Read Online Stagefright by Carole Wilkinson - Free Book Online Page B

to the chorus, she was feeling more confident. She hit the high note.
    “We should have a vote,” Mr MacDonald said. “Who votes for Mei Hua?” He put up his hand.
    “Forget the democratic rubbish,” Taleb said. “Velvet’s going to be Lady Anne. It’s in her key.”
    Velvet felt her stomach lurch.
    “But Mei Hua has to have the role,” Mr MacDonald whined.
    “No, she doesn’t,” Peter said.
    Jesus agreed. “It sounds dumb when she sings it.”
    Even Drago was on Velvet’s side. “It’s not Mei’s style.”
    When they were in such rare agreement Mr MacDonald had no answer.
    “But Slinky said … the electronic scoreboard … ”
    It was Drago who solved the problem. “Mei can have a main role, but not this one. She can be old Queen Margaret.”
    “Why? Because none of the other girls want to play her?”
    “No, because it’s the best part for her voice. She has to yell insults and curses.”
    “I can write a song specially for her,” Taleb said.
    Peter took over the casting. “Hailie can be Queen Elizabeth. Roula can be Richard’s mum. Okay?”
    Nobody argued.
    Mr MacDonald looked defeated. “What will Slinky say?”
    “Tell him Queen Margaret is the leading role. He’s not going to know the difference, is he?”
    Mei Hua was still standing out the front smiling, with no idea what they were talking about. Drago, who had a personal history of English incomprehension, took pity on her.
    “
Tebie de ge
,” he said. “
Zhi wei ni
. Taleb
zuo
.”
    Mei Hua smiled and nodded.
    The others were all doing French. They turned to Velvet. “What did he say?”
    Velvet had no idea.
    Drago translated for them. “I told her Taleb was writing a special song for her.”
    “You spoke to her in Mandarin?”
    “Yes.”
    “And she understood you?”
    “Apparently.”
    Velvet smiled. She was back in the play.
    “Since we’re here in the hall,” Mr MacDonald said, “you may as well have your first try at acting on stage.”
    The thought struck fear into the entire cultural studies class.
    “I’ve brought a few props and bits of costume.” He pointed to what looked like a pile of things ready to be donated to the Salvos. “Now you can get a feel for the characters you’re going to be playing.”
    “What if someone sees me?” Peter asked.
    “That’s what acting is all about,” Mr MacDonald said. “Sooner or later someone’s going to see you. You’ve all got your roles now.”
    “We’re not ready.”
    “Velvet, I assume you’re no longer on strike as the scriptwriter?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Then go and make copies of what you’ve written so far.”

    Velvet returned and handed out copies of the script for Act I. Peter stood in the wings. Roula hid behind the curtains. Jesus wouldn’t even get onto the stage. Hailie thought she had cramps and went to the toilets. Mei was perfectly comfortable on the stage, but she couldn’t read the script.
    Mr MacDonald tried to inspire them as if he were a coach and they were a bottom-of-the-ladder football team.
    “Drago,” he said. “Get up there and run through scene one.”
    Drago threw a blanket around his shoulders and picked up a plastic sword. He thought for a moment and then stuffed his jumper up the back of his shirt to make a hump. Drago didn’t need his script, he’d memorised most of his lines and adlibbed the rest. He strutted around the stage waving the sword and snarling, looking more like a pirate than a duke.
    The Year 11 hockey team, who were taking a shortcut through the hall to the showers, paused to watch, sweaty and boisterous after another win.
    “Check out the drama queens,” one of them said.
    The rest of the hockey team sniggered.
    Taleb played the introduction to Richard’s soliloquy song, and Drago lost his nerve.
    “I’m not singing,” he muttered. “Not in front of them.”
    “Okay, let’s move on to Lady Anne’s entrance,” Mr MacDonald said. “Velvet, you’re the experienced performer. Show us how it’s