STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9
My church was planning its first-ever play production called“ A Christmas Carol: A Christian Adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Classic.”
On a whim, I decided to audition for a role. After all, I’ d grown up performing music and skits with my family, so getting on stage was not a new thing for me. I figured if I didn’ t get a main role, I could still have fun as maybe an extra wearing a swooping 1840s hoop skirt, just like Dickens’ characters wore.
Our youth group had performed plays for our church for years at the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar or the Stillwater Community Center, but this would be the first time the entire church performed a
I stepped onto the stage between two chairs, where two teenagers sat. Their job was to read the other characters in the scenes. The only lights in the room were the stage lights, and a microphone was set up nearby.
For some reason, it didn’ t hit me that the actors and actresses were supposed to be prepared to speak in a British accent, if they were able. How had I not come prepared for this part of the audition?
For if I knew anything about my church, it was that whatever we did – whether it was putting on a Family Fair or participating in the Remember the Ten Run at Oklahoma State University – we did with excellence. It was not only built into our culture, it was
For some reason, it didn’ t hit me that the actors and actresses were supposed to be prepared to speak in a British accent, if they were able. How had I not come prepared for this part of the audition?... My attempt to speak in a British accent was a dismal failure.
play like this. I was soon to find out not only how organized the directors and the entire production team was, but also how incredible it was that a local church rallied behind our pastor and director to present the beloved Christmas story.
What I didn’ t expect was how nervous I would be.
The director had chosen three parts for me to read, including the Spirit of Christmas Past, Mrs. Emily Cratchit and the charwoman, Mrs. Dilber( referred to as the laundress in some film and stage adaptations). also a big reason behind what we were doing: to showcase the Gospel message within the script, while pulling from actual lines from Dickens’ classic.
My attempt to speak in a British accent was a dismal failure.
When I tried the Cockney accent for Mrs. Dilber, I sounded more like a West Virginia mountaineer than anything else( my dad’ s roots). I felt better about the Spirit of Christmas Past, but still didn’ t think I’ d snagged a role, and left auditions feeling ridiculous – but slightly proud of myself for at
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 9