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

[strongestheart]

[Just what the hell is Maya doing as she walks around with her copy of the script? Well, as it's the case with her, she's the type to like to try new things! To be a little adventurous in her activities!

Plus, there are other things. After the secret debacle and the blackout, she's needed a solid distraction. As well, she might be taking a bit of inspiration from a friend of hers. Maybe. Just a bit.

She's trying to do this without doing what she normally does - see something bright and shiny and ignore whatever else she was doing before. She's trying to learn to multitask. And maybe with a sub-goal of seeking out new experiences for something else entirely: Rather than for her own satisfaction, as it might have been before, but taking shots in the dark with the goal of figuring out more about her weird memory flashes! Which is a REAL shot in the dark here, but she knows the purple haired Melody was super famous and filmed on stage, so... That's a start, right?

Of course she could have done a lot of this by acting as a stage hand but where's the fun in there, right?]

"O, speak again, bright angel!" ...boy, this guy's got it bad.

[An understatement. The ... good question is, why the hell is she applying for Romeo. That requires a deep dive into the insanity of Maya Aimoto's brain and I don't think you want to do that.

Either way, you can find her quizzically going over the script backstage, or actually auditioning. Which is probably quizzical for more people than just her.]

[rosettareflected]

Well, it is a traditional tale of star-crossed love. He has it bad, and he knows he's never going to be able to explore his feelings while they're on opposite sides. He and Juliet both know it. They've found a solution, though, even if it's something that can't be taken back once they get there.

[She drops into meter quickly, her voice taking more force upon it; this scene is well-known enough that she doesn't really need the script for it, and she's able to gesture with both hands as she goes, directing her lines to the relevant Romeo she has - Maya.]

"Deny thy father and refuse they name; or, if thou will not, be but sworn my love, and I'll no longer be a Capulet."

[Like a switch, she returns to her normal tone and cadence.] Their love is more important to them than their families and their names - it's everything, and they're willing to give up quite a bit for the cause.

[strongestheart]

[Maya is quite confident in most things, and she knew without much doubt that Alicia would be here to try out as well. Still, when Alicia approaches she suddenly feels this prickling nervousness in the back of her mind. Not only with regards to the other night during the blackout, but with the fact she knows that in this field she is way out of Alicia's league.

Still, she smiles and nods to the explanation. Though she'd done just fine in English class, this sort of writing wasn't exactly the easiest to absorb for her. She knew the broad strokes of the story, but little beyond that.

She nods along to the explanation at first, but Alicia will find Maya's eyebrows shoot up as she suddenly shifts into the dialogue and gesturing towards her. Something in Maya's mind misses a beat, staring at Alicia, before blushing a bit and hastily thumbing through the script.]

Ah, heh--! [Well, she misses her cue there, but at least it's not actual audition time. She was just taken off guard for numerous reasons, in addition to being impressed at Alicia doing that at the drop of a hat. Maya's got a damned good memory and could remember things reasonably well, but it still throws her off balance.]

Mm, well - yeah, it makes you understand how it's been so relevant to people for so long, at least. Lots of people long for a love that strong! Even if it ends up poorly, in their case... The act of loving someone so strong that little else matters is enough to make a lot of people's hearts flutter!

[She gives a small, nervous laugh, scratching her cheek.] I think so, at least.

[clear_eyes]

[Once again, after taking stock of things and listening to the talk about scheduling, Rachel doesn't have much to do besides listen to people. She leans against the wall, arms crossed, eyes settling on Maya as she reads off her line.

At her last comment, Rachel actually lets out a bit of a snort.]

Boy does he ever. You know this story was supposed to be about how being so devoted to someone is actually a bad thing? A lot of people forget this play was against portraying love that way...

[strongestheart]

[Maya snaps around at Rachel's presence, and gives a laugh. It's a bit embarrassing to have a friend hear her mumbling out that line, but it's... fine? Ish.

She ponders that for a moment though, and shakes her head.]

I mean, yeah! That might be the point of it, but that's not necessarily why people enjoy it so much!

