Page 62 of The Start of Something Wonderful

CHAPTER NINE

Flying Blind

DRAWING A DEEP BREATHI enter the doors of the drill hall. Think positive, girl! As Lionel always says, this could be the one, the audition that will lead to the lucky break you’ve been waiting for.

I toss my head and stride purposefully ahead, following the clickety-clack sound of tap shoes on wood.

A woman of around fifty, with mad hair and hula-hoopearrings, ticks off my name and takes my picture.

As I emerge through the double doors into the rehearsal room, I find myself in a scene straight fromA Chorus Line; swarms of intense, highly trained hoofers in holey, faded dance gear arch their backs and touch their toes, some launching into little routines, spinning like tops, arms outstretched, oblivious to everyone around them. You canalmost taste the adrenaline, the passion, the hope, the rivalry. I catch sight of myself in the full-length mirror opposite, all startled and skinny-legged, like a prize turkey.

I look around in search of other obvious non-dancers who might be up for the same role, but no one seems to fit that description.

Neville, the spray-tanned, chief choreographer glides into the room, like a shipin full sail.

‘Right, everybody, can I have a bit of hush please? Thank you. I’m going to split you into two groups. Group A will work with me and group B with Trixy here.’ (She of the big hair and earrings.)

‘We’re going to take you through a short and simple routine, which you’ll perform to Peter – the director – and the rest of the choreography team. Those selected for the next stagewill then be asked to read from the script. Any questions? Good. So …’

‘Excuse me,’ I say, half raising my hand.

Everyone turns to look at me.

‘Yes?’

‘I think I may be in the wrong place. I’m up for the role of Andy?’

‘No, you’re in the right place, darling. So, I’m going to divide you into two groups …’

I’m seconded to Team Neville with about twenty others, many of whomknow one another.

‘Darling! Mwah, mwah. Howareyou? What have you been doing sinceLes Mis?’

‘Touring inJoseph–again.’

‘I couldn’t face another six months ofHairspray, so I’ve been resting, having somemetime.’

‘Mmm, I know what you mean. I was getting to the stage inPhantomwhere I was sleepwalking the routines.’

It’s at this point I feel the panic and confusion startto bubble inside me.

‘Now pay attention!’ commands Neville, clapping his hands and striking a dramatic pose. ‘Watch carefully please. Okay, Julian, from the top,’ he says, nodding in the direction of the pianist.

‘Shuffle, hop, step, tap, sliiide, sliiide, kick, turn, cramp roll, shuffle, hop …’

Everyone starts to quietly mirror his steps in intense concentration.

‘Right now, I’lldo it once more, but this time I want you all to shadow me, so form a line behind me …’

‘Excuse me,’ I blurt out, my voice echoing around the hall.

‘Yesss?’ says Neville, reminding me of Kaa, the snake inThe Jungle Book.

‘Does Andy do the same dance steps as everyone else?’

‘Does Andy …? Well, of course she does.’ His voice is now caught somewhere between amused and irritated.

‘Thank you, Julian. And five, six, seven, eight … shuffle, hop, step, tap, sliiide, sliiide …’