Ahh, the disillusioned

So the cast list went up yesterday. 99% of the kids were quite happy. Mostly cause they didn't know any better I guess. :)

One kid though, who is a grade 8 and has been in the show for two years now was probably disappointed. He had a minor lead last year, but this year his audition wasn't great and you could tell that he hadn't really prepared for it much. Plus, last year, we gave him the lead "Big Jule" mostly as a joke, cause the kid dreams of being a 98lb weakling...just 20lbs to gain. It got the laugh we expected, but unfortunately, I think it gave him a big head as well.

We gave him the part of "Motel Owner". Whooo......deep. The part has about 15 lines, but it ain't exactly Shakespeare or any comedic gift.

The kid comes up to me yesterday and says "What's the line cutoff for someone to be considered a lead?"

me:"Uh...what?"

him: "How many lines do you have to have to be considered a lead?"

Me: (thinking: well, I think really the first indicator is whether or not your character has an actual NAME). "There is no 'cutoff' based on lines."

him: Oh, cause I thought last year you said the rule was that if you had more than 5 lines, you were a lead character.

Me: You're a crazy fool. I never said anything of the sort. No, you're not a lead, you're not anywhere close to a lead. If I can take your character out of the show and it still makes perfect sense, you're not a lead. If you can't sing, and were only really used for comic effect last year, you're not a lead. If you sucked ass at your audition and we gave you this part out of sympathy, you're not a lead.


Or...uh, I said SOMETHING like that. It may have sounded more like "no, there's no cutoff, don't be silly. Everyone is important in the show." Man I am so diplomatic at times. :)