Casting Call

A Tale of Ace Gallagher Short from Book #5
by Jill D'Entremont

James yawned. This was going to be a long day. He wrinkled his nose as he brushed the black hair from in front of his eyes so he could better see the empty stage.

“Next, please,” he said, glancing into the darkness of the theater seats around him.

A young woman in a dress two sizes too small stood and proceeded to twist her hips as she adjusted the dress’ fit. She was patting her hair her entire way to the stage, and was even more conscious of her dress as she stepped up the stairs that lead to it. When she finally made it, she slunk into a pose and beamed a wide smile.

“My name is Amanda Iria,” she said proudly. “I will begin by singing the popular song, ‘I’m Braver Than You’.”

James closed his eyes as she began to sing two keys higher than her range comfortably allowed. She was also the third young woman to choose this particular song. This was really going to be a long day.

After her song, she demonstrated her ability to dance—which ended up being extremely awkward due to the aforementioned dress issue. She didn’t seem to mind, possibly hoping she looked the part better than being able to sing or dance. She bowed when she was finished, and lingered in the stage lights expectantly.

James scribbled a few lines into his notebook. “Thank you, Am–manada.” He cleared his throat as if to mask the stammer that had slipped out. “Results will be posted tomorrow in the ticket booth. You’re free to stay and watch the others if you’d like.”

Amanda’s fake smile seemed even more fake as she turned and wobbled back down the stairs and towards the theater exit.

James leaned back in the seat and stretched. “Next, please.”

Two more young women followed in Amanda’s pace. One had so much makeup applied to her facial features that she seemed more like a doll than a human being. Her singing voice was quite impressive, but her dancing left much to be desired. The second’s singing voice was quite flat, though the high-heeled shoes she had crammed her feet into were all but. She managed to dance fairly well considering. James was admittedly impressed that she could pull off such movements in such unforgiving footwear.

He was surprised when a much older woman followed them, and he was fairly blown away by the operatic nature of her vocals. She then claimed she wasn’t going to be dancing, and that she felt the role wouldn’t require dancing if it were truly an opera. James didn’t have the heart to tell her she was not auditioning for an opera.

A low hiss of whispers could be heard as the opera singer descended, but they conveniently ceased when she passed by.

James eyed the audience. “...Next, please.” He sighed as he looked down at the notes he was holding. Flipping back a few pages, he found the script Ace had written: “Higher Ground.” It was a short musical play, and Ace had written everything from the staging to the lyrics and basic melodies–with the hope Vance could add more orchestration. James was admittedly impressed with the quality of the play, but he was not surprised. His brother had always been creative when given the chance.

The challenge with “Higher Ground” was that it only involved three actors; two male and one female. Every actor had to be able to sing and dance well, purely because there would be few others on stage to mask any imperfections. The men had been auditioned the day before, and he had easily found actors to fill their roles. Both men were quite talented, and he could imagine them filling the role of Gabriel, the supporting character, and Damian, the antagonist. But Sparrow, the female role, was the lead; and so far, every single young woman who had auditioned just wasn’t fitting the part the way Ace had explained it.

James frowned. Sparrow was a fairly innocent character. She had been caught up in not-so-great circumstances, no thanks to Damian, but with the help—and love—of Gabriel, she overcame her greatest obstacle. She needed to seem real and genuine; someone the audience could connect with–not someone overly-made up and in a dress two sizes too small.

He sighed again and looked on stage to see who was next to audition.

The petite young woman before him had wavy, dusty blond hair tucked behind Weivan ears and draped over her shoulders. She wore no adornments or makeup. She wore a simple blouse that covered her arms, a knee-length skirt, and flat ballet shoes that suited a dancer. 

“My name is Elise Benedette,” she said as she swayed on her toes, “If it's all right, can I sing and dance together? It's… difficult to not move when I sing.”

James leaned forward with anticipation. Her voice was smooth and youthful despite the slight trembling from her nerves. “Yes, you may,” he answered gently.

