Drama (1/2)

Remember, remember the fifth of November, 1

The gunpowder treason and plot, 2

I know of no reason 3

Why the gunpowder treason 4

Should ever be forgot." 5

This entry that I am posting is more like a blog entry. I need some way to release this stress that has been working up, so I am just going to jot my thoughts down. 6

Thursday we hopped onto a bus and drove six hours from Penasco High School to Farmington. It probably would of taken us three hours if we drove through Abique instead of Bernalillo. 7

But that is ok. 8

On our way there, we had a good time. 9

We put all our props and costumes in the back of the bus and sat in the middle. 10

Maria, Clista, Tyler, Elizabeth, Angel, Ishmael, Santana, Vanessa, Amber, Mister Katz and I were all that were going on this trip. 11

We were the smallest Drama crew attending the New Mexico State Theatre Festival. We preformed a children-ized participation version of Alice in wonderland where we were supposed to take kids from the audience and have them be apart of the play. But since this was a festival for mostly adults and high school students, we improvised and turned the play into a Pink Floyd music video. 12

Angel played the electric guitar, complimenting character's entries and parts. 13

We had a set that had symbols from the Lewis Carroll’s book. 14

We had wacky costumes that were really colorful yet really demonic. 15

The cast was:16

Alice- Tyler Martin17

Sarah/mad hatter- Santana Pacheco18

White Rabbit- Elizabeth Estrada19

Queen of Hearts/dodo bird- Amber Gonzales20

Caterpillar- Sage Martin21

March Hare/tree- Clista Quintana22

Queen's Guard/tree- Smiles (Ishmael)23

Dormouse/guitarist- Angel Lopez24

Stage Manager/Wicket/tree- Maria Griego25

Lights and technical management- Vanessa Lopez26

The Drama begins:27

Thursday afternoon we arrived in Farmington and ran over to the College where the theatre and Festival were taking place. We were scheduled to have a technical rehearsal at six o' clock. Everyone decided to go back to the hotel and swim instead of staying at the college for four hours. Maria's ankle hurt so she and I decided to just stay at the college with Katz. 28

We spent the time prank calling Ryan, Marty and teasing Chenoa about her crush. 29

Finally six o' clock came around and none of our people were at the college except for Tyler and Clista. 30

Maria was pissed when Ty told us that everyone was still at the hotel swimming. And also we had forgotten the duct tape for the set in our room. We texted Amber, Elizabeth and Smiles, asking them if they could get the duct tape since Elizabeth supposedly had a key.31

We couldn't get a hold of them but finally, at six thirty, the others showed up. They hadn't gotten our text messages, apparently, and they were mad that Maria was telling them they were late. 32

We all went into the college with a dark cloud over our heads. 33

Thursday night, we get to the Super 8 Hotel and got into our rooms.34

Maria, Clista, Tyler, Elizabeth and I shared one of the smoking rooms since the others were checked out. 35

Angel decided to come and hang out with us since he couldn't stand being with Amber and Santana anymore. 36

While all six of us watched movies in our room, Elizabeth would have moments of breaking down and crying about Sean.37

Sean Sanchez. 38

The new kid at our school who gained a reputation of being a manwhore within the first week of school. 39

Here is the story behind that tad bit of drama:40

Elizabeth and Sean went out for two weeks. 41

Sean broke up with Gina the same day he asked Elizabeth out. 42

Two weeks later, Sean breaks up with her.43

She is hysterical and absolutely heart broken. 44

A week later, Sean and Elizabeth start talking and things get savvy with them. 45

Sean tells Elizabeth that he has E.D. (he also tells a few others too) This gets around the school like H1N1, that Sean is unfortunately unable to get it up. 46

Sean later says he doesn't want anything to do with her. This makes her cry. He then tells her he loves her. This makes her even more obsessed with him. 47

But wait!48

There is more!49

Sean also promised himself to two others as well.50

"No way!" the audience exclaims. 51

Gets better (or worse. Your choice.) 52

Elizabeth finds out and is pissed. 53

So there is this weird love rectangle going on with the four of them.54

Sean flirts with each and goo goo's them all while they fight each other for him. 55

What a waste of fucking time. 56

So back to the drama on the trip. 57

(Seriously, I should make a movie about this.)58

So, Elizabeth has a lot of break downs over Sean while we are in the hotel room. Angel, being the sweetie he cuts out to be, talks to Elizabeth to try and comfort her. During this time, he was stoned to the point he was answering whatever question we asked while he paraded in a tutu. 59

Elizabeth began to feel better when he hugged her and told her she was beautiful. La-di-da-di-daaa.60

We all stayed up until three in the morning, hanging out, making periodical trips to Wal-Mart to use the restroom since our toilet got clogged beyond recognition. 61

