Two years ago, I took what I considered to be an incredible risk. After hours of going back and forth, arguing with myself (in a rather concerning fashion) and speed-learning one of the songs, I auditioned for Standardized Testing: The Musical. And it was easily the best decision I made that year.
EngPlay is a termly theatre production put on by directors chosen by the Engineering Society. With auditions open to anyone and everyone (we’ve even had a student from the Math faculty as cast, and then a director!), the play changes frequently in both scope and topic. In my year, we did a real musical with a small cast; last term, there was a 3-part play with a huge cast and one of the acts written entirely by the directors! Usually performed a total of three nights, the production can change drastically from night to night based on improv, audience interaction, and last-minute semi-planned hilarious plot twists. EngPlay is a tradition shared amongst many schools, and one that sits close to Waterloo’s heart.
So, in my 1B term, I decided (half an hour before auditions closed) to audition for EngPlay. When I was cast, I was thoroughly shocked, and as a shy girl without any prior theatre experience, I was initially overwhelmed by my fellow actors. Among a cast of 9, I was the only one below their 4th year in Waterloo, and the only person who’d never been in a play, let alone a musical. I had been rocketed out of my comfort zone by astronomical proportions. But my castmates’ immediate and total acceptance of me and my quirks had me laughing as one of the crew in no time.
One of my initial hesitations was time commitment; I was already participating in quite a few clubs, and held two directorships that term. But while the rehearsal schedule got intense around show time, I found the weekly rehearsals both manageable and amazingly enjoyable for the weeks leading up to it. I looked forward to working hard and playing hard with the upper-years who befriended me, taught me amazing life lessons, and support me to this day.
Looking back on my experience in EngPlay, it is safe to say that my time in the cast is what started my life here in Waterloo. It led me to make friends, learn about myself, and build my confidence, translating over to my schoolwork and my co-op experience. Would I do it again? Not in a million years; I’ve got new things to try and new people to meet. But I’ll always remember my EngPlay family and the effect they’ve had on everything I do.