Spring Musical Awakening

an HSM story by phoebe piper

Note: Although this story is all dialogue, it's based on an R-rated musical, so some subject matter may not be appropriate for younger readers. Don't say I didn't warn you. :)

- - -

"Hey, Shar, what's up?"

"I have FABULOUS news! Are you sitting down?"

"No, I'm on my way to class. Can I call you back in an hour?"

"No you CAN'T 'call me back in an hour'. My news is big, Ryan. It's HUGE!"

"Well, I have some big news, too, Shar, but I'm gonna be late to Music Theory as it is. Can't I call you back -- it'll only be 50 minutes, I promise."

"You can't make we wait, Ry! This is too big!"

"Fine. Then why don't we just both blurt out our news at the same time and then we can talk about it later."

"Ryan, that's lame! We're not toddlers!"

"Well, I don't have time to--"

"Okay, FINE! Together in 3...2...1.…"

"We're doing Spring Awakening!" "We're doing Spring Awakening!"

"Shar, that's awesome!"

"I can't BELIEVE you're doing it, too! I was SO gonna rub it in your face that we were doing it first!"

"But I don't understand, Shar. How can U of A AND Juilliard both be doing it at the same time? I mean, the rights are only just now being released."

"Exactly! Think about it, Ryan. Now that it's available, we probably shouldn't be surprised if every college in the COUNTRY is doing it this spring!"

"Well, at least we both get to take advantage of it, right?"

"Sure, whatever, Pollyanna."

"Don't be like that, Shar. Don't get upset! You're going to be in Spring Awakening -- you should be happy."

"Yeah, yeah. Call me in an hour!"

- - -

"So? How did it go, sis?"

"It was…weird."

"Weird how? Weird 'Ms. Darbus weird' or weird 'Peter Brook weird'."

"Weird 'Peter Schaffer weird'. We didn't even do any readings. It was all improv and charades. Like making people simulate masturbation."

"Well, that kinda makes sense. I mean, you wouldn't want to cast someone as Hanschen who wouldn't be comfortable 'masturbating' on stage."

"Yeah, but the director made EVERYONE 'masturbate' for their auditions -- boys AND girls!"

"Well, I can see that, too. I mean, all the characters need to be in touch with their own burgeoning sexuality. That's kinda the main point of the show."

"Ryan, he made the girls pretend they had a schlong!"

"Okay, that IS weird. "

"Told you!"

"So how'd you do?"

"Fabulous -- I just pretended to be you with an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog."

"Thanks, sis. But you know they no longer publish the catalog -- they just have a website now."

"Ew! Now I know why you spend so much time on-line."

"Well, 'the internet is for porn.'"

"Then don't come near MY keyboard! But how about you, Ry? How'd YOUR audition go?"

"I don't know. I was REALLY nervous! More nervous than I've EVER been for an audition!"

"Why? You know Spring Awakening backwards and forwards."

"But that's the problem, Shar. I want this SO BADLY!"

"You mean you want the part of Moritz so badly."

"Oh Shar, I don't know what I'll DO if I don't get Moritz. I mean, I'm not even sure I want to BE in the show if I have to watch someone else play my role."

"Oh c'mon, Ryan! You LOVE Spring Awakening -- you'll be happy just to be cast as Swing."

"But I've waited my entire life to play Moritz! I'll be DEVASTATED if I don't get it."

"Entire life? Oh puh-lease! Don't be such a drama queen, Ryan. The show's only been around for three years!"

"Yeah, but I feel such a connection with Moritz. It's like the part was written for me."

"The part was written over a hundred years ago, Ryan -- I sincerely doubt Frank Wedekind had you in mind back in 1892."

"You know what I mean, sis. And I simply don't feel that connection with any of the other characters."

"Well, what about your childhood crush on our dance instructor -- that's similar to Georg's obsession with his piano teacher. And clearly Otto's a mamma's boy -- I'm just saying! And with the whole gay thing, you'd probably make a good Ernst."

"Ernst?! Are you kidding? I'd make a TERRIBLE Ernst!"

"You're right -- you would. I'm sorry I lied -- I was just trying to make you feel better about your shitty audition."

"Aw! Thanks, Shar. That means a lot to me."

"Don't get mushy, Ryan. Just stop worrying. You probably did fine, and if not, there's nothing you can do about it now anyway. So go find your Abercrombie and Fitch website and try to relax."

"Uh, yeah. You, too, Shar."

"And call me the instant the cast list is posted."

"Well DUH!"

- - -

"So?"

"I GOT IT! I GOT MORITZ!!!"

"Ryan, that's fabulous! Congratulations! I knew you'd make it!"

"I still can't believe it! I'M SO EXCITED!"

"Yes, me and my shattered eardrum are well aware of your excitement."

"Sorry, Shar. It's just…I'm gonna be Moritz! Finally! It's a dream come true!"

"Yes, yes. Huzzah for you, Ryan."

"Um…I take it from your tone that you're not happy with YOUR part?"

"Gee, Ryan, whatever gave you THAT idea?!"

"So…did you even GET a part?"

"What kind of question is that?! Of COURSE I got a part."

"Well, that's good. So who'd you get? Thea? Martha?"

"Ilse."

"Ilse?! That's FABULOUS, Shar! Ilse's the best female part in the show."

"How can you SAY that? Wendla has three times as much stage-time as Ilse!"

"Yeah, but face it, Shar -- Wendla is an ingenue. She's a 'Gabi' role. You're just not the right not type for Wendla."

"But Ilse's such a nutcase."

"Um…no comment?"

"Shut up, Ryan! I'm serious! Ilse is batshit crazy!"

"No she's not -- she's just…damaged."

"Same thing."

"No it's not. Ilse's vital to the plot -- she represents what happens when you go outside the system. Melchior's a fighter, but Ilse's been in the trenches for years! She's a symbol of freedom from the establishment…and how it's not all it's cracked up to be."

"But that's it exactly, Ry. How am I supposed to play a mere 'symbol'?"

"Ilse's MORE than just a symbol, Shar. She's complicated; she has depth. And you're a brilliant actress, sis. You're gonna make an awesome Ilse!"

"Of course I am. I'm just annoyed that you get more songs than me! It's not fair!"

"But look at it this way -- I'm the only person who doesn't get to sing 'Totally Fucked', and that's the best song in the show."

"Wow, thanks, Ryan. That actually makes me feel a lot better."

"Glad my pain makes you happy."

"Always!"

"Congratulations, Shar!"

"Congratulations, Ry."

- - -

END OF CHAPTER 1