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After school auditions . . .
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Kim and Ron were the first ones to enter the Middleton auditorium, followed by Bonnie and Brick. "Come on Ron, let's sit in the front." Kim said dragging Ron along away from the evil, her face still buried in the script. "I don't see why I have to be in this play Bonnie . . ." "It's for your college credit!" "I don't . . ." "Just do it!" Bonnie was being her natural overbearing self as usual. Kim smirked. Bonnie couldn't go ANYWHERE without an escort.
Tara entered the auditorium alone. She was dressed in her cheerleading uniform and her long blonde hair was pulled back into a bun. When Ron looked back to her, she winked. Then she took a seat next to Bonnie. Bonnie barely greeted her before wooing some more over Brick. 'Little bitch.' Kim thought to herself. Bonnie used people. How could she have so many friends?
More and more people started to come in. Ron was announcing them. But Kim was too busy with the script. "Romeo! Romeo! Where for art thou Romeo?" "Amelia, Heather, Roxanne, Zita . . ." All the females were entering at the same time. "Don't drool Ron." Kim commented without looking up. 'If Ron gets into this play . . . oh god.' She couldn't think about it. Then she felt a light jab into her shoulder. 'I wonder if they are all trying out for Juliet?' Another jab, only a bit harder, 'Roxanne and Heather are going to be at each others throats for that role.' This time she got a hard punch into her shoulder. "Quit jabbin' me! I'm trying to think!" "But Kim . . ." Ron pointed ahead. Kim's mouth dropped. It was Josh. He was wearing a leather jacket. He looked so artistic. He was a shoo-in for Romeo. 'Should I ask him to sit with me? He doesn't look like he has a seat. Oh gosh!'
"Hey Mankey! Over here!" Ron waved. Kim narrowed her eyes. Never mind. Ron had already saved her the trouble. "Sure." Josh nodded making his way over. Kim could almost hear Bonnie growling. Kim held her breath. Josh was sitting next to her. His arm was touching hers. It always made her jump when then touched unintentionally. "Hey Kim." Josh greeted her. "Oh! Hi!" Kim felt her face grow a deeper shade of pink. Doors slammed open and Mr. Barkin stomped in. 'Oh no.' Thought Kim holding her forehead in her hands. This . . . this meant disaster.
"Alright people! Listen! The regular director for this production has suffered from some sort of toe-nail infection and is under intensive care!" The whole room quivered. That had been predicted for a while. The old director had directed the school play for the past 7 years. All the students would rumor about how she always wore the exact same pair of shoes. They were brown muddy, loafers. She wore mismatched socks too. But despite her appearance, her effort seemed to produce top-quality plays. There were raving reviews. As un-shocking the news was, everyone was a bit disappointed to see her go. After all, she had to be better than Barkin.
"I will be assuming control as head director of this production of," Barkin took a moment to look over the script, "William Shakespeare's: Romeo and Juliet." Barkin sighed. "A classic tragedy. I understand that I am to watch your pathetic auditions and select an appropriate role for each student, I'm assuming everyone is pres . . ." Barkin was cut of mid- sentence. Monique and Justine bolted through the double-doors and rushed down the aisle apologizing over and over again. "Sorry! I had to alphabetize some science text-books for Sharon." Justine explained. "I helped her." Monique added. Barkin nodded and let them proceed to the empty seats next to us.
"In this audition I will be looking for, Talent, Projection, Eye- contact, Smile, Body-angles, Interaction with other Actors, General Stage Knowledge, Posture, Improvisation, Pronunciation, Articulation, Confidence, Body movement, Image," "Image?" Bonnie interrupted. "Yes, image is an important factor to performing." Bonnie smirked at Kim which she returned with an ice-cold glare. "And finally, creativity." Barkin's voice seemed to indicate a bit of sarcasm at the last characteristic. The whole room seemed to nod at these requirements but Kim's head was spinning. 'I never knew acting could be so complex. I'm toast."
