Whitney: OK, let's start with general introductions, why don't we?
Heath: I'm Orsino, Duke of Illyria. I'm in love with Olivia, but she won't marry me.
Hector: #sigh# I guess I'm Sebastian, twin brother to Viola. We were shipwrecked, and I think she's dead. Antonio is my only friend.
Eliwood: Hey! I'm Antonio, sea captain friend of "Sebastian". Um... isn't there a bounty on my head?
Wil: I'm, um... Valentino...
Whitney: that should be VALENTINE, Wil
Wil:... Right, Valentine. I'm one of Orsino's attendants, who are constantly running around trying to get Olivia to marry Orsino.
Rath: ...I'm Curio. One of Orsino's men.
Sain: I, Sain, am Sir Toby Belch, uncle to the beautiful Olivia.
Karla: you're also a drunk, lying trickster who should be hanged.
Sain: you wound be lovely Karla.
Karla: just keep your hands to yourself.
Erk: I'm Sir Andrew Aguecheek. I'm visiting, trying to get Olivia to marry me. I'm not very hopeful about it, though.
Jaffar: ... he's also a wimp.
Erk: hey! I heard that!
Jaffar: ... I am Malvolio... steward of Olivia... I delight in bringing trouble to Toby and his 'friends'... kekekeke...
Matthew: I'm Feste! Clown and joker in the employment of Her Grace Olivia.
Kent: I'm Fabian. A servant. ...Why does this guy even have a name? He's an extra!
Whitney: Just read you're lines!
Lyn: I'm Olivia, Countess of Illyria. Orsino, Andrew, and Malvolio all want to marry me, but I want to marry Cesario. #sigh#
Kent: you DO know Cesario is a girl?
Lyn: That doesn't come in 'til later.
Kent: ...If you say so.
Lyn: be a good servant boy and be quiet Kent.
Kent: ... #glare#
Nino: #bouncy# Hi! I'm playing Viola, a shipwrecked girl who disguises herself as a boy to get employment and falls in love with her employer while trying to get her employer's love to fall in love with HIM. #deep breath# I'm also Sebastian's sister, but I think he's dead.
Hector: not YET I'm not!
Rebecca: #sly grin# I'm Maria, one of Olivia's attendants. I like pulling tricks on the other members of her staff!
Jaffar:...kill...
Rebecca: ...uh... #runs# SAAIIINNN!
Sain: #already running#
Guy: I'm the first of the extras. I play a sea captain for about three seconds, and give Viola some advice. That's about it. Then I play the background people.
Serra: Me 'n' Priscilla are attendants for Orsino and Olivia.
Priscilla: Basically, we're the people who mill around in the background.
Serra: Because SOMEONE can't recognize talent when it BITES HER ON THE NOSE and stuck me in a CHARACTER PART!!!!
All but Serra: #covering ears, ignoring her#
Serra: #screeching# HEY!! PAY ATTENTION!!
Florina: um... I'm a servant... I think...
Karla: I am Officer number one. Beware my blade!
Lowen: -.-;; #backing away# Um... I'm, um, officer number two... um, Karla, can you put that down...?
Ninian: #looking holy# Um, I'm supposed to be a priest... hey, were girls ALLOWED to be priests back then?
Erk: can they be priests NOW?
Ninian: ...
Whitney: Well, I thought Lowen would be a better Officer than priest!
All: ...aha.
Whitney: anyway, here's the shortlist of the cast:
Main Characters:
Orsino - Heath
Olivia - Lyn
Sebastian - Hector
Viola - Nino
Antonio - Eliwood
Maria - Rebecca
Valentine - Wil
Curio - Rath
Toby - Sain
Andrew - Erk
Malvolio - Jaffar
Feste - Matthew
Fabian – Kent
Extras:Captain: Guy
Attendants: Serra, Priscilla
Servant: Florina
Officers: Lowen, Karla
Priest: Ninian
Whitney: I changed how I wrote the lines from the play a bit, they're not italicized (sp?) anymore, and I don't put the name of the (shakespeare) character in front. If you liked it the other way, or this way better, let me know. Now! Act One, Scene Two!
