Read Online Swimming in the Monsoon Sea by Shyam Selvadurai - Free Book Online
Authors: Shyam Selvadurai
Ads: Link
auditorium. The silence of resignation. All the boys saw that the role would have to go to Peries.
The auditions were now over. Madam, along with her right-hand man, Fernando, went out of the auditorium to discuss the casting of roles. Amrith stared at the floor, knowing that he had lost Desdemona and would be assigned Cassio.
After a short while, Madam and Fernando returned. She called to the boys and they gathered around her. She began to read out the cast, leaving the roles of Desdemona and Cassio until the end. After she had assigned all the other parts, Madam was silent, looking at her hands. “With regards to Desdemona, I feel the need to make some explanation about my choice.” She glanced around at them. “De Alwis, as you all saw, did not do well, although he is a good actor. Peries, on the other hand, gave an excellent audition. It is fair that he be given the role.”
Amrith clutched his hands together tightly, his fingernails digging into his palms. There was a murmur of disappointment from the other boys.
Madam held up her hand to indicate she was not finished. “On the other hand, I am sure you remember how Peries left us in the lurch, a few weeks before our performance of
Romeo and Juliet
. If it wasn’t for De Alwis stepping into the role and doing a magnificent job, our school would have lost to St. Stephen’s.”
The boys nodded in agreement.
“As you know,” Madam continued, “this is a very important year, with a judge from the Royal Shakespeare Company no less. I cannot afford to take the chance that anything might go wrong. Peries’ audition was superior, but can we rely on him?”
They all watched her expectantly. Amrith leaned forward in his seat.
“The role of Desdemona thus goes to De Alwis —”
The boys cheered and Amrith gasped, hardly able to believe what he had heard. They began to pat him on the back, and he blushed with joy and pleasure.
Madam called for them to be silent. “Boys, I am not done yet. I wanted to say that the role of Desdemona goes to De Alwis only for now.”
Amrith frowned, not understanding.
“Peries will be assigned Cassio, but will also learn the role of Desdemona and shadow De Alwis. Then, in a few weeks, based on how you do, De Alwis, the role will remain yours or not.”
Amrith felt his euphoria diminish. He would have to prove himself or he could end up with Cassio. He silently vowed that he would work very hard and not lose the role of Desdemona.
The boys were going out to a restaurant for lunch. Before they left, Amrith went to use the toilet and, when he came back, he found that they were teasing Peries again — this time about the role of Cassio. Amrith, having missed a part of the conversation, was not sure what exactly the raggingwas about, but Peries was clearly disturbed, though he was trying his best to hide it.
“But you know, Penis, I’m not making it up,” Jayasingha, the assistant head prefect said, with a conspiratorial look at Suraj, who winked back. “The lines about Cassio lying with Iago in bed are right there in act 3, scene 3. Turn to it and see for yourself. It’s in bold print.”
“I don’t believe you.” Peries shook his head.
“Aday
, Penis, didn’t you read the whole play before you came for rehearsal?” Ahmed, who was to play Iago, asked. “Everybody else read the whole play.”
The boys nodded, though Amrith doubted they had. Seeing the smug look on Fernando’s face, Amrith suspected that he was the only one who had read the play. Fernando had, no doubt, alerted the other boys to whatever went on in act 3, scene 3.
Suraj gestured at Peries. “I say, open your damn book and see for yourself, men.”
Peries did not do so. He stood up, said he was going to the toilet, and left. The other boys watched him go, then grinned at each other. They gave him a few moments. Then Suraj and Jayasingha crept out. There was a shout of triumph, a hoot of laughter. They came back followed by a shamefaced Peries,
The auditions were now over. Madam, along with her right-hand man, Fernando, went out of the auditorium to discuss the casting of roles. Amrith stared at the floor, knowing that he had lost Desdemona and would be assigned Cassio.
After a short while, Madam and Fernando returned. She called to the boys and they gathered around her. She began to read out the cast, leaving the roles of Desdemona and Cassio until the end. After she had assigned all the other parts, Madam was silent, looking at her hands. “With regards to Desdemona, I feel the need to make some explanation about my choice.” She glanced around at them. “De Alwis, as you all saw, did not do well, although he is a good actor. Peries, on the other hand, gave an excellent audition. It is fair that he be given the role.”
Amrith clutched his hands together tightly, his fingernails digging into his palms. There was a murmur of disappointment from the other boys.
Madam held up her hand to indicate she was not finished. “On the other hand, I am sure you remember how Peries left us in the lurch, a few weeks before our performance of
Romeo and Juliet
. If it wasn’t for De Alwis stepping into the role and doing a magnificent job, our school would have lost to St. Stephen’s.”
The boys nodded in agreement.
“As you know,” Madam continued, “this is a very important year, with a judge from the Royal Shakespeare Company no less. I cannot afford to take the chance that anything might go wrong. Peries’ audition was superior, but can we rely on him?”
They all watched her expectantly. Amrith leaned forward in his seat.
“The role of Desdemona thus goes to De Alwis —”
The boys cheered and Amrith gasped, hardly able to believe what he had heard. They began to pat him on the back, and he blushed with joy and pleasure.
Madam called for them to be silent. “Boys, I am not done yet. I wanted to say that the role of Desdemona goes to De Alwis only for now.”
Amrith frowned, not understanding.
“Peries will be assigned Cassio, but will also learn the role of Desdemona and shadow De Alwis. Then, in a few weeks, based on how you do, De Alwis, the role will remain yours or not.”
Amrith felt his euphoria diminish. He would have to prove himself or he could end up with Cassio. He silently vowed that he would work very hard and not lose the role of Desdemona.
The boys were going out to a restaurant for lunch. Before they left, Amrith went to use the toilet and, when he came back, he found that they were teasing Peries again — this time about the role of Cassio. Amrith, having missed a part of the conversation, was not sure what exactly the raggingwas about, but Peries was clearly disturbed, though he was trying his best to hide it.
“But you know, Penis, I’m not making it up,” Jayasingha, the assistant head prefect said, with a conspiratorial look at Suraj, who winked back. “The lines about Cassio lying with Iago in bed are right there in act 3, scene 3. Turn to it and see for yourself. It’s in bold print.”
“I don’t believe you.” Peries shook his head.
“Aday
, Penis, didn’t you read the whole play before you came for rehearsal?” Ahmed, who was to play Iago, asked. “Everybody else read the whole play.”
The boys nodded, though Amrith doubted they had. Seeing the smug look on Fernando’s face, Amrith suspected that he was the only one who had read the play. Fernando had, no doubt, alerted the other boys to whatever went on in act 3, scene 3.
Suraj gestured at Peries. “I say, open your damn book and see for yourself, men.”
Peries did not do so. He stood up, said he was going to the toilet, and left. The other boys watched him go, then grinned at each other. They gave him a few moments. Then Suraj and Jayasingha crept out. There was a shout of triumph, a hoot of laughter. They came back followed by a shamefaced Peries,
Similar Books
