All characters in this story are 18 years of age or older.
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Into the Arms of Eros
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A blinding sun slowed the way as Addie Moreau drove home from Mid River College, her junior year complete, just one more year to go until she'd have the Bachelor of Arts degree in Drama that she'd coveted since she was a child. She'd thought about staying in her off-campus apartment a week or two more, but a personal request for her to audition for a starring role at a small experimental theater in her home town had her speeding home to the mountains as fast as she could go with the sun in her eyes.
Addie was glad her step-brother would be there when she arrived home for the summer, as he, too, was interested in the theater's summer production, a new, world premier play, Glorious Strays, by the young, buzzworthy New York City playwright Victor Steblishun.
Addie's step-brother, Colin, two years her younger, doesn't take theater acting as seriously as Addie does. He's quite naturally good at it, having performed, often along with Addie, in many local musicals and plays growing up. He'd even landed the starring role in his high school's production of The Music Man, but now, a year after graduating, his vague ideas about a career in theater were confused, his thoughts about maybe going to college some day now fading from his mind.
In this Mountain Valley region where Addie and Colin live, the theater scene thrives every summer due to the influx of 'summer people', many of them wealthy city-dwellers who have summer homes in these mountains and on the shores of the many lakes here. There are three theaters in all, one of them primarily musical. The Hole in the Ground Theater, the most experimental and least musical of the three, is a basement room with a small stage, space for a very small orchestra hidden behind a curtain, and 84 comfortable seats sourced from an old movie theater that went out of business in a neighboring town.
As she drove, Addie wondered about this new play, Glorious Strays, the upcoming summer's only production at the Hole in the Ground. Usually the theater stages two plays, one in July and one in August, so this one, by this new playwright, must be somewhat special. She knew little about it other than it being a somewhat mythological story with scenes of stylized erotica, acted by just two leads, a man and a woman. With just one female role up for grabs, she used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun as she drove, and she sped along faster.
Arriving home, she learned from Colin that he wasn't interested in auditioning for an acting role, preferring instead to try and get a job on the seasonal stage crew at the theater, so he could be there and be a part of Addie's experience if she got the role, helping her out behind the scenes.
"Why don't you audition?" Addie asked him. "You might get it. You never know."
"No, I don't think it's for me. Addie, there's nudity. It's kind of hot, the whole thing."
"Yeah, I heard that too. I talked to some people," said Addie. "I'm not exactly thrilled about that part of it, but...I'm an actor, I need to push myself. Getting a lead role in this one would be a big deal for me. It'd look good on my resumé."
Colin nodded. "Yeah, for sure. You're on your own, though. I'll be happy backstage, or out in the box office or whatever. It'll be cool."
"Will you go with me to the audition tomorrow, for support?"
"Sure," said Colin. "I stopped and picked up the script and the casting information for you. The scene they want you to read is pretty easy. It's up in my room. I'll get it for you."
Addie smiled, her fully grown 'little brother' so much nicer and more helpful than he used to be when he was younger.
--
The next day, Addie spent the morning memorizing her lines, thinking about this character named Glorious, trying out some things in front of a mirror to see if she could pin down an angle that would bring 'the wife of God' to life. After their mother made them some lunch, Addie and Colin drove over to the theater for her audition.
Having been through this procedure many times in her life, Addie was relaxed, and this particular theater felt almost like home. She'd been on stage here as a twelve-year old for a month long run as the daughter of a coal miner, and again for a month long run at age 15, that time playing a high school student in a play about a teacher with a drinking problem. She knows the theater's owner, who sometimes produces the plays, a nice man named John. He's producing this summer's play, and he welcomed Addie with open arms, smiling, hugging her, and shaking Colin's hand.
"Addie, great to see you! How is college? Are you doing great work there?"
"It's wonderful," said Addie. "Every day is wonderful."
"I see you brought your handsome brother. I agree with you, I think he'd be perfect." John looked over at the play's director, gesturing with a happy eyebrow raise and a nod.
"Perfect...for the male role, do you mean?" asked Addie. "No, he's just here for moral support."
"I wanted to ask about a stage crew job," said Colin. "I've done most of it before. Even box office."
"Oh, sure, sure," said John. "I remember, you've done good work for us. Absolutely, we'll find something, but I remember you've done acting roles for us, too. Would you like to try out for the understudy of our male lead? We've already cast him, he's in the city working off-broadway now, but we definitely still need an understudy, and you've absolutely got the physicality we're looking for, Colin. It pays better than stage-hand work. If you're interested, would you mind taking off your shirt for us? I hope you're not tattooed."
"No, I'm not. Tattooed, I mean. I guess...I'm interested."
"Yeah, you should do it!" said Addie, eyes wide, smiling.