"Well let's not waste anymore time. I believe Brick, Josh, and Malcolm are auditioning for Romeo. We have a lot of Juliet's reading, so we'll just have you pair up and read with a Romeo. The Juliet's are . . . Bonnie, Heather, Roxanne, Zita, Tara, Kim Possible, Amelia, and Justine. Possible! Mankey! You two read first!"
Kim's heart was pounding as she stood up on the stage. Mankey stood beside her and winked. He wasn't afraid. She felt better. Maybe she could do this. Kim straightened her back a bit. 'Posture.' She reminded herself. She felt the hot light fighting against her frail pale skin. "I want you to read Act I: Scene V. The part where Romeo and Juliet both begin dialogue. Action!"
It felt so sudden! There was a giant leap in Kim's soul. Right at that word "action", she was alarmed, but ready for whatever was coming to her. Suddenly she felt Josh grab and squeeze her hand.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
Josh's words were smooth and connected, so emotional, it almost felt real. Kim could feel the warmth of his lips near her smooth milky hand, and gasped, drawing back. She would have let it stay, but that wasn't in the script. Kim let her spirit rush through her body and brought her emotions out into the open as she began her first line. The first word was faint, but then she gained confidence and dominated the line, as if it were her own.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."
Kim felt the stage take control of her body as if she were a puppet on strings, she felt herself drifting away from Josh, with the perplexing uneasiness of Juliet. She felt Josh's breath against her neck as he spoke his next line,
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Josh spoke sincerely.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." Kim caught herself and remembered to smile as she placed her hand up against Josh's and enclosed it. She caught herself moving closer to him.
Josh moved closer and said in an audible whisper, "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." Kim spoke in a sweet flirtatious tone this time.
Josh seemed a bit confused, maybe even nervous. But there was only a slight pause before he proceeded to his next line. "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
'Oh god. Is he going to kiss me now? Should I kiss him?' Kim's thoughts raced as she read the next action that says, THEY KISS. Kim did not know. She noticed Josh was tilting his head. 'Yes, I should kiss him now.' Kim thought. She could hear Bonnie's growls from the back. Kim wet her lips to a slight pucker, tilted her head and leaned in the kiss. There was a slight pause where Kim could feel Josh's warmth, his utter gorgeousness, surrounding her.
That pause was enough. "That's good. Both of you. Josh stay on stage for a few more auditions. Possible, you can stick around and watch or head home now." Barkin shouted from the far back of the auditorium. Then she heard thunderous applause! Kim hoped she had done well, in Barkin's eyes. It was always so hard to tell! 'I'll stick around and watch.' Kim took a seat next to Ron. Monique hi-fived her and Ron just looked dismal. When Kim asked him what was wrong, the only response she got was that he wasn't feeling his best. Kim shrugged and sat back to watch the rest of the Juliet's flirt with Josh or someone else.
Roxanne and Heather both had phenomenal auditions as predicted. Heather and Josh seemed to work magic on stage together. Roxanne ended up reading with Brick, but she worked the same magic. Justine was good, she knew the dialogue well, but she was hesitant to proceed with actions upon the stage. Amelia wasn't good or bad. She was just average. Same with Tara. Then Zita. It came as a shock to her, Zita may have been a role-player, but she couldn't act to save her life! She read with Malcolm, knees rattling, chest beating, breathy, and much separated words. She took a big pause between each word as if, preparing for the next. Her audition took twice as long as anyone else's! Ron even seemed to be a bit taken aback. Finally, only Bonnie remained . . .
"Rockwaller! You read with Mankey!" Barkin shouted as he angrily scribbled across his clipboard nasty comments about Zita's poorly prepared audition. 'That's show biz kid.' Kim thought as a depressed Zita took her seat, her head hung low.
Bonnie took her spotlight with Josh. She did not appear to be one bit nervous. "Do you need a script?" Justine hissed to her. Bonnie shook her head. "No need." Kim was staggered. Had Bonnie, MEMORIZED the whole play?
