I was going to call it, "Stage absence..."

Actress Mildred Natwick: image from Wikipeadia

Well, I didn't feel all that in charge of my moments during tonight's audition for the Neil Simon play, in the Mildred Natwick role of Mrs. Ethel Banks. Not that I was bad. But, certainly I could have been a lot better. I walked in, dressed in the right outfit, a classic purple Bill Blass 100 percent wool dress, lined, a robe housse, from the 70s, and our director happened to be wearing a contemporary style shift, also purple, body hugging, and short. I had on pearl earrings from my Swedish grandmother and a classic pearl necklace. Did my first exchange with the actress auditioning as my "daughter," a lovely African American beauty in blonde dreads. First, I was so surprised that she could be my daughter! And, why not? Then, I noticed how incredibly talented she was, underneath a cool exterior, though nervous underneath, with the kind of sizzling energy every young actor should have...palpable. The kind of nerves that would have absolutely sunk me, at her age. Then, we were sent out of the audition stage for a bit, and I got to meet the 40ish lad who would play the seducer to my "mom" character. Ha! Another cool, calm, and collected guy from New Jersey. The Bay Area is just crawling with talented guys from N.J. He looked so familiar! Turns out, after two paused conversations, mind connected that he had been in the comedy I saw recently in Berkeley. I had even seen his audition for the role. But, when a talented guy is standing and breathing right next to you, he is somehow a bit different from that actor you saw on stage three months ago. 

Do I stand a chance of getting this cool part in the hilarious "Barefoot in the Park"?