Angry Lily?

Oli-Ol · Angry Lily?

Hi all...
I'm auditoning for Lily on Friday (sorry about the short notice!) and am singing How Could I Ever Know. After listening to some stunning auditions today I was wondering- is Lily ever portrayed as angry? For example, in HCIEK she is sympathetic to Archie but is also angry with him. Thoughts and suggestions please?

ConverseSneaker

I never really saw it as angry, although I understand why it could be played in there.

I think more or less she's telling him, yeah we never knew it was going to end like this but you can't let it ruin our son's life just because you think it's ruined yours.

And of course, he snaps into it and gets over it and goes home to Colin all healed and walking again.

Oli-Ol

Haha I like that summary! Smile

I was just thinking that obviously I want something to make me stand out and if she started off angry and then perhaps softens throughout the song and she forgives him and then they have that lovely duet...

But hey, I guess I'll just do whatever comes!

Melindaisy

in the context of the show just before "How Could I Ever Know" he has pretty much been raging against her for haunting his every waking moment and for the fact that he feels he can't live without her.

I personally can't see her starting the song off angry at him... she is more hurt that he feels that way and is asking his forgiveness in the first part of the song. She then moves on to saying she will always be a part of him, and then gets him to focus on what remains of their love... the child they created.

I can't see anger as part of Lily's character. Her whole tone throughout the show is one of nurturing, love, and support.

windbelle

Personally I can't see her as angry either. I think at the beginning of the song Archie is sorta in a mood of anger at her for leaving him in pain and haunting his whole life. Lily takes his anger and asks for his forgiveness, comforting him by her love. I don't like the idea of the two being raging at each other in this song.

Oli-Ol

Okay... thank you for all the advice and differing views! I see what you mean about her being more hurt- I don't think I'd really put it properly into context.
I still think that maybe she'd be a bit upset/angry because he's been almost neglecting colin and not living his life without her but I think you're right that it's more upset than angry.
Thanks!

KristinT

Playing an anger element in "How Could I Ever Know?" probably wouldn't be a good idea. If you do want to show that you can play that emotion, though, and if you have a chance, then study the "Quartet" early on in Act 2 when she's arguing with Rose and being defiant about the fact that she's going to marry Archie. It's only a few lines, but it's powerful if not overplayed.

Oli-Ol

I LOVE quartet! Unfortunately I've had my audition and I'm not in but I'm still in with a chance for Rose so I'll have to see how it goes.

The Duchess of Mint · Angry Lily?

Dear Oli-Ol,

I'd portray Lily as being at least partially angry. After all, she accepted Archie for who he was. She was an adventurous rebel who defied her sister, offered to share lunch with a hunchback in her garden, disregarded the delicate stereotypes of pregnancy, gave birth to a healthy son, and died, fairly unafraid of anything.

What has her ghost received in return? A deadbeat dad/ depressed husband, who has avoided raising a son, so that poor Colin is not at ALL the unspoiled, healthy, nature-loving child that he MIGHT have been, but an overly-spoiled, sickly, emotionally starved, demanding, unsatisfied little waif who's stuck in the past, with no hope of a future.

Not only has Archie avoided raising his son, but he has been running away on a consistant basis, and now, he's involved his NEICE in the madness!

He has been neglecting his son, his neice, his household staff, the garden, Lily, and ultimately, the wild joy shared by himself and Lily, by running away on physical, emotional, and mental levels.

What would YOU say if YOUR husband had done all of that? I'd still love Archie, but I'd be angry. I'd want to say, "Hey, Archie! You have to find a way to face my memory without being a deadbeat dad anymore! Colin is mine AND yours, and you're not holding up YOUR end of the deal. You need to be there for Colin!"

I don't know that Lily needs to be viscious, but I don't think that she should merely be sad; she's sad about the overall situation, and she feels some compassion for Archie, but he has disappointed her in a big way, and she needs for him to step up to the plate and raise Colin like a real father.

