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Brings to mind another great film
A Night at the Opera
True confessions
I haven’t seen that one. I must lose the mystique of being the Scarlet Pimpernel!
— Emma
Oh Emma
Admittedly, my Shakespeare is limited to one play, but if we were casting BC authors, Beatrice is made for you. Charming the audience, a sharp wit that has no equal, loyal to a fault, the smartest one in the room and able to come up with an ending that made no sense-until it did, and humbly receiving the accolades of a grateful and awe-struck audience.
I can usually relate so well to your characters Emma, but in this one, I just saw you as Beatrice. Simply wonderful, my dear. Thank you. :DD
DeeDee
I agree, and now you have me wondering
In choosing a name for herself, was our Emma thinking of Dame Emma Thompson (Beatrice in Branagh’s Much Ado)?
Ah, no.
I’d love to craft a great origin story for my name. You know — I chose Emma as a mashup of Diana Rigg’s Emma Peele on The Avengers, Dame Emma Thompson, and, of course, a sprinkle of Jane Austin. Whilst “Anne” was selected because choosing the name of the mother of God seemed terribly presumptuous, but I thought, perhaps, I might be able to manage just one step removed. And no-one ever refers to St. Anne as the “grandmother of God,” anyway, so I’d be okay.
The truth is less interesting and maybe more strange. The name just came to me one day. The whole name — first, last, middle. Bang. And I said, “Yes. That’s right. That is my name. How is it I hadn’t always known it?”
— Emma
Oh, my!
I didn’t see that coming! Truth is, I’m not so witty in person. By the time I think of the perfect riposte, the moment has passed. :(
Thank you, DeeDee. You are such a treasure.
— Emma
I’m not into Shakespeare
I’m not into Shakespeare personally, but that was really good, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it!
Well done!
Stay safe
T
Thank you!
I’m glad it was enjoyable regardless of how people feel about Shakespeare.
— Emma
Each writer
Each writer if they know it or not puts a little of themselves into each of their creations. I hope I'm not being too foward here. But as others have pointed out. But the more I thought about it, the more I see it. Going on what I've read from your wonderful comments you have often rewarded your readership with, I can see how you might have more in common with this main character than the others. And to that I will say this, while we writers tend to measure our success by comparing the the number of kudos, views, comments with other stories. It a common thing. But please remember dear heart that at the end of each performance you put on, we are standing there shouting and clapping our hands and shouting "Emma! Emma! Emma!". That aside an excellent story as always!
A dash of pepper, maybe?
I’ll cop to having a dash or two of pepper in my ingredients. Maybe not quite to Beatrice’s standard, though!
Many readers are incredibly generous in their comments, and I can’t begin to tell you how grateful I am for that. But sure, like Hero, I should die of blushing were people to call my name in a theater!
You are never too forward, Sunflower. Thank you for your sweet comment.
— Emma
Wow
I had to look up the actual script to figure out just how badly Lynette had messed up the lines... Kit and the rest of the cast really should have received some kind of award just to be able to remember their own lines and deliver them without messing up even worse.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin ein femininer Mann
Experience
I was in a production in high school where the female lead was a tiny bit buzzed and had some trouble as a result. It did require everyone else on stage to be a lot more nimble!
— Emma
Author! Author!
Not something that an Elizabethan audience would have shouted, but we can.
What a magnificent second act, Emma. Once again I was there all the way, seeing and hearing every detail, laughing and cheering too at the appropriate moments. It’s been a superb ride from start to finish.
It’s been many years since I’ve seen Much Ado, even more since I read it, but you really made it come alive again, just as Beatrice lived her character.
It was beautifully done. The bard would have been proud.
Rob xxx
☠️
Had they shouted it . . .
. . . Who would have come out? Will Shakespeare, or some anonymous fop like the Earl of Oxford? One of the great mysteries. Bill Bryson, of all people, took a crack at the puzzle a few years back and concluded that Shakespeare really wrote his own stuff.
You bring huge smile to my face, Robert, knowing that this came alive for you. Thank you for the lovely comment.
— Emma
Brava
You thoroughly immersed us in the flow of this production as well as the mental space of our classic Understudy who swoops in and saves the show. It was a great job, well up to your standard.
