Rosey was in a strange mood the other evening. It seems that
someone had had said something unpleasant to her during a drama class at her
school. As you know Rosey takes her position as classroom assistant to Sally
Blackley very seriously, and when she was asked by Sally to take part in a
junior version of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet she was in her element! At the
time she thought that being too keen was probably not such a good idea, so she
answered the request with a line from the bard himself – ‘to be or not to be’
she asked, ‘that is the question – Hamlet act three scene one!’ Anyway, she
agreed ‘to be’ and a few days later rehearsals began.
You may recall that I told you about her contribution to the
school Christmas play a couple of years ago. She went from being a production
assistant to playing a major role, that of the first palm tree on the right
next to the principal alien.. Ever since then, the children have insisted that
she joins them on stage at every possible opportunity! Clearly, despite her
youthful looks, she was a bit too old to play the part of Juliet, much to the
chagrin of young Jamey Fothergill who had landed the part of Romeo.
One of the other teachers, Francis (known as Frigid Fran
behind her back) always treated Rosey with disdain; clearly she thought that
Rosey was beneath her being no more than teacher’s assistant, and was
observably jealous of her popularity among the staff and students. She couldn’t
understand why she should have a stage part in what was meant to be a kid’s
production. ‘For you and I are past our dancing days’ she said. ‘From act one
scene five I believe!’ retorted Rosey putting Fran firmly in her place. She
then suggested that Rosey play the part of Rosaline, the character Romeo has a
crush on in the early part of the play. Rosey was initially delighted! But then
she suddenly remembered that Rosaline has a non-speaking part and never even
appears on stage.Sally tutted at Fran and suggested that Rosey play the nurse,
one of the funniest yet most disturbing characters in the play.
It seems that Rosey’s presence among the cast was having an
inspirational effect on the young thespians. ‘O! She doth teach the torches to
burn bright’ said Sally to Fran quoting a line from the play. ‘Act one, scene
five’ called Rosey from the wings. Fran was visibly riled.
The first rehearsal was a triumph. Sally was delighted with Rosey’s
contribution; Fran less so. The children fled from the room visibly excited and
enthused by the events of the afternoon.
As Rosy was putting on her coat on, Fran sidled up to
her. ‘You are as a candle, the better burnt out’ she hissed.
‘Henry the forth part one’ said Rosey ‘and you are
loathsome as a toad’.
‘Ah’ said Fran ‘Troilus and Cressida! Peace ye fat
guts’ she shouted. ‘Henry the forth part one again’ chuckled Rosey.
‘Parting is such sweet sorrow – not’ said Fran as she left
the room.
After Rosey had finished telling us about the strange events
of the afternoon she opened a bottle of her favourite Chardonnay and visibly
relaxed. I don’t know much Shakespeare so the best I could come up with was
something along the lines of ‘sticks and stones may hurt my bones but words
will never hurt me’.
‘Yes’ said Rosey, ’but a blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with
a sword’
'Who said that?' I asked. 'Aint got a clue' said
Rosey,'Cheers!'
Delightful and took me back to my school days and it repeats in my daughter's school days too!! Loved it and this war of words never ends!! :) Your narration is so good it kept me glued here!!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this. You have a good sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteRosie clearly is no lightweight when it come to Shakespeare. She amazed me and probably everyone else. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteRosie clearly is no lightweight when it come to Shakespeare. She amazed me and probably everyone else. I loved it.
ReplyDelete