The Return to the Stage

October 24, 2011 at 12:42 pm (fiction, gay fiction, Theatre)
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Not an actual photo of me

So, I’ve been writing a book about the life of the theatre, but I haven’t been in a show in a year. Whereas much of the work is utter fiction, it has been informed by my 20 years of stage experience. However, lately, the story has seemed to be less and less authoritative, as I get closer to the end. Still I was really hesitant to do another show.

I am unemployed, and for that reason, I consider writing selfish. BBE (well I guess now that we are married he is BHE) is working hard to support us, and I’m working hard on balancing an aggressive job hunt and finishing my novel. So the idea of doing a show has felt like it was more than I could handle. Especially since doing a show for free costs a lot of money for me. However, I also felt that doing it, might help me out in a lot of ways. It would give me a schedule, physical activity, and inspiration. It was also hard for me to acknowledge that 2011 would be the first year in 18 years that I had not performed on stage. So, when I saw a posting for a theatrical company looking for male actors, I decided I would audition. The phrase that caught my attention the most was

“We are always looking to form lasting relationships with our collaborators, and hope to find actors that interested in the same.”

While this kind of language can be found in many theatre companies, I was drawn to this statement for this ad. If they needed male actors, and were serious about this desire, I might find a place in NYC, that thinks of me once in a while for a show. As I turned 30 this year, it is undeniable that I am aging out of the roles I know how to play well. Many roles are now open to me, but it will require people to take a chance on me. That’s what every actor requires, but in the business, you know what have to understand what your own limitations are. Even if I did everything perfectly in an audition, there are some characters it would be laughable for me to play. While this is hard to face, I don’t really take it personally. I don’t do theatre to be THE STAR. I do it to tell a story, and the story is going to be told better, if the audience doesn’t have to suspend their disbelief unnecessarily.

I was particularly excited because it is a new work. My book involves people putting on a new show, which I have less experience with. I am hoping this will help fill in some details. In many ways this is research, but also something personally fulfilling. Since getting married, I’ve been lazy about exercise. Now that I am in a show, I am hoping I will be inspired to work out some more.

I hope doing this show is the right choice.

For those of whom would like to know more about the show itself, you can learn all about it by clicking the image below.

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Actor – How did I not know this?

June 21, 2011 at 10:06 am (Observations, Theatre)
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Today I had a small revelation. While watching the final season of Slings and Arrows, I decided to look up the plot to Troilus and Cressida. When doing so, I was reminded of the ambiguous relationship that Achilles is said to have with Patroclus. In looking up more about Patroclus, I found out that he is the grandson of someone named “Actor.” Wading through Wikipedia, I decided to learn more about that name and found the following information.

Actor (Greek: Ἄκτωρ; gen.: Ἄκτoρος) is a very common name in Greek mythology. Here is a selection of characters that share this name (which means ‘leader’, from the verb άγω: to lead or carry, to convey, bring):

  1. Actor, a king of Phthia, was said to be the son of King Deioneus of Phocis and Diomede, or of King Myrmidon and Peisidice, daughter of Aeolus. Some say that Actor died childless, but others say that he is the father of Eurytion, his successor.
  2. Actor, son of Deioneus and Diomede, daughter of Xuthus, thus a brother of Asterodeia, Aenetus, Phylacus, and Cephalus. This Actor married Aegina, daughter of the river godAsopus, and had several children, among them Menoetius. Menoetius was counted among the Argonauts, and was the father of Patroclus (Achilles’ best friend or lover).
  3. Actor, son of Azeus, descendant of Phrixus, was ruler of the Minyans of Orchomenus. He was father of Astyoche, who was seduced by the war-god Ares and bore him twin sons, named Ascalaphus and Ialmenus. These last two led the Minyan contingent to the Trojan War.
  4. Actor, son of Phorbas and Hyrmine, thus a brother of Augeas. He was king of Elis, and founded the city of Hyrmina, which he named after his mother. This Actor married Molione and became by her father of the twins known as the Molionides, Cteatus and Eurytus.
  5. Actor, son of Hippasus, one of the Argonauts.
  6. Actor, son of Oenops, brother of Hyperbius. He was among the defenders of the Borraean Gate at Thebes when the Seven Against Thebes attacked the city.
  7. Actor, father of Sthenelus. Sthenelus followed Heracles in his campaign against the Amazons and was killed by them.
  8. Actor, one of the companions of the exiled Aeneas. He is probably the same who in another passage is called an Auruncan, and of whose conquered lance Turnus made a boast. This story seems to have given rise to the proverbial saying “Actoris spolium” (“the spoil of Actor”), for any poor spoil in general.
  9. Actor, father of Echecles. His son married Polymele, mother of Eudorus by Hermes.
  10. Actor, a warrior in the army of the Seven Against Thebes. He saw a chasm open in the earth that swallowed Amphiaraus.
  11. Actor, a Lapith. He was killed by the CentaurClanis.
  12. Actor, son of Acastus, was accidentally killed by Peleus while hunting. As a retribution, Peleus sent to Acastus some cows and sheep that had been killed by a wolf sent byThetis.
  13. Actor and Eurythemis were in one source called parents of Ancaeus and grandparents of Agapenor.
This was shocking to me. I had never realized that so many people were named Actor. I am sure I read it in passing, but it never seemed to click with me until today. I did know that the term “actor” that we use today to mean performer, is not what the Greeks referred to them as. Our use of the term “actor” came into popular use around the 1600′s. (According to the dictionary it was 1580′s). Still, I thought this was interesting, and I wanted to share. 

