NaNoWriMo Day Six
Since its sixth hour I immediately grab my things and head to the performance wing of school. Drama club is finally meeting again. Thank God. Mr. Peters has promised that we’re doing a play from Shakespeare. I’m hoping Twelfth Night but if he’s letting us vote on it then we’ll probably end up doing Romeo and Juliet.
I walk into the drama room and am instantly bombarded by the sound of chatter. This is my home. I love swim team and I love the feeling of a good swim work out in my muscles and I love the fact that swim has gotten me a partial scholarship to Western Michigan but theatre is my passion. I don’t think for a second that I’d be good enough to compete outside of college. I’m in no way a Michael Phelps destined to win eight gold medals in a single Olympics. So really, I think that that bitch Mrs. Boswell was wrong. If I thought I had a future in swimming I would be ridiculous.
Mr. Peters is sitting in his rolling chair discussing the long break with some of the kids closest to him. That’s what we all love about Mr. Peters; he’s the coolest teacher in school. He lets us get away with almost anything short of murder.
He waits until just after three to start our meeting; giving everyone plenty of time to get here after classes ends. He stands at the front of the room with a dry erase marker in his hands, “so…” he holds the o sound until everyone is quiet.
“So!” he begins again, “you all know that we’re performing a piece from Shakespeare for our May school play. Today the only thing we need to accomplish is pick which piece we’ll be doing. So any one with suggestions can shout them out.”
“Romeo and Juliet!” someone at the back of the classroom immediately shouts out. Not like people overrate that one or anything. The other thing going for it is that most kids don’t read Shakespeare of their own free will. And if they do Romeo and Juliet is usually first pick. Also all freshman are required to read Romeo and Juliet.
Mr. Peters starts a list
“Twelfth Night,” I offer praying that’s the one we’ll pick.
“Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
“Taming of the Shrew.”
I roll my eyes at that suggestion. I know there are better male parts in that piece but the story grates on my nerves. Besides, the lessons in that story simply don’t apply to today. At least not unless you twist the story into that move “10 Things I Hate About You” or whatever it is.
“Hamlet.”
“MacBeth.”
People get quiet then which should be expected. Those are the only works that most people ever hear about.
Mr. Peters finishes writing the list and turns around smiling. “Any others?” He looks around for a moment. “No? Alright then. Does anyone need an explanation on,” he turns and looks at the board. “Well I’m assuming everyone knows Romeo and Juliet. If not you were born under a rock.” Everyone starts laughing. “Alright then let’s start with Twelfth Night.”
Mr. Peters proceeds to give a brief synopsis of the remaining five plays then says that we’ll put it to the vote. He didn’t really give justice to just how funny parts of Twelfth Night are so I’m almost certain that it’s going to lose. I’m right. In a show of hands Romeo and Juliet wins by a landslide. Stupid freshman being more comfortable with the story they’ve known forever. Fucking ridiculous.
But the good news is I have a really good chance of getting the part of Romeo since I’m one of only about six male thespians and only one other is a senior. That is, if I even want the fucking part. It still pisses me off through that these idiots couldn’t even pick a decent play. Romeo and Juliet is so overrated.
“Auditions for parts will start Thursday,” Mr. Peters announces loudly. “For those of you unfamiliar with the script there are copies in the library. I’ll have copies for everyone for auditions. You can use the script for your audition. Club dismissed.”
Everyone stands up and starts gathering their things to leave. Even if we don’t need to have memorized a part of the script I’m going to make a point of doing so. Drama club only meets twice a week which fits perfectly with swim practice since the girls use the pool on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because swim practice and drama club usually get out about the same time I drive Jenna home on those days. But today drama club ends up getting out really early so I’m going to have to sit and wait for awhile. I leave a message on Jenna’s cell phone telling her where she can find me and then head to the library to read through Romeo and Juliet.
Instead of going with Romeo’s monologue about seeing Juliet through the window I settle on a monologue from Mercutio. I know he dies pretty early into the story but I find him a much more interesting character than Romeo. Romeo’s seriously a douche bag. One second he’s hitting on that Rosalinda girl and the next he’s head over heels for Juliet. As a character he lacks depth and he is so defined by the women of the story that it’s difficult to see him as his own character. Maybe I’ll suggest that I’d prefer to be him. Don’t know if Mr. Peters will go for that but I could try at least.
