[Kragey]

Some of you may recall that I'm "playing" Queen Elizabeth at Shakespeare's Birthday Dinner during this year's arts festival. Well, now I'm terrified.

For one thing, I thought it was going to be only a dozen or two people at the most...it's going to be at least 100 people and as many as 200. Secondly, the professor mentioned that the girl who did it last year didn't speak, so she would really love it if I did--"No pressure, though!" She even got up and read a sonnet Queen Elizabeth wrote (and she wrote beautifully, by the way,) when I went to meet her.

But I'm so scared! I'm taking one of my roomates with me to the costume department, and if possible she'll be a lady in waiting, which'll ease my mind...but there's only a slim chance of that happening. I'm not an actress; any time I've been involved with theater, I've been backstage working with the make-up or hanging out at dress rehearsal to take pictures.

Help? ;_;

[UniquePerspective]

I'd say see if you can pick up a basic acting book from the library, or asking a friend in person to help teach you at least the basics to get you through this.

[Luc]

So, she didn't speak?
How does not speaking add pressure?
I'm so lost...

[Beagle On Stage]

Look at this as a learning experience. This could be the push you need to bring yourself to the next level. Don't be thrown by what you're feeling. You're not the first to be nervous about a first acting experience, and you certainly won't be the last, either. It's completely understandable. Practice, practice, practice until you're the best darn Queen Elisabeth you can be, and you know you could speak as her in your sleep. Those butterflies may never go away...you may even be petrified as you deliver your lines...but just think how satisfying it will be to know that you did it and lived through it!

That said, in the meantime you should definitely have a meeting with the professor in charge of this. Let her know you're feeling apprehensive. She would probably be glad to provide the support you need for this. That might mean coaching you a little bit...or that you need your roommate to stick near you dressed as your maid...or, just maybe, that you really aren't ready to speak. And all of that is okay. But by all means let her know so she can help. She's there to help you learn and improve, and nobody wants this to be a bad experience, right?

[Kragey]

[Kragey]

::shameless necromancy::