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Company – 2011

June 15, 2011 at 5:59 pm (Review, Theatre)
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Since it has been a long time since I have reviewed anything, I figured I’d give my thoughts on the current broadcast of  the musical “Company” which was performed with a star studded cast at Lincoln Center, and can now be viewed for a limited time at a local movie theater near you.
I’ll be try to be short, but it is Company, and the movie is almost 3 hours long.
It’s a mixed bag. The opening is not great. Patti Lupone visibly, and, more importantly, audibly doesn’t sing in most of it. Leaving us to recognize that she was needed. So it gets off to a really rocky start. Thankfully Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton are amazing. I’ve never seen that scene done better.
Unfortunately it is a while before you get to something applause worthy again. “You Could Drive a Person Crazy” is kind of a mess vocally, and while Christina Hendricks looks great, but her performance is really uneven. Vocally she is fine, but she isn’t great. The woman who plays Kathy is really pretty, but she has a weak voice. More on her later.
 Marta (the crazy one) is also stunning, but she really can’t handle her “Another hundred people” song. All of her top notes are weak, and she is working so hard, that it just falls apart. I assume it was one of those “better live” moments (like in American Idol) because the audience went crazy, but for me it was excruciating. Normally, I’d think the fact she was less than pitch perfect was what annoyed me, but honestly…it wasn’t that she was flat vocally, it was that she was also flat dramatically, that did it. It was just boring. No one applauded that performance in the theatre.
The highlight of the entire performance has to be the scene leading up to “Not Getting Married”, as well as the song and the scene which follows it.  Again, it was the best I’d ever seen that scene. It really got me jazzed for Act 2.
The cast was a lot better in “Side by Side” at the Tony awards than they were at Lincoln Center. When the number was 1\2 done, I started checking my watch, and was amazed it just kept going and going. The big finish is good, but they go a little to far with it. I find nothing worth mentioning until that strange “Darling. I worry” song. This was really well done, and I felt the best/smartest bit of direction they ever had. the director actually lets us see Bobby seduce April, and it kind is a way to clearly demonstrate that Bobby isn’t quite as sad as they think. I always knew that, but I enjoyed having a side by side comparison.
Then something really strange happens. A big dance number happens while Bobby and April have sex. While this helps justify the casting of Kathy, who is  very pretty and an amazing dancer, it looks like it is out of a bond opener or Charlies Angels. I will say it is well danced, but I wanted it to end about 3 minutes sooner than it did. I also wasn’t sure that the additional lines that they added were alright. They felt a little too perfect, lending itself to be a bit too cliche for a Sondheim musical.
I may be wrong, but I think they added to the scene where Bobby shows up with Marta to hang out with the married couple with the Southern wife which are happily divorced but still together. There is this whole thing where the husband hits on Bobby. It was good, well written, and something I kind of always felt should be there. In fact, all the couples seem to hit on Bobby.
Patti Lupone really slays  ”Ladies who Lunch.” Honestly, I’ve always found her interpretation of Sondheim a bit shallow, but she dug down for this one. She really gives Elaine Stritch a run for her money. I would have given her a standing ovation at Lincoln Center. It’s almost worth it to just see that. Everyone in the movie theatre applauded, and the Lincoln center people go nuts. It was nice to see someone really take an emotional song and interpret it. Having not seen that since Colbert early in act one.
Neil Patrick Harris also has a really rough first act. I’ve always been a bit critical of his vocal work, and while I was willing to give him a lot of room for error here, the sad truth is that  the role is too big for him. He does better in act two, but right when you think you love him again, “Being Alive” just doesn’t soar right.  He falters vocally in the beginning of the song, and he tries to get out of it, but the second he starts focusing on his vocals, the whole piece falls apart. With all his energy spent singing, he doesn’t really act, and so the show ends on a note that while technically accurate, is devoid of the real emotion and heart of the song.
What I found most intriguing about this show was that it was a lot darker than the Raul Esparza version. Some of it was that material had been added or modified. Other parts were just that the actors were willing to go there. I really liked that part. On the whole I found the show a lot better acted (with some exceptions) than the other versions I’ve seen. And that really went a long way with me. It is a good production, and definitely worth seeing. I just wanted it to be something more iconic, more perfect. If someone only was going to see it once. I’d say watch the recording of the production starring Raul Esparza. It is a better show. I think it is clear that a production of Company gets better with an ensemble that is heavily rehearsed. The weakest link in the Neil Patrick Harris version are the group numbers. They are really bad. The individual scenes are much better, but with the exception of the 3 scenes I praised, the Raul Esparza production is vastly superior.