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."
Good lord! Bonnie had memorized the entire script! Kim covered her eyes. She couldn't listen nor watch this audition. Slowly she curled up by Ron. Ron patted her back and whispered, "I'll tell you when it's over." "Thanks." Kim said amiably.
A few moments later Kim felt Ron poke her. "Bonnie's done. I'm on next." Kim opened her eyes and quickly hugged Ron. "Good luck." She whispered.
"Stoppable." Barkin grumbled at the name as Ron clumsily stumbled onto the stage. Barkin frowned and scribbled something on his clip pad. "Read Benvolio's first line, Act I: Scene IV. That's all I'll need."
Ron gulped. "Yes sir." 'Come on Ron! I KNOW you can do this!' Kim chanted in her mind.
"The date is out of, uh, such pro-pro-pro-lix-ity, prolixity: We'll have no Cupid, uh, hoodwink'd with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath?"
Ron paused, he gazed nervously out into the audience. The audience just gazed back at him. "Pick up the pace Stoppable!" Barkin screamed. He fumbled, beginning where he left off.
"Lath? Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; Nor no without-book pro . . . logue, faintly spoke, After the prompter . . . for our entrance . . . But let them measure us by what they will; uh, and, uh, We'll measure them a measure, and be gone!" Ron finished, but he wasn't smiling. And no one applauded.
Humiliated, Ron made his way back to Kim. "Uh, Kim, let's go, do something. . . Bueno Nacho?" "We still have to watch Monique audition." Kim pointed out, but she still felt sympathetic for Ron. Monique's face was serious, "No, it's no big, I'll catch up with you all later." Monique said shooing them off. Kim sighed and tugged on Ron's sleeve dragging him out of the theatre. Maybe, she could cheer him up somehow.
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After school auditions . . .
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Kim and Ron were the first ones to enter the Middleton auditorium, followed by Bonnie and Brick. "Come on Ron, let's sit in the front." Kim said dragging Ron along away from the evil, her face still buried in the script. "I don't see why I have to be in this play Bonnie . . ." "It's for your college credit!" "I don't . . ." "Just do it!" Bonnie was being her natural overbearing self as usual. Kim smirked. Bonnie couldn't go ANYWHERE without an escort.
Tara entered the auditorium alone. She was dressed in her cheerleading uniform and her long blonde hair was pulled back into a bun. When Ron looked back to her, she winked. Then she took a seat next to Bonnie. Bonnie barely greeted her before wooing some more over Brick. 'Little bitch.' Kim thought to herself. Bonnie used people. How could she have so many friends?
More and more people started to come in. Ron was announcing them. But Kim was too busy with the script. "Romeo! Romeo! Where for art thou Romeo?" "Amelia, Heather, Roxanne, Zita . . ." All the females were entering at the same time. "Don't drool Ron." Kim commented without looking up. 'If Ron gets into this play . . . oh god.' She couldn't think about it. Then she felt a light jab into her shoulder. 'I wonder if they are all trying out for Juliet?' Another jab, only a bit harder, 'Roxanne and Heather are going to be at each others throats for that role.' This time she got a hard punch into her shoulder. "Quit jabbin' me! I'm trying to think!" "But Kim . . ." Ron pointed ahead. Kim's mouth dropped. It was Josh. He was wearing a leather jacket. He looked so artistic. He was a shoo-in for Romeo. 'Should I ask him to sit with me? He doesn't look like he has a seat. Oh gosh!'
"Hey Mankey! Over here!" Ron waved. Kim narrowed her eyes. Never mind. Ron had already saved her the trouble. "Sure." Josh nodded making his way over. Kim could almost hear Bonnie growling. Kim held her breath. Josh was sitting next to her. His arm was touching hers. It always made her jump when then touched unintentionally. "Hey Kim." Josh greeted her. "Oh! Hi!" Kim felt her face grow a deeper shade of pink. Doors slammed open and Mr. Barkin stomped in. 'Oh no.' Thought Kim holding her forehead in her hands. This . . . this meant disaster.
