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Luforce! 4:41 pm
Johnny was still reeling from the announcement. He'd been cast! HE HAD A PART! On STAGE! It was like Broadway, but smaller and with a lot less pressure, but that didn't mean he wasn't ridiculously excited. So much so that, during and after the announcements, he'd fallen at least four times and nearly ate seat cushion in the process. He did manage to hear Kyndall say that she needed to see him before the play, so... no time like the present! Johnny the blue-haired monkboy shuffled off in the direction Kyndall disappeared to.
He found her in her office and before he could properly say anything, tripped on the doorframe and narrowly missed curbstomping himself onto the lip of her desk. A raucous WHUMP noted his arrival and instead of trying to get up, Johnny simply talked into the floor. "You wanted to see me, Ms. Kyndall?" came the muffled voice from below her desk. Maybe he should take off the robe...
Johnny was still reeling from the announcement. He'd been cast! HE HAD A PART! On STAGE! It was like Broadway, but smaller and with a lot less pressure, but that didn't mean he wasn't ridiculously excited. So much so that, during and after the announcements, he'd fallen at least four times and nearly ate seat cushion in the process. He did manage to hear Kyndall say that she needed to see him before the play, so... no time like the present! Johnny the blue-haired monkboy shuffled off in the direction Kyndall disappeared to.
He found her in her office and before he could properly say anything, tripped on the doorframe and narrowly missed curbstomping himself onto the lip of her desk. A raucous WHUMP noted his arrival and instead of trying to get up, Johnny simply talked into the floor. "You wanted to see me, Ms. Kyndall?" came the muffled voice from below her desk. Maybe he should take off the robe...
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Zaia (Kyndall) 4:56 pm
"ah. Johnny." She looked up from her desk to see his graceful entrance. She folded her hands in front of herself and looked at him, motioning for him to have a seat. She wanted to keep this simple and brief but clear. If she had glasses she would have straightened them. As it was she shuffled papers around, trying to decide what to say and how to say it. Then she finally rose her eyes up to meet him. "I wanted to see you today to talk about your role. Clearly you have to realize that the way you auditioned was somewhat misplaced. Knights are not monks."
Which said nothing about the risks he took like the light up heart. It was cheesy, over the top, and showy. Galahad was a brave and noble knight. He needed to see that toning it down was the way to go. "I appreciate the risks you took. You're very enthusiastic. But I need you talk to you about the part. It's rather serious. Dramatic."
"ah. Johnny." She looked up from her desk to see his graceful entrance. She folded her hands in front of herself and looked at him, motioning for him to have a seat. She wanted to keep this simple and brief but clear. If she had glasses she would have straightened them. As it was she shuffled papers around, trying to decide what to say and how to say it. Then she finally rose her eyes up to meet him. "I wanted to see you today to talk about your role. Clearly you have to realize that the way you auditioned was somewhat misplaced. Knights are not monks."
Which said nothing about the risks he took like the light up heart. It was cheesy, over the top, and showy. Galahad was a brave and noble knight. He needed to see that toning it down was the way to go. "I appreciate the risks you took. You're very enthusiastic. But I need you talk to you about the part. It's rather serious. Dramatic."
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Luforce! 5:01 pm
"I can be dramatic n serious, Ms. Kyndall!" he exclaimed, crawling up from the floor and into the chair in front of her desk. His eyes beamed with the want, no, the need to please. He would do his best to do whatever she asked of him, really. "I know that monks n knights are different but this was the best costume I had, Ms. Kyndall. All the other ones are ninjas. Knights and ninjas are reeeaaaallly different. Monks n knights are only kinda different, you know?"
Probably not, but it didn't hurt to try.
Johnny smiled back at her, obviously not upset in the slightest that she was basically telling him to tone it down. He was happy as could be just having a part at all. "I can be brave too! Galahad had a pure heart and he was strong and proud too! I can do that. I just gotta put my mind to it!" He struck his fist into his other hand for emphasis. Dramatic emphasis. He would just need to hunker down and learn his lines and try not to trip if his costume was long. Yep, not too much to worry about, right?
"I can be dramatic n serious, Ms. Kyndall!" he exclaimed, crawling up from the floor and into the chair in front of her desk. His eyes beamed with the want, no, the need to please. He would do his best to do whatever she asked of him, really. "I know that monks n knights are different but this was the best costume I had, Ms. Kyndall. All the other ones are ninjas. Knights and ninjas are reeeaaaallly different. Monks n knights are only kinda different, you know?"
Probably not, but it didn't hurt to try.
