Suzanne and Donna Lucia

December 10, 1999

Well, just when you thought the curtain came down and it was time to go home, moi thought the show should continue. And so it is.

I was so pumped after my first stage experience, the lead role of Sarah, in "Goodbye Howard", that the very next day I started calling the playhouses and theater groups in a 45 mile radius for audition dates. Perfect timing, because there were two coming up in just a couple of weeks. This past Monday I auditioned at the Old Town Playhouse in Traverse City, big stuff around here!

The play, "Charley's Aunt" written in 1892, is a comedy farce, often played & well known, (that's okay if you haven't heard of it, I hadn't either!). Two sweet young things are sought after by two college guys, so they invite them to lunch with the chaperon being Charley's Aunt, Donna Lucia D'Alvardorez, from Brazil, (where the nuts come from). Charley's never met his aunt in person, (she's very rich and has paid for orphan Charley's schooling) and she's arriving just in time for lunch. The plans are all set for meeting the girls and popping marriage proposals when a telegram arrives saying the Aunt will be delayed. Desperate the two guys convince their friend Lord Fancourt Babberley, who is going to play an old lady in his first play, to impersonate the aunt, so they can still have a chaperon and meet with the girls. Jack's widower father also shows up, Sr. Francis, and Jack suggested he makes a play for the rich widowed aunt. The Aunt with an orphaned ward Ela, who is Babberly's lost love (talk about coincidence) shows up early, sees that she's being impersonated and assumes another name to see just what kind of game is being played. In the end all is revealed and there are four happy couples. Tada. Corny, funny, hokey, what the heck.

I got a hold of a copy of the play and didn't have a chance to read it until the day of auditions. The two girls, Amy & Kitty are giddy giggling girls as are Jack & Charley. Nothing much interested me...until the middle of the second act. Enter Charley's Aunt, a.k.a. Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez, a.k.a. Lucy. From that point on, she dominates the show, has some darn good lines, a love scene, and from the description, some very cool clothes! Ela, her ward, also has a nice part, but Lucy is definitely the plum role. Clyde, my husband, was getting ready to make a run down to Detroit, when I stopped him at the front door and read the description of Donna Lucia. "It's you, it's perfect. But it's the lead and you probably won't get it. Don't be disappointed if you have to settle for a lesser role," he said. Forget! I was going for the lead!

Donna Lucia is "a well-preserved beautiful, kindly woman of middle age, with a young face, but gray hair. Keen sense of humor and is capable of taking command of any situation. On no account sentimental, but with a deep feeling of real sentiment in her nature. Played gaily with a light firm touch of comedy, Amusement dominating her performance, she dominates the situation from now on."

Oh come on...this is great! I could do this one easy! Right? Now to convince the director. I did my hair in a modified French twist, lots of eye make-up (pop those halogen eyes) but no lipstick, dark clothes...the burgundy sweater with the pearl buttons would give that slightly older touch. This was going to be fun.

With the help of another actor I found my way to "The Stage" which is the smaller basement theater. The play wasn't going to be a big "Main Stage" production, but a small 100 seat production. Perfect! I could handle this!

I walked into the room painted black and a spotlight glared in my face. The room suddenly hushed up and what seemed like a crowd of people turned and looked. "'Charley's Aunt auditions?" I asked. Talk about an entrance. The director was obvious, sitting at a table with perusal scripts and an assistant by his side. We still had a few minutes before beginning so I quickly made out the resume form. Only one performance listed! Sarah. But at least I had one!

There were mostly guys and only one young girl. Not good. They needed three girls. I turned and looked again. There sat a very elegant looking older woman...another Donna Lucia, and a slightly younger woman. Competition! The director asked what part I would audition. I threw my chin up and declared, "Charley's Aunt"! An older woman behind me said she had just started her first acting class and just wanted to observe. Heck, I haven't even started my first acting class yet, but why not give it a try?! People started talking nervously again and then out of the blue the older woman got out of her chair and asked me. "Don't you think you're too young to play the part of Charley's Aunt?"
"Heavens no!" I declared, smiling brightly. "I just finished playing a 70 year old woman, this should be easy." I felt confident. I was going to nail this part!

The readings began with the guys first. One, Patrick, was obviously well-trained, projected his voice beautifully, and it didn't hurt one bit to look at him! There were several other guys that read, but Patrick was outstanding in his reading. After several combinations of actors read the director finally called me and two others.

