Roleplaying Audition

[newfern]

I had my first audition in 5 or 6 years this weekend. It was very interesting. Sure, I'd heard the stories from hubby about his experiences with a similar troop, but I'd never been to one of these things myself. Nothing is quite as helpful in preparing as years of nostalgia.

I auditioned for Sherwood Forest Faire. It's the new baby faire (only 2 years old) that's much closer to home than either Scarby or TRF. The hubby and I went together and had an absolute blast. There were some major people-watching opportunities and some exciting learning opportunities too.

He's done this sort of thing before, having been on cast at Scarby three times now but I've only ever done LARP (full improv without an audience) and one play (on stage with lines), either end of the spectrum that I consider faire to be in the center of. Or maybe it's the third point in a triangle instead of a line (improv with audience participation).

The audition was split into 5 parts, so I'll sum up my experience likewise then do an overall impression.

1. The Interview: Who are you, what can you do, what character are you considering, etc.
   1. After watching a couple of interviewees before me, my main goal was to be heard. The overhead ventilation was louder than half the poor auditioners. I tried to speak up. I tried to be very open with body language.
   2. But they threw me for a couple of loops. First off, they didn't askt he same questions. I didn't even get to say that I'm a fair shot with a bow and can't carry a tune and project at the same time, but can play a dozen various instruments. Never even mentioned any of that.
   3. They did ask to talk to the character concept I'd mentioned (and have never played), so that was fun. I even fell into accent... not a good one, but at least I clearly wasn't me. I also tried to focus on body language.
2. The Skit: Here's a one line summary of a situation, make it a 2 minute scene.
   1. I was a troll walking a goat and got stopped by a tax collector. I could not think at all during prep time. Too nervous. Luckily I had two fabulous partners and they built the scene up for us.
   2. Again I turned to physicality to try selling it. I had a rolling gait, my only self-amusement came from my line "It's my great-aunt Clyde's goat." When the inspector held up her permit to ask ifI had one for the goat, I fed it to the goat (Yes, she ate the post it). When I couldn't think of a line, I zerberted. And when the inspector got angry over the permit eating, I  bonked her on the head and wandered off. Oh and I kept trying to walk through her from moment one.
3. The Game: We later decided this game is really "Yes, but" (an interesting twist on "Yes, and"
   1. The Master requested several different things and my job was to always say yes, but never deliver.
   2. She wanted me to close the shades, the morning was too bright for her, but how could we bask in her radiance if we could not see her in the dark.
   3. She wanted a bath, but her manse was so large that it would be several hours before I could return with fresh water and enough wood to heat it.
   4. She wanted food, but the kitchens were unstocked and it would take me too long to get to the village and back. (Actually, I'm not sure that one came across that clearly)
   5. She wanted clothes, but she had burned her last closet down.
   6. She wanted to brush her hair, but she fired her hairdressor as well.
   7. I felt I could have done MUCH better, rather than use distance as a factor so many times.
4. The Play: We had to sight read a four page scene. Actually, this seemed to be pretty good for me. Years of playing in band competitions trains you for sight reading, if nothing else. I was able to skim ahead, keep people on line who got lost, and even try to act instead of just read.
5. The Party: We had to meet and greet as many of the other characters (interviewees) as possible.
   1. Ursula met at least half the people I think... though for the most part I can only remember them by their bargaining items.
      1. Quiet-girl
      2. Fairy-needs-a-bigger-bag-for-thieving
      3. Mistress Artichoke
      4. Huntsman-needs-rope-for-fairies
      5. Fairy-likes-shiny-things
      6. Moo-cow-fairy-flasher
      7. Man-with-sword
   2. MUST work on my namesmanship
6. Completely forgot that I also got hit in the face with a (plushy) sword. On the bright side, no one will ever be able to tell with my nose. ;) (Yes, it did sting. But I still won the bout.)

So, all in all it was fabulous fun and I feel like I did well and the people were awesome and now if they accept me or B or both of us, it's just a matter of explaining to the girls that they will be weekend orphans for a full third of the year for the rest of their lives. That went so well with K last time. She was a year old and wandering around the house saying "Daddy?" all day every Saturday and Sunday. And with their bedtimes, we will see them for an hour each morning and two hours each night during the week.

Maybe they can run around in the woods with us? Oh, right, one can't walk yet.