A monologue is a difficult thing to practice if there is a looming audition. So, obviously, Evergreen found his to be extremely difficult. According to Professor Park, their next plays will be William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice for the seventh graders and A Midsummer Night's Dream for the new sixers. Now, he didn't know much of Shakespeare outside of Julius Caesar and Romeo and Juliet, but he wouldn't let that stop him. He realized that the previous year that he had some stage fright and to be as fearless as a Wampus, he knew that he had to face his fears and overcome them.
Many afternoons during that second week of September were spent in that glass room that Evergreen and Seta found. Seta, despite being a bunny, actually knew how to read, so while Evergreen paced, repeating his monologue, Seta followed along with what was written before him, occasionally giving a hint or something to help Evergreen in his memorization. During Julius Caesar, he picked up several skills that he didn't know he could possess, but considering Dad's history in show business, he wasn't too sure why he was surprised.
Seta had discovered that one of the many odds and ends within the glass room was an old record player and various jazz records. Evergreen recognized some of the names from Dad like Count Basie, Miles Davis, and Etta Fitzgerald. He quickly found out that listening to instrumental jazz music made his monologue much easier to memorize. Just like songs are simpler to memorize than schoolbooks, a little music goes a long way. At some point, Seta even started humming some of the more intense horn parts from various songs and it made Evergreen's job of remembering the words and the proper inflection easier. Curious how that works.
It was that way until Friday. The sizers were to audition for their show on Saturday, but they were set for Friday. Link expressed interest as well in trying out for the show. He explained that the show's rehearsals were always during the later hours while Quodpot practices were held first thing in the morning. That's a busy schedule. Evergreen could never.
Every so often, Evergreen saw the Solitary Separatist make an appearance. He wasn't sure why, but it seemed like she was really taking a shine to him. She had seen some theater when she was alive and actually offered Evergreen some pointers that he was quite grateful for. "Be heard and understood!" She kept telling him, meaning to speak loudly and slowly so your message is received loud and clear. At Ilvermorny, there were no microphones, merely volume spells set upon the stage, but even those go only so far. Using the amplifying charm was the best and surefire way to make one's voice carry over a large crowd, but holding one's wand throughout a stage performance is difficult indeed, if none of the characters in the production ever carried one. So, Evergreen worked much on his projection. When he wasn't in the library or the nest doing homework and studying various personal things like the earthquakes and combat magic, he was working on his projection.
It was that way up until Friday morning at about 10 A.M. Evergreen, Link, and their familiars made their way to the Sayre Theatre. They got there just a little early just for good measure. Professor Park's elf assistant was already on the stage. He was looking at a long scroll of parchment gripped tightly in his tiny hands. He was a run-of-the-mill elf, with bulbous eyes, pointed ears and grayish, wrinkled skin. The thing was though, that he was always wearing some kind of costume. On that day, he was dressed like some kind of ninja, with the black and red gi and a short bow staff on his back. He was certainly committed. Over the summer, when they saw The Tempest, Professor Park pointed out the character therein that was the elf's namesake, "Caliban." However, while Shakespeare's Caliban was something of an inhuman monster, the elf Caliban was actually quite pleasant. He must have spent a lot of time with Professor Park because he was every bit as eccentric as she was. Evergreen quickly figured out that he wasn't an elf servant because most elf servants are people-pleasing and call everyone either "sir", "ma'am", or "miss". Caliban just used people's first names in a way that Glade told him would shock most other elves.
"Evergreen, Link. Please find a seat, Maggie Habitatio's trio is already here." He said when they walked in.
That was another thing no other elf did, Link had told him early on. Elves take orders from people, not the other way around. This one was certainly an exception to many rules.
"Thanks Cal," Link said, "is that real, by the way?" he asked, pointing to the bow staff.
"Yes, it is. It was infused with an electric shock charm, so if you get out of line—" he took out the staff and rapped it across the stage, sending out sparks.
Evergreen and Link jumped backward, and Link gulped with wide eyes.
"Just kidding of course. I just think it's neat." Cal said with a crooked grin.
