Open RP: Auditions!

[crazynotstoned.livejournal.com]

So as far as Geoffrey knew, his production of Twelfth Night was well under way. No, really -- despite it having been weeks since his posters had been altered, he had somehow entirely failed to notice that the people who were signed up for the play were, in fact, signed up for a completely different one. This meant he was probably due for something of a surprise, today.

He'd cleared a large space in the Great Hall and tacked up a sign that said "Auditions here!" which he figured was enough decor. Pulling up three chairs -- one for himself, one for his stage manager, and one for Oliver... wait, make that two chairs -- he slouched down into his seat, rolled up his sleeves, and waited for the first arrival.

((This is primarily for people who are auditioning, but if you missed the signup and want to participate in the play, now's your chance!

Edit: So I figured we'd do one thread for each character, and they could read a little monologue and chat with Geoffrey and Bun-Bun if they liked. And please, feel free to mention A Midsummer Night's Dream. A lot. Geoffrey still has no idea that's what he's actually supposed to be working on.))

Comments

[apologeticellen.livejournal.com]

He thought this was about the monologue? The fucking monologue? "This is not about the fucking monologue, Geoffrey," she hissed, arms folded tightly across her chest. "This is about basic respect. This is about you implying that I'm not good at my job. This is about threatening me with a fucking rabbit."

Seething, now, she leaned forward so that she was a breath away from his face. "And I think you're going to be very bored when you realize that you put the fucking play above me."

[ka-click.livejournal.com]

Vrrrm! Vrrmmm!

Bun Bun is absently swinging his little bone wand around, watching the tiny sparks on the end. "Did you know with the right spell, these things work kinda like a cattle prod?" He glances up, his beady eyes gleaming. "Ya gonna do a monologue? Cause, if not, I'm sure we need someone to clean the stage for the REAL actors."

[crazynotstoned.livejournal.com]

Oh dear God, Bun-Bun really was his new favorite person in the universe, but Geoffrey was pretty sure he was never, ever going to stop catching shit for that. His eyes widened as the rabbit spoke, staring straight into Ellen's. REAL actors? Oh, Christ.

And yet, it was all he could do to choke back the laugh that welled up in his throat. She was going to kill him for this. He cleared his throat. "Ellen, dear, you are very good," he said slowly. "And it would be very nice if you would take the stage now." And it would be very nice if she read a monologue instead of ripping his throat out right then and there. "Do Gertrude," he tried placatingly. "You're good at that."

Leaning back in his seat, smiling his most charming smile at Ellen, he hissed to Bun-Bun, "Careful. She bites harder than you do."

[apologeticellen.livejournal.com]

There were very few things the little furball could have said to get Ellen as mad as she was at that moment. But as Bun Bun questioned her professionalism - REAL actors, indeed - Ellen looked sharply at Geoffrey, nostrils flaring and jaw setting into a harsh line.

"Good at that?" she repeated in a low, furious tone. "Fuck you, Geoffrey. I'm fucking great at that."

Turning on her heel, Ellen stormed out of the room as only a true drama queen could. Once out in the hall, she found a nice alcove with enough room to pace and lit up a cigarette. Fuck Geoffrey and fuck his play and fuck that rabbit. She was Ellen fucking Fanshaw. They needed her. Not the other fucking way around.

A good fifteen minutes passed while Ellen chain smoked and worked herself up into a frenzy. Then, blowing out a huge breath, she banged back into the audition room and stalked up to the stage.

Without introduction, without any glance towards Geoffrey or that wretched bunny, she began.

"Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?
These two have ticed me hither to this place,
A barren detested vale you see it is;
The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
Overcome with moss and baleful mistletoe.
Here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds,
Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven:
And when they showed me this abhorrèd pit,
They told me, here, at dead time of the night,
A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,
Would make such fearful and confusèd cries
As any mortal body hearing it
Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale
But straight they told me they would bind me here
Unto the body of a dismal yew
And leave me to this miserable death.
And then they called me foul adulteress,
Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms
That ever ear did hear to such effect;
And had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed.
Revenge it, as you love your mother's life,
Or be ye not henceforth called my children."

