|
|
Post by RAYMOND SAMUEL BERRY on May 21, 2012 17:10:30 GMT -5
For the sake of Ray's sanity, he was glad his class was nearly over. He was a pretty patient guy with his students but for some reason that day was really hard for him. The quiet students, who he'd taught numerous techniques in amplifying their voice, were still coming out in squeaks. The couple scenes had very little chemistry and he couldn't find a single believable Romeo & Juliet. It was a hard play, because he knew that students felt awkward rehearsing love scenes with each other. But he'd spent weeks doing exercises with them to help them boost confidence with each other. He had them all talk to each other, get to know each other, tell embarrassing secrets, feel each others (innocent) body parts. All in the hope that he could break the barriers between the students, so they had nothing left to be embarrassed about.
The penultimate performance had just ended. Ray applauded the two actors until they went off stage, muttering "cool, cool" as he wrote down notes and constructive feedback. Once he was done he used a ruler to cut off that section as the final act of the class walked onto the stage. The Juliet was impeccable, he could read the feelings that Juliet had about her own mortality. Her great loss really tugged at his heartstrings, it was very romantic. It wasn't on the itinerary for the class but Ray decided to get on stage with her, politely asking the Romeo to step aside.
He gave her a scene where Romeo was still alive and asked her to react as he delivered Romeo's speech watching Juliet on the balcony.
But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,
And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off.
It is my lady; O, it is my love!
O that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold; 'tis not to me she speaks.
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
Ray's eyes were deep and sorrowful as his hand reached out, as if imagining holding the cheek of his fair Juliet. Longing and desperation etched in his features. His face held position as the whole class clapped in applause.
Ray and the student playing Juliet took a bow and Ray dismissed the class, talking to a few students before they left about the final assignment. As he started collecting his papers together and reflecting on today's class, he had thought the class was empty. He was wrong.
|
|
