Miss Middleton stood at the front with a clipboard. Mrs Weaver, Mr Nicholls and Mrs Somersby were also standing around, holding pieces of paper with lists printed on them.
“Hello, everyone,” Miss Middleton said, when we’d all quietened down. “What a great turn-out! I’m delighted so many of you are interested in helping out on this year’s pantomime. As your teachers have no doubt told you, we’re going to be putting on two performances of Cinderella. There’s plenty of work for everyone to get involved with, so we’ll need lots of helping hands.”
She cleared her throat, and then looked serious.
“Now, this is going to be the first meeting of many, between now and Christmas. There are going to be LOTS of rehearsals, too, so if you’re already busy with things like football or swimming clubs, please make sure you’re not taking on too much. We don’t want anyone collapsing with exhaustion right before Christmas, do we?”
I saw Kenny look a bit thoughtful at that. She’s in the Cuddington Swimming Club and trains twice a week and sometimes on Saturday mornings, too. Still, as Kenny didn’t seem to know the meaning of the word “exhaustion”, I guessed she would probably manage to combine that with the panto quite easily!
“Now, like I said, taking on a part in the play will mean a lot of work, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun,” Miss Middleton said, smiling around at everyone. “Does everyone know the story of Cinderella? Good. Well, what we’ll do next is try and organise everyone into groups. Mr Nicholls has kindly agreed to be in charge of props, scenery and lighting, and Mrs Somersby is going to be sorting out all the costumes and make-up. Last but not least, Mrs Weaver and I will be running the auditions and coaching the rehearsals. Got that?”
“Yes!” everyone chorused.
“Excellent!” said Miss Middleton. “If you’re interested in helping with props and scenery, go and stand in that corner with Mr Nicholls. If you want to help with costumes and make-up, go and stand in THAT corner with Mrs Somersby. And if you’d like an acting, singing or dancing part, stay where you are.”
There was bedlam as lots of people got up and started making their way to different parts of the hall.
The five of us looked at each other.
“I quite fancy a go at making props…” said Kenny.
“I wouldn’t mind doing make-up,” Frankie said thoughtfully. “I can do some wicked designs, I’ve been practising!”
“Oh, let’s stick together!” Lyndz said. “It’ll be much more fun if we’re all acting in it!”
“Yeah, Lyndz is right,” I said. “Why don’t we all go in for the auditions? It would be a right laugh!”
“What do you think, Fliss?” Kenny asked. “Don’t you fancy having a go on the lighting or carpentry?”
Fliss shuddered, and the rest of us laughed. Not likely! Fliss thinks anything technical is “man’s work” – and anyway, she might break a nail doing something like that.
“No, thanks!” she said, feelingly. Then she smiled serenely. “Anyway, I’m going to be Cinderella. I just know I’m going to get the part!”
“Ooh, very modest of you to say so, Fliss,” Frankie joked. “Should I ask for your autograph now, or when you’re REALLY famous?!”
“Fliss, EVERYONE‘S going to be going for Cinderella,” Lyndz said tactfully. “You don’t know for sure you’ll get the part, do you?”
Fliss tossed her hair back, looking a bit peeved. “Don’t tell me you’re going for the part as well, then?” she asked.
Lyndz shook her head. “Nah,” she admitted. “Actually, there’s another part I’d rather play…”
“What?” I asked in interest. I hadn’t had Lyndz down as the dramatic type before.
She went a bit pink. “Well… you know that bit where the fairy godmother magicks everything so Cinderella can go to the ball?” she said.
“Ye-e-e-e-es,” we said.
“Ahh, you want to be the fairy godmother?” Kenny asked.
“No,” Lyndz said.
“The pumpkin?” Fliss said – rather cattily, actually, as Lyndz is a teeny bit plump.
“No, one of the horses!” Lyndz said, looking a bit embarrassed. “Oh, don’t laugh, it’s what I want to be!”
Too late – we all started roaring with laughter! Of all the things to wish to be in the pantomime!
“Don’t worry, I’m sure there won’t be much competition to be a horse,” I spluttered.
“No, it’s not like it’s the MANE part or anything!” Kenny giggled.
Luckily for Lyndz, Miss Middleton clapped her hands for quiet just then and we all had to bite our lips to stop ourselves laughing any more.
There were still a lot of people left in the hall, even when Mr Nicholls and Mrs Somersby had taken their volunteers off to different rooms. It looked like everyone wanted to be treading the boards this Christmas.
“First of all, I’m going to tell you the cast list of the pantomime, so you can start thinking about what you’d like to go for,” Miss Middleton said, when everyone was listening. “Here goes – Cinderella, her stepmother Wicked Wilma, the two Ugly Sisters Grizzle and Moana, Buttons, Prince Charming, Angelica the fairy godmother, and a narrator. They’re the main characters, and auditions will be held for those parts on Monday lunchtime in my classroom.”
Emma Hughes smirked at Fliss. “Ever thought about trying out for one of the Ugly Sisters?” she said. “I reckon you’d get it easily!”
Fliss looked as if she was about to burst into tears, but Kenny, as ever, was straight in there.
“Shame there aren’t any DOGS in Cinderella,” she said, eyes glittering. “You and your poochy mate might actually get picked to do something then!”
“Girls, please!” called Miss Middleton. “We’ve a lot to get through today. Right, so those are the main parts. We’ll also need dancers for the ball scene, a chorus, Prince Charming’s butler, and some people to be Cinderella’s horses and coachman. And there’ll be an open audition for those parts on Tuesday lunchtime, in my classroom.”
Fliss stuck her hand in the air. “Please, Miss, what will we have to do at the auditions?” she asked.
“Good question,” said Miss Middleton. “I’ll give you a page from the script and we’ll practise acting it out in pairs. Anyone who wants to be Cinderella or the fairy godmother must have a good singing voice as there will be a couple of songs for you in the show. I think that’s it for now. See you all next week, I hope!”
The hall broke out into an excited chatter. It all sounded like it was going to be excellent fun!
“I can’t wait for next Monday!” said Fliss, with her serene smile again. Honestly, I’d never known Fliss to be so confident about anything before!
“First things first,” I said. “We’ve got to have a Cinderella sleepover to practise for the audition, and talk about what parts we all want to do.”
“Deffo!” Kenny said. “How about at mine? We haven’t been there for ages.”
“Agreed!” said Frankie. “I’ll bring my greasepaint along so we can look the part!”
“And I’ll bring some of the dressing-up clothes!” Lyndz promised.
“Cool!” Kenny said. “It’s a date!”