"Alright people! Listen! The regular director for this production has suffered from some sort of toe-nail infection and is under intensive care!" The whole room quivered. That had been predicted for a while. The old director had directed the school play for the past 7 years. All the students would rumor about how she always wore the exact same pair of shoes. They were brown muddy, loafers. She wore mismatched socks too. But despite her appearance, her effort seemed to produce top-quality plays. There were raving reviews. As un-shocking the news was, everyone was a bit disappointed to see her go. After all, she had to be better than Barkin.
"I will be assuming control as head director of this production of," Barkin took a moment to look over the script, "William Shakespeare's: Romeo and Juliet." Barkin sighed. "A classic tragedy. I understand that I am to watch your pathetic auditions and select an appropriate role for each student, I'm assuming everyone is pres . . ." Barkin was cut of mid- sentence. Monique and Justine bolted through the double-doors and rushed down the aisle apologizing over and over again. "Sorry! I had to alphabetize some science text-books for Sharon." Justine explained. "I helped her." Monique added. Barkin nodded and let them proceed to the empty seats next to us.
"In this audition I will be looking for, Talent, Projection, Eye- contact, Smile, Body-angles, Interaction with other Actors, General Stage Knowledge, Posture, Improvisation, Pronunciation, Articulation, Confidence, Body movement, Image," "Image?" Bonnie interrupted. "Yes, image is an important factor to performing." Bonnie smirked at Kim which she returned with an ice-cold glare. "And finally, creativity." Barkin's voice seemed to indicate a bit of sarcasm at the last characteristic. The whole room seemed to nod at these requirements but Kim's head was spinning. 'I never knew acting could be so complex. I'm toast."
"Well let's not waste anymore time. I believe Brick, Josh, and Malcolm are auditioning for Romeo. We have a lot of Juliet's reading, so we'll just have you pair up and read with a Romeo. The Juliet's are . . . Bonnie, Heather, Roxanne, Zita, Tara, Kim Possible, Amelia, and Justine. Possible! Mankey! You two read first!"
Kim's heart was pounding as she stood up on the stage. Mankey stood beside her and winked. He wasn't afraid. She felt better. Maybe she could do this. Kim straightened her back a bit. 'Posture.' She reminded herself. She felt the hot light fighting against her frail pale skin. "I want you to read Act I: Scene V. The part where Romeo and Juliet both begin dialogue. Action!"
It felt so sudden! There was a giant leap in Kim's soul. Right at that word "action", she was alarmed, but ready for whatever was coming to her. Suddenly she felt Josh grab and squeeze her hand.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
Josh's words were smooth and connected, so emotional, it almost felt real. Kim could feel the warmth of his lips near her smooth milky hand, and gasped, drawing back. She would have let it stay, but that wasn't in the script. Kim let her spirit rush through her body and brought her emotions out into the open as she began her first line. The first word was faint, but then she gained confidence and dominated the line, as if it were her own.
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."
Kim felt the stage take control of her body as if she were a puppet on strings, she felt herself drifting away from Josh, with the perplexing uneasiness of Juliet. She felt Josh's breath against her neck as he spoke his next line,
"Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?" Josh spoke sincerely.
"Ay, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer." Kim caught herself and remembered to smile as she placed her hand up against Josh's and enclosed it. She caught herself moving closer to him.
Josh moved closer and said in an audible whisper, "O, then, dear saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair."
"Saints do not move, though grant for prayers' sake." Kim spoke in a sweet flirtatious tone this time.
Josh seemed a bit confused, maybe even nervous. But there was only a slight pause before he proceeded to his next line. "Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged."
