You might remember before Christmas I mentioned I would soon be auditioning for the next SADOS musical, Acorn Antiques? That day arrived yesterday: a whole day of auditions from 10am until 4pm. Crikey! Surely it couldn’t be any worse if we were auditioning in the West End?
I left the boys in bed while I packed my bag with spare shoes, drinks, a packed lunch and a bundle of nerves and headed off to a local school hall. The heating hadn’t been on since Friday so it was quite cold which meant a morning of singing and dancing was the ideal way to warm up. Some vocal exercises first with Craig, our Musical Director – ‘your diaphragm will soon be your friend’ – followed by group singing of ‘Wouldn’t it be Loverly’ using different emotions. I was in the ‘angry’ group, shaking my fist at the sky as I railed against the lack of chocolate and enormous chair. My favourite group were the basses who had to sing the song as if they were French. So very ‘Allo ‘Allo.
Next up was our talented choreographer, Abi, who gave us a series of dance steps to accompany the ‘loverly’ song. There was plenty of character acting involved, a bit of tap, and, because Acorn Antiques is meant to be a spoof of poor quality soap operas, the opportunity to exaggerate and ham it up a bit. We all seemed to enjoy it and I decided early on to make sure my face was playing a part even if my feet were doing something completely different to the choreography.
A break for lunch before the specific auditions for each part in the show. This took quite some time as many people didn’t really know which parts they fancied, so there was about half a dozen people trying out for each character. I decided to audition for Miss Babs, Miss Berta and Mrs Overall with Mrs O being my first choice. The first two auditions went well but I was pleased that the audition piece for Mrs O included one of my favourite lines from the show:
“Well. Somebody offered her a cocktail. Next thing you know she’s headed for Bermuda with a trunk full of provocative scanties. If she’d stuck to a lattice jam tartlet and a Vimto, all this could have been avoided”.
I must have done something right as I’m pleased to tell you that I was offered the part of Mrs Overall. I’m so delighted and can’t wait to get started…tomorrow, in fact, is our first rehearsal. I have a few months to learn my part before we take it to the South Holland Centre theatre in Spalding in May.
Came home to tell the boys my news and Rory was pleased I wouldn’t be embarrassing him this year by going on stage in my underwear as in other years. No, this year I will be wearing thick tights, flat shoes, a pinny (apron) and a hairnet. I’m meant to be playing a cleaner, aged 60 +
Bring it on.
Hooorayyyy! I was so hoping you would get to be Mrs O! I imagine she will be brilliant fun to play! 🙂
Thank you, Emma. I'm so chuffed. It will be so different to other parts I've played. Have just been looking at the script this morning and her lines are just fabulous.
I'm not quite sure who has got the other parts yet but I think we are going to have a blast rehearsing this.
FANTASTIC! What a perfect part, I'm giggling already!
We were all giggling yesterday – Victoria Wood's writing is so funny. I have a permanent smile on my face.
Well done! That'll be such a hilarious thing to do.
I'm impressed that you are not put off by line-learning. I can't remember anything for very long, never have, so acting has always been a no-no for me. 🙂
I do find it harder than I used to but thankfully the dialogue in this isn't too onerous: it's more reminiscent of panto. I think Mrs O's lines are quite manageable. She does have a very long song to sing which I just have to listen to over and over again!
OMG – I was on tenterhooks waiting to see if you'd got it. Brilliant! I'm so envious. That is indeed, a part to get your teeth into. Well done.
Ah thanks, Toni. There are some great parts in the show, Miss Babs (Celia Imrie) has some wonderful lines, but Mrs O is so different – a challenge with the Brummie accent and the comic timing – but you're right, something to get my teeth into. I think I even get special tights with varicose veins stitched in….
Congratulations, sounds like you're in for some fun times, enjoy.
Thank you! I'm raring to go.
So a double bonus! You get the part in the play you wanted and husband gets to see what he has to look forward to in his retirement?
Ha! May treat him tonight and put the Marigolds on.
Well done you!! Delighted for you that you got the part you wanted and for Rory that you will not embarass him! xx
The fact that people might see his mother dressed up as an old stooped granny character means that Rory will probably still be embarrassed, though he accepts his mother does this from time to time!
OMWord – this one might be worth the journey to come and see! You have to relate to the cocktail versus lattice jam tarlet don't you…how many times have we all come out of a lift saying just that…..oh?! just me then!
The script is peppered with gems like that – good sensible advice to keep us all out of trouble.
Yay, I am throughly chuffed to bits for you. Can't wait to hear all about rehersals.
I think I'll have plenty of blog fodder for the next few months!
Congratulations! I am currently sharing my life* with Cornelius Hackl….
Enjoy!
*For which read: "not very much of it as he's always at bl00dy rehearsals"
Ah yes, Hello Dolly! Yes, Dougie is supportive yet already moaning that I'm going to be out Tuesday and Thursday nights for the foreseeable future!
I LOVE Mrs O!!!! Fantastic news…
So many of us grew up with the Acorn Antiques sketches in the 1980s. Can't believe I'm going to try to emulate Julie Walters.
Never doubted your star quality for a moment – congratulations!
Thanks Steve. I just hope I do it justice. I've been practising the accent!
Congratulations! – I know you were eyeing that part. I know you'll do a bang-up job – just be sure to get some video for those of us too far away to come see in person!
I would haver been more than happy o have got Babs or Berta but I really did like the idea of being a completely different character to any I've played before. Actually Mrs O has less to say and sing than the other two but she has some killer lines!
Will try and video some rehearsals nearer the time.
Okay, if you could just confirm the dates of the performances, I will order the charabanc and pick up all other bloggers on the way…
I think it's 22 to 25 May. I'll see if they do a group discount!! 😉
Congratulations! Sounds like brilliant fun. Don't think I'll be able to make it to the show but perhaps you could arrange a live web feed so as not to disappoint your far-flung fans?!
I suspect licensing rules will scupper that idea – no photos and videos of th performance. But I think we can do something with rehearsals so I'll see what I can do for my international fans!! Lol!
I feel a Tony or BAFTA will soon displace the "Brilliance in Blogging" stautuette on the mantlepiece. Congratulations.
You're so right. Will have to make room.. 😉
Well done! and now the hard work begins…but I'm sure you will be great….and I'm with CQ…a charrabang of bloggers!!
We started rehearsals last night, Libby. We had a read through of the script with the new cast – so funny and the casting was perfect, you could just see how well the characters would develop.