She smiled and took her stance. She began to sing softly to herself as she slowly brought her arms into an arc above her head. 

“I won't say a word,
My voice can't be heard.
Alone among strangers
I'm trapped in a cage like a bird.

“You don't notice me
Your eyes cannot see
You're passing me by
Like a shadow that fades desperately.”

With perfect form, singing all the way, she began to move across the stage. It was more like a steady flow of posing and balance; leaping and grace.

“Dreaming of a life where I can be free,
Would you recognize me?

“Oh, what I would give
Just to finally live
In sunlight and song and a promise
That you will forgive…

You'll forgive me…”

She concluded by bowing to her knees with her arms against her chest.

James had to refrain from clapping—since he hadn’t clapped for anyone else and needed to maintain his unbiased guise. But, inside, he finally had hope that he had found his leading lady.

“Ugh, what was that,” a harsh whisper rang behind James’ back.

Another whisper replied mockingly, “‘If it's okay, can I sing and dance at the same time?’ Please.”

“Look at her clothes… And is she even wearing makeup?”

James’s brows lowered, thankful the young woman on stage couldn’t hear such derogatory statements. “Thank you, Elise,” he said to coax the woman back to her feet. “Results will be mm–posted on the box office window tomorrow.”

She smiled, her face flushed from nerves, and she gave a quick bow before stepping down the stairs from the stage. She managed to lock eyes with James before sheepishly continuing out of the theater.

James added a checkmark next to her name in his notebook. With a broad smile, he looked back at the stage.

The opera-singer had returned. “I’d like to audition for this part as if it weren’t an opera.”

James flopped back against the theater chair. This was going to be a long day.

–-

Elise’s heart raced with anticipation. Her ballet-slippered feet almost couldn’t carry her fast enough down the cobblestone streets through Fortanya, Spades.

As she passed the familiar buildings and many familiar people, she began to realize what she felt was not very familiar; in fact, she couldn’t remember the last time she had felt such excitement.

“I’d better not get my hopes up too much,” she muttered to herself as she turned a corner. “For all I know, I’m not the kind of girl he was looking for.” She frowned, her hazel eyes looking far ahead at the end of the road. The Sirius Theatre’s marquee with its glittering star still seemed to shine in the cloudy morning light. “...I never seem to be.”

A couple was under the marquee near the ticket booth as she drew closer, and she heard them both expressing disappointment, albeit in a lighthearted way.

“Hey, I know you still did great,” the young man was saying, adding with a laugh, “I know I didn’t.”

The young woman managed to smile. “Thank you for trying out with me, though. At least now I know I can do it.”

Elise grinned as she stepped up to them. “That’s the spirit!”

They both smiled at her politely, but they didn’t seem to take her addition to the conversation well. They took each others’ hands and started back the way they came, leaving the young Weivan dancer alone.

She simply raised her brows and shrugged it off, and, with a deep breath, she turned and looked at the ticket booth. A piece of paper was taped to the inside window with five lines of words. From where she stood, she couldn’t quite make them out. 

Elise closed her eyes and held her breath. Her heart racing, she took one step forward, then two. She grimaced overdramatically and thrust herself at the ticket booth. Her eyes flew open.

Higher Ground Cast: 

Matthias Hadaway … Gabriel

Andre Monroe … Damian

Elise Benedette … Sparrow

Practice begins Saturday at 1:00pm

Her heart skipped a beat as she read her name.

“Oh my gosh!” She spurted. “I got the part!” She squealed and jumped as she spun around with her hands clasped against her mouth. “I got the part!!” She quickly stopped her victory dance when she almost ran into the two girls that had just walked up behind her.

The girls looked at her as if she had three heads, stepped past her to see the news for themselves, and then scowled quietly as Elise disregarded them and began to hop around again.

“I can’t believe it—oh my gosh!!” She spun around and finally worked through the excitement enough for her to breathe normally. She ran to the front door of the theater and gazed inside the worn glass. “Oh my gosh, I get to perform in here! I get to dance, I get to act, I—”

She had inadvertently pushed on the door and found herself staggering inside as the door swung in. She released the door just as quickly and backed outside. Her face was flushed with both embarrassment and the high of her excitement.

