Auditions for Inconvenience Store were recently held at the beginning of February.
The audition process is always surrounded in anticipation. From the production crew, it was always who would show up, would anyone show up, and will the right chemistry happen. From the auditioners – “will I get a role, who is my competitor, what is this director going to make me do?”
This night would be no different.
The room was filling with nervous anticipation as people filed in, one by one. Some had never been here before, and to others this was “old hat”. Still, there was a feeling of comradery and friendship, even among those unfamiliar with the process. With director, Scott Rawson at the helm, the process was sure to be unique and entertaining. Scott could go with asides, or scenes from the actual play, but that wasn’t really his style. Instead, he chose to do audition or “proto” scenes. Scenes that go nowhere, no arc, no conflict, no backstory. Just two people talking. Form this, he want’s to see what the actor can bring to the scene with direction.
Over the two-night audition process there were nearly 20 people who showed up vying for a role in the first production of local playwright, Ben Bromley’s newest work, “Inconvenience Store”. This was going to be a difficult decision. There is little that equals the fun and joy of actors being able to bring characters to life as they are given prompts like, “You’re two children at the zoo” and “I want to see this done as a telenovela”. The actors themselves, bravely facing each challenge thrown at them, approached these “Proto Scenes” with gusto and joy. Every one of them being the star of their own show, even if only for a moment.
By the time two hours had passed with the auditioners gleefully exhausted and the director breathing a sigh of relief at having had more than enough people come out, the real work was about to commence.
~Scott Rawson