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A bit much?

April 5, 2011 at 7:42 am (fiction, gay, gay fiction, Theatre)
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So I am writing a section in my novel. I’m wondering if it is a bit too much/over the top on romantic imagery. Everyone complains about how in Twilight the character Bella always talks about how hot Edward is. I’m wondering if I am doing the same.

I might have opened the door, but it is Caleb that walks through. Through his eyes the room is a medieval throne room. I can hear the flicker of the candles in the chandelier above. I smell the strange scent of cold stones and spice in the air. I feel my heart beat fast, when I see Ezio for the first time. As Caleb, I ignore my general routine of doing the opposite of my instincts, and let myself drink in Ezio’s image. Bare chested, it is easy to see how perfectly symmetrical his muscle tone is, a product of exercising for vanity, instead of working. Regardless how he got it, it is beautiful, and I am drawn to him like a magnet. I tell myself I need to stop moving so fast, that I should focus on how Caleb is feeling about every single step, but I cannot find the will to slow down.

As I get closer I finally manage to take my eyes off of Ezio’s chiseled frame, and once I see his face my pace seems to naturally come to a crawl. Only gods would have the knowledge on how to construct a face so perfectly, for even if I were allowed to choose every aspect of my own visage, I would never have come close to this. If I could wear a mask, it would have his features. Full red lips, dark and long eyelashes, but it is really his eyes that make everything work, two apatite gems sparkling behind the most flawless of faces.

Thoughts?

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Work

December 14, 2010 at 8:49 pm (fiction, gay, gay fiction, Theatre)
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So my last post was a little negative. I thought I’d share that I found an outlet for my fiction and am currently working on it. Here is a snippet of what I am working on:

Chapter 4

“Mr. Boroughs, thank you for staying with us. Have you familiarized yourself with the material?” the goateed man asked.

“Yes, I have. It’s practically memorized.” I said trying to sound confident without being boastful.

“Excellent. Before we begin I’d like to talk to you for a few moments. For starters, I’m David Stein, I’m in charge of casting, and I’m a co-producer with our author, Colin Shapiro, who is this man to my right.” Stein says.

“A pleasure to meet you. I love what I’ve read so far.” I say to them as I smile and nod.

“And I am James Merchant, the director.” Declares the short bearded man on the left. The second I hear his name my heart skips a beat. James Merchant is one of the biggest directors in New York now. I’d seen his work, and even read about him, but I always assumed he would look different. Taller, and more…refined.

“It’s an honor sir. I saw your production of Much Ado about Nothing three times last year. It was incredible.” I gush sounding more like a fan boy than I mean to. The second the words leave my lips I regret them, and am trying to remember everything I said to him before I knew who he was.

“Did you now? That’s good to hear. However, Masque is a different animal despite the similarity in language.” He says.

“I understand. Is there anything I should know before we begin?” I ask hoping to a little direction.

“I’m sure there are a great number of things you should know, but right now I’m only interested in one thing. Chemistry. We’ve seen a lot of people for this role, seasoned professionals, even a celebrity, but they lacked the ability to connect to our leading man. The role requires an actor to not simply keep up with him, but to challenge him, and for some reason this has been difficult to find. So chemistry, Mr. Boroughs, is was I am looking for.” Says Merchant as he orbits me, evaluating every inch of me.

“He must be quite an actor.” Is all I can think of saying to reply.

“Well you would know wouldn’t you? I thought you two were friends.” Says Merchant extending his right hand toward Kevin, and placing his left at the small of my back. His hands are rough and cold, and my body spasms at the touch. Normally I would be so concerned with the fact that his fingers touched my bare flesh, meaning my vest has ridden up to exposing my holiday weight, but I am too confused to care.

“Kevin is the lead?” I ask for confirmation.

“Yes. Didn’t you know?” Asks Shapiro.

“He said he was the reader.” I reply.

