It had been weeks since Lilly had rehearsed with Mr. B in preparation for her scene to be repeated in acting class. Lilly and Nick had performed “The Red Shoes” movingly when they brought the scene back the following week. It was clear that Lilly had taken a step forward both personally and professionally since that time.
Now almost two months later, Lilly had just performed a scene in the acting workshop that she had created as an experimental piece she wanted to develop. It involved her playing Juliet in a newly imagined way.
In her version, the first time we meet Juliet she’s secretly learning to sword fight from her cousin Tybalt. In the scene, the actors demonstrated remarkable skill and dexterity as they competed quite seriously but very playfully as the characters. Lilly was strong, but fragile, smart, funny, and sexy. She was a vision in her corset and ruffled underskirt charging Tybalt with her long dark hair tousled and flying about her shoulders. Barry, Lilly’s scene partner playing Tybalt, was a good match for her and his experience as an actor brought a level of depth and sophistication that completed the work.
The reactions from the students were mixed. Classes for students in acting schools in Los Angeles have people from very diverse backgrounds and this class was no different. Some felt confused by the concept and didn’t feel it was consistent with the story that Shakespeare had intended. Others were inspired by the fresh approach Lilly had taken and loved the new dimensions that it added to the story and characters.
For once, Mr. B was at a loss for words. When he did speak, he talked about the new dynamics that could be brought to the relationship between Juliet and Tybalt.
He thought to himself that if they were close and attracted to each other, it could make Tybalt jealous when he sees Juliet with Romeo at the Capulet party and bring a stronger urge to kill Mercutio, Romeo’s close friend, when taunted by him in the town square. It could also bring more shock and grief to Juliet when she learns Romeo has slain Tybalt in the street. The possibilities were there and Mr. B wanted to see more.
He looked around the class and saw Clayton Patterson, a well trained Shakespearean actor and swordsman, and began to set up an improvised scene for Romeo, Juliet, and Tybalt. Clayton was to be Romeo, who had just seen Juliet for the first time at the Capulet party and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. When Clayton went on stage with Lilly, the chemistry was there and the attraction was intense, as they began to circle each other in a dance they created on the spot from that period of time the play was written. Lilly was surprised at how drawn she was to Clayton and found herself quite taken by him as the character.
Mr. B had kept Barry off stage while he set up the first part of the scene with R and J and then directed Tybalt to enter with another Capulet. When Tybalt discovered Juliet dancing with Romeo, his reaction was to interrupt their dance and stop his enemy from making advances. Romeo politely stepped aside at first and then returned to regain his position with Juliet. Tybalt was seething and ran to pick up the two swords left from the earlier scene and threw one to Romeo. They fought as though it was their last, and it grew so violent at one point that Mr. B had to call it and the improvisation was over. The class had grown nervous watching and was genuinely on the edge of their seats holding their breath as they too felt they were participating in the brawl.
Dripping with sweat, the two men sat with Lilly on the edge of the stage to recap the events that had just occurred. They were on fire and had each discovered layers of heat, passion, and jealousy that thrilled them beyond any stage experience they had ever known. It was yet another exhilarating night of work and commitment.
After class, as he was moving through the courtyard of the theater on the way to his car, Mr. B saw Barry and Lilly talking. He called out to Lilly and said she should phone him, that he had some ideas about music for the scene. He knew as soon as he said it that he shouldn’t have. It was just an excuse to see her again. He kept walking, but he felt her eyes on him as he continued to move through the courtyard to where his car was parked on the street.
Call us now! (310) 274-1085
© 2014 Lynette McNeill Studios