Les Misérables of Liberty University

[not_whales]

WHO: Dewi Ainsworth, Jared Montour, and the Miserable(s) students of Liberty
WHEN: October 13th, 5:00 PM
WHERE: Liberty Auditorium
WHAT: All students come prepared with any piece of music and any monologue to impress the judges and get a role in Les Misèrables that is more prestigious than "Brother #1".
NOTE: THIS THREAD WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY. IF

Comments

1/2 'cause I feel like it's really long. orz

[remylee]

I really ought to be used to this by now... Remy thought to herself as she made her way up to the stage. It was far from being her first audition. She was a complete drama addict, who'd been in every play and musical ever put on by her Junior High and High School, and she'd been on this stage plenty of times in drama classes. And yet....

She took a deep breath to settle her nerves a little before turning to face her 'audience,' giving them a bright smile. "Good afternoon," the well-worn audition intro eased her into performance-mode. "I'm Remy Tomkins, and I'm trying out for any part. I'll be singing 'How could I ever know' from The Secret Garden and performing a monologue from Your Money's Worth by Kellie Powell."

The song started quietly, her voice joining in soft, but strong, gaining volume when the song called for it. ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGlYL7Sj_Qk&feature=related)) Lily was such a great character - one of Remy's favorites. Tragic, without being whiny. It didn't even creep her out that Lily was a ghost. That just made it more powerful. She wouldn't have left Archibald for anything in the world.... she couldn't have known she'd die giving birth to Collin... Remy tried to convey all of that feeling that made it such a great audition song - not to mention it showed of a high range pretty well.
She stayed still through most of it, only a few small movements when there was just too much feeling in the song to keep still. It wasn't the kind of song you flitted around to, and there was power in stillness.

Besides, an audition was about showing off your strengths, showing the director why you're their best choice. Portraying a character with just your facial expression and voice was definitely something to flaunt if you could pull it off, and she'd put a lot of work into pulling this particular character off perfectly.

2/2

[remylee]

And another thing she had to show off: versatility. Only a completely useless actress was limited to one character.

When the music ended, she took a second to compose herself and switch characters, before launching into Carla's monologue, mid-rant.
"You give up so easily! You don't get validation, you walk away. You don't get enough attention, you take some pills. That's the problem with your generation, really. You're over-indulged by your parents and you're spoiled and impatient and entitled." She scolded the invisible troubled teen in front of her. "Hence the so-called 'suicide attempts.'" A set of contemptuous finger quotes showed just what Carla thought of said attempts. "You don't want to die, you want people to pity you. It's pathetic.
If you wanted to die, you'd be dead." She explained, folding her arms, one hip jutting out to the side. "You would keep trying, over And over, until you got it right. But you don't drink bleach. You don't hang yourself or jump off a bridge or crash your car into a wall. You take pills." She sneered. "You stick your head in the oven. It's a cry for help. So stop wasting your time idealizing and romanticizing death and accept the fact that everyone is miserable. Life is hell for everyone. They just fake it better." She spoke slowly, condescendingly. Nobody would believe that Carla was actually the poor young woman's therapist.
"Who are you to think you deserve to be different? Just grow up already!" Now came the advice, like any good psychiatrist gave, but with Carla's own fed up, angry twist. Remy paced up and down the stage, venting every frustration she'd ever felt through Carla's words to get just the right ring to it. "Lose 80 pounds, buy some new clothes. Get a haircut and put on some make-up. Stop looking for fairness and authenticity and inspiration, because they don't exist. Get a job at a bank and get a manicure once a week. Marry a dentist." She stopped dead, staring the invisible girl down, pointing a warning finger at her. "But for God's sake, don't have children, because your DNA is filled with idealism, and no kid deserves to be saddled with that." She shook her head, getting back on track, a little less angry after the little distraction, but getting louder and more frustrated as she went on. "When you're unhappy, go shopping. Run five miles a day and grow your own tomatoes. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Read to visually impaired gay senior citizens! All you have to do is quit whining, show some willpower! You're not special. You are just like everyone else. You think you're in pain, but that's all in your head. Just SNAP OUT OF IT."

She glared for one more moment, giving the full effect time to settle over the small audience, before giving them a quick nod, another warm smile, and a respectful "Thank you," before quietly leaving the stage.

[not_whales]

He watched his half-sister intently - her expressionism, the way she carried her voice - and he laced his fingers together, rested his chin upon them, and leaned forward a little in his dim light, occasionally looking down at his hand to scribble notes across his notepad.

Impressive. His lips sought the tiny microphone before him. "Thank you very much Remy. The cast list will be posted on Friday on the Auditorium doors. NEXT!"