"This would be my first lead role in a play. If I could work with you that would be great. I'd appreciate getting all the guidance I can."
Ms Garcia smiles at you for an uncomfortable amount of time before saying, "Excellent idea, Marcus! I'll be sure to hold your hand every step of the way. And maybe that ass too."
"What?"
Ms Garcia carries on, addressing the class.
"Alright girls and boys, since this is Marcus's first time, I'll be working with him as co-star in the play."
The girls in the class make some grumbling noises but soon relent.
"That said, there are still plenty of side roles to be filled. Everyone, take out your copy of the play. We're going to jump straight into it. Lost Boy in Town is the tragic story of a young man seeking fame and fortune in the big city in the early 20th century. As you may remember from history class, the world was not so kind to the weaker sex back then. Marcus, in character, wants to be on the big screen, and enlists with a talent agency, where he meets me, The Agent. Over the course of the play, Marcus realises his dream but not without sacrificing his body to achieve it. The question the play asks is, 'What price is too high for your dreams?'"
You cringe. You'd hoped a play called Lost Boy in Town would have been about finding yourself, or maybe acting as a mysterious loner. Wannabe starlet is not what you were expecting.
Ms Garcia continues, "I think this would be the perfect time to introduce the concept of method acting into our practice. Marcus is going to be a shy, country boy setting foot in the big city for the first time. And my character and most of the side roles will be seasoned city women looking to take advantage of him in one way or another. Whether you're in my class or outside of it, I want you all to be treating Marcus here with that idea in mind. Live your roles outside the class, really get into them."
This gets your hackles up.
"Wait, wait! Ms Garcia, isn't that a little ****? I don't want to be bullied by the other girls all day."
"Now, Marcus, this is neither the time nor the place to be dramatic. What I'm talking about is like a game. It's not real. Theatre is all about suspending your disbelief, that's all I'm asking you to do."
Despite her words, the way the other girls are looking at you seems very real indeed.
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