The Audition

Regina

The further I went, the more my thoughts spun wilder as I contemplated whether this would eventually become a success or not.

Indeed, I had been pulling myself together and building all the confidence I needed, but now I was within the confines of the building, things were about to get crazy.

Several girls, all in line for the same audition I was here for, occupying different angles of the foyer where we now found ourselves, busy with makeup, chit-chatting and practicing weird lines in front of mirrors, feeling like they were already the star of the show. I was sick of it, but… here we go!

“I need to use the bathroom, Gwen.”

“Sure!”

Gwen was still lost in admiring just how grandeur Sun Entertainment was. I couldn’t blame her – this was no joke!

“Don’t stray far, Gwen. I’d love you to be there in the audition booth.” I pleaded.

Gwen rolled her eyes. “Of course, I’ve got you baby. I’d be right there among the red seats, giving you all the thumbs up you’ll ever need.”

“Oh, I love you.” I sighed heavily.

“You’ve got this!” She replied with a pat on my shoulder. “Now, go girl! Let’s go.”

I hurried to the bathroom, and took a deep breath as I arrived before the mirror, wishing I could pour the cold water across my face, but then I considered my makeup and cursed under my breath.

I simply took some water and gargled. Then I practiced my voice, staring at the mirror.

“Oh, she sounds like a frog…”

My attention was immediately drawn towards the two skinny ladies, looking half naked as they chuckled among themselves. Did they mistake this place for a club or something?

An anger swelled within me as one of the girls turned to look at me with a look of disgust as if she was staring at a garbage can.

“I’m sorry. Is there something you’d just said that perhaps, I’d like to know?” I asked, trying to understand what her problem was.

The lady smirked her lips and drew closer, having the guts to eye me from head to toe.

“Yes, darling. I said you croaked, like a frog…” She giggled now with the other two behind her, just enough time for me to launch a blinding blow at her spiteful face and march out of the bathroom as their loud, annoying voices died out behind me.

I hated bullies……so much! I hated how Liam would always try to play one joke or the other at me, thinking it was funny, but it wasn't! I wasn't going to let anyone talk to me in that manner.

I had more important things to take care of than some crazy girls trying to kill out my morale before it even came.

I proceeded into a mini theater where the audition was to take place now and joined the rest of the girls, seated and waiting, unable to simply keep the heck shut.

As the girls auditioned, we sat at a different segment of the theater, but I could still see Gwen from where I sat. She managed a confident wave, and I waved back calmly just as I spotted the three godforsaken women from the bathroom as they walked side by side into the theater and spotted me with a frown of rage drawn across their faces.

I laughed within me… served her right!

She lifted the middle finger at me now and I smirked, reciprocating as they joined the back row of the auditioning women. So, they were here for the audition as well and they had such guts. Let’s see what they were capable of.

One of the judges came forward at first and after a brief orientation, an assistant from the company instantly shared a script across to us, highlighting the role we were to portray and then giving us just ten minutes to practice.

It was just when the audition was about to begin that I took notice of the judges. Apparently, there were four seats arranged for them but only three were occupied.

Where was the fourth judge?

One of them, a tall, lean man who introduced himself as Frankenstein, by industry name, did the favor of introducing the judges.

“I am Frankenstein, this is Brenda, and over there is Pauline…” He said as he gestured to the friendly-looking women waving back at us.

“We want to believe you all know how the

industry works. We need your voice, your body language, your gestures, your composition, picturization, pantomimic dramatization, rhythm, you name it… We need all theatrical aspects present in you. I hope you’re ready?”

I was not sure, but along with the crowd, I echoed a “Yes.”

Then again, I stole a peek at Gwen – always ready, ever there, winking back at me in the funniest way ever.

“Great, let the audition begin!” Frankenstein announced.

“Sorry sir, and the fourth judge?” I asked impulsively.

God, where had I found the courage to do that? I didn’t even see it coming! All I knew was that I had my hand pointing at the empty chair and boom, everyone was staring at me.

“Oh! Don’t you worry. He’d be joining us shortly. He is the owner of Sun Entertainment.”

Murmurs of blushing girls rose all around me. “He has some business to take care of, but he’d be here. He'll introduce himself when he arrives,” Frankenstein added.

Soon, we were all called out. Each girl filed out, row after row. I could see the crazy talents from the different girls, but I was patiently waiting for my turn, my lines running back and forth in my head.

Soon, it came to the turn of the girl I had dealt with in the toilet. “I’m Beatrice Shaw…” She introduced herself as she began her audition, and what a mess Beatrice was after all.

Soon, everyone within the theater was laughing at just how cringe it got. I wasn’t laughing though; I was more focused on not fucking up my own audition. I cared less about anything else at this point.

“Let’s have you, Regina Donovan.”

This was it! I came forward. “Good day, I am Regina.” I began and then paused, took a deep breath. Oh goddess help me!

I spotted Gwen again and thought I saw her lips mouth the words: “Go girl!”

I began my audition, moving more smoothly than I had ever imagined. It was great, I was killing it and I knew it as I saw the smile on the faces of the judges.

But there was something pulling my attention and even as I acted, having worked on several concentration exercises, I noticed the figure in the darker parts of the theater, slowly advancing forward, hands in his pocket, watching me with such intensity. Then he was in the light.

I froze.

Somebody tell me how Lionel was standing right before me at my audition!