Fiddler on the Roof was actually the first show i ever did where i had a role that actually had a speaking part. I didn’t even have a line in a primary school play because i was too scared to actually go for any parts. So when i decided i wanted to go for one of the daughters in this play i was quite nervous but excited even though if im honest i didnt really know much about the show. Before i auditioned, i watched the movie but wasnt sure which daughter id go to. Still i did the audition and wasnt really sure how it had gone.
The night that we were expecting the final cast to be revealed i was so nervous i learnt a new song on the piano from Matilda the Musical but it was really difficult to play so it took me hours. When we got the email, i couldnt believe that i had actually got the role of Chava. i shared the role with another girl from the group called Issey and it was really nice to have another person to share the character with. because it was my first role, i think it was helpful to be able to watch another person do the same scenes as me and be able to learn from them and help each other out as well as adding yourself into the character. Sharing the role meant that on the nights we werent Chava, we were ensemble and that meant we could be in scenes like ‘The Dream’ which was really cool to be a part of. We got to dress up as ghosts and climb out from under a bed, it was really fun.
Chava had a really emotional scene at the end of the performance and throughout the week i had varying levels of success with getting emotional enough. Dont get me wrong, I wasnt sobbing one night and laughing hysterically on another, I just found it harder to get into a crying mood some nights than others. This was especially hard on the mattinee performance because it was light outside and i wasnt very tired. (thats when i feel the most emotional, i dont know why.)
I think the funniest moment of the whole show week was during the wedding scene when the Russians march in and ruin the party. (My Dad was helping backstage to move set and things.) As i was meant to be on stage acting scared, my Dad walks on in a russian outfit and a fluffy hat and i have to hide behind someone to hide how much i was laughing. I only just managed to get off stage before i started crying with laughter.
Over the week, our little family really grew closer and it was nice to be a part of something and be able to experience the feeling of being on stage with other people. It was really tiring doing a show every night and having to go to school every day but it was definitely worth it doing something that i enjoy with people that enjoy the same thing as me.
Lucy Jones 