"Welcome one and all to are production of Romeo and Juliet by the great William Shakespeare! due to an incident that happened two weeks ago we modified the play so we will only be performing a certain selection of scenes." The whole cast stood behind the curtains whispering about what there lines where that they had forgot their cues and general anxiousness. "Sit back, relax, and wear your heart on your sleeve, ladies and gentlemen Romeo and Juliet." I could feel the tension rolling off everybody as Miss Murphy walk off the stage and Ben walked on and began the prologue.
"Two houses both alike in dignity in fair Verona where we lay our scene ..." the lights were lowered so a single spot shone on Ben as he recited that first part of narrative. I have to say I have always loved the prologue at the start it was always one of my favourite parts of the play. "The which if you with patient ears attend, what here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend"
With that, Emmett all the others in act 1 scene 1 walked on to the stage into position and began their scene. By the look of things Emmet was enjoying being able to swing the sword around since he was constantly swinging it round narrowly missing people's heads at one point. Edward and jasper joined him shortly on the stage; I must admit they all look great in period costume.
"I'll pay that doctrine or else die in debt." Jasper said his final line and everybody left the stage as the curtains pulled for a close, and that, would be my cue. My heart raced and my palms started to heat and become sticky, shit, what a great moment for stage fright to kick in. I slowly walked on the stage squinting due to the harsh glare of the stage lights. I took a breath and we started our lines.
Once act 1 scene 2 was over I stayed on the stage as the curtains pulled closed, whilst most of the others filed off to changed costumes for the Capulet ball scene. I let my shoulders relax letting the tension roll of me, I spotted Edward walk onto the stage with Emmet, jasper and the other two guys that are playing Gregory and Sampson. The curtains pulled open and I danced awkwardly, trying not to trip over my dress, or feet, whist the others said there lines getting ready for my cue.
I looked up my eyes met Edwards and the stage fell away around us, we were stood in a ball room filled with people oblivious to us and us to them.
"If I profane with my unworthiest hand thy holy shrine the gentle sin is this, my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss." I could feel Edwards breath on the back of my neck as he pulled us both away and out of the crowd and off to the side.
"Good pilgrim you do wrong with your hands too much which mannerly devotion shows in this. For saints have hands that pilgrims hands do touch, palm to palm is holy palmers kiss." I breathed, the temperature rising around the two of us I turned around to face him, a small smile on his face as he started to speak again.
"Have not saint's lips and holy palmers too?" His eyes trained on my lips, his lips twitching up on one side, his hand grasping mine.
"Aye pilgrim lips they must use in prayer." In turn my eyes rested on his lips entranced by their movements.
"O'then dear saint let lips do what hands do! They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair." his hand went to rest on my waist, whilst his other kept brushing my finger tips.
"Saints do not move, through grant for prayers sake."
"Then move not while my prayers effect I take." His head tilted down to mine, my eyes drifted close, my head tilting up, his hand that was once on mine slid up to his other on my waist, our lips meeting in a sweet kiss, we both pulled away slowly his warm breath fanning my face. "Thus from my lips, by thine my sin is purged." he grinned down at me his hands still on my waist keeping us close, his thumbs rubbing soft, warm circles into my sides.
"Then have my lips the sin that they have took." Please...
"Sin from my lips?" he smiled; I could see the laughter in his eyes "O trespass sweetly urged! Give me my sin again." For the second time he leant down and placed his lips on mineand they parted with mine, our tongues just brushing but never really touching, both of us knowing if we dared deepen the kiss we wouldn't b able to stop and we needed to keep this short and sweet. I felt the heat rising to my cheeks among other places as we pulled away from the kiss and Edwards eyes where looking directly into mine, smouldering.
"You kiss by th'book." He most certainly does...
As the play drew to a close I couldn't help but think, it's over, all of it is over, I know the play wasn't the reason for everything that has happened the past couple of months, but, it was the start of it all, and as it ends it feels like the drama is ending with it. As Angela says her parting lines I feel as if a weight has been lifted, from my shoulders, my head and my heart.
"A glooming peace this morning with it brings.
The sun for sorrow will not show his head.
Go hence to have more talk of these sad things.
Some shall be pardoned some shall be punished.
For never was there a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo"