Page 2 of You Spin Me

“Well, yeah. Duh.”

“Uh, no. I didn’t.” But he probably did. “Are you telling me you’re playing the Prince of Denmark?”

“I am.” The pride in his voice is laced with concern. “But I didn’t get to ask about the rest of the cast. Did you check your machine?”

“I’m standing right here looking at it. No messages.”

“Maybe they haven’t called everyone yet.”

“When did they call you?”

“This morning.”

Which means there’s little chance I’m in the show. Pacing, swinging the phone cord, I have to work hard to keep the bitterness out of my voice as I congratulate him. “I’m really happy for you, Will.”

Part of being an actress is rejection. I’ve been lucky enough to avoid it at Shakespeare Boston. Until now, it seems. “Either way, it’s fine. Ophelia’s no Juliet. I mean, the part’s a challenge but mostly because there’s not a lot to work with. You just have to choose which kind of crazy to play her.”

“Well, you’d be great. I don’t know what they’re thinking.”

“That I just turned thirty? That I’m too ethnic for what they’re going for? Both, probably.”

“I can’t see anyone at Shakespeare Boston saying you’re too ethnic.”

Noting that he doesn’t say anything about the fact that I’m aging out of ingenue roles, I have to force the corners of my mouth up so I don’t sound angry. “Sometimes it’s about the picture, Will. And there are a lot of girls in town who can play Ophelia.”

“Yeah. I… it’ll be weird if you’re not around.”

“Well, maybe it’ll force me to stretch my wings. Good thing I sent out my headshot to all the theaters this fall like a good little actress.”

“Speaking of which, I heard there’s an open call up at Chichester Rep tomorrow.”

“An open call? Waiting all day for a two-minute audition where if you’re lucky they’ll be eating something smelly, and if you’re not, they’ll be asleep?”

“I’m going. Every audition is another chance to perform.”

“Make me barf, man.”

“Jess—”

“I’m know, I know. Kidding. Sort of.”

Sucking it up, I get the details. Chichester is a bit of a haul, but Thursday is a shorter teaching day for me, so I can probably get up there before the five o’clock deadline. Unfortunately, Will and I can’t drive together because he has to bartend in the afternoon.

”Well, I should go. I have a class.”

While I do teach dance some evenings at a studio nearby, I don’t actually have to tonight, but I can’t take more of Will’s sympathy right now.

“I’ll make this quick, then.” He clears his throat. “Are you in town for New Year’s?”

“No. My family always spends it down in Florida with my grandparents. Are you having a party?”

“Yeah, but it’s more than that. We’re… kind of making an announcement.”

I know all the colors of this man’s voice, so I can tell this is good news. “Since I can’t be there, will you tell me now?”

“If I do, you have to keep it to yourself. Kate wants this to be a big surprise.”

“Oh my god. You’re not.”

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