Johnny smiled back at her, obviously not upset in the slightest that she was basically telling him to tone it down. He was happy as could be just having a part at all. "I can be brave too! Galahad had a pure heart and he was strong and proud too! I can do that. I just gotta put my mind to it!" He struck his fist into his other hand for emphasis. Dramatic emphasis. He would just need to hunker down and learn his lines and try not to trip if his costume was long. Yep, not too much to worry about, right?
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Zaia (Kyndall) 5:05 pm
Kyndall shook her head, sighing softly. This was going to be a challenge. How could she tell him his audition came off comical, not dramatic or serious? "Do you believe your audition was what a knight should be?" She watched him try to convince her while trying to suppress and amused smile. His gestures were going to be the death of her. "It won't be easy, to warn you. Gently and I will work with you as much as we can to make sure you come across every bit the knight we're looking for." She imagined the words "Can you tone it back a little" would become routine. She'd need to practice now.
Kyndall shook her head, sighing softly. This was going to be a challenge. How could she tell him his audition came off comical, not dramatic or serious? "Do you believe your audition was what a knight should be?" She watched him try to convince her while trying to suppress and amused smile. His gestures were going to be the death of her. "It won't be easy, to warn you. Gently and I will work with you as much as we can to make sure you come across every bit the knight we're looking for." She imagined the words "Can you tone it back a little" would become routine. She'd need to practice now.
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Luforce! 5:13 pm
Do you believe your audition was what a knight should be?
Johnny blinked for a moment of fridge brilliance before a thought thawed and came to him. "Not exactly! I mean, knights don't wear monk robes or have keychains that light up that they stole from their moms. BUT. The pointing and the sighing and stuff, they do that on stage all the time! It's cuz... well they have to be like all... flaily..." Johnny flailed for emphasis. He was good at that. "...because the people in the back can't see too well, you know? So they gotta see the action too!" He stared back at Kyndall like a puppy waiting for praise.
Oh, wait, another thought was happening. "But knights! Knights, uhh... well I think Galahad's probably older than me so I gotta act older so I can do his part justice n everything. And be MANLY." He puffed out his puny chest a la Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Gaston was manly. Nobody did anything quite like Gaston, from eating to drinking to breaking people in half. Galahad wasn't Gaston, but Johnny was pretty sure he was manly nonetheless.
Do you believe your audition was what a knight should be?
Johnny blinked for a moment of fridge brilliance before a thought thawed and came to him. "Not exactly! I mean, knights don't wear monk robes or have keychains that light up that they stole from their moms. BUT. The pointing and the sighing and stuff, they do that on stage all the time! It's cuz... well they have to be like all... flaily..." Johnny flailed for emphasis. He was good at that. "...because the people in the back can't see too well, you know? So they gotta see the action too!" He stared back at Kyndall like a puppy waiting for praise.
Oh, wait, another thought was happening. "But knights! Knights, uhh... well I think Galahad's probably older than me so I gotta act older so I can do his part justice n everything. And be MANLY." He puffed out his puny chest a la Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. Gaston was manly. Nobody did anything quite like Gaston, from eating to drinking to breaking people in half. Galahad wasn't Gaston, but Johnny was pretty sure he was manly nonetheless.
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Zaia (Kyndall) 5:19 pm
"Oh, God."
Kyndall wondered in her heart of hearts if she'd made a terrible mistake. This was not supposed to be a comedy. She raised on hand to get him to stop and cradled her head in the other, trying desperately to think. "I think you have a very exaggerated idea of how you should be acting, dear." Not like a clown came to mind. "Manly men aren't all posture and gesturing. In fact, you'll have to restrain yourself quite a bit in that arena." she didn't think she'd ever heard of a knight described as "flaily". Ever.
"The way I see Galahad is very stalwart and brave and sort of quietly strong unless he's in battle and there won't be many of those in this play. He's meant to guide the knights with his purity."
"Oh, God."
Kyndall wondered in her heart of hearts if she'd made a terrible mistake. This was not supposed to be a comedy. She raised on hand to get him to stop and cradled her head in the other, trying desperately to think. "I think you have a very exaggerated idea of how you should be acting, dear." Not like a clown came to mind. "Manly men aren't all posture and gesturing. In fact, you'll have to restrain yourself quite a bit in that arena." she didn't think she'd ever heard of a knight described as "flaily". Ever.
"The way I see Galahad is very stalwart and brave and sort of quietly strong unless he's in battle and there won't be many of those in this play. He's meant to guide the knights with his purity."
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Luforce! 5:24 pm
"Guide the knights with his purity?"