They did as they were told, and they sat in the theater's seats a little way off from Maggie and her group who were situated near the center of the middle section. Sandy was being quite loud and boisterous but at least Maggie looked to be in good spirits. Evergreen smiled, despite Maggie's tall, annoying friend being close by. Little by little, Wampuses, Pukwudgies, and some Horned Serpents filtered in to audition for that year's seventh grade show.
Cal got everyone seated and once he did, he retreated off to stage right. In that moment, the tiny Professor Park all but exploded through the heavy scarlet curtains. She was in robes of brilliant, electric purple and black. Her hands were above her head, and she had a wild look on her face. She began to speak in a voice that filled the whole theater.
"Let me play the fool.
With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.
And let my liver rather heat with wine
Than my heart cool with mortifying groans.
Why should a man whose blood is warm within
Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster,
Sleep when he wakes, and creep into the jaundice
By being peevish? I tell thee what, Antonio—
I love thee, and 'tis my love that speaks!"
Her words caused all in the theater, including Cal, to applaud her. She really was the perfect person to instill a love for Shakespeare within modern kids. Evergreen found himself once again floored at her performance, despite it being only a few fleeting moments. He thought of the words, how life could be so much lighter if one's brain didn't get in the way. He thought of a similar quote by Mark Twain, an author he got to know well during his elementary school years: Wrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been. There was some wisdom there, the idea of not allowing unnecessary stress to govern one's emotions, but that was easier said than done. Life's more painless for the brainless. Why think too hard? That sounded good to Evergreen, all things considered. It was true that life was simpler before he found out about all this magic, but the magic brought so much good too. It was indeed a double-edged sword, receiving knowledge.
After Professor Park had exited the stage, Cal entered center-downstage and explained the audition process. It was the same as the previous year with everyone auditioning in order by last name descending.
The difference though, was that this year, Evergreen wasn't scared out of his mind. He was ready because he knew what to expect. At the same time, he was auditioning in front of friends. Okay, Sandy, Chastity, and the people from the other houses auditioning weren't really his friends, but Link, Maggie and Seta sure as heck were. This was going to be fun. Just get in character and stay there no matter what.
Link was one of the first to go and like always, his performance was fun and flawless. He spoke of love and of mindlessness. He spoke of fun and of flirting. It all seemed so natural although, for Evergreen, the idea of flirting with a girl seemed to be as remote as anything else. Link sure was precocious. That was for sure!
In no time at all, Cal informed Evergreen that he was on deck to audition. Antonio, that was the name of the character he was auditioning for. The story was that he had some ships get lost at sea and was strapped for cash, so when his best friend, Bassanio asked him for some money to go on a trip and woo some wealthy heiress, Antonio went and got a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. There was little love between the Jewish and Christian populace during that time, so even though the play was technically a comedy, there was certainly no small bit of drama.
"In sooth, I know not why I am so sad…"
And just like that, Evergreen was on stage, and he was speaking his monologue, only occasionally looking at either Cal, Seta, or Link. He spoke clearly and confidently. He also spoke with a certain measure of darkness, as Antonio spoke of his troubles and woes, Evergreen connected with him. Despite all appearing well on the surface, there was some turmoil and adversity just below the surface. Evergreen channeled this through his words and expression.
A fairy that he remembered seeing that previous Christmas in a tree had descended from the ceiling, away from her companion fairies. She was dressed in flower petals and let out a small gasp as she hovered about ten paces out from Evergreen's nose. She then gave him a coquettish smile and started slowly spinning in the air, letting off fairy dust that fell upon Cianan Freeman's pointed hat, which briefly floated off his head before falling down again. Evergreen had to pay the flirty fairy no mind and stay in character. He found that actually much easier than expected. There were no fairies in No-Maj Venice, after all.
He left the stage with a certain measure of confidence. He felt great! However, the fairy that was watching him had followed him to his seat and was chattering away in her language to him about something. He couldn't understand a word of it and even Seta couldn't understand. The bunny, however, was visibly agitated by the fairy. Well, that was understandable. When someone who doesn't speak your language tries to communicate with you, everyone gets tired.
"Hey nerd," Link began, as Aaron Talbot took to the stage after Diva's audition, "that was amazing. I felt something there."
