Stage Struck(Kristin Dockar) Stage Struck

‘I’ve been to two auditions today’.
‘Any luck?’
‘No. One was to be the back end of a Unicorn in the next Christmas panto, and the other was a walk on part in East Enders. I was supposed to be someone buying fruit on the market. I had to say:
‘For God’s sake, haven’t you got any ripe avocados?’.
‘Did you get it?’
‘No. The director said my acting was ‘wooden’.'
‘Why do you keep doing this to yourself?’
‘Because pretending to be someone else is better than being me’.
Amy and Lizzie looked at each other. Their faces were etched with worry. Finding some work was crucial now. The rent was two months overdue on the flat they shared. They were living off dried pasta. Slowly but surely their dreams were being crushed.

‘Is it that bad Amy?’
‘Yes Lizzie, it is that bad’.
‘Have you reported him yet?’
‘No. If I do we definitely won’t get any work’.
The two friends were in a pub, making a solitary drink last hours. They were sharing a bag of crisps.
Since finishing their Performing Arts course, work had been hard to find. The pandemic hadn’t helped but now the theatres were opening again they felt more hopeful.
The girls had the same agent, Les, a complete sleaze but good at finding work.
The only drawback was he expected ‘favours’ in return for any auditions or parts they succeeded in getting. He was truly disgusting to both girls.
‘I’ve got to go into the office, see if he’s got anything lined up’ said Amy.
‘Let’s go together’ suggested Lizzie. ‘Safety in numbers don’t you think?’

They finished their lunch and just after 3pm they set off and arrived at Varsity Enterprises. They punched in the door code and walked up to the office.
Les was his usual affable self but there was an undercurrent of menace to him. Hands too familiar on both girls, sliding up backs and arms, innuendos. He did talk them through some work and arranged a couple more auditions, sprinkling his conversation with what he might expect in return.
What he didn’t know was that Lizzie was recording his every sly, disgusting word on her phone.
Les talked them through some future work opportunities and asked if either of them was interested in Lap Dancing work.
‘You can give me preview, see if you’re any good’ he leered.
Lizzy looked at Les carefully.
‘Les. Listen. I’ve just sent this to me brother. He’s in the Met police’.
The colour drained from Les’s face.
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’ve been recording you on my phone’.
Les leapt up and tried to wrestle the phone out of Lizzie’s hands.
‘Too late, you creep. I’ve just sent it’.

As he listened to the recording, hearing his sexual talk, and at one point hearing Amy say ‘don’t do that Les, it’s not appropriate’, he heard Amy say ‘I’ve told Lizzie what you did to me’.
Les’s florid face was red and sweating.
Lizzy said ‘Now can you get us some proper work’.
Les was beyond agitated.
‘Hold on, hold on ladies. It was just a bit of banter’.
‘No Les. You assaulted Amy. Now get on that phone and get us some work’.

Two days later the girls auditioned for the new production of the musical ‘Moulin Rouge’. It was going to be produced in a Central London Theatre.
Both got a part in the chorus. Amy went on to get a short solo in one of the songs, and Lizzie a solo spot in a dance routine.
The show ran for six months and then went on a tour of the provinces.
The girls have now found a new agent.

---