Drama is Life

[Monique Chambers]

Monique Chambers walked into her classroom and swept her eyes around the room. Since the school had closed down for a couple of weeks over Christmas, everything had been stacked away and cleaned. She had been in here the day before, putting the covers back on the bean bags and creating an L shape with the desks and chairs around the outside of the room - as there was always the odd student who preferred to work at a table then sitting on one of the many beanbags.

When she had first become a teacher at this school, the bags had been pretty boring with although a range of colours, they were all plain. And then, when the school had let out for the summer holidays the previous year, Monique's daughter had discovered a creative flare and had made new funkier covers for the bean bags. So rather than plan covers, they were now in a range of patterns, or some of them just with badges sewn on them.

As this was the first class back after the winter break, Monique was going to give the students a pretty simple class and they would spend the hour talking about different play genres, and the students' favourite play-writes.

Walking across to her desk, she paced her bag down on the chair and walked back to the whiteboard with a blue pen. She then wrote in her clear script.

If you could write a play,
what would it be about?

[Deleted]

Kate was really excited for her second acting class, and was even more curious about what they would do. She really hoped that they'd do something with musicals, so that she could sing, but she was really open to anything, as she really wanted to improve her range in the area. She found that she was the first one in the classroom, and she had the choice of any of the seats in the room. "Hello Ms. Chambers," she greeted the teacher brightly, surveying the room.

She sort of wanted to sit in one of the desks, to make any writing easier, but the beanbag chairs were far too tempting. Finding a black and white patterned one, she set her bag down beside it and set about arranging herself in it. She ended up sitting with her calves under her, skirt spread over her knees. Since she was the first one there, she didn't know whether or not the question on the board was for discussion or to be written down, so she decided to take the time she had before the class had officially started to start writing things down in her notebook so she would be set for either option.

Pulling out her notebook and fountain pen from her bag, she opened it up to a blank page and uncapped her pen. This one had a cartridge in it to make travel easier, but the one she filled was back in her room. She preferred that one, but it was simply impractical to keep it with her. Biting her lip idly, she began to write, heading her paper with the date before starting.

If I could write a play, it would most likely be one for children. I'd prefer for it to be a musical, and it would have to be both amusing and engaging so that the children would enjoy it, but the parents wouldn't find it to be too silly either. I'd probably like for it to be an adaptation of a children's book or fable, but if it had to be original, I'd like for it to have a fairy tale feel to it. It would take place in the renaissance era, and probably include recurring events within it, with a strong moral as well.

Looking down at her paper, she realized that she hadn't outlined any specific plot, and set to work thinking of one. At least she had some sort of idea, but this posed a sort of challenge for her.

clothes

[Jayne Doe]

Jayne had barely had time to unpack her belongings when the classes had started. She was eternally grateful to her foster mother for taking to Manhattan for a weekend, and the two of them had spent the entire time shopping for things to go into the fourteen year old's dorm room, as well as getting her school stationary.

Walking through the academic building, she found the drama room without any issues and strolled in as though she owned the place, her normal way of entering new places. She walked straight up to the teacher and held out a note. "Good morning, Ms Chambers. I am Jayne Doe and that note will explain that I am new to your school." With a small nod, she turned on her heel and her hazel eyes swept across the room. She raised a thin eyebrow when she saw the bean bags scattered across the main part of the floor and the tables at the back.

She didn't want to seem casual and sit on a one of the bags, but she also didn't want to seem like a wallflower and sit at one of the tables. With a sniff, she walked over to the bean bag in the middle of the room; a white base with pink and purple flowers decorating it, and sat down on it.

Opening her denim messenger bag, she quickly glanced around the room and saw that the one other student was writing on a paper. Leaving the Acer Notebook in her bag, she pulled out a spiral bound notebook with a swirly pattern on the front and back cover and her selection of gel pens. Opening the cover, she clicked the green pen and after dating the page, wrote Plays in a large print. She then put the green pen down and picked up the blue, and quickly began to cover the page in her not so neat handwriting - thus the reason for her Acer Notebook.

If I could write my own play, it would be a romantic musical - much like The Phantom of the Opera - full of drama and intrigue. She knew she could write more but figured that she would leave that for later in the class when she could add notes.