“Well I am. It was the only way I could be part of the casting process without suspicion.” Kevin explains.

“I see someone is already getting into character. Practicing deception before we even begin rehearsals.” Shapiro says with a nod of approval.

“It would seem so Colin. Well that should make this somewhat interesting, so while the moment is still fresh, let us begin.” Says merchant returning his seat, and locking his eyes on me.

In this moment I am flooded with so many emotions. My brain feels foggy from the confusion of Kevin’s little e trick, I am nervous to have for a scene partner, especially with a director like James Merchant staring at me with such scrutiny. Chemistry. He wants chemistry. I’m not even sure what that means, and I feel myself shrinking in the room. This is why I play lackeys, my job is to make the lead look good. Challenge him. Challenge Kevin. The idea turns my stomach, as if to physically manifest a rejection of the very nature of the idea. I realize that time is going by, and that I’ve been staring at nothing for at least a minute. I have to snap out of it, so I tell myself to take another moment, to breathe, and then I force myself to look at Kevin and begin.

“Your Lordship has been most kind in inviting me to dine here, but soldiers are not used to supping on delicacies such as these. Surely you waste your finery on a man such as I.” I say to Kevin, my Count Ezio, and the line mirror my mind. I’m out of my class pretending to be Caleb.

“All men appreciate the pleasantries I provide. So worry not, my dear Caleb, what kind of man you are, not how refined a palate you may have. I devote my time to perfecting the guest list, your nutrition I leave to the masters of the kitchen.” Replies Kevin in a velvety tone locking his eyes on me and extending his hand toward mine.

My first impulse is to deliver my line as someone who ahs been bewitched by Kevin’s charms, but my brain keeps hearing James Merchant’s request to challenge him, and so I fight my lackey nature, and leave Kevin’s hand in the air.

“Yet I see your lordship has failed to invite anyone else tonight. Surely your judgment is something queer If I am your only guest.” I say demanding Kevin work harder if he wants to seduce this Caleb.

“Perhaps my judgment of you is somewhat affected. It was my thought that a private supper would be best for us. I am told soldiers prefer more intimate affairs.” Says Kevin redoubling his efforts to have Ezio ooze charm.

“Some do. Many find the constant company of their platoon tiresome.” I say with detached indifference.

“My thoughts exactly. Are you such a solder? Do you hold dear evening such as these, where one may relax behind closed doors?” Ken asks taking my hand in the same swift elegant gesture he had used this morning.

“Sometimes my lord. I have always felt that it depends on the company I keep. But I assure you that, as I’ve never dined with nobility before, this is a night I shall never forget.” I say, and although I once thought this was an indication of Caleb’s giving in to Ezio’s advance, my intonation is as intentionally evasive as the words Caleb speaks. I see now that Caleb is a mystery, and this is what causes Ezio to try so hard. Realizing this I drop Kevin’s hand, and walk toward the chair that Kevin sat in at the corner of the room.

“Oh, my little Caleb, think not of me as your lord tonight. Call me Ezio, I would like us to be friends. Will you embrace me as you do your fellow soldiers?” Asks Kevin, as he approaches me in my corner, leaving me nowhere to run.

“Ezio, I will gladly embrace you, but do not ask it as a comrade. If we are to be friends, I hope you never know the life of a soldier. The horrors there are not for a man as refined and fragile as yourself.” I say, and choose to give him a stiff hug instead of a tender one. I wait for Kevin to let go, but instead he pulls me forward into a tight embrace. My head rests on his chest, due to our height different, and I look up at him with a pleading look on my face, this causes him to smile ever so slightly, cup his hand to my jaw, and then kiss me ever so gently. For a brief moment I feel elated, Kevin’s soft full lips are so different from Eric’s that I feel compelled to linger to explore the sensation, but as my guard drops further, Kevin begins to press harder, and I jerk away from him once I feel his tongue attempt to invade my mouth. Furious that he would try this in the middle of an audition I shoot him a look of anger and betrayal. My mind goes blank, I cannot remember Caleb’s next line, and when I look down to find my place in the script I see that I must have dropped the pages during the kiss.

“Let’s stop there shall we?” Merchant says as I am about to bend over and collect the script.

“Sorry, I lost my place for a moment.” I say.

“Oh, don’t apologize Mr. Boroughs. I rather appreciated your interesting interpretation with those lines.” Says Merchant as he is looking at the papers on the table.

“Yes, well it would be hard not to lose your place when Mr. Connor’s decides to embellish the script. I don’t recall adding a kiss there James.” Says Shapiro.

“Sorry, it just felt right. I felt like I was running out of options.” Kevin apologizes.

