• Homepage
  • Destinations
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Blogs I enjoy
facebook twitter pinterest instagram

Mum's Gone To …

Travel tales of an empty nester
  • Homepage
  • Destinations
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Blogs I enjoy
Home  >  Blog  >  Mum’s gone to the Acorn Antiques auditions

Mum’s gone to the Acorn Antiques auditions

Trish Burgess Posted on14/01/201307/04/2016 Musical Theatre/Am dram/Entertainment 35 Comments

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.

Previous Article Review of personalised Valentine’s Day cakes by Baker Days
Next Article The Gallery – New – Rubber Gloves

Related Posts

  • Disposing of the Body – a review.

    24/03/2014
  • Goodnight Campers

    25/11/2013
  • How do you like your eggs in the morning?

    19/11/2013

35 Comments

  1. BavarianSojourn Reply
    14/01/2013 at 1:16 pm

    Hooorayyyy! I was so hoping you would get to be Mrs O! I imagine she will be brilliant fun to play! 🙂

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 1:20 pm

      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.

  2. Chris @thinlyspread Reply
    14/01/2013 at 1:20 pm

    FANTASTIC! What a perfect part, I'm giggling already!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 1:45 pm

      We were all giggling yesterday – Victoria Wood's writing is so funny. I have a permanent smile on my face.

  3. Sarah Reply
    14/01/2013 at 1:39 pm

    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. 🙂

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 1:48 pm

      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!

  4. Expat mum Reply
    14/01/2013 at 1:59 pm

    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.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 2:12 pm

      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….

  5. Mac n' Janet Reply
    14/01/2013 at 2:18 pm

    Congratulations, sounds like you're in for some fun times, enjoy.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 2:53 pm

      Thank you! I'm raring to go.

  6. Troy Reply
    14/01/2013 at 2:26 pm

    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?

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 2:56 pm

      Ha! May treat him tonight and put the Marigolds on.

  7. Funky Wellies Reply
    14/01/2013 at 3:02 pm

    Well done you!! Delighted for you that you got the part you wanted and for Rory that you will not embarass him! xx

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 3:41 pm

      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!

  8. Kelloggs Ville Reply
    14/01/2013 at 5:07 pm

    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!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 5:42 pm

      The script is peppered with gems like that – good sensible advice to keep us all out of trouble.

  9. Very Bored in Catalunya Reply
    14/01/2013 at 6:50 pm

    Yay, I am throughly chuffed to bits for you. Can't wait to hear all about rehersals.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 8:08 pm

      I think I'll have plenty of blog fodder for the next few months!

  10. planb Reply
    14/01/2013 at 7:18 pm

    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"

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 8:10 pm

      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!

  11. Tattie Weasle Reply
    14/01/2013 at 8:47 pm

    I LOVE Mrs O!!!! Fantastic news…

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 9:42 pm

      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.

  12. Steve Reply
    14/01/2013 at 8:53 pm

    Never doubted your star quality for a moment – congratulations!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      14/01/2013 at 9:50 pm

      Thanks Steve. I just hope I do it justice. I've been practising the accent!

  13. MsCaroline Reply
    14/01/2013 at 10:18 pm

    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!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      15/01/2013 at 7:52 am

      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.

  14. Curry Queen Reply
    14/01/2013 at 10:41 pm

    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…

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      15/01/2013 at 8:06 am

      I think it's 22 to 25 May. I'll see if they do a group discount!! 😉

  15. asturiandiary Reply
    15/01/2013 at 8:58 am

    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?!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      16/01/2013 at 8:01 am

      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!

  16. Bass Pryce Reply
    15/01/2013 at 6:16 pm

    I feel a Tony or BAFTA will soon displace the "Brilliance in Blogging" stautuette on the mantlepiece. Congratulations.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      16/01/2013 at 8:03 am

      You're so right. Will have to make room.. 😉

  17. libby Reply
    15/01/2013 at 7:52 pm

    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!!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      16/01/2013 at 8:05 am

      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.

  18. Pingback: The Gallery - New - Rubber Gloves - Mum's Gone To ...

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me

Random Visits

  • Kircudbright bridge
    Kelpies and kirkyards in Kirkcudbright 06/10/2016
  • Turning my travel snaps into a photo book with Pixum 06/03/2012
  • The Gallery: Picture Postcard: Niagara Falls 23/05/2012

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
facebook twitter instagram pinterest youtube

Recent Posts

  • Riverside Walk, Leamington to Warwick
    Riverside Walk from Leamington Spa to Warwick 16/05/2022
  • Craiglockhart Hill
    Heading for the hills in Edinburgh 18/01/2022
  • Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery
    Come on, Eileen! Finding the weird and wonderful in museums 08/01/2022
  • Paired up with Barney and Trevor at Nidderdale Llamas
    Trekking with Nidderdale Llamas 14/09/2021

Recent Comments

  • William Sell on A Holbeach man, born and bred.
  • Trish Burgess on Trekking with Nidderdale Llamas
  • Bryce on Trekking with Nidderdale Llamas
  • Mark T Coupe on Miniatures in bronze: The sculptures of Joseph Hillier in Spalding
  • Trish Burgess on Dipping my toe back into blogging
  • Bryce on Dipping my toe back into blogging
  • Trish Burgess on A visitor’s guide to toilets in Japan
  • Tilly Jaye Horseman on Miniatures in bronze: The sculptures of Joseph Hillier in Spalding

Contact Us

To contact me, please visit my Contact page.

I'm on Twitter. Find me as @mumsgoneto
I'm on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mumsgoneto
Instagram - mumsgoneto
Pinterest - Trish Burgess
Google plus - +TrishBurgess


Designed by 79DESIGN

UK WordPress Support

Website by 79DESIGN, Lincolnshire Web Designer