Now...it's time for the audience to have a Q&A with the cast!
Chapter 10: Audience Q&A
Animation Universe 2005: (looks to the audience) All right, who's first?
One audience member: (stands up and receives a microphone) Hi, my name's Hailey, I'm 13 and I have a question for Johnny. Was it hard for you to learn how to play piano when you were chosen to to compete?
Johnny: Yes, Hailey. Mostly because it had been a long time since I actually played piano and at first, I was struggling to make the notes sound perfectly aligned, so it was a lot of work in almost a short amount of time, but eventually...I got used to it and I practiced more and got the hang of it. So now I'm doing a lot better and I've went from piano to guitar after the talent show and now I'm teaching myself how to play drums.
Animation Universe 2005: Wow...
Rosita: That's awesome, Johnny.
Ash: Put on a mowhawk on top of your hair and you'll be in a punk band.
Johnny: I don't know about a punk band. (chuckles softly)
Animation Universe 2005: Thank you, Hailey. (looks at the audience and sees one girl standing up) Okay, you...what's your name and what's your question?
Audience member #2: (stands up and receives a microphone) Hi, I'm Marissa and I'm 16. My question is for Ash. How do you move on from a break-up? I just recently saw my boyfriend with another girl at school and I saw them kiss right in front of me and I was just so mad that I broke things off with him and then he blames me for not being there enough and accuses me of cheating on him with my baby brother.
Audience: (stunned)
Animation Universe 2005: (silent)
Ash: Is that it?
Marissa: Yeah, he thinks that I spend more time with my brother more than him. It's not a big deal to me, but apparently...he thinks that he can't compete with my little brother. The thing is he's such a gorgeous looking guy and he's a sweetheart, but it's hard to move on from someone like that. He thinks that I'll never find anyone good enough other than him, so how I do move on?
Ash: What's your ex's name?
Marissa: Ethan.
Ash: And your brother's name?
Marissa: Corey.
Ash: I think it's best that you leave Ethan behind and forget about him. Breaking things off isn't always easy because you hold on to the memories, but if Ethan is that insecure about you spending time with your little brother, there's something wrong with him. It's one thing when it's another guy, but to turn around and have your ex accuse you of cheating with your brother, that's so stupid and also unheard of. How old is your brother?
Marissa: He just turned 7 a few weeks ago.
Ash: Your brother has absolutely nothing to do with your boyfriend's jealousy. Kids don't know what's going on and they don't have to be caught in the middle of this, especially if they're younger. So my advice is to just focus on you for a second and let Ethan and whatever this new girl's name is live their lives. One day, that girl will feel the same way you felt when Ethan leaves you for another girl. Mostly, some guys are idiots.
Mike: Hey! What does that supposed to mean?
Ash: Present company excepted, of course.
Mike: You want my advice? It's his loss! You're a pretty girl! Go find another guy that's way prettier than him and see how he feels now.
Marissa: I'll do that. Thank you both for your advice.
Ash and Mike: You're welcome.
Animation Universe 2005: Marissa, one question? Have you ever thought about Tinder?
Marissa: (laughs) No, I have to wait until I'm 18 to go to Tinder.
Animation Universe 2005: Fair enough. Thank you. (looks at the audience) All right, who's next?
Third audience member: (standing up and receiving the microphone) Hello, I'm Cody and I'm 15. My question is for Meena. So...like you, I have stage fright when I go out and perform in local venues and talent shows and in auditions. I just get so scared to get out there because I'm always used to singing alone with no one around me, but then somehow...I get secretly filmed by my sister without my knowing about it and sent it on social media. So...how do I get through my stage fright?
Meena: Hi, Cody. I understand how you feel about being scared to sing in front of people. It can be the most challenging thing ever and not many people can overcome it. But you're not alone. We all have it sometimes, but you just have to push through the fear and never let it stop you from doing the things you love to do. One tip that Mr. Moon gave me was to just take a deep breath and just sing.
Cody: Does it always work?
Meena: It helps a lot. After that, you don't think about your stage fright anymore.
Animation Universe 2005: One question, sir...what do people online say about your singing when your sister posted it?
Cody: They say that I'm an inspiration, that I have an amazing voice, that they can listen to me all day or if I can do an album and that I should perform more. I never look at the comments because I'm always too afraid of what other people think. I never imagined any positive comments coming from total strangers.
Buster: That's the whole beauty of it...singing brings people together and if you can use your talent and show it off to people, you'll see the impact that's made on others. Just go for it.