“Yes, it surely seemed you were. Though I am not sure Ezio would be so brash. This play is all about seduction, it needs to be slow, to really rev up the tension. Though Colin, I think a kiss in that scene might help. We all know what sells.” Says Merchant to Shapiro who shakes his head in disapproval.

“Mr. Boroughs, thank you so much. I believe we’ve seen enough to make our decision.” Says Stein.

“Oh, alright. Well thank you. Thank you so much. It’s been an honor.” I say, and quickly make my exit before I have a chance to embarrass myself further.

“Hold up! I’ll walk with you.” Says Kevin as he chases after me.

“We are not through with you Mr. Connors. We still need to discuss some matters with you.” Stein says like a teacher telling a kid he cannot go out and play.

“ Oh…right. Well I’ll see you then.” Says Kevin with a short wave that feels so inconsequential compared to the intimacy of the scene that happened moments before. Taken aback by how quickly he returned to being so professional I simply nod to him and close the door.

The entire experience has left me light headed, and before I know it I’ve boarded the subway home. I don’t recall speaking to Jerry, and for a moment on the train I feel guilty for failing to say good-bye. The train is crowded, and though I wish I could sit down, I don’t get to do so until I flop down onto the couch inside the apartment. Before I know it, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

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Actor Dreams

June 22, 2010 at 6:26 pm (Observations, Theatre)

So a general dream I have when I am doing a show is that I show up to perform something, but learn that we have completely changed the show, and I am expected to go on in a few moments to perform a show I’ve not learned. It generally leads to me doing all sorts of things backstage to learn the lines and blocking for the next scene.

I don’t normally have this dream when I am not in a show, but last night I did. In my dream I was supposed to be performing “The Scarlet Pimpernel” but the music director was angry. She had booked us to perform at this opera house, but they wanted to use their conductor and orchestra. So she decided that instead of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” we would be performing something by Shakespeare. Apparently everyone got this memo, except for me. So I showed up, and learned I had a lead role, and immediately started memorizing lines. One of my fellow cast mates was apparently a bit off that day, because she was distracting me by telling me she had picked out her wedding dress. Unfortunately, it was not a dress at all! It was a Heidi-esque jumper. I ended up leaving the room to study my lines, and the room I entered was a big swimming pool. I learned my lines, and thankfully I woke up before I got pushed out onto stage.

Normally my dreams are a lot like that, except I get pushed out onto stage and kind of stumble through the scene. Sometimes I change a line, since I don’t remember one, and it completely screws up the plot. So then we have to find a way to resolve the additional problem I added.

Anyway, it’s been a while since I posted, and this was on my mind. Anyone else have any particular dream like this? Other actors? Do you dream something like this about a different profession?

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Phantom of the Opera…the sequel?

December 3, 2009 at 10:47 am (Music, news, Observations, Theatre)
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So when I was a teenager I was obsessed with “TPTO” which is “The Phantom of the Opera” for 99% of the world. I thought I would be the best Phantom in the world. I mean why not? I thought I was hideous. I felt that everyone disliked me because I was unattractive. I had people wrapped around my finger on-line, where no one needed to see my physical body. Plus, I thought I was a good singer, and that if I could just be a good enough singer, people wouldn’t care that I was not attractive.

Therefore, I think I listened to the OST (Original Soundtrack) to TPTO on a loop for a few years. Of course, as years went past I began to think of myself as not being ugly, and I found other musical material that I felt I had a better connection to. As a result, I kind of forgot about TPTO for a few years, until I was recently asked to sing “All I Ask of You” at a wedding. I dragged out my OST, and other recordings of that love duet, and began practicing my best Raoul. As a result of my new found interest in TPTO I happened upon the youtube video which gives us a preview of the sequel to TPTO. The sequel is called “Love Never Dies” and takes place in New York, primarily on Coney Island. It sounds stupid, but the video also gives us a preview of one a new ALW (Andrew Lloyd Webber) song. The song is called “Till I Hear You Sing (Once More)” and as much as I was prepared to hate it, I just can’t. It appears that despite the fact I think that making a sequel to a musical, especially TPTO, has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard of, I am a sucker when it comes to The Phantom.

The song is actually quite lovely, and Ramin Karimloo has a perfect voice to carry on the voice of the famed Phantom. He manages to support his tone a bit more than Michael Crawford did, and keeps the breathy phantom sound to a minimum. The woman who will be taking up the role of Christine, originally played by the famous Sarah Brightman (previous wife of ALW and for whom the piece was composed), will be Sierra Boggess. She played Christine in the special Vegas version, and whereas I was somewhat concerned about “The Little Mermaid” singing as Christine, I heard her sing “Think Of Me” and she didn’t ruin it. Whereas I always felt that Lisa Vroman was the best Christine, I think Sierra Boggess, is an excellent choice, and she truly looks the part.

