My youngest son James has an exciting audition today, he will make a journey that could be life changing and pave the way for fame and fortune if successful. He could be the equivalent of the next Harry Potter.
James is auditioning for the lead role of Darren, a vampire’s assistant, in Cirque de Freak.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, it could well be the next Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. It certainly sounds like it. However, I must admit I am not familiar with these books.
Cirque du Freak is a freak show that comes to town and Darren becomes a vampire’s assistant, he is a half vampire so he has half the powers. There’s a war between the good vampires and the bad vampires. His best friend becomes head of the bad vampires and ultimately the books lead to a huge war between the two of them.
James, my 14-year-old, is auditioning for the lead role in this amazing production which will be filmed in Los Angeles. We have been rehearsing his script, which includes the use of a crucifix and garlic. He has to learn to speak with an American accent. I am not allowed to do this too while we practice as it makes him laugh so much. I don’t know why this American production does not want to use an American boy, I have been told a voice coach will be provided to help with the accent.
He will be travelling to London today for the audition with some other lads and agent from his Cambridge-based Young Actors Company, who sent the following info about the role of Darren:
Darren is an achiever in school and in sports who is questioning the reasons WHY he achieves. He has grown up in a well off, loving but very boring family. He is obsessed with spiders to the point where he steals an exotic spider from its owner, who turns out to be a 100 year old vampire. When the spider bites his best friend Steve, he will do anything to get the antidote from the vampire. He agrees to become a ‘half-vampire’ (he is able to go out during the day and he has half-vampire powers), becoming the vampire’s assistant. In doing so he gains a strange new mentor, and a bizarre new family - the freaks at the freak show where he and the vampire hide out……….
Of course, James is only one of many hopefuls. I know he is good, but then so are so many others. I have seen James play the lead role of Bert in Mary Poppins - oh, he was so brilliant, singing and dancing so confidently, wearing a smart boater and blazer, as well as being a charming chimney sweep, he was awesome.
His biggest challenge was as the Artful Dodger in Oliver (pic). A couple of days before the show, he injured his leg playing football and was unable to walk. He was wheeled into hospital for x-rays in a wheelchair. There was no understudy and he was heavily dosed on pain killers and limped considerably.
But the show had to go on. And it did.
I don’t know how, in those circumstances, he managed to dance so energetically with Nancy , to kick his legs high the way he did. I remember at the end of the show, he tried to disguise his pain as he hobbled towards me asking for Paracetamol, without making any mention of this to his fellow actors.
That’s my James.
So if he has to fight evil vampires, he will be more than ready for them.
