Pirates don't have two left feet

TEKOA - I was given the absolute pleasure and opportunity to audition March 21 for the new musical mystery dinner theater coming to Tekoa.

The musical "Mystery at Pirate Cove Inn" will be performed for two nights this year on Friday and Saturday, April 7 and 8.

After speaking with the writer and director of the musical, Donna Didier, I was welcomed to go to Empire Theatre to learn more about the program.

I was encouraged to audition earlier that day and thought, "why not? I survived the Army so far; the theatre couldn't be that challenging."

Boy, I was wrong.

Before entering the theatre, I sat in my car, wondering how the rest of my evening would go.

I wasn't necessarily nervous; after all, I once lived the glory days of playing Scar in my middle school's production of "The Lion King."

Donna had informed me earlier to expect some line reading, accent testing, and perhaps some singing.

I entered the theater's entryway and was met with red walls and tasteful vintage decorations.

There I met a few other auditioners. One was close to my age and seemed equally as nervous as I was.

Soon after, we were all led to the newly renovated room attached to the theater.

The exposed brick, wooden floors, old skylight, and original bar were breathtaking as we spaced ourselves out in a circle, trying to avoid the blinding sunset through the windows.

We began with an introduction, the catch, however, was to introduce ourselves in a pirate accent.

I was the second to last to go and took notes of everyone's performance before mine, ensuring I would not embarrass myself.

For some reason, I felt that a loud voice would save me as my pirate accent sounded more like a southern one. I began with the words, "Listen here...."

I yelled as if my drill sergeants would "...they call me Captain Harnack! And if yee think to cross me, you'll see the end of me blade." Corny, right?

We then moved on to accents and reading lines. I felt my British accent wasn't the worst; however, it would still deeply offend anyone who is British.

Once we got to singing and dancing, I quickly remembered that I have zero coordination- or musical talent. I am sure I deafened everyone in the room after being instructed to sing some old sea shanties.

At the end of the night, I realized how fun auditioning was. Despite being one of the youngest and perhaps uncoordinated ones there, I met several new people I look forward to performing with.

Author Bio

Olivia Harnack, Editorial Reporter

Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.

• Email: editor@wcgazette.com