Page 48 of Ex in the City
As the auditions crack on, we watch each kid take the stage one by one, and show us what they can do. Dylan is an absolute natural with them, encouraging every single one and offering compliments, no matter what kind of performance they put in. He scribbles notes on his pad, pencilling different kids in for various characters. He really is enjoying this.
A blonde teenage girl confidently steps onto the stage.
‘Hi, my name is Ellie Pallett,’ she announces. ‘And I’ll be auditioning for the part of Tallulah.’
‘Pallett?’ Dylan replies, his eyes flicking over to the dance teacher, Miss Pallett. ‘Any relation?’
‘Yeah, she’s my mum,’ Ellie tells him, giving her mum a wave.
Dylan playfully drops his jaw.
‘Well, that doesn’t make any sense,’ he teases. ‘Something isn’t adding up here.’
‘Oh, stop,’ Miss Pallett insists with a bat of her hand, but you can tell she’s loving it. Attention from Dylan is a special thing, it makes you feel like the most important person on the planet – when you have it. When you lose it, it’s like coming off a drug.
‘So, Ellie, who do you look up to musically?’ Dylan asks her.
‘Tay Magenta,’ she says quickly and certainly. ‘I want to be a pop star just like her.’
‘Okay, Ellie, who can’t be more than four years old based on how her mum looks,’ Dylan jokes. ‘Go for it.’
I join the laughter with everyone else, though I can’t help but feel a tingle of something that is not jealousy… but it’s close.
As Ellie sings, she shows that she is as talented as she is confident. She has a great voice and the kind of stage presence that is essential for playing Tallulah.
‘Okay, wow,’ Dylan praises as he jots down notes. ‘Absolutely fantastic, Ellie. Good work.’
We sit through the rest of the auditions, pretty much finishing up as the bell rings for break time.
‘Great work, everyone,’ Dylan calls out. ‘Someone will let you know when the next one is.’
The kids disperse, their excited chatter filling the room as they go.
‘Who is that?’ I ask Dylan, nodding towards a small, shy-looking boy who is lingering near the stage.
‘You okay, bud?’ Dylan asks him, approaching him slowly. ‘Didn’t fancy auditioning for a big part?’
The kid shifts on his feet, remaining silent.
‘What’s your name?’ Dylan asks, a warm smile on his face.
‘Joey Pallett,’ the boy replies.
‘Ah,’ Dylan says simply. ‘Joey Pallett of the super-talented Pallett family?’
Joey nods in acknowledgement.
‘I’ll tell you what, it’s just me and Nicole listening. Why don’t you sing for us?’ Dylan suggests. ‘I know I’m great, but Nicole can’t sing a note, so you can’t be as bad as her.’
I laugh. Joey does too.
‘Are you really bad?’ he asks me.
You know what, I probably am.
‘Terrible,’ I reply. ‘Show me how it’s done.’
Joey seems unsure at first but he eventually agrees. As he starts singing, his nervousness gradually gives way to a beautiful voice, one that that fills the room.
