Part 2 of The Audition Trilogy.

Audition Two
So, having completed the previous audition (see other blog) it was on to the next one but before that I had a bit of time to spare so I headed off to Oxford Street to BHS - they do a mean prawn sandwich there - plus I needed to do something about my appearance so that I didn't look like the Hairdresser from the earlier audition.  Once I had eaten I headed for the ladies and proceeded to change my look. I shook my hair down from its 'up do' combed it through, paled the make up and took off my jewellery and replaced it with new options. The cleaner in the toilets had clearly never seen anybody do this before and spent the entire  time watching me without saying a word. When in this situation it is often a good thing to appear very confident, as if you would do this on a normal day, every day. Maybe she was a little worried in case I was to strip off but I didn't have a change of clothes with me so no doubt she was quite relived when she realised that I had finished and wasn't going to change. 

I made my way to Bond Street Tube to catch the train to Green Park. The Jubilee line wasn't working...Back to Oxford Circus to catch the train for Earls Court.

I had with me my trusty map showing me the pedestrian route from the station to my destination or so I thought. Having read the 'South East" direction I proceeded to walk in that direction. After ten minutes I was greatly relieved to find one of those street maps, you know the kind, they are usually found in town on various corners with a very helpful 'You are here' arrow. Having looked at the map I realised that I was nowhere near where I needed to be and in fact, should have proceeded Eastwards. I retraced my steps down the very long road back to the station and started again. I had plenty of time and so I wasn't worried at all but by now my feet were beginning to hurt. Eventually, I found the road I needed to be in. A select number of shops occupied the road and as I walked along I began to doubt the validity of the Google Map. However, in the distance I spied a restaurant with outside tables covered in white lined cloths. Could this be the place? Indeed it was and I walked on with renewed vigour to find the nearest coffee place. This time I had not been given anything to learn and hadn't even seen a script so although part of me was a little anxious at the prospect of going to an audition with no clues as to what the script was about, I began to relax as at least I didn't have to worry about learning any lines to gain the part. My audition time was 4.45pm and feeling refreshed after a sit down,   I set  off to the restaurant. It felt very odd going into a restaurant ( especially as this was more than posh) and a kindly waiter showed me to three people sitting outside who were, in his words "something to do with it."

There was a woman with various papers who was ticking people off a list so I introduced myself to her. A man sat across from her who was auditioning to play the husband and a young girl who would be the daughter. I was given several sheets of paper to look at explaining who  the group were that were financing the film . The second sheet was almost a disclaimer but nothing needed signing. Then came the third sheet "And these are your lines. Learn them before you go in." The man sitting next to me said that he had had the script sent to him and therefore didn't need to see any of the papers. The young girl had also had the script. All I'd  had was a text message about the audition! My face must have shown some kind of horror because the man said "Whats the matter - don't you do dialogue then?" Restraining myself from strangling him I explained that this was the first time I had seen the script.
"Well, it's only a few lines - should be easy." He said.
Well yes, usually if you haven't had the day from Hell that I had been through (see previous blog). Now I carry with me a large diary in which I keep records of outstanding payments, pending jobs etc and it is also useful when in need of a spare page. I turned to January which had been very quiet for work and began to write down the part of the script I needed to learn. I find this helps because when learning something in a short space of time, it enables you to circle the most relevant words so even if the script is not exactly said as printed on the page, the person taking the audition knows you have got the measure of it. Fortunately for me Lady Luck must have decided to give me a break and two girls walked up to be signed in. They didn't know each other but both of them were in a hurry as they had to go to work. I volunteered to let them go ahead of me as I didn't need to rush anywhere. This meant that not only did the person doing the signing in think that I was wonderful but gave me extra time to look at the words :)
Finally, I was called in to the restaurant and taken downstairs. This was in total contrast to the other audition. It was a beautiful room, very dimly lit with the table setting laid out for a dozen people. Candles burned away  giving the room a very romantic atmosphere. However, now I couldn't even see the script even if I wanted too, in fact, I could barely make out the two  people who were to audition me! I sat down and we did the necessary pleasantries before talking about the script.

All of a sudden in came one of the waiters  with the news that we would have to move because the party that had booked the room for later had already started to arrive. We were shown into  a brighter room but equally as luxurious:

However, this room had piped music which gradually got louder. I had to refrain from laughing as the situation was getting a little ridiculous with us now having to speak rather loudly. I quickly explained that I had not received the script so I was a little in the dark as to  the character they wanted me to  play. All was quickly explained - it was the role of Mum who was a bit gossipy and who had a daughter who was the love of her life. I laid my diary out before me (well, they had no idea what was in it did they?) and somehow managed to remember all the lines. I actually surprised myself and when asked to repeat the lines manage to do it again. I think this was mainly due to the acting classes I had been going to (still go to ) where scripts are learnt pretty quickly. Anyway, having thanked them for seeing me I wandered off home (no more travel disasters thankfully).
The next day I received a text asking me to take the part and I accepted. Life can be strange at  times but  certainly never boring!