"Really?" Evergreen asked.
"Have I ever lied to you?" Link irked an eyebrow playfully.
"I guess not." He replied with a grin.
"Of course it was amazing." Seta piped up, "He had a 400-year-old ghost helping him out."
"That would be helpful." Link admitted, while they looked up at Aaron who had just launched into his own soliloquy.
The short, brunette Pukwudgie Aaron was also excellent. His expressions were always quite believable. It's like he wasn't even playing a part, but just talking off the top of his mind. Evergreen remembered how he was Julius Caesar in their last production playing opposite Evergreen's Brutus and the absolutely indescribable chemistry they shared on stage. An excellent actor doesn't just act, but he reacts, meaning everything he does on the stage has a purpose and nearly everything he says contains many separate, but related meanings.
As far as callbacks went that next weekend, Evergreen was one of the Antonio hopefuls and Link was apparently in line for the part of Graciano, someone who was every bit as girl crazy as the Tututni Settler. It fit, Evergreen thought. It was kind of annoying though, that every time Evergreen returned to the theater, that one fairy kept bugging him, trying to communicate with him through her weird gibberish.
Now, the callbacks were more Professor Park's opportunity to see how various actors played off each other. Evergreen read with Maggie for the part of the Jewish moneylender Shylock. She's definitely my pick for that part! She's so good! Aaron read with Link, and a short, curvy, Latina-looking girl with a Horned Serpent crest over her heart. Evergreen couldn't remember her name, but she was also quite talented. She seemed every bit the flirt that Link was. It was kind of a red flag for Evergreen. It's best to avoid girls who are too flirty.
"Diva!" Cal called out. "Please turn to act 4, scene 1 and approach Evergreen as if he was Antonio."
"Yes, Cal." She replied hastily and moved across the stage to where Evergreen was standing.
They went through bits of the scene, Cal reading for Shylock. It was a lot of fun, mostly because Evergreen thought anything involving Diva was great fun. It was the scene where Portia, the wealthy heiress and her handmaiden, Nerissa, dressed up as lawyers to save Antonio from the clutches of Shylock on the day of their civil trial. During Shakespearean times, it was meant for laughs, two women somehow fooling a roomful of men. Professor Park explained that there was still humor to it, but less about the sexist undertone and more about the idea of purposefully mistaken identity.
It was that next day, Saturday, September 15th when Evergreen, Link, and Diva made their way to the Sayre theater from the Nest. Link had an early morning Quodpot practice, but still made it back in time to rendezvous with his friends after a quick shower. When they got to the theater, there were already a few others from other houses all gathered around the cast list.
There at the top, Evergreen saw when he pushed through and was sandwiched between Kallie Snow (who seemed quite pleased at this) and another girl he didn't recognize, the words Evergreen Quandary as Antonio. This caused him to blink quickly. Wow! I got the lead! And Maggie's Shylock, and Link is Graciano and Diva is Portia! It really was good to see such news! Rehearsals started that following Monday for an hour after dinner for a read through.
When they all scattered from the board in front of the theater, they rushed down the corridor, headed off to the annex, toward the commons for breakfast. On their way there, however, the ground shook once again. The fire died in each nearby torch, thus causing the whole annex to go almost dark, if it wasn't for the sunlight that came from high windows which reflected through the floating ghosts which were around the chandelier as almost permanent fixtures there. The windows also vibrated, threatening to shatter into millions of pieces. Evergreen rushed to a doorway and covered his head in response. Older students present in the annex pulled out their wands and performed what appeared to be a variety of different shield charms.
The shaking earth actually brought Evergreen to a knee, which he bruised in the process of going down. He let out a yelp that only he and Seta were able to hear over the earthquake's din. However, the earthquake began quickly and ended quickly as well. Everything was suddenly still and silent, each of the extinguished torches regained their lights and everyone stood up, looking around with caution. When the students could agree that it was safe, they continued the rest of the way through the annex and to the commons. I'm starved. I could really go with a stack of pancakes. Evergreen's stomach suddenly growled at the prospect of pancakes. Nothing can calm someone down quicker than carbs, right?