Audition moments

A gifted solemn 10-year-old boy, dark hair in his eyes, has just done two fantastic pieces. Film director: "Can you look up and have a strong emotional reaction?" Boy, confidently: "Yes." Huge laughter. We've all been in that classic conversation -- clueless director fumbles toward what he wants, while gifted actor cooperates. Film director, trying again: "Can you look up as if something has just scared or surprised you?" The boy instantly does it, animated, perfect, then gazes at the director, unselfconscious as a pony.

Another great moment: An interesting actor has just finished his monologues. "Can you tell us a joke?" asks one auditor, looking for improv ability. "And, while you're at it," adds another, aware of time running out, "Can you do it in a German accent?" We all laughed. When he finished I asked, "Do you have any Shakes? Like, just four lines or so?" He reels off a great O that this too, too solid flesh would melt. Spontaneous applause. He's walking out, knowing he just had a great audition. The kicker is -- he did terribly in his actual monologues. Lots of pauses in the first one, and actually stopped midway through the second, saying, "Sorry. I can't remember the rest." But he was so self-posessed and calm about it all, we wanted to see what else he could do.

It ain't over till it's over.