大象传媒

This week, when 'An Inspector Calls'听 takes to the stage in Milton Keynes, the professional touring cast will be joined by a group of local 'extras'. For my sins, I will be one of them!

You can see how we all get on on the Website and, from Wednesday, on听Lorna Milton鈥檚 Afternoon Programme on 大象传媒 Three Counties Radio.听

Monday 27 April 2009

It seemed like a great idea at the time! Local people wanted as extras to appear in Stephen Daldry鈥檚 production of 鈥楢n Inspector Calls鈥� when the UK tour arrives in Milton Keynes. 鈥業 could do that鈥� I thought! How difficult can it be?!

An Inspector Calls

And of course, my obvious acting talent would be spotted immediately and I would be whisked off to Hollywood to star in Daldry鈥檚 latest blockbuster before you could say Kate Winslet. Wouldn鈥檛 I? Well, only in my most surrealist of dreams after a cheese binge maybe! In fact, I think there鈥檚 about as much chance of Mr Daldry making an appearance and my acting flair being acknowledged as there is of the recession being over next week or Fred 'The Shred' handing back his pension!

However, there were two very compelling arguments for doing it. Firstly, Stephen Daldry is an award-winning film director. His most recent success was The Reader, for which Winslet won an Oscar.

This, his production of JB Priestley鈥檚 classic is the show that made his name, when it was staged at the National Theatre in 1992. It was subsequently a big hit in both the West End and on Broadway and has won more awards than any other play in history (including three Oliviers) and thrilled audiences across the world in more than 4,750 performances! O.K. now I鈥檓 scared! It could all fall apart because of one hapless amateur tripping over her feet and hurtling off the stage - although I'm sure that they won't let that happen!

But there was also the lure of the Milton Keynes Theatre. I have spent so much time sitting in the audience that I really want to know what it鈥檚 like standing on that stage with hundreds of faces staring up at you and at the end clapping and cheering鈥� hopefully!

Seduced

So, seduced by the sound of the greasepaint and the smell of the crowd, and the assurance that all you needed to take part was enthusiasm and commitment, I googled Stanislavski, applied on a whim and I am now doing eight performances - including three matinees dahling!

I have now been formally invited to take part, but right now have absolutely no idea what I will be doing.听 All I have at my disposal is a vague knowledge of the play, the fact that no experience is required, and the following information from a press release:

鈥淔rom Stephen Daldry, Director of The Reader, the Academy Award-winning blockbuster The Hours and one of Britain鈥檚 best-loved films Billy Elliot - now an Olivier Award-winning musical - comes the magnificent West End & Broadway production of JB Priestley鈥檚 classic thriller.

When Inspector Goole arrives unexpectedly at the prosperous Birling family home, their peaceful dinner party is shattered by his investigations into the death of a young woman. His startling revelations shake the very foundations of their lives and challenge us all to examine our consciences.鈥�

From this, I have deduced that it is a thriller, and assuming that, I have started to do some preparation.

For example, it鈥檚 likely that I may have to look shocked at some point, so I have been practising my best stunned/dazed/generally taken aback look all week. But apparently, according to my husband, this is no different from how I normally appear!
Then there鈥檚 my 鈥榩ondering something complex鈥� face for which I have taken the advice of Joey from Friends and thought of trying to work out a very difficult sum. Apparently, according to my ever-supportive husband, this makes me look like all I am pondering is whether or not I need the loo!

Of course, if there鈥檚 a body, I could easily play the body (although not in an Elle McPherson sense obviously!) 鈥� no movement and very vacant expression 鈥� how difficult can that be? (SHUT UP husband!)

Of course, he hasn鈥檛 witnessed some of my previous acting 鈥榯riumphs鈥� as the time and inclination that I had for amateur dramatics in years previously had dissipated long before I met him.

Triumphs

So, what were these so-called triumphs and will they come in handy now?

Well, apart from numerous chorus roles including Little Bo Peep, an angel in a gold jump suit, a Chinese villager and a chicken, none of which suspect will be useful for this play, there have been a couple of actual speaking parts 鈥� but will these hold me in good stead?!

An Inspector Calls

Firstly, there was the young nurse in Stepping Out. I seem to remember I got this part because I was one of the few auditionees who could actually tap dance. Will a shuffle ball change be needed in J B Priestly鈥檚 classic? I suspect not!

Secondly, there was Regina the maid in Ibsen鈥檚 Ghosts. I seem to remember that I got this part because there was no one else to do it. But of course, Regina was no ordinary maid, she had depth, and a secret past and the whole thing fostered within me a now life -long love of the Norwegian playwright. But would that level of characterisation be needed for someone just doing a week of a full UK tour with one 鈥渨alk through鈥� rehearsal? I suspect not!

But then there was the rest of the press release, which was enough to strike a feeling of excited terror within me.

鈥淗ailed as the theatrical event of our generation, winning more awards than any other play in history, this magnificent production has thrilled audiences across the world with its epic and wildly imaginative staging, raw emotion, evocative score, lashing rain and chilling suspense. An evening of compelling drama and theatricality.鈥�

Oh my goodness! The responsibility is now overwhelming!

What鈥檚 more, I panic at the mere sight of a warning notice that there may be one solitary gun shot in a play, so the thought of 鈥榗hilling suspense鈥� is enough to make me pack a spare set of underwear!

Well, tomorrow afternoon I will find out for sure exactly what I will have to do. Following a costume fitting, which I have reluctantly come to realise will not involve sequins, we will run through the various scenes in which the extras are needed. Then 鈥� only some two hours later 鈥� we will be live on stage for the first night!

I鈥檒l let you know how it goes!

You can read about Katy鈥檚 progress on this Website, and on Lorna Milton鈥檚 Afternoon Programme on 大象传媒 Three Counties this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 2.00and 4.30pm!