I can't help but think a sliver of Battlestar Galactica slipped in with Dirk playing Benedick. Just a coincidence I guess but Starbuck was a notoriously handsome womanizer.
BSG!
You caught the BSG reference! Yay, Kimmie! I’m not alone in the world! Though, honestly, the remake with Edward Olmos as Adama was so head and shoulders above the original that there’s just no comparison.
Thank you, Kimmie. I’m delighted that you enjoyed it.
— Emma
Definitely Not Dijon
I'm sure Shakespeare wrote Beatrice as Hot English mustard or horseradish (or wasabi if he had known of it) but something with heat and bite to assault the nostrils and made you gasp that suited Beatrice's temperament, not forgetting that in his day she would have been played by a male.
Our heroine (!) slipped right into character and played the part as any great method actor would have, with total immersion as needed for a bravura performance.
Our author also gave us a bravura performance but we have come to expect nothing less.
English mustard
You are certainly right about that, Joanna. And, if Shakespeare had used Dijon Mustard— which he wouldn’t, but work with me here — he would have pronounced it “Die-jin,” just on general principle. The same principle that gets us an Italian Prince named “Don John.” Sure as hell, he knew his audience, and Southwark in the day had a touch of — dare I say it? — San Bernardino.
Thank you for your kind words, Joanna. I really love your comments.
— Emma
I have no idea exactly why, but I cannot remember ever
having got so emotionally involved with a story!
I really felt myself inside Dijon's skin. I was smiling broadly (I know, because I felt the smile), at the same time my eyes were watering.
By the way, I was afraid you had missed the Monday deadline, but the submission time and date proved me wrong -- it was simply after I had turned off my computer so I could get the evening meal.
But today, there it was, after I had checked emails and other daily internet essential routines, waiting for me in the list of new postings, the last with a Monday detail, ready for me to catch up (with the abpve reported effect), and I have not yet even skimmed Tuesady's titles!
Another of your titles which got me involved. Thankyou
Dave
Thank you, Dave!
It sounds like you maybe had some theatre experience, to feel this one so keenly. It’s a unique environment, for sure!
— Emma
Only marginally theatrical experience
as I explained in my commen to the first part!
Dave
I answer to that name...
I have always loved "Much Ado.." since we played a scene from it at school when I was thirteen. All the way through University I ripped off the "I answer to that name" line, without anyone spotting who my role model was.
I've seen it a few times since, and still love the wit, but best of all, to quote Taylor Swift "It's a love story".
As for the witty banter, well yes, Beatrice is the Queen of the put down, and I absolutely love the way that you showed what is going on inside her head in that final scene.
A really great twist on the story.
Lucy xx
"Lately it occurs to me..
what a long strange trip its been."
It’s a useful line
Thank you, Lucy!
“I answer to that name” is useful. You provide the information they need — yes, you’re the person they are looking for — without necessarily agreeing that that is your name. A whole lot of trans people answer to names they do not consider their own.
I’m glad you liked my internal dialogue for the “Beatrice” scenes — it was really fun to write.
— Emma
Hot Tub Time Machine...
Emma... You could make that movie look like an Academy Award winner! What a great story you graced us with - masterfully playing / inserting us between the Dijon and Beatrice worlds. This was a fun story to read. Thank you for crafting yet another gem for us!
Hugz!
Rachel M. Moore
Thanks, Rachel!
I’m really glad you had fun with it — I certainly did! Some stories kind of wring you out, writing them, but this one was the opposite.
— Emma
Shakespeare, when performed well…..
Is enchanting. It has a way of pulling you in and making you become part of the story. The sad thing is that most people only know his Romeo and Juliet - and worse, they don’t understand the meaning of many of the phrases as they don’t mean the same as they do now under common usage. Language changes over time, and Shakespeare actually added more words to the English language than any other source - so many who read it or see it don’t really understand it at all.
High School English and Literature classes don’t help at all either. Teenagers for the most part don’t truly want to understand him, and it simply becomes a boring requirement for most of them.
You story brought it to life. Even without the added twist of putting Jon into the role of Beatrice, your writing brought the story to life so that many who have never really felt Shakespeare could do so here, through your story.
You truly created a comedy worthy of the Bard with your backstory.
As always, I am amazed at your talent. I look forward to reading much more of your work.
D. Eden
“Hier stehe ich; ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir.”
Dum Vivimus, Vivamus
The only way to study Shakespeare
Shakespeare should be read aloud. Do it in a round robin and alternate the parts. The only way it works is to hear it. The context comes out, every time. And it’s fun, so it keeps people’s interest. Whether he is dealing with comedy, tragedy or history, his work is alive. It’s deep, it’s rich. Sometimes bawdy; sometimes heartbreaking. But the last thing it should ever be is boring!
— Emma
High School Shakespeare
I went to an elite public high school back in the day. My Junior English teacher was heavily into Shakespeare, covering parts of Henry the IV part 2, Julius Caesar, The Scottish Play .and Hamlet. The teacher did read out loud and then discussed with the class certain key exchanges in the plays. To verbalize and listen to it really helped in understanding it.
It is unfortunate my teacher did not touch on any of the comedies.
It might be that Jon/Beatrice ...
... was going in and out of Flow: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_(psychology)
A precious state.
I think I've been there a few times. ... Maybe.
A flow experience
Yes. I’ve been there, and that is exactly the flavor of what I was attempting to describe. I tried to do the same thing in Always and Forever, describing Keziah losing the world as they shape the clay. It’s an amazing feeling, but difficult to convey properly.
— Emma
Becoming the One They Portray
Read a lot of stories about con artists, crooks who take on the persona of whom they are trying to impersonate to the point they believe it themselves. This also is true of the best actors and actresses as they become that person we are looking at on the screen. It is why some do really well and others never even get past the point of being better than a school play. Dijon immersed him self into the character he was portraying and became Beatrice.
Emma, dug pretty deep to bring the second part of this story to the surface. She's like a light with a switch she turns on and off at will. The first chapter I'm laughing my head off and the second chapter I'm thinking serious intellect. There is zero doubt on my part I ever want to get into a debate with her. I'd never know which personality I would be debating or if she brought all of them?
Hugs Emma, exceptional writing skills
Barb
Washed my hair and brushed it out wet this morning before the trip to the city. Lots of moisture in the air. Today is Shirley Temple Day, tight spiral curls hanging down. I could hear them whispering to one another every where I went this morning. "Look, that's Barbie." I never saw the movie, don't intend to. What I do know is there are dozens of people who need glasses. I wasn't wearing pink either. If the air had been dryer I would have looked like a cat with her tail caught in the electric plug. I could have handled that. Get a life people.
I met a young lady with the most beautiful amazing eyes I have ever seen in my entire life. Big, round and brown, I couldn't stop staring at them. The rest of her wasn't bad either. She'd rate a Top Ten on the Female Scale. She is my cardiologist. My Dermatologist has the most beautiful lush long natural lashes and she's a Top Ten also. I'm jealous of my doctors.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Discontinuity
Thanks, Barb! As you might imagine, I did worry a bit about the shift in tone from the first to the second chapter. But, the same thing happens to Beatrice, so I decided it was kinda sorta fair. :)
I’m hoping your cardiologist didn’t wonder why you were staring at her so intently! Although, perhaps she’s used to it.
Hugs, Barb,
— Emma
Take a bow
Emma, you deserve a curtain call of your own for this one; I'd certainly stand up and applaud - if not hoot and holler! And hand you a lovely bouquet. ;)
Your writing keeps getting better and better! <3
Thanks, Seraph!
So glad you enjoyed the play. :)
— Emma
Lynette
Imagine that she'd had a case of projectile vomiting while "playing" dead on stage. I think that would have been a little harder to cover up. Ewww!
Thx for a nice story^^
She is possessed of Evil Spirits!
Yeah. That might have worked!
Thanks, Guest. I’m gonna have that visual all day now!
— Emma
Spirits (and poisons)
In the hands of a master healer they're medicine. In the hands of a quack they're deadly.
"Romulan ale? Why Bones, you know this is illegal." "I only use it for medicinal purposes."
It looks like Lynette is definitely not a master healer. Maybe she learned something from it. Unfortunately, some people never will.