Time, and the remainder of a soundtrack, will tell if I will actually attend the piece, if it makes it to New York, but I have to admit that right now. I’m actually excited about returning to hear more from The Phantom.

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Finishing the Act

July 14, 2009 at 9:32 pm (fiction, gay, gay fiction, Theatre)
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yaoi

Okay so I thought I’d title this solely for the Sondheim reference.

Today I finished Act I of the play I’ve been working on. I reviewed it a bit, and cleaned up a few lines and made a few changes. It felt like such a big accomplishment, but the second it was done, I wanted to know whether or not to deal with Act II. I decided to let myself ruminate over the plot a bit more today.

Still, I was glad to have completed my project today. I question whether or not it is actually of interest to anyone but me. However, I think once I do some more work on it, that question will be answered.

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End of Scene 7 and incidentally end of Act I

July 14, 2009 at 9:02 pm (fiction, gay, gay fiction, Theatre)
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Jack: [laying a hand on his shoulder to steady him] Peter? Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…oh god…here sit down on the bed.

[Jack helps Peter sit on the bed. Fairytale Jackson lays Prince down on his side, and props himself up on his elbows keeping watch over Prince.]

Peter:[catatonic] Why did you do that?

Jack: Cause I knew you would let go if I did.

Peter: Oh.

[a moment of silence]

Peter: No one has ever kissed me before.

Jack: Oh…really?

Peter: Yes.

Jack: Why?

Peter: What?

Jack: I mean…why not?

Peter: I don’t know.

Jack: It’s no big deal. I’m sorry.

Peter: I’m…I’m…not.

Jack: What?

Peter: I’m not sorry you kissed me.

Jack: What?

Peter: I can’t explain… it’s like…like…this. [Peter has flipped to a part of his journal without looking at the pages. He hands it to Jack.] I want you…you…

Jack: You want me?

Peter: [quickly] I want you to read it.

[While Jack reads aloud from the book “The Meditation” from “Thais” begins to play. The lights dim on Jack and Peter and become brighter on Jackson and Prince. Prince and Peter speak lines together. Jackson and Jack speaks their own lines together.]

Jack: [reading aloud from the book] The prince stared into Jackson’s eyes, he was afraid, but of what he knew not. Was it the fear that Jackson had revived a part of his heart he had long thought dead? Or was it fear that Jackson would leave again, once again breaking his heart. Could he stand it? Jackson’s warm breath on his neck made him shiver, despite the fact he was not cold. His entire body shook, and Jackson only pulled him tighter. This was it, the embrace he had always wanted, this was what was missing when he courted Sylvia. The prince turned slowly to face Jackson, and cupped his hand to his face.

Peter & Prince: No one has ever kissed me before.

Jack & Jackson: I’m sorry.

Peter & Prince: For what?

Jack & Jackson: I couldn’t help it. You are amazing.

Peter & Prince: Can we do it again?

Jack & Jackson: You’re sure?

Peter and Prince: I’ve never been more certain.

[The lights return on Jack and Peter. Both scenes are animated. Jackson and Prince begin to tenderly kiss each other. The music stops.]

Jack:  When did you write this?

Peter: Today.

Jack: When I kissed you…I…didn’t mean to…

Peter: It’s fine…I just didn’t expect it to…happen.

Jack: I’m sorry.

Peter: I wish you weren’t.

Jack: I’m sorry I didn’t do this sooner.

Peter: Do what?

[Jack kisses Peter and they fall onto the bed. The music returns, louder, at the swell of the piece, roughly 2:15 into the piece, The second Jack and Peter kiss, Jackson and Prince again sigh in ecstasy and their kissing and caressing becomes increasingly passionate.]

Jack & Jackson: I feel like we’ve wasted so much time.

Peter & Prince: You were worth waiting for.

[The couples kiss tenderly, and the music continues. The sound of a door being unlocked is played. Marcia and Lucy enter Peter’s room. Marcia is carrying a tray. At the same time Samuel and Juliet enter Prince and Jackson’s room. Juliet is carrying a tray. Samuel and Lucy simultaneously gasp. Marcia and Juliet both drop trays. The lovers look, they are caught, the lights go black.]

End of Act I

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Ending scene 6 and most of scene 7

July 13, 2009 at 11:48 pm (fiction, gay, gay fiction, Theatre)
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isabella_gaveston_edward

[Peter begins to stand, and then falls]

Jack: Oh, wow, you really hurt yourself.

Peter: Yeah, guess I was rustier than I thought.

Jack: Let me see.