When Ms. Spencer had something she wanted done, she could get it done in surprisingly short time. Just two days after announcing the play, she'd turned the gym stage into an auditorium, and was running her acting class ragged.
"Why... didn't I decide to join the visual arts class? All they do is sit around and draw pictures... It couldn't be worse than this." Hector whined, dragging himself down to the gym, play in hand.
"Really. I heard their latest project was to draw flowers. How much easier does it get?" Eliwood moaned.
"Hurry up you two!" Lyn called. She was already in the doorway, waving at them. "Ms. Spencer's already here!"
"Oh Man..." Hector groaned, hanging his head. "Why can't she be late the way she used to be?"
"Alright class, hurry up!" Ms. Spencer snapped. She was standing at the front of the room, wearing what looked like a smock from the art room.
"Tell me she's not serious." Hector demanded, looking wide-eyed at the teacher. "Is that a bullhorn she's holding?"
"...Shoot me. Now." Eliwood commanded as they took their places in the seats facing the stage.
"OK. Today we're going to go over Act One, Scene Two. Viola, Captain, and extras, get up here now!"
Nino, Guy, and the extras (Lowen, Karla, Serra, Priscilla and Ninian) got up and walked to the stage. There was then a few minutes of yawning and chattering among the rest of the cast/class while Ms. Spencer arranged and re- arranged the extras and main character to her liking. Finally content she raised the bullhorn and shouted; "Act One, Scene Two. Begin!"
"Ow..." Hector muttered, rubbing his ears. "I don't know what's worse. The kids with the bells, or the teacher with the bullhorn."
"Who gave her permission to come into the school with that thing anyway?" Lyn demanded.
"Um..." Nino scanned the page, looking for her lines. "Oh! OK... 'What country, friends, is this?'"
Guy paused. "'This... is Illyria, lady.'"
"More feeling boys and girls!" Ms. Spencer interrupted with her bullhorn. Several people winced, but it got everyone's attention.
Nino thought for a moment, then put on an air of worry, which was quite convincing. Too convincing for Hector, who thought at least some of it was real. "'And what should I do in Illyria?'" She looked at Guy with big eyes. "'My brother he is in Elysium. Perchance he is not drown'd – what think you, sailors?'"
Guy seemed speechless for a second, and he stole a quick glance into the audience. Swallowing hard, he looked for his lost place. "Er – 'It is perchance that you yourself were saved.'"
"'O my poor brother!'" Nino wailed, startling more than a few people who hadn't been paying attention. "'And so perchance may he be.'"
"'True, madam; and, to comfort you with chance, ass'... asshure... um..."
"Assure, Guy!"
"Right - 'assure yourself, after our ship did split, Hung on our driving boat, I saw your brother, Most provident in peril, bind himself (courage and hope both teaching him the practice) to a strong mast that liv'd upon the sea; Where, like Arion on the dolphin's back, I saw him hold acquaintance with the waves so long as I could see.'"
"'For saying so, there's gold,'" Nino told him, pretending to press gold coins into Guy's hands. Hector nudged Eliwood and pointed to Jaffar and Erk, both of whom where clenching their fists. "'Mine own escape unfoldeth to my hope, whereto thy speech serves for authority-'"
"What the hell is she talking about?" Hector groaned, leaning back. "I do NOT get this Shakespeare stuff. Why don't we shove it in the history books and leave it there to rot?"
"Be NICE Hector! Nino's doing a good job." Lyn hissed.
"Yeah, yeah, real good job. But I still don't get it."
"You're HOPELESS! Listen: Viola just got shipwrecked, OK? She's talking to a sea captain about her brother, who may or may not be dead. He just said there was hope for her brother, but can't be sure. She's so happy she's paying him for the news. Capeesh?" Lyn eyed him sharply.
"Capeesh," Hector mumbled.
"Good."
"'- The like of him. Know'st thou this country?'" Nino asked, continuing.
"'Ay, madam,'" Guy answered forcefully, pointing to some random point behind him. "'Well, for I was bred and born not three hours' travel from this very place.'"
