The stage, the egos, the make up, this is not the big budget production of Mary Poppins or Wicked, but these people really like those shows, they are a local theatre company in Albury/Wodonga (on the NSW/VIC Border), as they prepared for their musical theatre production of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, 'The Pirates of Penzance'.
I was lucky enough to have been in Albury for a period long enough to consider auditioning for a local theatre company. I had heard good things about Beauty and the Beast - the earlier production, and was getting information from the company when it was called Foot and Mouth theatre company. Also strangely enough a few months before I had managed to snag a copy of The Pirates of Penzance- the Linda Ronstadt version and was really into the music, so I felt that this was my time.
Auditions are always really stressful situations, and the music for those who do not know is very technical heavy. I had chosen to sing For I am a Pirate King. It is a 'bouncy' song, and it had lyrics that I could remember and emote well.
So I walked into the room to find three people sitting behind a desk, the Director, Musical Director and Choreographer. My heart was racing, and the papers ruffled in my hands, as a cold shiver went up my spine. I thought perhaps I am terrible, I like musical theatre, but perhaps I am no good? They start to play the music on the piano, and another thought ravages my confidence- I have only sung the song to the soundtrack, and the music sounded so different with just the piano. But then a white flag, I don't know these people what do I care if they don't think I am any good -a lot.
So I sung as good as I could, trying to have fun with the song- and those who know the song know how much fun it can be. They didn't cry, no eruption, and no sly degrading comment. Yes! Then it was onto the second portion of the audition- movement. It consisted of sneaking across the room as if I was a pirate. Since I practiced this basically to some degree every night this was an easier portion than the singing. Then I was to walk as if mocking a policeman while walking behind him, and to duck out of sight when 'he' looked. It was a fun movement section, and was once again just something for me to laugh at.
I thanked them for their time, and left wondering how I went. I was happy with it, and a few weeks later I found out- so where they. I was in...the chorus. I was at first a little shaken, but then I came to the realisation of two major things;
- The chorus in a lot of musicals have the best, most complex and beautiful songs.
- The chorus gets to be involved with a lot of the cast and crew, you have the time and opportunity to get to know people a little better.
- The show does not rest upon your shoulders.
With that out of my mind, here is a transcript of what I thought of the rest of the process;
During my time with the AWTC Pirates I have experienced some highs and lows, and met a wide variety of people, and experienced the creative process of a fantastic show. Looking back after completion, I can recall a great highlight reel, but as these things often do it has left me wanting more. So this is something I wish to continue with and I would like to thank AWTC for giving me the opportunity, to replenish my desire for performance and theatre.
* The Early Weeks
I was a little concerned about how I would react to the other cast members having worked on projects when the atmosphere was taut at the start. This however was not the case with most of us having difficulty trying to learn each other's names. Naturally the girls seemed to pick up on this better, and most of the guys (myself included) were left floundering for a few weeks.
Though after finding time off of work, and experiencing the after rehearsal time at Elgins were just grand. I finally got to feel like I knew who these people were and what they were about. These outings eventually resulted in the formation of the unfortunately short lived 'Pirates Social Group'. Where Dog was nominated and quickly seconded into being El Presidento- I think his entertaining stories might have played an influence. The group was quick to act working on preparing the Karaoke night, by inspecting the room at Elgins that very night.
* After we were broken into our cast groups;
We came to learn each others names- which was a good start- and started to form as a great group, where most of us- so everyone said- looked forward to rehearsals. I especially started to form a good relationship with Dog, Ben, Nikki and Marie, a friendship that continues (so a key reason I would suggest for people to join up with their local community theatre group). We created characters and then were able to find out a way to implement them into the group. This was the time of Edward the Counting Pirate, who accidentally killed his parents by counting lanterns and inadvertently burning down his house with his parents inside, thus running away, and becoming a part of the band of Orphan Pirates of Penzance.
