Orange 3, Strawberry 26, FOTD
Author: Marina
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Orange 3 (I couldn’t have said it better), Strawberry 26 (rug), FOTD (tristful)
Toppings/Extras: Whipped Cream (Oriana is fourteen), Sprinkles, Fresh Blueberries (“When you interpret a role, you have to have a thousand colors to portray happiness, joy, sorrow, fear. How can you do this with only a beautiful voice?” - Maria Callas), Malt (pfah - rug : Oriana : they don't play me on the radio)
Word Count: 674
Rating: G
Summary: Oriana did not deal with disappointment well as a child.
Notes: This is why Oriana didn’t pursue an acting career.
Mrs. Majors, the drama teacher, sat behind a tall desk in an office so large it almost swallowed her. Oriana could barely tell the difference between her teacher and the ornate trinkets and sculptures that decorated the expansive space. Props, posters, and signed photographs lined the walls, and an oriental rug longer than she was tall smothered the wooden floor. The setting made Oriana feel very insignificant, and she almost abandoned her mission.
Her middle school drama teacher, Miss Forester, had had a more welcoming presence, and rarely spent much time in her office. Oriana would have felt much more comfortable approaching her about this matter-but then again, she would not have needed to talk to Miss Forester about casting.
She tapped on the doorframe. Mrs. Majors looked up and smiled. “Miss Kopen,” she said, rising from her seat to move in front of the desk. “What can I do for you?”
Oriana took three mincing steps into the room and clasped her hands behind her back. “I wanted to ask you…why am I only in the chorus?”
“I felt that Miss Flynn gave the strongest audition for Chava.”
Her skin tingled unpleasantly as she recalled the cast list posted on the theater door. Theresa Flynn, the girl who had been cast as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, was pleasant to work with. Her audition had not been terrible, but she was softspoken and her delivery had not had enough feeling to be right for Tevye’s book-loving, passionate third daughter. Oriana had been certain that she had earned the role, and so had the other drama students. She had been the lead throughout middle school, after all. Miss Forester would have given her the part; hell, Miss Forester would have made her one of the older daughters, or the wife.
She felt that it would not help her case to say any of this to Mrs. Majors, however, so she attempted to formulate a response that did not sound bratty or conceited. “Really? I thought-"
“Miss Kopen,” Mrs. Majors said, deftly cutting her off with a gentle motion of the hand, “I know you’re disappointed. I spoke with Miss Forester about you when we were recruiting last year, and I realize that you’re used to being one of the strongest performers and being cast as the lead.”
“It’s not that,” Oriana began.
The teacher gave her a somber smile. “Would you like some helpful criticism?”
“I-sure.”
“You do have talent. You have strong presence, your inflection is good, and your desire is obvious. What you lack is real understanding of the characters.”
Oriana frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re…overly demonstrative,” Mrs. Majors said carefully. “You put more effort into sounding as dramatic as possible than trying to step into the character’s shoes. When you prepare for a role, you need to think about the person you’re trying to portray. Where are they coming from? What do they want? Miss Flynn’s performance made me believe that she was Chava. Yours just seemed like you saying Chava’s lines for an audition. Do you understand the difference?”
“Yes,” said Oriana, even though she did not.
Mrs. Majors smiled again. “You’ll have just as much fun in the ensemble, and you can always audition again in the spring. You will be a strong performer if you work at it, and you can always ask if you want some coaching.”
Oriana nodded, but she already knew it was no use. She did not have the same rapport with Mrs. Majors that she had had with Miss Forester. It was pointless to try to impress her. “Sure, thanks.” Turning on her heel, she marched out of the office with her head high.
The only witness to the hysteria that followed was the hapless driver who had been waiting for her in the front of the school. Oriana calmed down by the time they arrived at her house, and she never mentioned the conversation to anyone else.
She did not try out for the spring show, either.
Story: Shifts universe (pre-Tremors)
Challenge: Orange 3 (I couldn’t have said it better), Strawberry 26 (rug), FOTD (tristful)
Toppings/Extras: Whipped Cream (Oriana is fourteen), Sprinkles, Fresh Blueberries (“When you interpret a role, you have to have a thousand colors to portray happiness, joy, sorrow, fear. How can you do this with only a beautiful voice?” - Maria Callas), Malt (pfah - rug : Oriana : they don't play me on the radio)
Word Count: 674
Rating: G
Summary: Oriana did not deal with disappointment well as a child.
Notes: This is why Oriana didn’t pursue an acting career.
Mrs. Majors, the drama teacher, sat behind a tall desk in an office so large it almost swallowed her. Oriana could barely tell the difference between her teacher and the ornate trinkets and sculptures that decorated the expansive space. Props, posters, and signed photographs lined the walls, and an oriental rug longer than she was tall smothered the wooden floor. The setting made Oriana feel very insignificant, and she almost abandoned her mission.
Her middle school drama teacher, Miss Forester, had had a more welcoming presence, and rarely spent much time in her office. Oriana would have felt much more comfortable approaching her about this matter-but then again, she would not have needed to talk to Miss Forester about casting.
She tapped on the doorframe. Mrs. Majors looked up and smiled. “Miss Kopen,” she said, rising from her seat to move in front of the desk. “What can I do for you?”
Oriana took three mincing steps into the room and clasped her hands behind her back. “I wanted to ask you…why am I only in the chorus?”
“I felt that Miss Flynn gave the strongest audition for Chava.”
Her skin tingled unpleasantly as she recalled the cast list posted on the theater door. Theresa Flynn, the girl who had been cast as Chava in Fiddler on the Roof, was pleasant to work with. Her audition had not been terrible, but she was softspoken and her delivery had not had enough feeling to be right for Tevye’s book-loving, passionate third daughter. Oriana had been certain that she had earned the role, and so had the other drama students. She had been the lead throughout middle school, after all. Miss Forester would have given her the part; hell, Miss Forester would have made her one of the older daughters, or the wife.
She felt that it would not help her case to say any of this to Mrs. Majors, however, so she attempted to formulate a response that did not sound bratty or conceited. “Really? I thought-"
“Miss Kopen,” Mrs. Majors said, deftly cutting her off with a gentle motion of the hand, “I know you’re disappointed. I spoke with Miss Forester about you when we were recruiting last year, and I realize that you’re used to being one of the strongest performers and being cast as the lead.”
“It’s not that,” Oriana began.
The teacher gave her a somber smile. “Would you like some helpful criticism?”
“I-sure.”
“You do have talent. You have strong presence, your inflection is good, and your desire is obvious. What you lack is real understanding of the characters.”
Oriana frowned. “What do you mean by that?”
“You’re…overly demonstrative,” Mrs. Majors said carefully. “You put more effort into sounding as dramatic as possible than trying to step into the character’s shoes. When you prepare for a role, you need to think about the person you’re trying to portray. Where are they coming from? What do they want? Miss Flynn’s performance made me believe that she was Chava. Yours just seemed like you saying Chava’s lines for an audition. Do you understand the difference?”
“Yes,” said Oriana, even though she did not.
Mrs. Majors smiled again. “You’ll have just as much fun in the ensemble, and you can always audition again in the spring. You will be a strong performer if you work at it, and you can always ask if you want some coaching.”
Oriana nodded, but she already knew it was no use. She did not have the same rapport with Mrs. Majors that she had had with Miss Forester. It was pointless to try to impress her. “Sure, thanks.” Turning on her heel, she marched out of the office with her head high.
The only witness to the hysteria that followed was the hapless driver who had been waiting for her in the front of the school. Oriana calmed down by the time they arrived at her house, and she never mentioned the conversation to anyone else.
She did not try out for the spring show, either.