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LAKE HELEN--It seems meant to be. A shy girl with a whopping last name like Cuculiansky gets the part of the uptight nurse in the play "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."
In the spirit of my blog's theme--exploration without hesitation--I'm breaking from my shell to try something I thought I'd never be good at. The New Year is calling me to perform.
I had resolved to take tango lessons this year, but it seems I'll first try acting at The Shoestring Theatre's adaptation of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.''
The opportunity couldn't have lined up any better. Long known as "Cucu" (my last name is pronounced Coo-coo-lee-ahn-skee), a few newspaper folks agreed my tagline on Three8six.com should be "Cucu's Nest." Asked by an editor, if I'd be willing to try out for the play, I figured it was too perfect to pass up, especially since I'm a fan of Beatnik books and Ken Kesey, who wrote the novel which was later adapted for the 1975 film.
(In case you can't recall the storyline, it's about a rebel who pretends to be a mental patient so he doesn't have to go to jail. The story takes place in a mental institution that's essentially run by the dictator known as Nurse Ratched).
Anyway, I figured the audition would make great fodder for the Kaleidoscope blog, and I wouldn't have to worry any further because I wouldn't get a part.
And then everything went wrong, or uh, unexpectedly. After auditions on Monday, Director Sally Daykin made the startling offer:
"If you want to take this experiment all the way, you are perfect for Nurse Flinn."
Wide-eyed, silent, and shocked, I said I'd try to make her proud. (I've been thinking, "Oh crap!" ever since).
And although most of the things I do for Kaleidoscope are fun-oriented like going on a motorcycle bar tour or riding in a hot air balloon, this comes with a serious challenge: public speaking. I think I must have gotten a C in my college speech class.
A COLD READING
The audition was on a cold Monday night. I already get chilled to the bone (and my feet get like icicles) when I'm nervous and I had forgotten my jacket.
Thankfully Daykin, the director of the play, was accommodating. She let me watch other people during the cold reading for a few minutes but it was all too soon when she called my name to read Nurse Ratched's part.
I looked out into the audience of people waiting to audition. Already blinded by the stage lights, a further flash of light from Three8six.com Managing Editor Chrissy Clary's camera shot at me just as I had sat down. A look so piercing came from my eyes, I secretly hoped it would zap her camera.
And strangely, her battery went dead soon after. (Sorry Chrissy!)
Here's the excerpt I read:
Nurse Ratched: "... At the close of Friday's meeting, we were discussing Mr. Harding's young wife... the fact that she is extremely well endowed in the bosom. Does anyone care to touch upon this further?
McMurphy: Touch upon what?
Nurse: The subject.
McMurphy: Oh, I thought you meant touch upon her."
And so you can imagine what it was like seeing the words "well endowed in the bosom" and playing it straight the way Nurse Ratched would.
With about a dozen actors waiting their turn, I was off stage within 3 minutes.
As I watched the more experienced people interact during the audition, I felt lame for being so nervous about it. The girls acting as drunk hookers were having a blast falling all over the place and hugging strangers.
Oddly enough, I found myself longing to get back on stage with them.
Luckily I will. I'll be that mousey, vapid nurse with apprehensive eyes that shows up in the beginning. Hope you check it out.
The play opens March 14. Dates and times will soon be posted.