Well.. another audition has come and gone. THIS time, I did say that I definitely was trying out for Captain Von Trapp. I had forgotten that Max does indeed sing in the stage version. However, since the general public is more familiar with the classic film version, most people may not know this. I feel that the time has come to stretch myself dramatically. I have portrayed the lead male in a play before (still my greatest on-stage challenge to date); yet. the dramatic lead of a HUGE musical is something I have never been presented with. I have always felt that while Uncle Max would be another fun scene-stealer but the Captain would definitely be more of a challenge as he is much more dynamic in that he starts out as a strict disciplinarian to his seven children but his heart begins to soften as Maria reintroduces music and fun into the household.
I felt that the audition went really well. There were a large number of children the first day (of two) try outs. Some of them were really quite impressive ranging in age from 5-13. They each sang a bit of “Do-Re-Mi,” and “My Favorite Things.” Each of them were also asked to yodel as the seven children need to during “The Lonely Goatherd” number (one of the many differences between stage and screen… there is no marionette show). After singing, the read a bit of the scene in which Maria is introduced to them.
Being the only adult male in attendance who wanted a singing role, it was difficult to judge the competition. I was asked to sing “Edelweiss.” The version in the score is a little low for my taste but I thought I performed nicely. I also brought a selection of my own which must have impressed. One of my friends in the room even told me that she had never heard me sing before. WOW! I then read for the role of Captain Von Trapp in the scene in which he and Maria meet and he insists that the house is run with a discipline. Later, I did read for Max. Seriously, I know what kind of character Max is but I was asked to start over as I was “reading the part like you read the Captain.”
There must have been more adults Sunday as there were a total of 65 auditioners. However, there is still a need for a Rolf the “seventeen going on eighteen” love interest of Liesl). The thing that I am apprehensive about is the limited amount of time we have to put this together. There are callbacks anticipated for this weekend and the first rehearsal is next Tuesday. The show opens on March 1st. However, I am sure that the cast and creative hands will pull together nicely.