"'Who governs here?'" Nino asked.
"'A noble Duke,'" Guy nodded vigorously. Hector was surprised his head didn't come off, the way his braid was whipping around. "'In nature as in name.'"
"'What is his name?'"
"'Orsino.'"
"'Orsino!'" Nino reacted with far more vigour than was needed, and almost fell over. "Whoops! Er... 'I have heard of my father name him. He was a bachelor then.'"
Both Erk and Jaffar's heads snapped around to glare at a now very nervous Heath.
"'And so is now,'" Guy sighed. "'Or was so very late; but for a month ago I went from hence, and then 'twas fresh in murmur (as you know what great ones do, the less will prattle of) that he did seek the love of fair Olivia.'"
"...Hey Lyn, care to translate that?"
"EERGH! Hector! He's simply saying that this is his home, and when he was here recently the ruler was unmarried. There was also a rumour that the Duke was trying to marry 'fair Olivia'. ME!"
"Thanks, Lyn. I think."
"Uh..." Nino looked at her paper with a quizzical look. "'What's she?'"
Guy looked equally confused but shrugged and continued. "'A virtuous main, the daughter of a count that died some twelvemonth since; then leaving her in the protection of his son, her brother, who shortly also died; for whose dear love, they say, she hath abjured the company and sight of men.'"
"'O that I serv'd that lady, and might not be delivered to the world, till I had made mine own occasion mellow, what my estate is!'" Nino cried.
"'That were hard to compass, because she will admit no kind of suit; no, not the Duke's.'"
Nino looked at her page then took a deep breath. "'There is a fair behaviour in thee, captain, and though that nature with a beauteous wall doth oft close in pollution, yet of thee I will believe thou hast a mind that suits with this thy fair and outward character. I prithee (and I'll pay thee bounteously) conceal me what I am, and be my aid for such a disguise as haply shall become the form of my intent. I'll serve this duke. Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him, it may be worth thy pains; for I can sing and speak to him in many sorts of music that will allow me very worth his service. What else may hap, to time I will commit; only shape thou thy silence to my wit.' Phew..."
"Man, that's gonna be tough to follow," Guy raised an eyebrow looking at his paper. "Hmm... 'Be you this eunuch, and your mute I'll be; when my tongue blabs, then let mine eyes not see.' Eesh..."
"'I thank thee.'" Nino bowed to Guy, who hastily copied her. "'Lead me on!' ...Are we done?" Nino asked, turned to the teacher.
"Yes, well done! There are some rough spots to iron out, but we'll get to that. OK, third act –"
CLANG CLANG CLANG –
"Bloody bell! Alright, recess. But be back here in TEN minutes!"
There was very nearly a stampede to get out of the gym so they could enjoy the few minutes of freedom they had. Hector and Eliwood pushed their way through to their lockers, and Hector was soon rummaging through his backpack looking for change he could use to by something from the vending machine.
"I SWEAR, it's no fair! I'm only an extra!" Serra's unmistakable voice cut through the other conversations in the hallway. Hector froze and looked up. Serra was the last person he wanted to see right now: she was trying to finalize their 'date' and he was hard pressed to avoid her. Glancing over his shoulder he saw the bathroom. Good, if she saw he, he could just duck in there. She wouldn't dare follow him in there.
"Awesome! Change!" he exclaimed, pulling a toonie out of his bag.
(A/N Ok, I'm a Canadian. For those of you who don't know what a toonie is, it's a two dollar coin. Worth about 1.65 American)
"Hey, Eliwood, come with me to the vending machine."
"Hang on a sec, Hector. I know I had it earlier..." Eliwood grumbled, rooting through his bag.
"What've you lost now Eliwood?" Ninian asked, coming up to them.
"I can't find my wallet. I'm sure I had it earlier..."
"Have you tried asking the class kleptomaniac?" Hector asked.
"Hector!" Ninian cried. "That's not a nice way to put it!"
"...So?"
"HECTOR!"
"Alright, FINE, sor-ry! Geez..."
"What, you mean Matt?"