It took Johnny a little while to process Kyndall's words. Manly men aren't all posture and gesturing. Right. Got it. No flailing on stage. Unless Ms. Kyndall asked for it. Stalwart and brave and quietly strong! ".....oooohhhhhhh." Quietly strong. Meaning quiet. And not flaily. Johnny thought he was beginning to understand, bit by bit. Boy, they didn't call this 'acting' for nothing! Johnny would have to be completely out of his element to pull this off and not make Ms. Kyndall regret her decision.
To try and demonstrate his understanding, the blue haired boy stood up and put his hands on his hips (without puffing up his chest like Gaston. Only Gaston can do that like Gaston, but we digress). Johnny blinked a few times and, thinking of the most somber moment he possibly could (the realization that all the corn chips had been eaten), put on a serious and somewhat concentrated face. No giggles, no sputtering, no flailing. After a few moments of serious effort, Johnny deflated a little bit and looked to Kyndall.
"Like that?"
"Guide the knights with his purity?"
It took Johnny a little while to process Kyndall's words. Manly men aren't all posture and gesturing. Right. Got it. No flailing on stage. Unless Ms. Kyndall asked for it. Stalwart and brave and quietly strong! ".....oooohhhhhhh." Quietly strong. Meaning quiet. And not flaily. Johnny thought he was beginning to understand, bit by bit. Boy, they didn't call this 'acting' for nothing! Johnny would have to be completely out of his element to pull this off and not make Ms. Kyndall regret her decision.
To try and demonstrate his understanding, the blue haired boy stood up and put his hands on his hips (without puffing up his chest like Gaston. Only Gaston can do that like Gaston, but we digress). Johnny blinked a few times and, thinking of the most somber moment he possibly could (the realization that all the corn chips had been eaten), put on a serious and somewhat concentrated face. No giggles, no sputtering, no flailing. After a few moments of serious effort, Johnny deflated a little bit and looked to Kyndall.
"Like that?"
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Zaia (Kyndall) 5:34 pm
Kyndall watched him, preparing for the worst and was rather surprised when a calm and serious look crossed his face. A glimmer of hope began seeding inside of her. "Yes! Like that!" She smiled brightly, wanting to encourage restrained acts and the proper mentality. She had no idea the thought that brought him to the expression but it would not surprise her if she did. "Very much like that, Johnny. Do you think you can do that for the play?" There may be a chance for him, after all. This was good.
Kyndall watched him, preparing for the worst and was rather surprised when a calm and serious look crossed his face. A glimmer of hope began seeding inside of her. "Yes! Like that!" She smiled brightly, wanting to encourage restrained acts and the proper mentality. She had no idea the thought that brought him to the expression but it would not surprise her if she did. "Very much like that, Johnny. Do you think you can do that for the play?" There may be a chance for him, after all. This was good.
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Luforce! 5:41 pm
Hey! She liked that! He only had to do that a few... okay, a lotta more times. This might be harder than he anticipated. "I can sure try, Ms. Kyndall!" Johnny's face lit up like it always had. "I just gotta... gotta put my mind to it. And think about serious stuff." He balled his hands into fists in his resolve. Johnny could be serious! Well, sort of. He could sure as hell give it his best shot, especially if he was supposed to lead knights with his quiet resolve and purity and all that. He wondered how he was supposed to display purity.
"So do we get swords n outfits and everything when we practice? I gotta make sure I can do this serious business stuff for the rehearsal, yeah!" When Johnny did put his mind to something, he was usually fairly good at it. Maybe he could equate it to cleaning the kitchen. That was serious. ...but he usually danced like on Boogie Nights when he cleaned the kitchen. Okay, bad analogy.
Hey! She liked that! He only had to do that a few... okay, a lotta more times. This might be harder than he anticipated. "I can sure try, Ms. Kyndall!" Johnny's face lit up like it always had. "I just gotta... gotta put my mind to it. And think about serious stuff." He balled his hands into fists in his resolve. Johnny could be serious! Well, sort of. He could sure as hell give it his best shot, especially if he was supposed to lead knights with his quiet resolve and purity and all that. He wondered how he was supposed to display purity.
"So do we get swords n outfits and everything when we practice? I gotta make sure I can do this serious business stuff for the rehearsal, yeah!" When Johnny did put his mind to something, he was usually fairly good at it. Maybe he could equate it to cleaning the kitchen. That was serious. ...but he usually danced like on Boogie Nights when he cleaned the kitchen. Okay, bad analogy.
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Zaia (Kyndall) 6:10 pm
"You won't get costuming until the dress rehearsals a few weeks from now." She didn't want him getting ahead of himself and wondered if he'd ever been in a play before. "First is blocking and memorization." Blocking being the process of deciding where characters should be when they're on stage and when they enter and exit. Then there was memorization and run throughs scene by scene not to mention cast bonding to imporve chemistry and believability. She enjoyed that part of the show because it was easy and enjoyable for everyone. That was before her stress level was amped.
