Class Acts Volume 2

Chapter 2-2

Shay stood outside The Little Theater, vacillating as to whether or not he should go in. He’d kind of told Lilly he would audition for the play, yet as he stood at the door, his courage failed him. Maybe his jock buds were right, this drama stuff was for dorks and queers.

Just as he made his decision and turned to leave, Lilly came up behind him.

“Oh, I’m so glad you came. I was afraid you’d listen to your friends and chicken out,” she said, a big smile on her pretty face.

“I almost did, but here I am,” he said with a shrug and an embarrassed grin, her presence causing his abrupt turnaround.

She gave him a peck on the cheek, opened the door to the theater, and went in. Shay followed.

As soon as he’d passed the threshold, he regretted it. There were about two dozen students there. And his football peers had been right, most all of the guys were definitely from the ranks of the less than cool. There was a lot of laughter and silly behavior.

Lilly took his arm and marched Shay down the aisle into a row of seats near the front. His presence had caused a bit of a stir. The campy activity ceased for a brief time as all eyes turned to look at Shay. People were whispering to each other. Shay shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

This hiatus lasted only a few seconds, and the kids resumed their conversations. Shay wished he’d never gotten himself into this. But Lilly was now talking excitedly about how much fun it would be if they both got roles in the play.

Finally, Mr. Higgins entered and stood on the small, raised stage to address the group.

“Good afternoon! I’m so glad so many of you turned out to audition for our winter production.” He smiled knowingly in Shay’s direction. “We’re going to be doing You Can’t Take it With You by Moss Hart and George Kaufman.”

He went on to give a short synopsis of the play. Shay only partially paid attention. He was still struggling with whether or not he should be there at all. What he did get from Mr. Higgins’s description was that the play was sort of a modern day Romeo and Juliette about a son from a high class, snobbish family, falling for a daughter from a hippie-like family, headed up by an eccentric, old grandfather.

“Well, let’s get started,” Mr. Higgins said. “Scripts are on the table. If you have a particular role in mind, let me know, and I’ll help you find an appropriate place in the script.”

Most of the people trying out seemed to know about the play and were prepared to audition for parts they wanted. One boy, a pudgy kid with a cute round face, was quite good. He read for the part of the old patriarch grandpa, Martin Vanderhof. Shay decided the kid would probably get that part.

Toward the end of the afternoon, everyone had tried out except Shay. Lilly had read for the part of Alice, the old man’s granddaughter. Shay told her she was a shoo-in for the role.

Mr. Higgins then stood and said, “Shay, come on up and read the role of Tony, Alice’s fiancé.”

All heads turned to Shay. He could feel himself blush.

Lilly prodded him. “Go on. You can do this.”

Slowly Shay got to his feet. They felt like lead. He definitely was out of his element.

Mr. Higgins handed him a script. “Lilly, why don’t you come up and read Alice with him.”

There were whistles and exclamations of approval from the group.

Lilly joined Shay on stage, giving him an encouraging smile.

Somehow Shay got through the reading. He hardly remembered doing it when it was over. There was a smattering of applause as he and Lilly retook their seats.

“Very good, all of you,” Mr. Higgins was saying. “I’ll be posting the cast list on the bulletin board by my classroom tomorrow. Thank you for coming.”

“I’m glad that’s over,” Shay said to Alice as they got up to leave.

“You did very well,” she responded. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you got the part.”

Shay hoped she was wrong, but before he could reply, the kid who’d tried out for the grandpa walked up to them. Shay was struck by the boy’s odd apparel, which he hadn’t noticed before. What guy in high school wore corduroy slacks, a plaid flannel shirt, and a vest?

“Hi! That was really good. You two make a great couple. I hope you both get the parts. It’ll be fun for us to do this together,” he said as if it were a forgone conclusion he’d be playing Martin Vanderhof. “I’m Dwayne Sayles by the way.”

“Uh, okay,” Shay said. “I’m—”

“I know who you are, everybody knows who you are—Mr. Football, Shay Rogers,” Dwayne said with a twinkle in his eye.

Shay laughed embarrassedly. Up close, Dwayne was even cuter than Shay had first observed. He even had a scruff of a blond beard way before it had become the fashion.

The three walked out of The Little Theater together. They said goodbye and Shay and Lilly walked off.

“Isn’t he adorable?” Lilly said.

“Not exactly like I’d describe him. But yeah, he seems like a nice guy.”

“And funny, too. You should hear him and some of the other drama kids improvise. He’s as good as the comedians on Saturday Night Live.”

“Does he always wear that vest?”

Lilly laughed. “Never seen him without it.”

Shay looked over his shoulder at Dwayne’s retreating form and shrugged.

* * * *

“Holy s**t! You got a part?” Shay’s friend and football teammate, Randy, asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, I did,” Shay said. “I’m gonna be the romantic male lead.”

“But you’re not really going to go through with it, are you?” Stewart, another teammate, asked.

Shay shrugged. “I guess I will. Besides, Lilly got the part of my girlfriend, and she’s super excited. Don’t see how I can back out.”

Secretly Shay was glad he’d made it. Somewhere between trying out and the cast posting, something about the prospect of being on stage had clicked.

“Well watch yourself. Those guys in drama…” Randy raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean, those guys in drama?” Shay asked.

“Oh, come on, Shay. Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, George Michael.”

“Who are they?” Shay asked.

“My dad told me about them. Big stars from when he was younger. Hunks on the outside, fairies on the inside. That’s the way it is with these guys, too. And a stud like you in their midst. Prime meat.”

“You’re nuts,” Shay retorted. However, he wondered how much of what Randy was implying was true.

“How come you know so much about who’s gay?” Stewart asked Randy.

“Screw you!” Randy retorted defensively.