I Can't Believe It's Not Broadway

For the fall musical, this year, our school is doing The Fantasticks. If you were to ask me what it is about, I would tell you that a small branch goes on a "fantastick" journey to become the stick he has always wanted to be. I know...heartwarming, isn't it? Truthfully, describing the show would take way longer than I want to take, so just imagine Romeo and Juliet with a series of uncomfortable vegetable references. My character's name is Henry. He is a struggling, old actor who finds himself being hired to "abduct" Luisa (Juliet). Henry over exaggerates to the extreme and becomes thrilled quite easily. I like to pretend that Henry is a mixture between Gollum/Smeagol from Lord of the Rings, Frank from Everybody Loves Raymond, and King Arthur.

We have been practicing since August, now, and it is getting to be a bit tiresome. Thankfully, next weekend is when the show goes up and all of our hard work will be on display. This also means that this week means a constant stream of verbal abuse from our director, some sort of flu outbreak, and a crazy diva moment from an unsuspected person. It always happens. Always.

One of the exciting things about this show is that we are taking to a state-wide festival celebrating theatre. That means we get to perform it for thousands of scrutinizing eyes who will tell us we did a great job, give us a secret thespian handshake, and then tell their friends how much better they could have done. It might also mean that I will have to act friendly like I do at Freddy's. I sense that I will have to say, "Were you in the musical? You did such a good job!," or, "I really liked your take on that scene!," and finally, "Wow! You have so much talent!" In all actuality, I will be thinking, "That musical was so bad. It felt like someone was trying to shove giants raisins down my ears," or, "Seriously? I don't think Juliet would be twirling her hair if she had just found out Romeo died," and finally, "Wow! You have so much talent! You should be a hypnotist or a mattress salesman because I am now asleep." I know it's harsh, but still.

It feels like this show has gone by much quicker than it has. The director actually cast the show in June and we were expected to memorize over the summer. Still, I feel like the show is very impressive and that others will enjoy it...and I am not just saying that.