Middle School Plays

Middle School Plays

Part 1

By Natalie Dolsky 

I walked into the auditorium and stared around. Everyone else seemed so confident. Their self - esteem seemed high, but me? I was almost re-thinking the whole auditioning thing. 

We were doing the Broadway show, Mean Girls the musical. I really wanted Cady, the main role, but I doubt I would get so much as an ensemble member if I even got in that is. 

This was the first show I had ever tried out for. I had basically no idea what I was doing! I was just following what the audition slip told me to do. Carol, my best friend in the whole world, had somehow dragged me into this. I hated being the center of attention! 

When Carol asked me if I was auditioning for the play, all I replied was, “No way, in the world!!” Well, that was my first reaction. When she told me my ex-BFF Amber was auditioning, I knew I had to get a good role or I would be doomed. There was only one problem; Amber loved singing, and was really good at it! 

I saw her at school the other day. She was talking to her friends. I heard her say, “No one else stands a chance. No one will compare to me, Ms. Liete already loves me she probably knows that I would be perfect for Cady, and if she doesn't she soon will.  

If I wanted to get a leading role in the musical, I would have to start working. I haven't even sung in about 6 years. The memory of when I stop singing for good (or at least I thought so) still lurks around waiting for the perfect time to sneak to the front of my brain and torture me. 

When I was about 7 and a half, I was taking a bath and I was playing with a small, colorful mermaid toy. It was my favorite, so I always played with it. I figured I would sing a song in the bathtub. Now, I was 7 and a half so it seems pretty normal; except I was the most timid kid in the world. I was so “un-social.” I would only talk on the phone if my parents confirmed it was one of my relatives or really really close friends. 

Anyway I started to sing but I had forgotten that my mom was still in the bathroom. So when she asked me what I was singing, I was so embarrassed that all I did was jump right out of the tub, wrapped the towel around me, and ran out of the room before my mom could say anything else. 

But I know this is different. If I get a good role I could prove to the whole school that I am not the scaredy cat that they think I am. If I audition, though, maybe they’ll… they’ll see me for me. 

“Okay, let’s see here… Carol, Sophie, Amber and Eliza - you four will be auditioning first. Please follow our stage managers to our studio where you will audition.” the choreographer (makes up dances) instructed.

NO!! That was the last thing I needed!! Amber just had to be in my audition group for Mean Girls!! I might as well just drop out. I probably won't make it in any way. But I didn't want to look like a chicken in front of all these people, so I slowly got to my feet and went with the rest of the group. 

“Alright. I know some of you may be scared, but just relax. I'm sure you are all amazing singers, actors, dancers, or all three,” the director, Ms. Liete, said. 

Eliza's hand goes up instantly. “Do we have to be able to dance?” she asked. Ms. Liete tensed a bit before answering. “Um, no, not for all parts but I require at least some skill for bigger roles. But let's not worry about that right now. Right now we are doing the monologues for the acting portion of your audition. Eliza, you’re up first.”

“Okay, uh, here is one from Mean Girls: “We only wear jeans or track pants on Friday, you can't wear a tank top two days in a row, you can only wear your hair in a ponytail one day a week, and ummm……” She hesitated for a second. Eliza opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again. “Okay, Eliza, let's leave it here. Amber, you’re next.” I watched as Amber and Carol recited the same monologue. Ugh, Amber was amazing! But now? It was my turn.

I took a deep breath in, and then out. “Oh, and the real monologue was a bit inappropriate…so I altered it,” I whispered. Amber rolled her eyes. “Alright,” Ms. Liete responded. She sounded happy!

“I’m going to forgive you. Because I’m on a lot of pain medication right now. You know I died for fifteen seconds, right? Spoiler alert: heaven looks like a really nice hotel in Miami. When I woke up in the street, all I could see was my mom’s face and Gretchen’s big face looking down at me. And they looked so surprised. Not even sad, just like, surprised that I could be bleeding. Like they forgot I was a human person. I’ve actually been a human person this whole time. I know I was harsh. And people say I’m bad. But you know what they would call me if I was a boy? “Reginald”. That’s what my mom was gonna name me if I was a boy, so honestly I’d rather be “bad”.” I finished with a once shaky, now confident voice.

Amber’s gaze caught me when I finished. She stared at me with a cold hard stare while the rest of the kids in the theater auditioned.

Then Ms. Liete exclaimed, “Oh, my! Look at the time! We’ll hold the singing and dancing auditions tomorrow.”

All of us grabbed our bags and started to go, when I felt a small tap on my shoulder. Thinking it was Carol, I turned around and said, “Yeah?” But it was Amber!! “You better not try to alter MY play one bit. If you get in, that is. The way she said it was so intense it sounded as if the play was about her. I knew the only reason she said was to annoy me and it worked but i knew that I should be the one to warn her I felt confident about my audition but i still was unsure about it all.