[Monique Chambers]

@harley3
@beck
Jayne Doe
@kate
@michealg

Monique smiled as Kate walked in a greeted her. "Good morning, Kate." She said warmly. She then watched as a girl she didn't recognise walked into the room and straight up to her. She raised both eyebrows as she took the note from the very forward speaking girl. "Thank you Jayne." She said, but the girl had already walked away to find herself a seat.

As the bell sounded, the young teacher wasn't impressed that no more students had turned up, but time waits for no man and she wasn't going to hold the class up in hope that she class was going to be bigger than two students. "As you would have read on the board, and I'm guessing that's what you're doing, we are going to look at plays and the writing of this semester." She paused for a moment. "Over the next month, we are going to look at monologues, then you are going to write your own and at the end of next month you will perform it in front of the class." She glanced at Kate and then at Jayne and lifted her eyebrows in question. "Do you have any questions?"

[Deleted]

Avery was not feeling the same spirit her brother was certainly feeling about coming back to school. Still, it was a bit of a dilemma to figure which she liked better – winter break or school. Certainly, there hadn’t been much pleasant memories from any recent, awkward, sad memory filling breaks in the past and she’d actually been quite relieved to come back to school. Plus, at BRRA, she wasn’t as quite alone. There was Peter. The girl smiled a bit to herself as she thought of the boy before nearly walking right into another girl coming the other way. Avery made something that might of resembled an apology before moving and keeping her focus on the future.

At the moment, the future held what seemed to be an interesting drama class. Well, at least she hoped it would be interesting. Avery was late, so it was somewhat of a given. She rather actually enjoyed some of the great works as well as the whole aspect of being someone else for a small amount of time, even if it was on a stage. Of course, the first time she’d come to the class she’d been more of a sulky sort. After Peter’s influence however, the brunette was perhaps becoming a bit more thoughtful and pleasant compared to her old self. 

Walking in a brisker pace than usual, Avery offered the teacher an apologetic nod. “Hello Ms. Chambers, I'm sorry I'm late. It certainly won't happen again.” The girl had always been a bit wary with teachers, though at the moment, Avery was being quite polite, but curt. It was definitely needed in her late situation after all. She offered the woman the beginnings of a smile before looking over the room. The fact there were bean bags set up caused the smile to grow a bit more. Her eyebrows raised a bit as she noticed Peter’s sister, Kate. After a small introduction in the reserve, the girl had immediately left Avery quite intrigued and immediately, the brunette moved towards her. Settling down on the beanbag beside Kate, Avery offered the younger girl a grin before looking up at the board.

The brunette sighed a little at the prospect of actually having to get her brain working, but got out a sheet of paper and her stubby pencil. Avery sat there for a moment, contemplating her answer, before bowing her head and starting her somewhat elegant script upon the paper.

If I could write a play, it would certainly be something in the reality realm. Something that would most definitely connects to other people’s lives and perhaps inspires them in a way. Perhaps one that goes around the hardship of poverty or life in some place difficult. It would have an ending to remember either way, and it would involve action. 

Avery frowned and stopped her thoughts for a moment. She’d expand more on it later as the class went on as her head was still waking up. She'd come just in time to hear the teacher's words and a small grin was falling over her face; though she had one question. Slowly, she raised her hand. Would they have partners?

[Deleted]

Kate grinned at Avery when she entered and sat beside her. She liked being around her, and hoped that they'd be able to work together at some point for this class. She channeled her attention towards the teacher when she began to speak, eager to begin. She was already interested in this class, and was hoping that what she'd written down would end up being part of their activity for the day.

As she listened to the plans, she got even more excited. Something like a long term project that she'd have to put a lot of work into would be good for her, and she would certainly want it to be perfect by the end. She couldn't help but wonder what her classmates' plans were, and looked forward to seeing them perform their monologues. She'd have to put some thought into what hers would be, and if she'd still want for it to be geared towards children, especially if it was to be a monologue.

When asked about questions, she shook her head quickly. It seemed pretty clear to her, though she'd probably develop questions later. She was curious as to what Avery's question was, knowing that she'd probably be interested in the answer as well.