Angel decided to head back since we were falling asleep. He leaves and first thing Clista asks Elizabeth is "Do you like him?" 62

Elizabeth smiles and covers her head with the blanket. 63

"Whoo hoo! She's over Drop Dick!!!" Cries the Audience.64

Yeah, but now it's Angel. 65

Angel told me and the others that he likes Arianna (girl at school) and that he really wants to date her. 66

Elizabeth, within just one hour, forgets about Sean and falls for Angel. 67

Oh yes, and in case you are befraggled by the fact that there is a dude named Angel is because it is pronounced "Anhel". Just letting you know. 68

So, the next day is the big day. The day of our play.69

We go to the college early in the morning to watch a few plays that the other schools put on. 70

During the second play, I looked to my left and saw Angel resting his head on Elizabeth's shoulder and he was stroking her hand. 71

Ok, so if they like each other, that is wonderful. 72

I really give the schools that performed all huge thumbs up. They did amazing! And it gave us the confidence to perform.73

So halfway through the day, a few of us decide to head back. 74

Angel and Smiles already were walking to the hotel when I decided to go to the mall to window-shop. I asked Elizabeth if she wanted to come along and she said sure. 75

We saw the boys walking ahead of us and somehow we caught up to them. We went back to the hotel room to pick up a few things before we headed out. Either Clista or I accidently lost one of our keys to our room which pissed Maria off. Wouldn't blame her. 76

I wanted to be friendly so I asked the boys if they wanted to come to the mall with us. 77

Smiles said no thanks but Angel was game. So was Elizabeth. 78

We walked to the mall and looked around throughout the shops. 79

I got happy when we passed by this store that sold swords, num-chucks, tapestries of Ozzy, daggers and ninja stars. 80

Elizabeth got annoyed and said "Dude, ugh. Come on." 81

So when we got to Hot topic we all went in. Elizabeth asked me when Angel was buying shirts, "Dude, do you think he likes me?" 82

That was the fourteenth time she had asked me that morning and all i replied was what i truthfully thought. 83

I don't know.84

"Why didn't you say yes?!" The audience moans. 85

Because-86

1. I don't really know. 87

2. It was bugging me how obsessed and possessive she was becoming with him. 88

"Awe....You're an asshole, Sage." The audience sighs. 89

So Elizabeth left Hot Topic to go sit with Angel on the bench while I looked around in the store. 90

Then it happened. 91

Yes. 92

I saw it. 93

With my own two eyes I saw it.94

The most amazing thing I had ever witnessed. 95

"What?! What is it?! Don't leave us in suspense!" The anxious audience crows as they jitter in their seats. 96

There, in the store, I saw the most beautiful thing. 97

A Metallica jacket with ...And Justice for All on the front and the band members on the back. 98

I nearly passed out right there and then. 99

I had to buy it! 100

I had to!101

I eagerly ran over and touched the material. It was soft and looked warm. It had a hood and long sleeves that looked so cozy.102

The inside was warm too! 103

I was about to have an aneurism from excitement. But then I saw the price tag. 104

$35.00.105

Everything went black and I felt myself fall into an abyss of debate. 106

I had exactly $40 in my wallet. I had enough but I needed it to buy dinner for my sister and I. 107

Hmmm....I could skip dinner. Buy the Jacket. Ty and I would starve but who cares?! I get the jacket! 108

No. 109

I decided to not get it and buy dinner instead. 110

My mom was coming that night to watch the play anyway, so maybe she could help me buy the jacket.111

I left the store feeling, not defeated, but smitten that I found my winter jacket in cheap-ass hottopic. 112

We looked around a few more shops. Everytime we went into one, Elizabeth would get annoyed with me looking around at stuff. 113

She would roll her eyes over-dramatically (key word in this story) and groan every flippen time I went into either Claires, PacSun, Deb or Zumies. 114

I was about to tell her to bug off when we saw Santana, Amber and Vanessa walking towards us. 115

For whatever reason seeing them made me want to check the time, i don't know, but i did. I realized we had to get back to the college quick since it was already one thirty. 116

We were going to perform at three and Mr. Katz wanted us back at two. 117

We rushed back to the hotel and kidnapped Smiles before heading off to the college. 118

We had to walk through a cute neighborhood for about a mile before we reached the College. 119

On the way there, someone came up behind Smiles and grabbed his shoulders. 120

"Boo!" They shouted. 121

Smiles jumped and yelped. Poor guy. He's barely five feet tall. Big time gangster/rapper who is really jittery. On the way to Farmington he kept telling us he was afraid of getting shot for his clothing selection. 122

The person that scared him was just Mr. Katz. 123

It surprised Angel, Twiggy and I as well but it was fine. 124

Poor Smiles was frowning the way up since he had gotten a spook from Katz. 125

I have never seen Smiles frown before.126

It was...127

...Foreign.128

So, we got to the College with a good amount of time on our hands. 129

We waited for Santana, Amber, and Vanessa (who were shopping) to get there. They came back in time. 130

