The first thing that Aria did after getting ready for the day was to see if she got the role and if the gray-haired boy got a role as well. "Come to think of it, I never really got his name," she thought, thinking about it deeply. She fears that she might have just forgotten his name if it was already said by Brock. Aria checked the list after getting through the crowd of people and was glad to see that she actually got a role. A role. After auditioning. She smiled upon the thought, but she still looked over the list to see if she could find the name of the same gray-haired boy who Brock commended and even told him that he could be Ash's understudy. The name Souji was on there and she was quite confident that it was him.
@Pokémist @ShinigamiMiroku @Trap Nation6652 @Coraline @122 Generation @ShireHime (The chief of the troupe is a different character--Ash, Misty, Brock, and Serena are the best known performers, and Brock is the face of the troupe for PR purposes) The rehearsal schedule was by the cast list, as well as Understudy instructions. Understudies were required to be present and learn the same lines and blocking as the actor they were studying.
(ah, that makes sense... ) @ShireHime Souji committed the rehearsal schedule to memory, then turned and walked over to Aria. "Congratulations on getting the role of the princess, Miss Aria," he said, smiling friendly.
@Pokémist @ShinigamiMiroku @Trap Nation6652 @Coraline @122 Generation @ShireHime (First readthrough is later that afternoon. You're not reading the whole show--Brock is just walking you through the show and leading the discussion on how to play your characters.)
Aria looked at Souji in surprise for a split second before shifting to a smile. "Thank you very much for your kind words. I would also like to congratulate you as well for you got the chance " She did not want to address Souji in a way that would make him feel uncomfortable, so she began to ask him a question. "Would it be possible to call you by your first name, or would you rather be called by your last name?"
@ShireHime @ShinigamiMiroku "All cast members to the reading room!" an attendant called. "First readthrough!"
"First name's fine, as long as I can do the same," Souji replied. Hearing the attendant, he continued, "Sounds like it's time to get to work. We'd better get going."
@Pokémist @ShinigamiMiroku @Trap Nation6652 @Coraline @122 Generation @ShireHime The table was filling up quickly. Ash and Serena were already there, and Misty was not far behind Aria and Souji. Even those that were just performing an act had to be present for a read-through. Brock arrived some moments later. "Okay, scripts for everyone..." he began as he gave scripts to everyone, keeping one for him with the narration and voices for the puppets.
Souji and Alakazam, who had come in with him, began reading over the script in earnest while keeping his ears open for Brock to continue speaking.
Not really sure what to do for the time being, Yosuke popped a coin into a vending machine to grab a bottle of water before sitting down to think. In the end, he decided to put on his headphones and listen in bliss.
@ShinigamiMiroku Your lines match Ash's, which are in red. Alakazam reported. I would advise some paper and pencil to note cues and blocking. Brock next passed out some pencils. "Feel free to make notes on your script--cues. blocking, tips, reminders, anything."
"Of course. I would not mind that at the very slightest," Aria said in reply to Souji's proposition. At least things would become much more casual between the two of them. When Brock gave out the scripts, Aria read it for quite a while in order to get a feel of the flow of the show.
Souji already knew this, but it was good to get a reminder every so often so he didn't become big-headed. Plucking a highlighter out of his shirt pocket, he began to run through the script with it. Once he did this, he took out a pen and jotted down various observations and notes.
@ShireHime @ShinigamiMiroku "All right..." Brock took a seat at the head of the table. "We'll start with a basic overview of the show, and the major differences between the original story and our version. The biggest change is the mother. In some versions of the original story, she knows full well what she is doing, succeeds in killing the hero, and is then killed herself. In our version and in most versions everyone knows, this is toned down a little bit by having Sharkan the Hydreigon--who is being portrayed by a puppet--only manipulate the mother to do his bidding, in spite of herself. This way, she is redeemed in the end."
Aria nodded at what Brock had told them. Their version seemed a lot more interesting than the one where she is killed because the story just doesn't end in a "happy ending," which was something that she was used to.
@ShireHime @ShinigamiMiroku "Another change is Sharkan." Brock went on. "Rather than being imprisoned for the mother to find, in our version, Sharkan discovers the mother, and decides to use her as a way to get his revenge on our hero. This way, the villain has a clear motivation than being evil just because, which is how he comes across in the original folktale."
Aria continued to listen to Brock's explanation. There was definitely a lot of revising made by the company, but they really make the story come together and actually be more alive, giving each character more purpose.
On the other hand, Yosuke had fallen into a deep sleep and was still listening to his music in his dreams. As he listened, he dreamed of the girl he had so deeply cared about but had now passed away. It wasn't the greatest feeling.
@ShireHime @ShinigamiMiroku "For our purposes, we will use this order for the quest..." Brock began. "A Berry from Vizirion's garden, the Water of Life, the holy Fletchling Kumari, and the shining Leppa Berries." He went on "For our version of the show, the audience will actually get to see just how the mother and Sharkan are living it up. This way, we can show off our trademark feats of skill."
Aria nodded along as she began to highlight and write down some important notes about what the character is feeling; was she feeling confident, scared, or happy? She also continued to listen to the revisions that were being made, just so she wouldn't have to ask too many questions since the story didn't seem like how she remembered it.