"There there's off book and rehearsal."
Off book being when actors had to be completely memorized. By that point her stress level was usually through the roof trying to coordinate everything and bring in props so the cast was used to those. Sets and scenery would be up and changed and they'd work on lighting and sound. And then, finally, would come dress rehearsal and fittings and all of the other things needed to perfect the show.
"You won't get costuming until the dress rehearsals a few weeks from now." She didn't want him getting ahead of himself and wondered if he'd ever been in a play before. "First is blocking and memorization." Blocking being the process of deciding where characters should be when they're on stage and when they enter and exit. Then there was memorization and run throughs scene by scene not to mention cast bonding to imporve chemistry and believability. She enjoyed that part of the show because it was easy and enjoyable for everyone. That was before her stress level was amped.
"There there's off book and rehearsal."
Off book being when actors had to be completely memorized. By that point her stress level was usually through the roof trying to coordinate everything and bring in props so the cast was used to those. Sets and scenery would be up and changed and they'd work on lighting and sound. And then, finally, would come dress rehearsal and fittings and all of the other things needed to perfect the show.
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Luforce! 6:13 pm
None of the terminology made any sense to Johnny - he'd never heard it before, but Ms. Kyndall had to know what she was doing. He had complete and utter faith in her. "Okay!" was his simple reply and he grinned again, happy to have made her happy with his short performance. He'd have long hours ahead of him practicing being serious before a mirror. Maybe his mom or one of his friends could help him practice?
"I'll be here when we gotta be here and I'll have my script and everything! And I'll do my best to be uh..." Johnny quickly whipped himself back into the stoic and serious position he was a few moments earlier, this time with the thought of looming final exams for the unprepared. When he was done, he finished his sentence. "...quietly salwart and pure and all that. I can do it, Ms. Kyndall! You'll see!"
None of the terminology made any sense to Johnny - he'd never heard it before, but Ms. Kyndall had to know what she was doing. He had complete and utter faith in her. "Okay!" was his simple reply and he grinned again, happy to have made her happy with his short performance. He'd have long hours ahead of him practicing being serious before a mirror. Maybe his mom or one of his friends could help him practice?
"I'll be here when we gotta be here and I'll have my script and everything! And I'll do my best to be uh..." Johnny quickly whipped himself back into the stoic and serious position he was a few moments earlier, this time with the thought of looming final exams for the unprepared. When he was done, he finished his sentence. "...quietly salwart and pure and all that. I can do it, Ms. Kyndall! You'll see!"
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Zaia (Kyndall) 6:24 pm
"I believe in you Johnny." She had to at this point and have faith that what she saw in him to begin with could be cultivated into something worthwhile. She smiled at him since he seemed to get the idea of it now. Anyway, he could still be coached through rehearsal and might gain some restraint from the other players in the show. All the world's a stage and all that. She knew Johnny probably took that phrase to heart. "I'll see you at first rehearsal on Monday, unless you had other questions?"
"I believe in you Johnny." She had to at this point and have faith that what she saw in him to begin with could be cultivated into something worthwhile. She smiled at him since he seemed to get the idea of it now. Anyway, he could still be coached through rehearsal and might gain some restraint from the other players in the show. All the world's a stage and all that. She knew Johnny probably took that phrase to heart. "I'll see you at first rehearsal on Monday, unless you had other questions?"
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Luforce! 6:27 pm
"Ummmmmm..." Johnny chewed his lip for a moment. "OH! Can we bring food to rehearsals? I make a mean batch of pies. And cookies too. I like baking. People can get hungry doing all this serious acting stuff! Would that be okay?" Bright blue eyes blinked up at her as recipes reeled through his head. He could make dozens of cookies for the other actors, pies too and maybe a cake! Ah and maybe even fudge! Who didn't like fudge?! "We could have like a potluck! For when rehearsals are over and everything. We gotta be all buddy-buddy cuz we're a cast, you know?"
"Ummmmmm..." Johnny chewed his lip for a moment. "OH! Can we bring food to rehearsals? I make a mean batch of pies. And cookies too. I like baking. People can get hungry doing all this serious acting stuff! Would that be okay?" Bright blue eyes blinked up at her as recipes reeled through his head. He could make dozens of cookies for the other actors, pies too and maybe a cake! Ah and maybe even fudge! Who didn't like fudge?! "We could have like a potluck! For when rehearsals are over and everything. We gotta be all buddy-buddy cuz we're a cast, you know?"