Funny thing is that I wasn't at all nervous. Anxious to do well and excited, but not at all nervous. I spoke for the first time in my stage voice. What a thrill! It reverberated throughout the small auditorium. Puny old me had a nice strong voice! I played the part of Donna Lucia, teasing as it called for, running my voice up hills and ending in a valley. The man playing opposite me jumped past two important lines of mine. This was my audition as well, as I wasn't going to pass up those lines. So staying in character is said, "Yes my dear, but to make my point" and I jumped back and said my lines while I pointed to the place on his script where he should be. This was an old pro, he knew everyone, had stage presence and voice. He stumbled ever so slightly and then picked it up again. The director had us do each reading twice. Once to get the feel, and another to show what we could do with the part.

Afterwards, as we were walking back to our chair, the actor said, "I'm terribly sorry I messed up your lines. If I do it again just kick me." "Not necessary, I think we saved it just fine!"

The elegant older woman, finally got her chance. She looked so charming, petite and had wonderful motions. She was also very sweet and generous when she came up to me after auditions were over and said, "I was so impressed with your reading, your voice was incredible the way it projected."

It was obvious that the lack of young girls was going to be a problem. They also had rehearsals the next night, but the director was worried. He had me read one of the fluff girl part. I didn't want the role, but I still gave it all I had, instantly turning into a giggling, shy, hair-twisting teenager. I made my voice higher and sweeter. Afterward he mentioned people might want to consider different roles. Oh great! I talked with him and said I really thought I could do a good job with Donna Lucia, besides I was worried about learning the lines of the young girls since they appeared in all three acts.

"Ela is a very nice role and just comes in at the end of Act Two," he said hopefully.

"Yes, she the most interesting of the young girls, but she's no Donna Lucia!"

"Yep, that's the plum role alright," he replied with a sigh.

I brought a photo Clyde had taken of me as "Sarah". The seventy year old southern lady dressed in her furs and jewels. I had put it in a nice presentation folder. On an impulse I whipped it out and walked up to the director & his assistant. "I thought you might like to see what I look like as an older woman." I flipped open the folder and there was Sarah, looking pretty darn good!

"Oh, oh!" they both said. And quickly looked back at me.

"I haven't heard of the play, but you no doubt had the lead," he said.

What's that a great lead in or what?

"Yes. It was great fun." I very briefly described the plot. He ended up just smiling and shaking his head a bit.

I was pumped driving home. I decided I really wanted Donna Lucia. I really felt good about the audition. If necessary I would take the part of Ela and learn what I could from it.

The next night another young girl or two showed up. The director was obviously upset. He ranted and raved about not getting more people to audition. I had spent quite a bit of time putting together a nice outfit, older looking, nothing of the sweet young thing about moi! As soon as I walked in he said, "Don't bother taking off your coat, we're not going to stay long." Heck I spent too much time trying to figure out my wardrobe--I whipped that coat off and sat down. He went on to say that of the two of us who had read the previous day would be cast. He said we would do the play, but he had several holes to fill and would be making some calls.

I knew I had a part, if I wanted it, but was it Donna Lucia or Ela. Since the director was in a irritable mood I decided not to push it. He said he would post the cast on the website and make phone calls. Do not call him. Humph! I told him my schedule, gone next week, and acting class on Mondays. He gave me little hints about what part I would have, but they could be taken either way, Donna Lucia or Ela.

I didn't tell the director, but in Petoskey, the next night, they were doing auditions for "Importance of being Earnest" by Oscar Wilde. The governess was a nice role. Was I going to go for that?

Forget it. I knew I had a role in this play. Stick with it. It's the better known playhouse, I would have an "in" and they had a main stage production coming up in the spring I wanted to audition for, "Moon Over Buffalo". Ela or Donna Lucia, I'd be happy.

We're on the road right now, driving down south to visit my in-laws. I sent the director an e-mail right before I left saying I couldn't access the website but could pick up my e-mail. Could he please keep me posted? And by the way I brought my script and could begin "learning my lines" if only I knew which part to study (subtle hey?!!)

Last night we pulled into the Red Roof Inn somewhere in Central Illinois. We usually stay at "The Roof" because pets are accepted and we always travel with Cassis, my standard poodle.

I picked up my e-mail. There was a message from the director. "You have the part of Donna Lucia, if you accept."

Alright!!!!!!!!!! I nailed that sucker! I quickly e-mailed back without shame, "Yes yes yes, I accept."

Imagine that, moi has another juicy role and in an established playhouse within two weeks of finishing her first stage performance. Talk about being pumped!!!! Now where is my yellow highlighters and that script?! I have some lines to learn!

Yours flying high and truly excited, as if you couldn't tell,

Suzanne & Cassis (I was excited too and jumped all over her, just like a poodle should!)

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