open | what misadventure is so early up

[catsudon]

WHO: ANY & ALL
WHERE: Recollé Community Center
WHEN: March 15th, Afternoon/Evening
WHAT: Auditions and sign ups for the Community Production of Romeo & Juliet.
WARNINGS: N/A, perhaps for language, will update as necessary.

Sign-ins for auditions and sign-ups for production crew in all aspects are at the table in front of the stage; the director and another community arts program associate can be found there. After signing in, those auditioning for parts are invited to pick up and share one of pamphlets with selected scenes from the play itself:

Act I, Scene I: Where Gregory and Sampson fight with Abraham and Balthazar.

Act II, Scene II: The infamous balcony scene between Romeo and Juliet, from Romeo's "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?" to Juliet's "How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?"

Act III, Scene I: Where Mercutio and Tybalt fight, only for Romeo to interrupt and Tybalt to stab Mercutio under Romeo's arm. From Tybalt's, "Follow me close, for I will speak to them." to Mercutio's "Come, sir, your passado."

And a fourth, randomized scene that doesn't appear to be the same amoung all the pamphlets. The director will be keeping things rolling by tossing auditioners on stage and ushering seconds to read parts if people aren't presenting in pairs; the monologues he waves off, saying he's more interested in the dramatics of people's on stage chemistry than their ability to drone on to the audience alone.

Details and scheduling on props, costumes, setting pieces, and the rest are all a mess of discussions throughout the night; the director takes a few breaks for refreshments, leaving the auditorium and falls and the rest of the community center proper (along with the grounds around the community center) for people to practice before their time comes to be up on stage.

Comments

[true_noir]

Am I like such a fellow?

[Chloe was struggling to stifle laughter at playing the part of Benvolio here. Her french was coming out a bit thick while she read it, and a touch wooden. She really didn't feel competent to one of these things, but hey, nothing wrong with helping someone who Anya had roped into trying to audition, was there?

And Yu was behaving far less foolishly than usual, so that was something deserving of a reward.]

[covenantal]

[ Ah, well. At least someone is willing to help him. He'll flash Chloe a look of gratitude and carry on with his line. ]

"Come, come, thou art as hot a Jack in thy mood as any in Italy, and as soon moved to be moody, and as soon moody to be moved."

[ Lifts his shoulders in a minute shrug. ]

Thanks for helping out. It's easier to practice with a partner.

[true_noir]

Think nothing of this...

'And what to?'

[Yep, Benvolio's lines weren't exactly the height of difficulty at first. But they set Yu up for his own, so she could keep at it. Besides, Ben got more to say in a moment, so she'd actually feel like she was contributing there.

When they were finished up, she could ask him what prompted the decision to perform.]

[covenantal]

[ Yu will nod his thanks nonetheless, and, given Benvolio's setup, launch into Mercutio's soliloquy that follows. He's a little slow at it, but otherwise there aren't really any noticeable burrs in his performance. Even his cadence is on point. For all appearances he seems to get really into it, and delivers it like he were up on stage delivering the real thing.

It feels ... familiar, somehow. ]

That's quite a speech, isn't it?

[ Somewhat laughingly, once he's done. Seems he's feeling a little embarrassed, maybe. ]

[true_noir]

It is, yes. Sometimes, the speeches, they are less conversational, but I suppose that is how he gets the poetry of it through. It is certainly a different style than they do now, is it not?

[She smiled and nodded, thinking of a critique, something to help Yu as he was preparing. Tapping her lips, she added after a moment of thought.]

I think you are doing well, but try to be less nervous. Just feel like a playful cad. It will make it easier if you do not worry so much. When did Mercutio ever worry?

...

Well, until he was stabbed anyway.

[covenantal]

Back then, this was considered pretty common speech. It's only time that makes it seem exotic to us.

[ But he's agreeing with her, really, even if it might sound like he's just lecturing.

To the rest he listens quite seriously, though her last comment makes him blink. His smile is a flicker across his face, but it was there. ]

That's true. He's a passionate person who lives in the moment. I'll have to do my best to be more like him if I read for this scene.

[true_noir]

Heh, there you go. Live in the moment, right up until that moment is you becrying that they have made worm food of you. [She stifled a little laugh as she said it.] Oh, Mercutio, he always had to have the last laugh, even in death and bitterness, didn't he?

[covenantal]

That's the kind of person he is. It's why he makes a good foil to Romeo, I think. He's passionate, but not romantic like Romeo. He just sort of wants to have a good time, doesn't he?

[true_noir]

Yes, I believe he was there to serve as a foil for Romeo. Otherwise it is a bit too serious. And this is meant to be as much a comedy as a tragedy.

[covenantal]

[ A bit of a smile. ]

It's nice to actually discuss the play. Have you studied Shakespeare before?

[true_noir]

A little. Less than I would like, but mother was much more partial to French playwrights than she was to British. Still, I have read a few of his works. It is hard to miss them, if one is trained in the classics, yes?

[covenantal]

[ Lifts his eyebrows. ]

I wouldn't say I was trained. I learned about them in school. Have you had real theater training?

[true_noir]

No, not at all. I was home schooled and finished lycee when I came to America, so most of my training has been fairly typical for a student. My training at the florist was on the job.

[covenantal]

Lycée...?

[ A beat, and: ]

Êtes-vous Française?

[true_noir]

Oui! Je suis originaire du Béarn. [She smiled as she said it, her French coming back to her naturally. It was nice to meet someone who knew a little, though she wasn't about to launch into full-out french unless he seemed familiar with it.]

Et vous?

(OOC: That, and my French isn't 'quite' that good. "Yes! I am originally from Bearn." It's a province east of Basque lands along the Pyrenees on the Atlantic side of France.)

[covenantal]

[ A little smile as she responds back in French. He feels like he's getting to know her, a little... ]

Je l'ai étudié à l'école. Our parents are diplomats, so it's helpful to know a bit of other languages.

[ ooc; no worries! I speak a little of it myself so I can translate basic sentences, but we don't need to push their french too much, laughs. thank you for letting me know though! ]

[true_noir]

[She smiled brightly enough and nodded.]

Oh, I see! Yes, diplomatic families would have a lot of need for other languages, would they not? And French is one of the most widely spoken languages, after all.

(OOC: Heh, I'll probably do french statements in italics if you want to do a bit more of them speaking in it.)

[covenantal]

It is, along with a few others. French was the one I studied, but I know a little bit of quite a few languages. It became something of a hobby to learn what I could. I rarely actually have chances to talk with native speakers, though.

[ ooc; works for me!! /o/ ]

[true_noir]

[She switched into french, choosing a fairly basic and easier to understand vocabulary. It was rude to lunge in too far, after all.]

If you want to practice with someone, you may. It is nice to not lose touch with my mother tongue.

[covenantal]

[ Yu pauses for a moment; he can speak French, yes, but he's not fluent. He makes sure he understands her before he responds. ]

It's enjoyable for me to practice as well. To be proficient with languages is important to me. I really appreciate your offer.

[true_noir]

[She kept her pace of speaking easy, not too fast. It wasn't childish, but she'd helped tutor a few people when she first came to America. She remembered how to do it.]

You are very welcome. I think it's good for us both. So, anytime you wish, call me. I will tell you if I am free.

[covenantal]

I am no longer studying French in school, but maybe we could meet for coffee sometimes? And speak only in French.

[ Point being: he doesn't actively study it anymore, but it'll be good to practice in a situation like that. ]

[true_noir]

That would be a nice chance, yes. A social meeting could be a good way to stay in practice. It is better than most.

[covenantal]

Alright. Then I'll be in touch?