Not a Nativity
Don't really remember doing any of those, though I'm sure I must have. Still a school play though, so that kind of counts.

Every year at my old junior school, the departing 4th year (10 and 11 year olds) would put on a leavers play. Ours was about WWII evacuees or somesuch, with singing and dancing aplenty. I auditioned for one of the nine main characters, and actually got handed one of the parts. I was chuffed as chuffed could be!

And then rehearsals started... And after a little while, the teachers began to mutter amongst themselves. Until after one such session when I was called over to the director, and told that I spoke too well(!) to play the part of a London child, and consequently they would be giving my part to someone that dropped their aitches all the time as it would sound "more authentic".

Devastation.

My misery was further compounded by being told that instead, I would be playing the role of the politicians in the play, and could I please do them all with a Mrs Thatcher voice?

My humiliation was complete.



In fact, it only got worse a few years later when my younger brother's year did their play. He not only got given one of the lead roles and kept it, but understudied for one of the other kids too, who was ill the days of the performance.

And yes, I was supposed to be the artistic, dramatic one of the two...
(Kitimariana, Wed 1 Apr 2009, 16:51, 2 replies)

Maggie Thatcher
the milk snatcher???

Jeeze - tough break there.
( SpankyHanky, Wed 1 Apr 2009, 17:28, closed)

When they said "more authentic"
presumably it sounded more like "more orfen'ick". Just think, if you'd mastered that accent you'd probably be in Eastenders by now.
(rampants, Thu 2 Apr 2009, 19:12, closed)