It was no Gertrude. It was the despair of Tamora, it was Ellen ripping open her chest and laying bare her heart. Geoffrey wanted an audition? He got a freaking audition. This was Ellen's world; she was such a bitchy diva because she excelled at what she did. She could hold the world, trembling, on her words, on her pauses, on the merest hint of her smile. Ellen was an actress and Bun Bun and Geoffrey were treated to an unbridled show of that talent.

Finishing, Ellen let the last syllable hang in the air before she glided back to her seat with nary a word to the two. Sitting gracefully in it, as haughty as any queen in her throne, Ellen lit a cigarette.

God, she was good.

[ka-click.livejournal.com]

"Attitude could use some work, but it's nuthin a cattle prod won't fix." He fiddles with his bullwhip, nodding along to words only he hears. "Not bad."

[crazynotstoned.livejournal.com]

Oh, great. Geoffrey let out a long-suffering groan and slumped back as Ellen stormed out of the room, eyes rolling back into his head. He closed them for a moment, pressing his hands to his temples, and then glared at Bun-Bun. "I'm not sure whether to thank you or kill you for that."

He knew she'd be back, of course. And if she wasn't (although she would be), he would go back to their room and praise her accordingly until she forgave him. He knew she couldn't live without acting, and he knew even more that she would never allow a play to go on beneath her nose without a part for her in it. He knew Ellen. But honestly, he'd expected this to be the simplest part of the entire audition process...

...Well, that had been his mistake, obviously. Expecting anything to be simple with Ellen was a mistake. Geoffrey grumbled for a bit, but finally succumbed to the need to continue, and was about to call in the next actor when Ellen stormed back in. He blinked once, but didn't seem really very surprised by her re-entrance, and as she took her place he leaned forward excitedly, biting his lip.

God, she was so good. She was so fucking good. No matter how much she drove him nuts, no matter how often they fought or how often she really just flat-out hurt him, when she was like this, in her element, she always blew him away. There were times, when Ellen was performing, when he almost couldn't breathe for the tightness in his chest, when he all but wanted to fall on his knees before her. She could make men weep at her best, and Geoffrey loved her for it.

Ignoring Bun-Bun, he just looked at her for a moment, enchanted, as crazy for her now as he'd ever been. Then he leaned forward and gently pushed the cigarette away, kissing her softly. "Thank you," he murmured. He touched her cheek softly and grinned. Turning back to Bun-Bun, he held up a hand. "I think I can take care of the, uh... cattle prod... in this case, thanks."

[apologeticellen.livejournal.com]

Slightly surprised by the kiss, Ellen nonetheless smiled in return. "You're welcome." It was the process, wasn't it? The horribly emotional, slightly crazy, completely draining process that made every selfish twinge in Ellen resonate at a thousand times the norm. She was so much worse when she was involved in a production; and, the thing was, Geoffrey knew that. He knew that and he put up with her anyway. Most of her flings hadn't made it through one show - save Sloan, but he'd been a special case. But, in the end, there was always Geoffrey.

Ellen lived to be adored, and Geoffrey gave her that. But as much as he was enchanted by her, Ellen was enthralled by him. Any time he got near the stage, she was completely enraptured in the fervor that overcame him. The glow, the mantle that settled around him and lifted him apart from the mundane and everyday. Geoffrey was incandescent when he was doing a show. When he acted, it made Ellen forget everything, every moment, every breath, but what was centered around him. When he directed, she could feel the fire that only Geoffrey seemed to see. He was beyond incredible and she loved him for what he could transform into.

Settling back into her seat, Ellen prepared to watch the auditions. Not just because she wanted to see whatever little tart swayed in to take her part Helena, but because watching Geoffrey was something she couldn't get enough of.

However... "If that rabbit touches me, I swear to God, I'll have a new muff."

[ka-click.livejournal.com]

"Old one all used up?" Without turning his attention from the next auditioner.

[crazynotstoned.livejournal.com]

Well. That was sweet, what was going on between his wife and his stage manager. He was sure they would get along swimmingly. He gave Ellen another brilliant grin, this one a little overly-bright and pastede on. It was less of an I love you than a God help me. But then he kissed her again and took her hand in both of his, so hopefully things were still okay. Satisfied, he turned away to watch the next audition.