She wanted to bare all before an audience at last she had her chance. A short tale of eroticism and nudity as unhappily married Germaine lives out her fantasy and Germaine bare's all for her art.
Germaine had read the script. It was a little risqué, especially the part of Joan herself, but she really wanted the part. It was a part she had always fantasized about ever since she had joined the small private theatre company. It had all started a few months before when she had been taken to see a show there by Malcolm, her husband. Not one he would have chosen for himself, but his company had sponsored the production and he was attending as the company's representative on opening night.
The play was about misuse of the power of the Catholic Church during the middle ages. In one particular scene, a young country girl was brought before the Cardinals she was accused of witchcraft. She was dressed in a simple white shift which contrasted dramatically with the rich red opulence of the Cardinal's robes.
To Germaine's astonishment and excitement the girls shift was ripped from her body by her guards and she was left standing before the Cardinal's totally naked. There had been a gasp from the audience as the girls shift was cruelly ripped away and she stood there before them totally naked, Germaine felt a wonderful warm feeling spread through her body as she along with every member of the audience looked at the attractive young woman. It was at that precise moment that she knew that this was what she wanted to do.
Life with Malcolm was dull. Sex with him was even duller, but life was comfortable; a nice house, expensive holiday, a large clothing allowance, they did make up in some way for the duller moments in her boring life, but of late she had been feeling restless. She needed excitement in her life something to make the blood course through her veins, she had considered a lover; even in the more desperate moments divorce. But when she looked around her she was loathe to give up the luxuries she had worked so hard for.
But as she watched the naked girl on stage display her body to the eager eyes of the audience she knew she wanted to be up there, standing naked and exposed before a live audience.
She glanced at Malcolm and smiled to herself as she saw that he was trying to avert his eyes from the girl on the stage, glancing around the audience. Looking everywhere but at the stage. My god she thought, he was actually embarrassed by the sight of the girl's nakedness so openly exposed. This made Germaine even more determined.
A week later she had contacted the theatre group, and had been invited to come along for a reading of the new production. She had explained to them that she had some experience of stage productions. She had been involved in helping out and then running her university theatre group, something she had enjoyed for all of her three years while studying for her degree at university, during that time she had become an accomplished actress finding it easy to learn lines.
As a new member she only got a small part in their next production, but she proved herself useful both backstage and front and she got on well with the rest of the group. She made herself particularly available to Conrad, the group's director, going out of her way to help him in any way she could. She also was actively cultivating a growing relationship with Brendon Scholes. He was because of his acting ability, which far outshone the other group members, usually meant the leading male roles.
Brendon was a good looking guy, but he knew it. He was single and loved flirting with the young actresses and had a bit of a reputation. For reasons better known to him self, he had never made a move on Germaine. Maybe he liked the younger more flighty types; maybe they were easier prey for him.
The next production, Germaine's first with the group went well: large audiences and enthusiastic reviews, and at the last night party after the final show had everyone in high spirits. That was the night Germaine had decide to pay particular attention to Brendon. She had especially worn a rather low cut dress which showed of her boobs to their best advantage, but Brendon, although interested, still seemed somewhat in awe of her. Maybe, she thought, his confidence on stage was not matched with his confidence off. But the party went well, and she was pleased with the progress she had made.
The following week, Conrad handed out the scripts for the next production. It was a play about the trials and tribulations of Joan of Arc. They read through some of the parts. The part of Joan was a fairly long one, but when Germaine read through it she discovered that there were three rather risqué scenes two that required some partial nudity and one scene that required almost full on nudity. When she read the part of Joan she knew she must get this part at all costs.
Luckily for her, when it actually came down to the casting, there was only one other person who was willing to do the part of Joan. She was a few years younger than Germaine but she had been with the group longer.
After a couple of readings Conrad cast most of the minor parts and some of the leading ones. Brendon as usual acquired the male lead as Joan's secret lover and trusted lieutenant.
Conrad told the others he would cast the rest of the parts next week. In the bar later that evening, Conrad came over to Germaine. He smiled. "I'd like to have a word with you, it's about the part of Joan," he said.
Germaine looked at him over her glass. "Is there some problem?" she asked sweetly.
He shook his head. "Well, no, not really, but it's about the nudity. If you were offered the part, do you think you can cope with the nudity?"
Germaine smiled. "I don't see why not. I'm not ashamed of my body."
Conrad smiled and nodded. "Would you be able to come to a reading for the part on Sunday afternoon? I have already asked Christine and she agreed to be there. It's the part towards the end of act four, the next to the last act I want to go through it's a rather poignant bit. So if you'd brush up on it"
Germaine nodded. "I can't see why not. I have nothing on," she said with a wry smile.
For the remaining few days leading up to Sunday, she spent every minute learning the lines. It was not a long part, but a very emotional one.
The part called for Joan to be on stage alone in her cell the evening before her execution. She was praying to God asking for his forgiveness for any sins she had committed. The final lines were, "My God, I bare my soul and body to you." With this line, she was to raise her arms. The long cloak, the only thing she was wearing, would part and then fall from her body. She would stand naked center stage for a moment, then a single spot light would illuminate her body before a complete black out.
On Sunday she arrived at the theatre early. She needed time to be alone to prepare herself. There was only a small crew in: just Conrad, his co producer Avril, and a lighting technician.
Germaine was pleased to see that Brendon had also come along. She smiled. Things were getting better.