Audience: (cheering)
Meena: Can I hear something from you?
Cody: (stunned) Me?
Meena: Yes, I know that it's out of my character, but I want to hear what you sound like.
Cody: Um...okay.
Animation Universe 2005: Come on down to the stage.
Cody: (comes down the steps and into the studio with his guitar)
Animation Universe 2005: (hands Cody a microphone, then dims the entire lights and places a spotlight on Cody)
Cody: (lets out a shaky sigh, then closes his eyes and starts strumming a guitar)
Audience, Animation Universe 2005 and cast of Sing: (Watch and listen in silence)
Cody: You've got a hold of me
Don't even know your power
I stand undefeated
But I fall when I'm around you
Show me an open door
Then you go and slam it on me
I can't take anymore
I'm saying...
Baby please have mercy
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you have good intentions
I need you to set me free
Would you please have mercy, mercy...
on my heart?
Would you please have mercy, mercy...
on my heart?
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice
Consuming all the air inside my lungs
Ripping all the skin from off my bones
I'm prepared to sacrifice my life
I would gladly do it twice...
Ohhh, please have mercy on me
Take it easy on my heart
Even though you don't mean to hurt me
You keep tearing me apart
Would you please have mercy on me?
I'm a puppet on your strings
And even though you got good intentions
I need you to set me free
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
Begging you, begging you, please baby
I'm begging you for mercy, mercy
Oooh, I'm begging you, I'm begging you, yeah...!
(vocalizing soulfully ending in a final strum)
Audience: (cheering loudly as the lights come back on)
Cody: (opens his eyes and sees the crowds standing up and cheering as well as the cast of Sing and Animation Universe 2005, cheering and applauding)
Animation Universe 2005: Now that's a performance!
Johnny: Well done, Cody!
Cody: (chuckles softly) Thank you.
Meena: No...thank you.
Cody: (smiles, then heads back to his seat while being applauded on)
Animation Universe 2005: I don't know if I should keep doing the Q&A or end the show right here.
Audience: (chanting) More Q&A! More Q&A! More Q&A! More Q&A! More Q&A!
Animation Universe 2005: All right, all right...who's next?
Fourth audience member: Hello, I'm Brandy. My question is for Rosita. I have 5 kids and sometimes it's hard to wrangle them on my own and my husband's at work most of the time. Each day, it gets harder and harder everyday to work and take care of the house on my own...so how do you get through one of those tough days?
Rosita: I can relate to what you're saying because trying to take care of the house, the kids and everything is very overwhelming and it's hard when it's all on you. The best way to handle it is to just take it one day at a time and also ask your husband for help every chance he gets. As far as 5 kids, that's nothing compared to having 25.
Brandy: True. I couldn't imagine 25 kids on my own.
Rosita: But it has to be done regardless.
Animation Universe 2005: Anyone around here are mothers? Single or married? (sees mothers' hands raised up)
Rosita: Looks like we're not the only ones.
Animation Universe 2005: (looking at the cast) At some points, would you ever take care of 25 kids of your own?
Ash: No way!
Meena: That's a lot of kids.
Mike: I don't do little kids.
Buster: I'd have a whole cup of coffee if I want to handle 25 kids on my own.
Eddie: I'd have 10,000 cups.
Johnny: Not really, but babysitting for Rosita's kids is giving me a crash course on looking after kids. As far as me, I'd just have 2 in the future.
Animation Universe 2005: Good points. We got another one here...
Fifth audience member: This one is for Gunter and Rosita; how do you guys work so well as a team?
Rosita: Gunter's very reliable and he's also a great friend too, so it all boils down to how well we communicate and he's very positive.
Gunter: Ja, and she's very wonderful to work with. There's nothing but good things to say about her and she's a great performer too.
Animation Universe 2005: Oop, we got another one.
Sixth audience member: This one is for Mike. How do I dress like you?
Mike: (chuckles) Now that's an easier question I can answer. You gotta show off some style and find a cool suit, tie and a hat. I hear that it always turns on the ladies because they like guys who dresses sharp. For example, take me and Johnny. We both dress sharper, but we have totally different styles.
Johnny: (nods)
Mike: So...just go for whatever style you're in.
Sixth audience member: Thank you, I'll take that advice.
Animation Universe 2005: All righty, thank you all! And that wraps up Fan Q&A!
Audience: (Cheering)
One more chapter left! BTW, the song was 'Mercy' by Shawn Mendes! I have zero ownership!