Peter: [Pulling up the leg of his pants] I think I just landed on my knee wrong.

Jack: [touching his leg] It feels like it is already swelling.

Peter: [wincing] Ouch.

[Barbara enters, and sees Jack touching Peter’s leg. From her perspective this probably looks a little more risqué than it is. She is stunned and then speaks.]

Barbara: What are you two boys doing in here?

Jack: [quickly removing his hand] Mom! Oh, Peter and I were doing some of those old Yoga CD’s I found.

Peter: I accidentally fell down.

Barbara: Oh, well Jackson…Jack why don’t you go get some ice for Peter.

Jack: Good thinking Mom.

[Jack exits]

Barbara: I hope you didn’t hurt yourself too bad. I told Jack if he wanted to do that kind of stuff he should have bought the beginner’s guide.

Peter: Well…I think he just was using what you guys already had.

Barbara: Already had? I’ve never seen them before in my life.

Peter: Oh. He said he found them.

[Jack enters with ice pack]

Jack: Here we go.

[Jack moves as if he is going to apply the ice pack, but Barbara holds out her hand as if to let her do it.]

Barbara: [applying the ice pack] There we go. Well maybe you two should just do your homework until dinner. Keep this on there. I don’t want your mother to think my house is a death trap.

Peter: She’s not that kind of lawyer.

Barbara: [laughing] Oh I wasn’t even thinking about that. Be careful with one Jack, I wouldn’t want Mrs. Mason to garnish your allowance.

[Barbara exits.]

Jack: Does it still hurt?

Peter: Yeah, but not as bad. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.

Jack: Don’t worry about it.

Peter: Well I guess we should hit the books. Imagine what your Mom will do if you bring home an A+.

Jack: Yeah, she’ll probably cook for a week. I just hope she doesn’t expect me to get your grades.

Peter: Heh, yeah. I don’t think my Mom would think of my grades as something to cook for.

Jack: I assumed she’d only cook if you made bad grades.

Peter: [laughing] Yeah. It is more of a punishment.

Jack: So…do you have any homework to do?

Peter: Not really. I should probably work on my story some more.

Jack: What’s that for?

Peter: Nothing. Well…Mrs. Bell encouraged me to do it as a side project, but it’s not for a grade or anything. My Mom and I used to make up stories when I was a kid. She got busy with work when she had this big case, so she didn’t have time anymore, but I just kind of kept up the habit.

Jack: Oh.  Have you written a lot of them?

Peter: Well sort of, I mean, nothing is finished. I wouldn’t ever let my mother end a story, because then I knew we wouldn’t write together anymore. So there are a lot of different adventures, but none of them are really done.

Jack: Are you planning on finishing it soon?

Peter: Yeah, after I turned in one of them for Mrs. Bell for a writing assignment, she said that I should think about turning it into a book. Apparently she knew a kid who got to go to whatever college he wanted because he wrote a best seller before he was 18. I told my Mom, and now she wants me to try and finish it by the end of the year.

Jack: How much more do you have?

Peter: Not sure, but that reminds me. Where did you get that yoga cd?

Jack: Oh…I found it.

Peter: Yeah, but where? Your mom said it wasn’t hers.

Jack: She did? Oh…well yeah. I found it in town. It was in the old used bookstore.

Peter: Oh? Does it say who the woman talking is?

[Jack grabs the cd case and book]

Jack: Umm….I don’t think it does. Why?

Peter: She sounds really familiar. Like a voice I hear when one of my characters talk.

Jack: Maybe she was on some of your other yoga stuff.

Peter: Yeah…maybe.

Barbara: [off stage] Boys! It’s time for dinner.

[Peter and Jack stand up. Peter falters for a bit, and Jack catches him. They are in a similar tableau as the dip in scene 2]

Jack: Are you alright?

Peter: Oh…umm…yeah. I think I can make it now.

[Jack let’s Peter go, and then puts Peter’s arm over his shoulders and helps him exit.]

[transition to scene 7 – Peter re-enters the stage. He is no longer injured. The set transforms back into Peter’s room. Peter sits at the desk, and begins to write. The lights change. The young man, from transition scene 5 enters, he is no longer naked. He wears a long billowy night shirt. He stands with his arms crossed looking out at the audience for a moment. His face is serene, but sad. He is waiting for someone. A male singing voice is heard in the distance.]

{The two sing ‘La Ci Darem La Mano’} together

[The voice gets closer and closer. A masked man enters. The young man rushes towards him, but falters. The masked man rushes to him, and catches him just like Jack and Peter.]

Masked man: [with dramatic concern] Are you alright my prince?

Young Man: I am. Now that you have come.