Thanks in advance for your reply, and good luck, with regards to your stage roles.
Cool

Oli-Ol	Angry Lily? Hi all... I'm auditoning for Lily on Friday (sorry about the short notice!) and am singing How Could I Ever Know. After listening to some stunning auditions today I was wondering- is Lily ever portrayed as angry? For example, in HCIEK she is sympathetic to Archie but is also angry with him. Thoughts and suggestions please?
ConverseSneaker	I never really saw it as angry, although I understand why it could be played in there. I think more or less she's telling him, yeah we never knew it was going to end like this but you can't let it ruin our son's life just because you think it's ruined yours. And of course, he snaps into it and gets over it and goes home to Colin all healed and walking again.
Oli-Ol	Haha I like that summary! I was just thinking that obviously I want something to make me stand out and if she started off angry and then perhaps softens throughout the song and she forgives him and then they have that lovely duet... But hey, I guess I'll just do whatever comes!
Melindaisy	in the context of the show just before "How Could I Ever Know" he has pretty much been raging against her for haunting his every waking moment and for the fact that he feels he can't live without her. I personally can't see her starting the song off angry at him... she is more hurt that he feels that way and is asking his forgiveness in the first part of the song. She then moves on to saying she will always be a part of him, and then gets him to focus on what remains of their love... the child they created. I can't see anger as part of Lily's character. Her whole tone throughout the show is one of nurturing, love, and support.
windbelle	Personally I can't see her as angry either. I think at the beginning of the song Archie is sorta in a mood of anger at her for leaving him in pain and haunting his whole life. Lily takes his anger and asks for his forgiveness, comforting him by her love. I don't like the idea of the two being raging at each other in this song.
Oli-Ol	Okay... thank you for all the advice and differing views! I see what you mean about her being more hurt- I don't think I'd really put it properly into context. I still think that maybe she'd be a bit upset/angry because he's been almost neglecting colin and not living his life without her but I think you're right that it's more upset than angry. Thanks!
KristinT	Playing an anger element in "How Could I Ever Know?" probably wouldn't be a good idea. If you do want to show that you can play that emotion, though, and if you have a chance, then study the "Quartet" early on in Act 2 when she's arguing with Rose and being defiant about the fact that she's going to marry Archie. It's only a few lines, but it's powerful if not overplayed.
Oli-Ol	I LOVE quartet! Unfortunately I've had my audition and I'm not in but I'm still in with a chance for Rose so I'll have to see how it goes.
The Duchess of Mint	Angry Lily? Dear Oli-Ol, I'd portray Lily as being at least partially angry. After all, she accepted Archie for who he was. She was an adventurous rebel who defied her sister, offered to share lunch with a hunchback in her garden, disregarded the delicate stereotypes of pregnancy, gave birth to a healthy son, and died, fairly unafraid of anything. What has her ghost received in return? A deadbeat dad/ depressed husband, who has avoided raising a son, so that poor Colin is not at ALL the unspoiled, healthy, nature-loving child that he MIGHT have been, but an overly-spoiled, sickly, emotionally starved, demanding, unsatisfied little waif who's stuck in the past, with no hope of a future. Not only has Archie avoided raising his son, but he has been running away on a consistant basis, and now, he's involved his NEICE in the madness! He has been neglecting his son, his neice, his household staff, the garden, Lily, and ultimately, the wild joy shared by himself and Lily, by running away on physical, emotional, and mental levels. What would YOU say if YOUR husband had done all of that? I'd still love Archie, but I'd be angry. I'd want to say, "Hey, Archie! You have to find a way to face my memory without being a deadbeat dad anymore! Colin is mine AND yours, and you're not holding up YOUR end of the deal. You need to be there for Colin!" I don't know that Lily needs to be viscious, but I don't think that she should merely be sad; she's sad about the overall situation, and she feels some compassion for Archie, but he has disappointed her in a big way, and she needs for him to step up to the plate and raise Colin like a real father. Thanks in advance for your reply, and good luck, with regards to your stage roles.

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Angry Lily?

Angry Lily?