[She rubs the back of her head.] A lot of people... they look for that strong a love their whole life, don't they? Or hope for it. It's tragic, but I still think sometimes find something they wish they had in it!

[clear_eyes]

... That's true. But like, Romeo and Juliet barely know each other. They don't think things through. They kind of throw things away just for the sake of each other, and make lots of mistakes.

[She taps her chin.] But you're right. People do try to live vicariously through romances like this.

[strongestheart]

[Maya gives a little laugh and claps her hands together.] No, they didn't! But isn't that also part of what gives it its appeal? People love stories about love at first sight, even if they end up in a disaster...!

[Sometimes, especially so.] I mean, sure. You should definitely take the "things not to do" messages to heart and everything, but when you're just enjoying a story in the moment, that doesn't necessarily matter!

[clear_eyes]

[It's not like Rachel can really talk. She liked certain... works when she was cutting her teeth on this short of thing. Likes schmaltzy vampire romance works...]

You're right. One can't interpret things too literally... And I suppose there's a certain attractiveness to seeing everything break down for some people.

Still, being ready to give your life for someone when you're that young. They're basically not too different from us. Can you even imagine?

[strongestheart]

[Just don't mention that here, at least this is respectable, and Maya still has respect for you, Rachel.]

Oh, yeah! Absolutely. It's pretty crazy to think about, I mean. If you saw someone do something like that in real life you'd wanna slap them upside the head!

[clear_eyes]

[Let her cling to that, then.]

And hopefully stop them before they went too far!

[strongestheart]

Mm! Well, that's why people need sensible friends, I guess.

[She laughs, a bit.] At the very least, I've gotten that much with you guys, so I'd probably be safe.

[clear_eyes]

[Rachel laughed a little.]

I promise that if you ever fall head over heels for someone, I'll pull you back if I need to.

[strongestheart]

Ah, my hero.

[It tumbles out a bit sardonically, with a little mock bow to go with it.] It's good to know I'm safe from that, if not giant balls of yarn and reporters.

[clear_eyes]

[Rachel smiles nervously, mock bowing in return.]

... Well, no. There are some things love and friendship can't overcome. The media especially.

[strongestheart]

Ehhhhhhh, yeah, I remember.

[She shudders at the memory.]

I'm just glad Melody was able to save my hide.

[clear_eyes]

Ehhh? Melody helped you? Against the media? Was this back when all those rumors were getting out?

[Rachel immediately looked concerned. Maya had reacted badly just from her phone proclaiming her secret. She could only imagine how much worse a reporter hounding her could be.]

[strongestheart]

Oh, yeah! Sorry, I hadn't mentioned it, it just freaked me out so much when it happened I didn't want to think about it...

[She sighs and nods.] I ran into Melody and she helped me hide until they were gone.

[clear_eyes]

... I see. Well, I'm definitely glad for that. After seeing how upset you got, the idea of someone coming after you over that...

[She sighs.] It just makes me angry, I guess.

[strongestheart]

Eh-heh...

[She shuffles her feet.] No need for it, now! It's all in the past!

[She should probably not mention then that she got caught in the blackout that night.]

[clear_eyes]

... You're right, I suppose.

[Though a thought occurs to me.] Wait, what about the blackout? Were you okay during all of that?

[She's kicking herself for not thinking about that at the time. It was kind of obvious, in retrospect.]

[strongestheart]

[Maya almost freezes in place, and chuckles a bit. It's an embarrassing memory for a number of reasons, her cheeks reddening a bit.]

Um, y- yeah. I kinda got caught out in the city but... I was fine! Eventually. Alicia found me...

[She blinks.] B- boy, you three really did keep me on track that day, heh...!

[clear_eyes]

... A-Ah. I see. Well, that's good right? You had someone there for you, I mean.

[She sighs and looks down.] I should have tried to check up on you that night. I'm sorry, Maya.

[strongestheart]

Huh? Oh! No!

[She waves a hand.] Don't apologize! It's fine! I'm just lucky to have so many people backing me up! Right?

[clear_eyes]

I guess. It's just you're my friend... I can't help but worry, you know?

[She sighed.] I guess I didn't have enough opportunities to call that night myself, anyway.