We all set our differences aside for the play.131

We needed this to work.132

We had to have it work and we couldn't afford our little squabbles destroying it. 133

Three o' clock came and we headed off to the dressing room. We all got ready within forty minutes.134

I got into my long green strapless dress with white heels and a green feathered boa.135

Tyler wore a cute dress she made from scratch. It was puffy, pink and white. Totally matched the Alice description. 136

Only thing that was different was that Ty had short hair but it suited her portrayal of Alice well. 137

Clista wore a red long sleaved shirt with black leggings for her role as the march hare. 138

Santana and Amber had the most difficult wardrobes since they played two characters in the play.139

For Sarah, Santana wore an adorable poka dot strapless dress. When she was the mad hatter, she wore an outfit that looked very Marti Gras. 140

Amber first wore a black halter top with a frilly black skirt for the dodo bird. She put on a purple feathered mask and wore Jordan shoes since she had to run in place. For the queen, she wore a short red queen dress from halloween, which was really cute. 141

Elizabeth wore a top hat with bunny ears, waist coat and checker board pants. She looked perfect for it. 142

Anjel wore his usual clothes. So did Smiles and Maria. 143

We heard the audience applaud for the play that went on before us. Everyone gathered in a circle and gave a group hug. 144

"We're going to do great! We're going to show them Penasco High School kicks ass!" Santana jeered. We all piled our hands on top of the other's and shouted "Let's kick ass!" 145

It was time to go out. 146

I gave my sister a big hug and wished her to break her leg.147

(Wishing someone good luck in theatre is considered bad luck for whatever stupid reason. Superstitious script-thumpers.) 148

The judges started their clocks and began timing us. Vanessa was up in the box on the second floor, controlling the lighting. Maria was backstage directing us all.149

First we brought the set out. Then one by one, the actor(Smiles) and actresses (us) skipped out onto stage for the first scene since we were supposed to act like we were on an opium trip. 150

Ok, so the play went on. 151

I was so nervious when I had to come out and talk to Alice. I walk out on stage on my cue, acting like I am the most important character in the world. I hear a great few in the audience cheering and going "whoo hoo!" when I came on. I strutted over to where my sister stood center stage and engaged with her character. 152

We did our lines perfectly until i noticed that my dress had sort of fallen down on the left side and part of my black bra was poking out. I instantly got embarressed and pulled up the front of my dress. I quickly tried to recover by continuing with my lines. 153

The next scene was the dodo bird race. It was great! It genuinely was. 154

Next was the tea party with the mad hatter. Problem with this scene was that it took us longer than anticipated to get the table on stage since we didn't have a stage crew. Us, actors, did the set up, which was alright but difficult in our costumes. 155

Next scene was the queen's entrence and trial. 156

It was difficultly disasterous. Tyler and my lines ran off of cues from Amber's lines. She messed up one line and it threw us all off. We had to improvise like sick to keep our momentum flowing. 157

We ended the play five minutes ahead of schedule and ended with our wacky (purposely supposed to be weird) curtain call. 158

The lights went out and we took our set down while the audience cheered. We were sent back to the dressing room to grab our stuff and go out into the hallway. 159

That's when it got emotional. 160

Amber began to cry because she messed up her line and threw us all off. Poor girl...Amber is a perfectionist and it really hurt her when she jumbled the line. 161

My mom, youngest sister Lily, and step-grandmother Felipa came and saw us in the hall. I saw my mom and felt an instant wave of relief and happiness. Tyler and I were so happy that our mother made it to see our play. It made us feel really good. 162

Problem was...When I saw my mom, I burst into tears. I had been holding back any form of pesimistic emotion for the past week and now is spewed out. I hugged my mom and just cried. I wasn't sure if I was sad, relieved, embarressed or what. I just had to cry.163

Elizabeth wasn't so happy either. She was also pissed that Amber and I were crying. She looked at me and rolled her eyes saying her infamous line "Eee, guys! Come on!" 164

I wanted to punch her at that moment. 165

One of the Festival clerks came and told us that a judge wanted to critique us on the play. So, we went to a big classroom where the judge named Tim was at. 166

He gave us a twenty minute talk about the pro's and con's on our play.167

The thing I loved about Tim (please note that I say this with a great amount of sarcasm since the man is possibly married) is that he subtly told us we sucked. 168

He told us that our timing sucked with getting props on stage and the set. 169

He said that the guitar didn't work since he felt the audience couldn't relate to what Angel was playing. 170

Angel played Crazy Train, Eye of the Tiger, Darth Vader's theme for when Amber came on as the queen, and a whole collaberation of Zeppelin and other classics. 171

Tim wasn't nice. 172