A young man with brown curly hair had come up to the ticket booth and nodded to her as she tugged on the long sleeves she was wearing. She watched as his expression turned to one of similar surprise.

“I made it!”

“You did?” Elise shuffled over.

The young man grinned widely and pointed to the name on the window. “I’m Matthias!”

She also pointed. “I'm Elise!” She replied.

“Hey! Congratulations!”

“You too!” Elise started to laugh.

Matthias ran his fingers through his short hair. “This is crazy; I’ve never been cast in a play before!”

“Neither have I!” Elise had again broken out into giggles. “I’m not sure I’ve been this happy in all my life!”

“It is pretty awesome,” the young man replied. “Well, I gotta run. Looks like I’ll see you Saturday!”

“I will!” She waved as he started away with a bounce in his step. Once she had watched him for a moment longer, she turned back to the ticket booth. Her smile widened when she realized her name was still there.

“Elise?”

She jumped and noticed a dark-haired man in reading glasses was standing in the doorway. It took her a moment to recognize him as the theater owner.

“S-sorry to startle you,” he said, slinking backward.

“Oh—no, it’s all right. I bet I startled you busting through your door,” she clasped her hands together at her waist.

He shook his head and stepped outside. “Not startled, but I was surprised. It was my fault for leaving it open, however.” He held out his hand to her. “I’m-m James Harley, by the way.”

She took his hand and nodded, glancing up when she realized just how much taller he was than herself. “Elise–but you knew that.” She then paused as their hands dropped away. “...You picked me.”

“I did.”

She squinted at him. “Why?”

“Because you were the best.”

She let out a short laugh. “Are you serious?”

James crossed his arms and leaned against the ticket booth. “You were the only one who came in as yourself.” When Elise’s brow furrowed, he continued. “All the other girls came in acting a part. You came in as yourself, and, even m–m-more importantly, performed as yourself.”

An almost embarrassed smile warmed her face as she turned her head down. “I’m just... I’m honored.” She looked up after a moment. “Thank you. I’m serious when I say I’ve never been happier.”

James pushed himself off the ticket booth. “The feeling is mutual. I’m—I’m the one with a perfect cast. And I know m-m–” he cleared his throat and raised a hand. “Sorry,” he said once he recovered.

She politely nodded her head.

“My brother wrote this play,” he explained more slowly, “but he was called to Kalgara, so he left me in charge of the cast. When he gets home, I know he'll love the cast too.”

Elise rocked on her feet. “You’re too kind.”

The theater owner grinned and removed the reading glasses from his nose. “Rehearsals start this Saturday, and we’ll have two months to p-p—pre…” he scowled, “to get ready for the first show,” he breathed out and shook his head sternly. “I'm-m-n–not usually this tongue-tied.”

“Have you always had the stammer?” She carefully asked.

He nodded blandly.

“Well, don't worry, you sound fine to me,” she smiled. “Sometimes, when I’m nervous, I trip over words too.”

He managed to mirror her expression before he shrugged and changed the subject. “Does this all sound good to you?” He gestured to the theater to clarify.

She turned her head, though her eyes were still locked onto James. “If I said no...”

James raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t be the only one crushed.”

Elise puffed out a laugh and put her hand on her mouth to stifle it. “Well, then, how could I refuse?”

He simply remained where he stood, a wide smile tugging his lips tight.

“Yes, it’s perfect,” she clarified before taking a deep breath. “Thanks, Mr. Harley.”

“James is fine.”

“All right... well, thanks again for giving me a shot… James! I’ll be back on Saturday!”

James nodded, lingering in the doorway of the Sirius Theatre. “I’ll–mm–see you then.”

Elise turned with a small, almost awkward wave, and she started back down the street. It was still mid-morning on a Saturday, so her boyfriend was still passed out from the night before. Her heart began to sink with every step. If only the rest of her life could retain her happiness.