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What really happens behind the<br />
scenes of a school play?<br />
For those of you who haven’t been part of a school play<br />
here is what happens along with a few tips on how to stay<br />
out of trouble.<br />
Those of us in the play auditioned during July, just before<br />
breaking up for summer. The auditions were structured so<br />
that you had to audition in pairs. My partner, Tash Fenn,<br />
and I had to act out a scene from high school musical and<br />
perform a chosen song in the music tech room. Regrettably<br />
for me, and as much as I love Tash (who will play Sharpay<br />
in the upcoming musical), she can sing. Those of you who<br />
have seen the film will know that Sharpay can sing well,<br />
which is emphasised by her name Sharp-ay sounding like<br />
a ‘sharp A’. Unfortunately, I had to go second with my<br />
audition, which lead instead to a lot of ‘flat A’s’. Therefore,<br />
I instead, play one of the only main characters that does<br />
not have to sing, Mrs Darbus. Leading to Tip number 1: if<br />
you cannot sing, do not partner with someone who can,<br />
it will only make you sound worse.<br />
Since September, we have had a rehearsal every Tuesday,<br />
Wednesday and, for some of us on a Thursday. The timing<br />
is normally 4 until 5:30, with some lunchtime rehearsals<br />
thrown in. When it comes to rehearsals, the biggest<br />
surprise is that you never know what you are going to be<br />
doing: singing, dancing or acting. Therefore, Tip number<br />
two is: be ready for anything.<br />
Due to the amount of time you spend with everyone in the<br />
play, be ready to make friends with anyone as you will be<br />
spending many hours with them leading up to the play.<br />
In my case some of the people I now talk to I had never<br />
known existed until we started, which can be a nice thing<br />
as there is never a dull moment. When performing in a<br />
school play you have to be able to take a joke otherwise you<br />
will not get anywhere. Being told, “Omg I can so imagine<br />
you as Mrs Darbus”, was not exactly a thrill however it did<br />
land me the role, so there is always a silver lining.<br />
Tip number 3: be prepared for a year 7 to mock your<br />
dancing abilities.<br />
Being in a school play can be very tiring. You know that<br />
tired feeling you get after completing a full day a school?<br />
Well, if you are in the play you have not completed the<br />
day, in fact there is still an hour and a half to go of<br />
persuading yourself that you are so energetic and ready to<br />
dance, when on the outside what feels like a fantastic turn<br />
was actually you tripping over your own feet.<br />
Consequently, Tip number 4 is: caffeine and a lot of it.<br />
Having said all of this, being part of the play leads to a fantastic<br />
satisfaction when seeing the finished project, as well<br />
as a sad feeling once finishing that the family you have<br />
made over the past months will no longer be watching you<br />
fail every Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. Nor<br />
will they be helping you with a piece of homework due<br />
the next day. Lastly, Tip number 5: take part in a school<br />
play, the memories and friends you make are worth every<br />
second of the standing around and the exhaustion.<br />
Charlotte Pluckrose<br />
‘Take part in<br />
a school play,<br />
the memories<br />
and friends<br />
you make are<br />
worth every<br />
second...’<br />
19
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