We all have them. That one actor you see at every audition because she's your same type, level and style. Your Doublemint Twin. We'll call mine Kit. At first, when ever Kit would walk into the same audition room I'd think, "Why can't I escape this girl?" Now, I don't even bat an eyelash. I walk into the waiting room, sign in, and take a seat next to Kit. Standard operating procedure.
I like Kit. She's nice, talented and outgoing. But she's also my direct competition so there are, undoubtedly, times where Kit isn't my favorite person. Like the time I auditioned for a stage production I really wanted, was told in the audition that I was absolutely invited to the callback, and then waited days for callback info that never came. What went wrong?! I spent hours selecting the perfect audition outfit, chose a monologue that flowed seamlessly with the character up for grabs, and was given exemplary feedback on each pass! Yep. It was Kit. The theatre didn't even hold callbacks for the role. They simply posted the upcoming show on their website complete with a glowing, smiling headshot of Kit. Blast!
As frustrating as this is, it's the nature of the business. Better yet, it keeps me on my toes. Where would I be without Kit? She challenges me to work harder and strive for honest, solid performances. She forces me to mine the script closer and make choices that reflect the unique things I have to offer. People always say that if you want to increase the duration or intensity of your workout, you should exercise with a partner. A partner pushes you to keep going even when you think you have nothing more to give. I have to admit that when I see Kit at an audition I feel a shot of adrenaline. I know that I have to walk into that room and bring my "A" game. She surely will.
-- Kali Kirk
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