School Play

School Play

Understudy was the pits. Learn the whole script, but never get to do anything. Jeremy understudied for three parts, but because somebody would need to be hospitalized to miss the performance, none of them would ever be out.

The best was Arthur, that would be so cool, pulling the sword from the stone, it was tricky because you had to pretend the “stone” was hard, but really it was a paper-mache rock. There was a tab on the back you had to be sure to be stepping on just to make sure the rock didn’t move.

The night of the play backstage, Jeremy was having a pretty good time, when Miss Beeze, ran over.

“Jeremy! You’re going on as Arthur! Russell just broke his leg, he’s on his way to the hospital! Get dressed!”

Jeremy flew! He knew the part inside out. When the curtain rose, he was ready! What a great opportunity! He felt bad for Russell, but…

Finally, the big scene, pulling the sword from the stone. Things had gone so well; Jeremy actually started considering acting as a career, he could be famous. Approaching the stone, he nailed the look of wonder and uncertainty, the audience was in the palm of his hand. Carefully stepping on the tab at the back of the rock, he failed to notice it had torn loose from others stepping on it. He grabbed the sword, pulling with all his strength so he could show surprise when it slipped right out. But he really was surprised, it didn’t slip out. It actually flew up with the rock still attached, and then flung the rock out over the audience who all screamed and ducked.

Well, Jeremy did get famous; immediately on You Tube, forever… after that, he never had much interest in acting.