Hi everyone,

I'm directing my first play this year, which is a pantomime, with a community theatre group I've been with for years.  Normally we don't get much interest in being the pantomime horse, or dog, or whatever.  This year we're doing Aladdin, and I've written in Abu the monkey.  I've got 10+ kids interested in trying out.  Any ideas on auditioning non-speaking parts?  Right now my plan is "act like a monkey, now be a scared monkey, now be a ... monkey"

I think I'd tell the kids that they're a human but could only speak using the word "oook".  Then put them in situations with people speaking normally, perhaps: three new kids meet one another at the bus stop heading for the first day at a new school (two speak normally, one with "oook"); or you're called upon by the teacher to give your book report and the teachers asks questions; ...