A spoonful of YouTube
It’s amazing isn’t it? One of the most respected talent pools on the planet, Australia, practically perfect in every way, suddenly cannot fill a leading role for a musical. Well, that’s what a spoonful of breakfast television told me a few weeks ago. I am appalled and embarassed. What the hell are you doing at those auditions you go to?
It’s amazing isn’t it? One of the most respected talent pools on the planet, Australia, practically perfect in every way, suddenly cannot fill a leading role for a musical. Well, that’s what a spoonful of breakfast television told me a few weeks ago. I am appalled and embarassed. What the hell are you doing at those auditions you go to?
[At the time, Tony Sheldon was on the West End as a lead with Priscilla, Simon Burke was also on the West End as a lead in La Cage Aux Folles and Tamsin Carroll was alternate ‘Nancy’ in Oliver! on the West End.]
Clearly, things have got so bad out here that the final 20 call backs for this particular role failed to find the required chemistry. Nor could they ‘step in time’. Why were the called-back if they weren’t suitable? Oh dear.
Do we ask the casting director, ‘What the hell is going on’? Is this the best you can give us?’ Do we hold further dignified auditions? Stupid idea. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. No – what we need is something more Super-Cali – …you know the rest.
[Pre-planned think tank]
‘No! What we really should do is hold auditions on YouTube so that we can further advertise the show. Get the songs out there again without spending a cent. Get lots of people watching their friend’s auditions and raise awareness of the show itself. Stuff those that have auditioned for the role. If they really want it, they’ll YouTube it anyway. Brilliant!’
[Will takes tongue out of what was left of his cheek]
The entire situation is so absurd that a prominent male Sydney actor has posted a YouTube audition for the role. It’s the most superb 3rd finger salute I have seen in a long time. If you haven’t worked it out, the role I am talking about requires a female actress.
Pro folk working off-shore have sent in videos recorded on their computers from hotel rooms! Think about it. What have we come to? In some cases, young hopefuls have secured performance spaces for filming. But, when I last checked, there were only about 20 auditions posted. (Damn – didn’t work the way we’d hoped).
I am very sorry, but to tell the Australian public that a prominent Australian Casting Director could not find a suitable fit for this role is ludicrous. (If they couldn’t, hire one who could). To tell all the legit auditionees that they did not cut it on National Television in a merciless pursuit of publicity (which of course, I am giving it also) is something akin to an insult.
I can only pray that some qualified professional has been found and is being very, very quiet while all of this plays out. Or, may be an import will ‘Pop In’ for a time while we pick up our uncastable selves and have a think. Spit. Spot.
At times like this, I could almost hope for a reality television show about the casting, because at least then…at least the form of Music Theatre would be somehow promoted and plonked into the public’s lounge rooms.
At this stage, the male actor from Sydney gets my vote. Whether or not he accepted the role would remain in the balance. (His lip-sync work is certainly better than Brittany’s).