Under The Sea

Part 1

"Oh dear, oh dear. Snap! Today is audition day!" I told my friend Mia. It was Monday the first day of theater camp and we were just about to find out what the play was going to be. In the music room we all 30 of us sat down. I sat with Mia and the people that I knew from last year. I could feel the pressure in the room. Finally the director - Janet, came in. "Hello everyone!" she said and she went on to the introduction of everything for the new people. Janet the switched her voice to a more excited tone, "The play that we are doing is…" many kids crossed there fingers now for whatever reason, "The Little Mermaid!" The room rumbled with 20 of the girls (There are 3 boys) whispering "Ariel". But not me. I thought in my head, "Ursula". I wanted to be an evil character. Good actors play evil people. I also wanted to be Ursula because literally almost everyone would want to be Ariel, and Ursula is also a main character.

In the morning we learned the audition cut-out songs: "Part of your world" and "Fathoms Below". It was simple - people who wanted to be boy characters or characters with deeper voices (including Ursula) would choose "Fathoms Below" to audition. Girls who wanted to be Ariel or a character with a light voice would sing "Part of your World".

After lunch, what seemed like minutes later… were the singing auditions. Everyone had a red hue on there face when they left the dance room after there audition. Finally it was my turn. I was one of the first people so I hate to admit, but I was sort of nervous. I stepped up to the block in front of Janet (the director) and Leo (the music instructor). I took a deep breath and said with thought. "Um, my name is Ania… and I am auditioning for Ursula or Ariel." I really don't know why I said Ariel at that time. It just slipped out of my mouth. When the beat of the music started I sang, "I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue…" And the song continued now came the hard part, "Fathoms below, below. From da da da da da…" I stopped singing, "Im sorry I lost the rhythm; can I re-start?" Leo and Janet are nice so they said yes. And yet again I messed up, but at a different part. Finally on the last try I got it right. Leo asked me, "Can you sing that part in your chest voice?" I nodded and I did. They dismissed me I left the room breathing heavily. Mia walked up to me, "How did you do?" I answered her honestly, "I don't know… poorly."

Soon came the speaking audition - the second stage of our auditioning. It was my turn. This time I knew what I was going to say, "I am Ania. And you remember how I said I was auditioning for Ariel, too," they nodded,"now I only want to be Ursula." So, I spoke my lines. And I didn't just speak I acted I felt the words flow off my tongue and I added a little accent. Perfect! I again was dismissed. Mia asked, "Well?" I said, "I did so much better than the singing audition!" Everyone told me I did great for both but I wasn't sure. Now everyone waited to be assessed. Few would come for singing call-backs, fewer would come for speaking call-backs (If you do well you get called back to audition again).

Janet opened the door and told us about the call-backs and what they are. First were the Ursula call-backs. When I heard my name I didn't realize I was holding my breath! I was the last to go and I personally thought my voice was AWESOME, but not the rhythm. And there is another set of call-backs: the speaking lines. My name wasn't called so I spent the rest of the day in disappointment. All of my friends felt my sadness and tried to cheer me up. I didn't know what to do.

When it was time to go home I wasn't to thrilled either. What would my family say? I bet they'd understand, and they did. That night I hardly slept. I didn't know why but I was sort of excited to hear what the roles would be the next day. I thought I would get a good role but not Ursula.

The next day at Theater camp everyone was sending silent prayers to get the role they wanted. Finally Janet came in. She addressed us about how not everyone would be able to be Ariel, and she went on about not to get all disappointed. At last she started calling the names, "Stella is going to be Ariel," no one was surprised - Stella had the most potential, "Ania is going to be Ursula." My face turned blood red, everyone was staring at me. I was hit with a wave of emotions: surprise, excitement, embarrassment, relief, but mostly happiness. I could tell that the girl who wanted to be Ursula, too, was mad. While everyone stared at me I just looked at Janet half-smiling. I couldn't believe it. I was going to be Ursula!!