'Oh god. Is he going to kiss me now? Should I kiss him?' Kim's thoughts raced as she read the next action that says, THEY KISS. Kim did not know. She noticed Josh was tilting his head. 'Yes, I should kiss him now.' Kim thought. She could hear Bonnie's growls from the back. Kim wet her lips to a slight pucker, tilted her head and leaned in the kiss. There was a slight pause where Kim could feel Josh's warmth, his utter gorgeousness, surrounding her.
That pause was enough. "That's good. Both of you. Josh stay on stage for a few more auditions. Possible, you can stick around and watch or head home now." Barkin shouted from the far back of the auditorium. Then she heard thunderous applause! Kim hoped she had done well, in Barkin's eyes. It was always so hard to tell! 'I'll stick around and watch.' Kim took a seat next to Ron. Monique hi-fived her and Ron just looked dismal. When Kim asked him what was wrong, the only response she got was that he wasn't feeling his best. Kim shrugged and sat back to watch the rest of the Juliet's flirt with Josh or someone else.
Roxanne and Heather both had phenomenal auditions as predicted. Heather and Josh seemed to work magic on stage together. Roxanne ended up reading with Brick, but she worked the same magic. Justine was good, she knew the dialogue well, but she was hesitant to proceed with actions upon the stage. Amelia wasn't good or bad. She was just average. Same with Tara. Then Zita. It came as a shock to her, Zita may have been a role-player, but she couldn't act to save her life! She read with Malcolm, knees rattling, chest beating, breathy, and much separated words. She took a big pause between each word as if, preparing for the next. Her audition took twice as long as anyone else's! Ron even seemed to be a bit taken aback. Finally, only Bonnie remained . . .
"Rockwaller! You read with Mankey!" Barkin shouted as he angrily scribbled across his clipboard nasty comments about Zita's poorly prepared audition. 'That's show biz kid.' Kim thought as a depressed Zita took her seat, her head hung low.
Bonnie took her spotlight with Josh. She did not appear to be one bit nervous. "Do you need a script?" Justine hissed to her. Bonnie shook her head. "No need." Kim was staggered. Had Bonnie, MEMORIZED the whole play?
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand, This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand, To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss."
"Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, Which mannerly devotion shows in this; For saints have hands that pilgrims' hands do touch, And palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss."
Good lord! Bonnie had memorized the entire script! Kim covered her eyes. She couldn't listen nor watch this audition. Slowly she curled up by Ron. Ron patted her back and whispered, "I'll tell you when it's over." "Thanks." Kim said amiably.
A few moments later Kim felt Ron poke her. "Bonnie's done. I'm on next." Kim opened her eyes and quickly hugged Ron. "Good luck." She whispered.
"Stoppable." Barkin grumbled at the name as Ron clumsily stumbled onto the stage. Barkin frowned and scribbled something on his clip pad. "Read Benvolio's first line, Act I: Scene IV. That's all I'll need."
Ron gulped. "Yes sir." 'Come on Ron! I KNOW you can do this!' Kim chanted in her mind.
"The date is out of, uh, such pro-pro-pro-lix-ity, prolixity: We'll have no Cupid, uh, hoodwink'd with a scarf, Bearing a Tartar's painted bow of lath?"
Ron paused, he gazed nervously out into the audience. The audience just gazed back at him. "Pick up the pace Stoppable!" Barkin screamed. He fumbled, beginning where he left off.
"Lath? Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper; Nor no without-book pro . . . logue, faintly spoke, After the prompter . . . for our entrance . . . But let them measure us by what they will; uh, and, uh, We'll measure them a measure, and be gone!" Ron finished, but he wasn't smiling. And no one applauded.
Humiliated, Ron made his way back to Kim. "Uh, Kim, let's go, do something. . . Bueno Nacho?" "We still have to watch Monique audition." Kim pointed out, but she still felt sympathetic for Ron. Monique's face was serious, "No, it's no big, I'll catch up with you all later." Monique said shooing them off. Kim sighed and tugged on Ron's sleeve dragging him out of the theatre. Maybe, she could cheer him up somehow.
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