An excerpt from Reach for a Star by Samantha Cartwright
ACT 1
SCENE 1
Scene opens with characters in positions all round the stage numbers stuck on their backs and fronts. Fussing through papers and looking in mirrors.
SONG 1
As soon as song finishes all back to various waiting activities. On walks Host and camera crew.
Producer Ok and going live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Host Hello and welcome to another series of Reach for a Star, this series will prove to be the most exciting yet. The rules are the same as last series, you must be over 16 to enter, and you will be judged by our three judges. The most talented will be put through to the live finals where the winner will win a one million pound recording contract. So we are starting here in (local town). Will we find the next winner of star search? Let’s go and meet some of the auditionees.
Host walks over to an auditionee and starts talking as if to the camera, still. Focus moves to Morgan. Who is looking in her mirror she snaps it shut.
Morgan Doesn’t look like I’ve got much competition here
Jackie You are so much prettier than all these other girls
Morgan Well it’s not all about looks, you only need a really good sob story and that’s enough to get you through on these shows anyway, I’ll have to think of something good as a back up
Jackie You so don’t need a back up
Morgan I could say I gave one of my kidneys to my sister to save her life
Jackie You don’t even have a sister, you could say you gave it to me I’d cover for you.
Morgan Whatever, I don’t even know why you are here, why do you follow me around all the time, this is about me, my dreams not yours, and why do you act like you are my friend, you’re meant to be my mother!
Jackie Shhhhh don’t shout that out, I may be your mum but I look young enough to be your sister
Morgan Who told you that?
Morgan turns and walks to the back of the stage and her mother follows giggling like it was all a joke.
Andy stands up and starts pacing and looking worried, kind of talking to himself, looking at his papers then looking at the exit. He is about to leave when he turns around to walk out and bumps straight into a girl band.
Stacey Watch where you’re going mate!
Andy I’m so sorry I was just leaving and I didn’t see you,… im sor
Gemma It’s ok, no harm done
Emily Are you alright? You look like you’re going to be sick
Andy I don’t know, I think I just need to leave
Emily Hang on, hang on, come and sit over here for a minute and calm yourself down.
Andy Look I’m sorry I don’t want to cause a fuss I just don’t think I can go through with this, I think I’ve made a mistake coming here today
Gemma What’s the matter? Nervous?
Stacey I’ll go and get you some water
Andy I feel like such an idiot, but there is nothing I can do I just get so nervous, I try and control it but nothing helps, and I’m worried I’ll walk in that room and make a total prat of myself.
Emily Well sometimes it’s good to be a bit nervous, gives you that edge
Stacey Yeah, but not this nervous Emily, he looks like he is going to faint
Gemma When I get nervous I use these breathing techniques to help, I’ll show you
Proceeds to breathe deeply, in and out pushing her breasts near to his face
Andy Ermm, ermm I’m not sure that will help me
Stacey So is it like stage fright?
Andy I don’t know I’ve never been on stage, I’ve always wanted to be a singer, but this is the first time I’ve had the courage to audition, and now I just don’t think I can do it
Emily Well you’re here now, you have to try otherwise you’ll always be thinking, what if?
Gemma Plus you would have waited in that queue outside for 11 hours for nothing!
Andy 11 hours is nothing, I’ve been waiting all my life for this. I just wish I didn’t get so nervous it’s embarrassing
Stacey Don’t feel embarrassed around us, you should see Gemma after a few drinks on a Saturday night, now that’s embarrassing
Girls laugh and so does Andy, Gemma pretends to be outraged but then agrees
Emily Listen, what is the worst that could happen? If you don’t try you will never know. When I’m really nervous, I sing, makes me feel more confident. Come on give it a try.
SONG 2
Andy Thanks girls that really helped, you’re so sweet, all of you.
Emily Ahh no problem, well good luck, speak to you after and see who gets through.
Producer And cut.
Host Thank god, some of these people are sooo boring. Make up! I need some Evian now!
Clicking her fingers
Rachel Hi, I just wanted to say I think you’re really great ….
Host Excuse me, move back, busy here
Rachel turns slowly away looking embarrassed. Shirley walks over as she saw what happened.
Shirley Don’t give it a second thought, some people can be so rude.
Rachel I’m just really shocked, she seems so nice on TV
Shirley Things aren’t always what they seem love, so then, you here to audition?
Rachel Yes I’m here because I wanna, .. well my mum wants me to… but oh yes sorry I’m here to audition.
Shirley Me too, this could be my last chance of stardom
Rachel Oh you’re here to audition as well?
Shirley Of course, why else would I be here
Rachel Sorry I didn’t mean anything by it
Shirley No, I understand, someone like me doesn’t exactly look like a pop star, but I’ve got good friends with me and we can sing so I thought why not, we’ve been singing for years in clubs it’s about time we showed everyone what we can do.
Rachel Good on you. What’s your group’s name?
Shirley Divas in Disguise, I’m Shirley, and that’s Pearl and Janet
Rachel I’m Rachel, I’m here with my mum and dad, I don’t know where they have got to… oh look, I think we are going live again.
Producer Ok going live in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1,
Host Welcome back, now just before the auditions start let’s meet our panel of judges, we have Karen Feslorne, Ronnie Rockefellar and Liam Powell!
Big gasps, and wows from room
SONG 3
After song each is interviewed
Host Hi Karen, what are you looking for this year?
Karen Well someone with a huge talent, a real star, and a strong personality, someone who stands out.
Host Ok thank you Karen if you would like to go through, and next we have Ronnie Rockefeller, hi Ronnie what are you looking for this year?
Ronnie Well someone who brings the edge back to music, like me in my day
Host Thank you Ronnie, and last but not least Liam Powell, and what are you hoping to find this year
Liam The usual, someone to make a one hit wonder, get the Christmas number one and make me a lot of money
Host Ok and thank you Liam, so that’s our panel of judges. It’s now time for the auditonees to start going in, let’s just speak to some now, hi ladies how are you feeling?
Pearl We are feeling fine, confident and sure we won’t have a problem going through
As camera pans off them they look nervous
Producer Ok number 102 go through please
Host move over to the door
Stacey That’s us girls, come on
Straighten themselves up, do a group hug
Host Ok girls, good luck
Liam Hello and what is your name?
Emily We’re Candy
Liam Sweet name
Karen raises eyebrows and stares at Liam who is just smiling at the girls
Ronnie Who do you think you’re as good as, in the charts at the moment?
Stacey Erm Girls Aloud
Gemma And Sugababes, we were going to name our band something with sugar in it but Stacey said it sounded too sweet and then Emily said it would be like copying …..
Emily interrupts
Emily Well we are definitely better dancers than both those groups anyway.
Karen Ok girls stand on the x and start when you’re ready
SONG 4
Ronnie Ok girls that’s fine thanks. How long have you been together?
Emily 5 months
Karen Well I think it showed, wasn’t great girls
Ronnie I think you need a little work, but hey I liked it
Liam Well you need two yes’s, Karen?
