His wish to play a woman is obvious - and allowed

Although limited by budget the school drama society had plenty ofapplicants and every year a new play was presented . Sam was disappointed he was not being immediately provided with any feminine wear . And even selection for a female role was not certain. . He was given a script to read in preparation for an audition . He read it closely - a drama whose theme was two lovers separated by bigotted families who wanted their respective son and daughters to find more 'suitable' matches . The plot was banal but the dialogue was clever and the acts carried drama . Of the main roles there were three female and three male actors to be selected .

At the audition were Mr Chemino and two student members of the Commitee .The protocol was that the intended player be asked what role from the script he or she thought best suited to their talents .They would then be asked to act a part chosen by the casting panel who would later deliberate . The students on the panel were actually a couple , Ari and Lois .

Sam gave as his choice three possible roles - all of them women - a selection which raised some eyebrows .

Lois : " Is there a man you could manage ?"

Sam ; " I could do the girls father " .

With a copy of the script in hand he exchanged some lines with Lois , making a good impression .

Chemino ( who may have already discussed Sam's possible casting with the Principal ) ; " Very good . Lets have you do Rose in Act 2 ." This required some expressing of strong emotion between the lovers and the stage directions had the heroine physically moved about on stage . With Ari responding Sam plunged into the part .His previous masculine rendering had been impressive but the intensity he invested in the female part was inspired and hismovements - which the auditioners had not commanded nor expected - subtly transformed him from boy in jeans and a T-shirt into feminine form ; you almost saw the imaginary skirt being demurely tucked and smoothed when he sat after crossing the stage where his movement was neither a masculine. stride , nor a mincing parody of short steps , but an entirely natural and graceful preoccupied girl walking .

There was a silence following this , with glances exchanged and Chemino dismissing him without further comment , saying they would get back to him .

In the discussion Ari voiced that they had some attractive girls ; why would they need to give Sam a girl part . Lois ; " yes , but he really can act , and he clearly wants that part and looks as if he will put everything into it .Chemino had the deciding vote . Sam was to be a girl !

The twice weekly rehearsals that followed were in street clothes . This was disappointing but two events , both courtesy of Chemino were exciting . The first of these was Chemino's use of role names when directing . He tended to address an actor by either his actual name or rolename or often both as in " Ari/Stephen say it louder " or " Sam/Rose you're looking at the floor " . Over time he would settle on one or other usage ,and then on one occsion he slipped up when addressing Sam/Rose as ' Samantha' . Using this mistake - saying it was easier - he made an ( apparently spontaneous , but perhaps calculated ) decision to rename the heroine 'Rose ' as 'Samantha ' . -The computerized version of the script duly reflected this by the next rehearsal making it official , and ( delighted ) Sam ) was thereafter ' Samantha ' , which over time evolved from his designation on stage to being how other cast members spoke to him and about him during criticism sessions . Sam's hope was that this usage would leak into everyday use about him - and indeed he did get so greeted by other cast members when they chanced on each other in the street . This pleasing feminization of him was to have later unintended consequence .

The second event within weeks of opening was that all actors were given instruction on their intended costumes . Mostly that could be answered from their home wardrobes but a few special requirements - of which Sam was the outstanding one - needed the services of Mrs.Mulcaster , the Props Director .

This was thrilling .