[The young man rips off the mask, revealing a man who resembles Jack, and kisses him passionately. From the shadows emerges Juliet. The lovers do not notice her. While Juliet and Peter discuss, the two lovers dance together.]

Juliet: That is not Lady Sylvia.

Peter: No it is not.

Juliet: Who is he?

Peter: Someone new.

Juliet: What about Sylvia?

Peter: I don’t know what to do with her.

Juliet: Well, I hope you know what you are doing with him.

[Juliet leaves. The lovers stop dancing and lay down with each other. Curled in each other’s arms. A knock is heard. The lights change, and Peter gets up from his desk.]

Peter: Come in!

[Jack comes in with an overnight bag]

Jack: Hey! What’s up?

Peter: Not much. Just working on my story. Did your mom say you could stay?

Jack: Yeah, but she wants me home by noon tomorrow. Apparently the lawn doesn’t mow itself.

Peter: Heh. Yeah. Too bad there is nothing in the photosynthesis chapter to help you out there.

Jack: I know. You’d think someone would have invented that by now.

Peter: So, my Mom will be serving up Indian tonight. I hope that’s okay.

Jack: Haha, I think your mom must be trying to have me taste every country on earth.

Peter: That’s what you get for not knowing how to use chop sticks. You are her new project. Apparently we’re not supposed to be so blasé about her ordering skills, and act more like you.

Jack: Heh, we seem to have the same problem. Apparently I don’t compliment my Mom’s cooking enough.

Peter: I can’t believe that! Your Mom could open a restaurant.

Jack: And your mom could order.

[Jack and Peter both laugh]

Peter: So what do you want to do?

Jack: Not homework! I can’t think about homework on Fridays.

Peter: Yeah, I think even 4.0 kids take tonight off. Do you want to watch a movie or something?

Jack: Actually, I was wondering if we could write a story together. I liked what you wrote before.

Peter: What do you mean?

Jack: In your journal. This one. Remember I returned it to you.

[Jack picks up the journal]

Peter:  Did you read it?

Jack: I read a page or two, but I didn’t know what it was, and I wasn’t sure if I should.

Peter: [darkly] What did you read?

Jack:[flipping through the pages of the journal] Something about a girl and a mirror.

Peter: Oh yeah…that part.

Jack: Hey! Did you name a character after me?

Peter:[rushing to get the book away from Jack] No!..I mean yeah I guess so, but don’t read that! It’s not…it’s not….it’s not finished!

[Jack holds the book away from Peter, and Peter strains to get the book out of Jack’s hands. Jack, clearly in control, fends Peter off, and the two begin to struggle. The storybook lovers begin to roll around in a similar fashion. Mainly they storybook lovers are disrobing the fairytale Jackson. Finally Peter and Jack find themselves tangled into each other.]

Peter: [straining to pry the book from Jack’s hands] Let go.

Jack: [smiling] Make me.

Peter: That’s what I’m trying to do.

Jack: I bet I can get you to let go.

Peter: I doubt it.

[Jack jerks on the journal sending Peter crashing into Jack. Jack takes his free hand to grip the back of Peter’s head and force his face to Jack. Jack kisses Peter hard and forceful. The storybook lovers both make a sound of ecstasy and lock themselves together. Peter stops holding onto the book, and starts to kiss Jack back. Jack’s kiss softens, and then suddenly pulls away. The lovers fall away from each other. The Prince looks down, and fairytale Jackson looks at the Prince.]

Jack:[holding the book] Told you so.

Peter: Yeah…well…we…just…you…you cheated!

Jack: All is fair in love and war right?

Peter: Yeah well with tactics like that. I’d have to wonder which one you were referring to.

Jack: [laughing] What’s that your sister always says? Maybe they aren’t “Mutually Exclusive”

Peter: What?

[Jack approaches Peter and hands him the journal. The prince meets fairytale Jackson’s eyes.]

Jack: Sorry. I won’t read it until you’re ready.

Peter: Oh…um…thanks.

Jack: Are you okay?

Peter: Am I okay? Am I okay? I…I…don’t know.

[Peter begins to sway a little.]

Jack: [laying a hand on his shoulder to steady him] Peter? Hey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…um…here sit down on the bed.

[Jack helps Peter sit on the bed. Fairytale Jackson lays the Prince down on his side, and props himself up on his elbows keeping watch over the Prince.]

Peter: Why did you do that?

Jack: Cause I knew you would let go if I did.

Peter: Oh. No one has ever kissed me before.

Jack: Oh…really?

Peter: Yes.

Jack: Why?

Peter: What?

Jack: I mean…why not?

Peter: I don’t know.

Jack: Sorry if it was weird.

Peter: Yeah. Okay.

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