"'Course!" Hector waved his hand dismissively. "And if it wasn't him, he'll know who did it. And, of course, there's always the chance you dropped it. You've done that often enough." Ninian giggled as Eliwood blushed.
"Now I know why I keep you guys as friends; you're always SO supportive, y'know?"
"Get over it Eliwood. And while you're at it;" Hector grinned as he turned to head towards the vending machine. "Check you're back pocket. There seems to be something in it." Then he walked towards the vending machine leaving Eliwood to swear before running to catch up.
"You always were a klutz."
"Look who's talking."
"You are."
"Hey!"
"Face it, Eliwood, you weren't meant to crack insults."
"Jerk."
"Ow! The PAIN!" Hector howled in mock pain, which turned into real pain as Eliwood shoved him down the last three stairs. "HEY!"
Eliwood leaned on the rail. "Ha! Got'cha!"
"Why you-!"
"Aw, CRAP. The bells gonna ring soon!" Eliwood yelled, running down the stairs.
"Hey!" Hector yelled, pounding down the stairs after him. "I... am... going... to kill him... for that..." he growled.
"Kill who for what?" Lyn paused from coming up the stairs.
"Eliwood, for pushing me!" Hector yelled as he rushed past Lyn.
"...Boys." She shook her head and continued climbing the stairs.
"Hey Hector," Eliwood grinned when Hector finally reached the vending machine. "What kept ya?"
"Oh, nothing. Just a double crossing friend is all." Hector growled at him as he selected the chips he wanted. They came out with a loud clang, followed by clanking of his change. Eliwood laughed.
"C'mon, bells gonna ring soon."
"Well, we can't have food in the 'gym', so I guess I'll have to go back to my locker. Damn," he made a face. "I hope Serra's gone by now..."
"Eh, I hope so," Eliwood rubbed one of his ears. "I think just being in her general vicinity cracks my eardrums."
"Amen," Hector said, starting to climb the stairs. "Well, c'mon, it's our scene next."
"I know. Isn't it great?"
"...No."
"Grow up Hector."
"HECTOR!"
"Oh crap, no..."
"THERE you are!" Serra practically pounced on him from the top of the stairs.
"Uh... hi Serra..." Hector said, trying to push her off.
"OK, reservations are for 6 two days from now, at Il Mercado – "
"WHAT?!?"
"And be sure to bring extra money, because there's a film I want to see afterwards, and then," she kept prattling on.
"God, I am dead..." Hector moaned.
CLANG CLANG CLANG...
"Saved by the bell," he sighed as the bell ringing ran down the stairs. "See you in class, Serra," he said, dumping her down and running, Eliwood right behind him.
"What are you gonna do about her?" Eliwood asked.
"Hm... d'you think I could get Erk to believe that I was acting as a go-between for him and Nino, and that she wanted to meet him at Il Mercado, but instead send him to Serra?"
"No. I don't."
"Damn. How about if I got one of the girls to do it for me?"
"...That could work..."
"Which one though?"
"How about Priscilla or Rebecca? They might agree?"
"Do you think Ninian or Florina would work? They're both quiet and won't go blabbering all over the place."
"Maybe Lyn?"
"Or Karla. That just about covers all the girls in our class!" Hector groaned as they reached the gym doors. "OK, I'll have to figure it out soon. I've got what, two days? Two days to convince Erk the stubborn. This is SO not gonna be pretty..."
Heath: ...wow. What a weak attempt at a cliffhanger.
Whitney:... shut up.
Heath: yes'm!
Whitney: I apologize for any and all spelling mistakes. I miss half of them. Oops.
Nino: #holding copy of the rules# It says here you're not allowed to have spelling mistakes.
Whitney: #takes rules from Nino and burns them# ...Ok, anything else?
Hector: Yeah, which girl am I gonna trick Erk with? It can't be Nino or Serra, so that leaves... Lyn, Karla, Priscilla, Rebecca, Ninian or Florina.
Whitney: um... I'll try to figure it out for next time. -.-;;
Heath: SUUUUURE you will.
Florina: Um... we hope you enjoy today's act..
Matthew: Short as it was.
Florina: ...read and review, and we'll update soon!