Auditioned 40-odd high school freshmen this afternoon for two and a half hours. A good bunch of kids, there were only about 5 that I would have trouble working with, and, really, only two that I have no use for.
There's an Anne Shirley. I'm not sure if she's a kindred spirit, but she's definitely Anne Shirley, because what else can you think when a red headed girl storms into the audition room with fervour and her words run over themselves as she tells you how very sorry she is to be late, and she must introduce herself, and her name is Anne (it's not) and I say, "Ann without an e?" and she says, "Oh, no. Never. But I must meet you because I want to be involved, and I want to do absolutely everything and I've never done this before and what do I need to do?" Compare her to a very sure of herself young lady who has good command of game theory, but is otherwise kind of lifeless, and I'll take Anne Shirley every time.
I am a fan of the strange kids, the ones who got up there and did things in spite of their abilities and without any clear self-judgement. I told them to be fearless, to make strong choices, because the kids who can embrace that are the kids you can work with.
It's still strange to see faces that repeat, and realise the owners of the faces appear to be fundamentally the same people. The girls with the wide faces and big eyes who are sweet, and completely awkward, the spindly ginger boy who is a beloved diva, the swimmer you hope will amaze you, but it turns out he's going to be almost totally inept at everything he tries, the thin-faced girl who shakes like a leaf and tries not to let you see how nervous she is.
I walked into today really uncertain of what was going to happen, and walked out and didn't feel I'd done everything wrong. It's a good way to feel.
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