Talking to some of the other groups we were actually quite ahead of the others in becoming a well oiled group, knowing each other's names, and our joking and light-hearted construction of our songs. This would however decrease a little when the whole group moved to the hall, and the whole cast started working together. This was tried to be remedied by group warm up, but as the seating pattern showed there was still distinct cliques- which perhaps was to be expected, but as Ben kept telling me, 'In Beauty and the Beast', I knew everyones names and we were a big ensemble, but it is not the same in this one' (for those that want to know Ben went on to perform as Seymour in Livid Production's version of Little Shop of Horrors', but that report will come later), and naturally being a quiet observer it was hard not to notice.
* In the Hall;
The rehearsals got longer, and the show started to show some legs, but we were running late, and a few of us were a little concerned about how late it was and how we had not even performed a full run of the show. It was through this process that the nails were pounded and things became solid- in a loose year seven woodwork kind of way. We started to get lunches and I got to speak a little more to the other cast members, especially the police and a few of the ladies (Shoshanna and Scott) who I had not had that much contact with, and this was an enjoyable bonus. I enjoyed eating out with others, it just placed them within my mind as 'friends', instead of just other cast members, and hopefully it endeared me to others in a similar frame. I do recall that although we lost some of our group cohesiveness for the cast cohesiveness this was countered somewhat be observing the work of others, and seeing pirates start to resemble the show it eventually became.
On a more personal note this is also when I can to realise that Ben and Cathryn had not only heard but were performing a section of a show that is dear to me, and this only increased our friendship, and encouraged me to go see their school performances) sadly not the songs from the show, but original pieces) which I then wrote a review for and received somewhat positive thanks for it.
* The Theatre;
As any student of the craft knows there is something sacred and empowering about the theatre, which was great, as it allowed us to regain some of the lost composure and energy that was being filtered into the reflecting walls of the hall. It just brought the fact home to us that the show is not just for us, and friends and family, but for all of the expecting and hopeful chairs- each waiting desperately for a patron to be filled with the joy of theatre.
We got to see our change rooms (and I finally understood all of the jokes about show change rooms), and for some of us- like me - a chance to see and try on our costume. After donning my attire, Edward was slowly- OK I joke- was very rapidly changed in the mind of the rest of the cast into Wally, the Work-Experience Pirate (though I do appreciate that Nikki remembered Edward). Because of this massive shift, I slightly adjusted my character to fill this new role and 'go with the flow'.
* The Show;
We were all nervous and had our own secret concerns; would Jes come back from Camp and just slide into a post-opening night cast? Would Kat be terribly upset at having to relinquish this new role? Would the microphones work? Would the audience enjoy it? All of these were there, but the first major concern I had in my head was; 'Why did I bring the wrong shoes?', though my current shoes were comfortable, they were not fitting with the costume, and a rush home, and personal warm-up later, I had fixed the problem, and also filled myself with adrenaline- like I needed more. This extra energy however allowed me to get over the nervousness.
One unavoidable downside I noticed was that people all had programmes and we all wanted them signed by the whole cast (generalising I know, some did not care, but quite a few were very adamant). I noticed this most prominently with the leads sometimes getting catty towards otherwise well meaning cast members, to them I state it is a necessary evil, and just another thing to suck up and perform. Society has many of these things, and getting angry about them does little but annoy others, creating a cycle of anger.
* The Wrap Up;
Do not let the last paragraph drive you away dear reader from being drawn towards participating in the next production, it is an overall vastly enjoyable experience. You get to meet a lot of interesting people, enjoy watching egos clash (competitively and not necessarily antagonistic), watch envy pile up and explore, or just get bottled up. I enjoyed this because it reminded me of a soap- and I still think it would be a good one- but it is truly a great time if you want some laughs, just brush off the negatives, and in the end you focus on the positive, as with most aspects of life. You get new friends, and the sense of achievement from all of the rehearsals and hearing the applause vibrates your very soul.
So come one, come all, take a bow, side by side with individuals seeking the same goals as you. Once again I thank Albury/ Wodonga Theatre Company for the experience, and I look forward to hopefully more production in the future.
If you are interested please contact the Albury/ Wodonga Theatre Company http://http//awtco.org.au/theatre
Also they are partnering up with another production company to bring the World Premier of Strange Bedfellows: A New Musical to the region, which I hope will mean a greater opportunity for theatre in the local community.
Dale Stam
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