Performance for love

By Jessica Joel

A tale of how young actress falls for a a talented play writer.

Vincent is a talented plat writer who always looks to push the content of his plays to challenge the minds of his audience and this is exactly why Cassandra starts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jessica Joel
• Release date: Oct 13, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370306411

Book preview

Performance for love

By

Jessica Joel

Published by Jessica Jeol

Copyright 2016 Jessica Jeol

Table of content

Chapter One: A New Play

Chapter Two: Decisions

Chapter Three: A Team

Chapter Four: Preparations

Chapter Five: A Dastardly Play

Chapter Six: A Hopeful Kiss

Chapter Seven: Resistance

Chapter Eight: Motivations

Chapter Nine: A Visitor

Chapter Ten: Father

Chapter Eleven: Rewrite

Chapter Twelve: Desire

Chapter Thirteen: Doubt

Chapter 14: Opening Day

Chapter Fifteen: Backlash

Chapter One: A New Play

Cassandra felt inspired by the drab theater surrounding her. She had been a fan of the theater ever since her father took her to a play as a little girl. Her father found plays crude and a waste of time, but he was a supportive father. He allowed Cassandra to pursue her interests in the stage. Due to her father's support, Cassandra had become one of the most celebrated actresses in London in 1746 in a time when many women weren't allowed to act. Cassandra's father was Count Titus, and he was a well-respected man in the community. When his daughter wanted to act, he made sure that it was allowed. This show was definitely more of a risk than usual, though. Cassandra was working with a new playwright named Vincent.

Vincent came from Italy to create art on the stage. Many playwrights enjoyed making a spectacle of their work. They liked as many props as possible, elaborate costumes, and they tried to book the nicest theaters. Vincent was different. Vincent liked small, simple venues with a minimalist approach. He also enjoyed hiring women to play the parts of women instead of having men dress up as women.

Ladies and gentleman, please gather around. I want to share with you my latest work, said Vincent. He stood on the stage alone with a mysterious aura surrounding him. Cassandra couldn't help but notice what a stunning contrast his blue eyes had with his dark hair. The actors and actresses in the theater rushed to the stage to receive the masterpiece that they've been waiting to see. The play was famous across Europe as a success before it had even been presented to the actors. People in Italy, England, Ireland, Germany, and places in all other countries would be traveling in a mere three months to see the play's release. Cassandra secretly thought that Vincent was foolish for picking the small venue that he did. He was surely going to be able to fill a much larger theater! She kept her opinions to herself and reminded herself that the famous playwright knew more about these things than she did. The theater did have a certain intimacy to it, after all.

Cassandra held her copy of the play greedily. Each copy of the play had to be pain-painstakingly written by hand by Vincent's associates. Just holding the play was a luxury that very few people in all of Europe would have the privilege of doing. The cast was a small group of about fifteen people. Not everyone was given their own copy of the play; people with smaller roles had to share. Cassandra had been given the part of the female lead. She was given this part because of her father's status in the court. She was also given the part because of her prestige in recent Shakespeare productions in London. Vincent called her reprise of Miranda astounding.

Now, everyone knows their part. I need you to learn your part. Live your part. Experiment with your part. This is a highly anticipated performance, and you are the heart and soul of that performance. I will only take 100% from all of you.

Will we go over the play today? Cassandra asked. She was one of the few people who did not fear asking Vincent a question. Many of the other actors and actresses just stood in silence until Vincent told them what to do.

No. I want you to become familiar with the story and the characters before we practice. We will resume in two days ready to rehearse. If you are not here, you will not be a part of the play. Since you are all here, I assume that you are willing to be committed to the performance. If you are not, let me know immediately so that your part can be replaced.

Vincent turned his back to his actors, giving them the sign that they have been dismissed. Cassandra happily headed home