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Zaia (Kyndall) 6:36 pm
"Maybe for the cast party or for the ball afterward?" She didn't want the kids caught up with snacks. "After the first show there will be a ball to benefit arts education. I do hope you'll come. You can wear your costume. It's a masquerade ball." It was rather ambitious of him to suggest and she wasn't sure she had that in her. Her wine collection was usually strained at night during play season, anyway and she'd be doing it again in a few months as it was. "Bring your family as well. Tickets are twenty dollars a person but its for a good cause."
"Maybe for the cast party or for the ball afterward?" She didn't want the kids caught up with snacks. "After the first show there will be a ball to benefit arts education. I do hope you'll come. You can wear your costume. It's a masquerade ball." It was rather ambitious of him to suggest and she wasn't sure she had that in her. Her wine collection was usually strained at night during play season, anyway and she'd be doing it again in a few months as it was. "Bring your family as well. Tickets are twenty dollars a person but its for a good cause."
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Luforce! 6:39 pm
Johnny didn't comprehend most of what she said. His mind caught on and clung to the fact that he could wear his costume. "REALLY!?" Eyes nearly bulging out of his head, the thought of wearing his costume to some fancy shindig more than made his day. His week even! "I could invite mom n dad n OH MAN Cass could come too that would be SO COOL, Ms. Kyndall! I bet our costumes are super DUPER cool and we could hang out together and pose for pictures! THAT WOULD BE SO COOL." He didn't know how posing for pictures could benefit anyone aside from its pure awesomeness, which was beneficial to everybody, but Ms. Kyndall knew what she was doing.
"I'll tell my mom and dad about it. I bet they'd love to come! They're always telling me to do something with myself and this is totally something, isn't it?" Again, more beaming and happy smiles.
Johnny didn't comprehend most of what she said. His mind caught on and clung to the fact that he could wear his costume. "REALLY!?" Eyes nearly bulging out of his head, the thought of wearing his costume to some fancy shindig more than made his day. His week even! "I could invite mom n dad n OH MAN Cass could come too that would be SO COOL, Ms. Kyndall! I bet our costumes are super DUPER cool and we could hang out together and pose for pictures! THAT WOULD BE SO COOL." He didn't know how posing for pictures could benefit anyone aside from its pure awesomeness, which was beneficial to everybody, but Ms. Kyndall knew what she was doing.
"I'll tell my mom and dad about it. I bet they'd love to come! They're always telling me to do something with myself and this is totally something, isn't it?" Again, more beaming and happy smiles.
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Zaia (Kyndall) 7:22 pm
"Yes, I'm sure that will be fine." At the party he could be whoever he wanted to. The point then would be to have fun and raise money for the arts in Destiny City. Not every school was privately funded like Crystal. She felt strongly about giving back to something she took from so frequently. She shifted through her paperwork again, reminding herself to speak to the venue hall people. "Thank you for coming to see me, Johnny, and for trying out. I'm sure you'll do the part justice."
"Yes, I'm sure that will be fine." At the party he could be whoever he wanted to. The point then would be to have fun and raise money for the arts in Destiny City. Not every school was privately funded like Crystal. She felt strongly about giving back to something she took from so frequently. She shifted through her paperwork again, reminding herself to speak to the venue hall people. "Thank you for coming to see me, Johnny, and for trying out. I'm sure you'll do the part justice."
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Luforce! 7:24 pm
"Thanks for pickin' me and believin' in me, Ms. Kyndall. I promise I'll do my best and make you proud!" This time, Johnny actually lifted his monk's robe before shuffling out of Kyndall's office to give her some much needed peace and quiet. It wasn't until Johnny was halfway down the auditorium that his excitement got the better of him and he tripped on the hem. THWACK came the sound as he hit the floor. "I'M OKAY!" he shouted and tore off down the rest of the way, lifting the robe high enough that his knees were free. He'd clearly outgrown the costume many years ago and with all this falling, he'd effectively ripped it in half. Maybe that was for the best.
"Thanks for pickin' me and believin' in me, Ms. Kyndall. I promise I'll do my best and make you proud!" This time, Johnny actually lifted his monk's robe before shuffling out of Kyndall's office to give her some much needed peace and quiet. It wasn't until Johnny was halfway down the auditorium that his excitement got the better of him and he tripped on the hem. THWACK came the sound as he hit the floor. "I'M OKAY!" he shouted and tore off down the rest of the way, lifting the robe high enough that his knees were free. He'd clearly outgrown the costume many years ago and with all this falling, he'd effectively ripped it in half. Maybe that was for the best.