But on the flip side I’ve paid my dues and if I am the best actor (which I firmly believe I am) then I deserve the lead role. There’s no singing in this one so there’s no reason that I should be given a minor character. Not that Mercutio is a minor character. But by no means is he the lead.
I’m still debating whether I could ever be brash enough to straight up tell Mr. Peters not to give me the lead when Jenna comes trotting into the library. She hugs me when she reaches my table and inquires about what I’m doing. I tell her about the lame decision that drama club made to do Romeo and Juliet.
She seems to miss the word “lame” and she squeals “Oh my gosh I love that one!” but it comes out more like “OhmygoshIlovethatone!”
“Jenna,” I protest.
“Sorry,” she giggles. “Ready to go?”
“Let me photocopy this first. All those little freshman wanting a part are going to need these books and I’ve already picked my monologue.”
She smiles and bounces up from the table. “Of course you did. You’re so on top of all this stuff.”
“So how’d swim practice go?” I ask her.
Immediately the bounce seems to leave her step. “Laura bumped me. You’re now looking at the third string free style.” She looks as though she’s going to start crying.
“Seriously? How did Laura explain such a drastic move to Coach?”
“She wants to let some of the girls that have been stuck in the lower strings a chance.” We leave the library and start walking out to the car.
“She would pawn this off as a for the freshman problem.”
Jenna nods. “Yeah, so I guess there was no point in inviting her to the study session or going to her lunch outing.” She shakes her head sadly. “Sorry for dragging you through that.”
“Not your fault she’s a royal bitch,” I tell her trying to make her feel better.
We climb into the car and she’s still pouting. “I need ice cream,” she informs me. This is no surprise. Jenna always thinks she needs ice cream. It’s one of her favorite things in the world. If she ever tells someone that she loves them more than ice cream I have no doubt that she’ll marry them. Well, if they return the love of course.
“Do you have some at home?”
“Mint chocolate chip,” she brightens at the thought. “I’ll just eat some when I get home.”\
“Well let’s get you home then.” I start the car and she smiles at me,
She’s so innocent, so naïve. I can’t imagine why anyone would go out of their way to hurt her.
January 20th, 108 total days till graduation, 85 days left of school
“I’m auditioning for the part of Mercutio,” I announce to the entire auditorium. This is a ballsy move, especially for me. Most don’t declare what part they want, they simply pick a monologue, work with it and then allow Mr. Peters to assign them a part based on perceived skill level. Also, if you do declare what part you want people automatically say the leads. It’s a lesser known fact that if you request a character and you’re not seen as the number one candidate for the role then you’re automatically bumped to a far lesser role. Not something that anyone wants but definitely not your senior year.
When I announce that a few people gasp and I hear at least one person hiss “yesssss!” not so quietly. Yup, it’s a big deal. Almost anyone could have a decent shot at the part of Romeo now.
Mr. Peters sits at the desk dead center in the middle of the auditorium. When he hears the announcement he leans forward and talks into the microphone on the desk. “You’re sure about this, Grayson?”
I nod. “Yes, I much prefer the character, Mercutio.”
Mr. Peters sits back in his chair nodding. He waves his hand, my cue to proceed.
I take a deep breath and begin, “O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you.”
I have the script in my left hand in case I need it but I don’t think I will. I’m holding it because I don’t want to look overconfident. If I did slip up and couldn’t remember the words I would look like a complete idiot since Mr. Peters specifically told us that we could use scripts. I perform the entire piece seamlessly, if I do say so myself. I’ve only spent a few hours working on the piece but I know from watching some of the kids before me go, it’s more than most others have put in.
Mr. Peters compliments me on my ability to quickly learn the entire monologue then calls the next kid to the stage.
After everyone auditions he announces that roles will be posted by the end of school Friday. He gives his whole speech about how if you don’t receive a part this time you’re more than welcome to still help out this year, there are plenty of things to do in theatre besides act and then dismisses us.
I’m almost certain I got the part but I’m still anxious to see the results tomorrow.
I meet Jenna outside of the girls locker room and we walk out to the car together. She’s still visibly upset about not being able to swim the breast stroke anymore during relays. I try convincing her that Coach will see what a bad choice this was and revoke Laura’s decision but she doesn’t seem convinced. So I just hug her and tell her that everything is going to be alright.
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