisingly, Joe was still using the music for Adelaide's Lament.  Perhaps it was just habit.  Ian M played her Nathan, for the final time that evening.
  The last audition of the evening was for Sky, and all the men had to get up onto the stage to back Luke up in Luck Be A Lady, although once they got to the main chorus section, they were stopped.
  And after all that, we were told to head off quickly so that the panel could discuss options and make some decisions.  We have been warned that not all the parts will be announced immediately.
  You may have noticed that I haven't commented really on the different auditions.  I'm not one of the panel, so it wasn't really my job, but frankly, it's not one I'd want.  There was some really excellent singing and acting during the evening, and with so many auditioning for each part, particularly Miss Adelaide, there are bound to be a lot of disappointed people who would be more than capable of a good performance.  All the best to Martin and Ali as they sort out their cast list - we wait with bated breath!