Colin, surprised by all this, started unbuttoning his shirt, with the eyes of six interested people on him. Standing bare-chested in just his somewhat tight bluejeans, John handed him a folded-open script.
"Your character's name is Hercule. He's a young man of quiet power and strength. Take center stage and read a bit of this speech. I know you haven't worked on it, we just need to hear you, to see if your voice can project. Move around a little as you're reading, if you can."
Colin nodded. He knew the drill -- voice projection, posture, stage presence. He'd learned it all as a child, as Addie had, the two of them theater nerds working the local scene since they were little.
After quickly reading to himself, Colin walked onto the small stage and he began, his voice so much louder now, clear, and powerful, his stature tall and muscular, his improvised movement confident enough.
"Goodness, you've matured!" said John. "Bravo, Colin. Well done." After a quick, whispered conference with the director and the others, John called Colin over and shook his hand. "You're our understudy if you'd like the job. It's two months of fun and excitement. Would you like to do it?"
Colin's surprise showed on his face. "I don't know. Can I...think about it?"
"Sure, that's fine. Tell you what, have a seat while we talk to Addie, and then we'll wrap things up and come up with a plan."
Colin nodded, feeling an odd buzz from all the attention. Putting on his shirt, he stepped aside and watched as Addie took center stage, in front of John, and the director, and the others.
"First, I want to thank you all for asking for me personally," Addie said, her eyes bright, her voice clear. "It really means a lot to me to know that you think I'm worthy of auditioning for this kind of lead in a two-person play. The theater community in the Mountain Valley has been so good to me for...well, for all of my life, really, nurturing my interest and my developing career. I can't thank you enough, all of you. I was really excited about getting back home this week, hoping to come here today to do my best and win you over, but...this is hard for me to say...I've just realized that...I don't think I can do it. I don't think I can play this part."
"Is it the nudity, Addie?" asked John.
"Yes," said Addie. She glanced at Colin for a long second, then back at the comfort of John's friendly eyes. "I just...don't think I'm right for it. There's lots of other girls. Karen Wills, maybe. Have you talked to her? I don't know if she'd do it, but..."
"Addie, those of us who know you, we all agree you're perfect for this role," said John, "and I don't use the word 'perfect' lightly. We've had you in mind since day one. Karen is wonderful, and yes, there's lots of others, but none of them are you. To be blunt, this play rides on its visuals, maybe more than any other play we've done. The two characters, they have to bring something special in that regard, and you, and your brother too, for that matter, you've got it, Addie. We really do think you're perfect for this role. But...having said that, we of course respect your concerns and whatever decision you might make. Just...give it some more thought, will you? Will you do us the honor of reading for us? Did you go over the speech we outlined?"
Addie nodded, then began the speech. Colin sat dumbfounded at her reluctance to take the part they so clearly wanted to give her, his eyes seeming to see the room get brighter as she delivered the speech so beautifully. Her voice, so polished and sweet yet so powerful, rang in his ears like music.
"Addie...," John softly said when she was done, "...you're our Glorious. We'd like nothing more than to have you play her. Will you consider it? Please?"
Addie nodded, feeling conflicted. "I'll...think about it some more."
"If I may...," said the director, a woman Addie knew, "...I'd like to ask you some more personal questions. Shall we go into the office?"
Addie nodded, blushing, assuming this private woman-to-woman session would be all about the nudity. "Yes, okay."
Colin watched them leave, but then he was drawn into a conversation with John and the others about the Hercule character they want him to understudy, and before he knew it Addie was back, her face tinged with a blushing redness.
"Okay you two," said John. "It's Friday. We can give you both the weekend to decide things, but we'll need a decision from each of you on Monday."
"Yes, okay," said Addie. "Monday morning. We won't keep you waiting. Thanks, John, and all of you. I really appreciate this opportunity."
"Me too," said Colin. "Is...a job on the stage crew still a possibility if I don't want to do the understudy thing?"
"Sure, Colin. We'll find something for you, but we'd much rather have you understudy the Hercule role."
Hands were shaken all around, then Addie drove Colin to a small park on the bank of the rock-strewn river that bisects the village. Sitting in the car, watching the glinting sparkles of sunlight on water that was still rushing from the snowmelt of last winter, Addie had tears in her eyes.
"Fuck, Colin, why does life have to be so hard."
"Addie, what's going on? Are you okay?"
Slightly shaking her head as she stared out through the windshield, Addie confessed. "I've never liked myself. I've never admitted it to you, but it's true."
"Oh my God. Seriously? Addie, is school fucking up your head or something? Did something happen?"
"No, it's not that," she said, wiping a single tear from each eye as she regained her composure. "It's just me. I mean, I like myself better than I used to, a lot better, but...sometimes...it's just hard."
Colin nodded, looked out the windshield at the rushing river. "I'm not doing the understudy. I'd rather just have a regular job this summer."
