The SUNY Plattsburgh Theater Department presents:

Shakespeare’sA Midsummer Night’s Dream

Fri., July 24, 8:00 P.M.

Hartman Theater

Myers Fine Arts Building

$14 General; $12 Faculty/Staff/Seniors

$2 SUNY Plattsburgh Students

Auditions held during the week of May 17–22

In Hartman Theater, 7:30 P.M.

Jace O’Dell stood in the lobby of the Myers Fine Arts Building. He’d finished his hour-long final exam for art history class and now stared curiously at the flyer taped to the glass entrance doors.

Excited, he dug around inside his backpack for a pen and notebook to jot down the audition dates. As he scribbled the date and time amid his haphazard art history notes, he thought, It’ll be funMaybe I’ll even meet some interesting people.

Jace had never performed in front of a live audience. Now seemed like a good time to take a chance and try something new. The spring semester was over and he did not want to pass up this new opportunity.

As he headed out of the building, Jace picked up a copy of Cardinal Points, the college newspaper, to read a more in-depth editorial about the show’s production. On his way to the bike rack, he smiled at the ridiculous idea of being in a play. There is a first time for everything, he thought, straddling his bicycle and pedaling towards home, turning his face up to the heat of the bright afternoon sun.

* * * *

The Following Week

“Jace O’Dell!”

The booming voice of the theater director, Connie Dixon, caused Jace to stiffen in his seat in the dark theater. His jaw tightened. He scrubbed a fist over his goatee. Then he blotted his damp palms on his pants and stood, his heart striking hard behind his ribcage. His leg jiggled as if he was learning how to dance.

He swallowed and descended the stairs towards the main stage.

The director said, “On your way up to the stage, grab one of the sheets of paper on the table to your left. I want you to read the part of Puck.”

As Jace walked past the table he picked up one of the loose-leaf pamphlets as instructed and padded up the stairs to the center of the stage.

Stepping into a pool of warm stage lights, Jace stared out into a semi-dark theater, his legs shaky beneath him and his breathing shallow. The edges of the paper trembled in his hands.

Once he was in place, the director said, “Whenever you’re ready, read from the dialogue highlighted at the top of the page.”

When Jace looked up at the director’s voice, he saw the shadowy outlines of student faces staring back at him. Jace looked at the page and skimmed the dialogue in front of him.

He swallowed, cleared his throat, and started to read the first line, “If we shadows have offended think but this, and all is mended—”

The director yelled, “Louder!”

Jace clenched the sheet of paper, leaving sweaty fingerprints in the margins. Heat prickled the nape of his neck. He brushed perspiration from his brow. “I, um—”

Connie Dixon said, “Project your voice, Mr. O’Dell. So the people in the back of the theater can hear you.”

A few ghostly chuckles from the student body echoed off the walls of the theater.

“I’m sorry. I, um…I’m a little nervous.”

Silence. Then the director asked him in her full-bodied voice, “Is this your first time auditioning, Mr. O’Dell?”

More giggles. Female heckling, somewhere to his right, hidden in the shadows.

Nervously tapping his foot, he answered, “Yes, ma’am. I’m sorry. I don’t know how you want me to read it.”

In an authoritative, but assuring voice the director said, “Don’t worry about inflection. Just read the lines plainly. Stand up straight. Strong voice. Take it from the beginning.”

Jace sighed and shifted in his New Balances. He felt sweat crawling down the sides of his face. Drawing a deep breath, he brushed the sweat away with one quick stroke of his hand. He pulled himself up to his full height and filled his lungs with one last intake of air.

“Whenever you’re ready, Mr. O’Dell,” the director said, eliciting a murmur of chuckles in the audience behind her.

Lightheaded, Jace blurted, “If we shadows have offended think but this, and all is mended.”He paused, raised the sheet of paper closer his face. After a closer inspection, he continued, “That you have but slumbered here while these visions did appear—”

“Stop!”

His heart hammering, Jace froze. He looked up and out into the theater towards the director.

“Mr. O’Dell, you’re reading too quickly. Slow down. Take a breath.”

Jace inhaled, then exhaled. He felt dizzy. Sweat pooled under his arms. Embarrassed, he sauntered towards the stairs. Descending, he mumbled, “I’m sorry I wasted your time.”

Connie Dixon rose from where she sat in the first row of seats. “Mr. O’Dell, please do not leave.” In a calmer, more placating voice, she added, “Come back.”

Midway up the stairs, to the theater doors, Jace stopped and turned to her.