"Henry Higgins"!" Jon exclaimed, with a chuckle, as he read the cast list that had been posted at the theater the day he arrived to pick up his script.
"What's wrong with Higgins?" Phyllis Miller, another of the repertory's cast members asked, curiously. "I think you'd make a marvelous Higgins myself. And I get to play your mother," she added with a smirk and a playful nudge against his arm.
"Oh, nothing's wrong with Higgins," Jon replied, blushing faintly with embarrassment. "It's just ....Mataya promised me the role of Alfred Doolittle."
"And since when did Mataya take over as director?" a male voice they both recognized as Ludo Von Eschenbach, the repertory's director, interrupted, gray brows arching upwards, an amused expression on his ruddy face.
"Uh ..." Jon stammered uncertainly, obviously taken aback by both the casting and the director's interruption.
"She does own the theater, Ludo," Phyllis pointed out, helpfully, with a mischievous grin of her own.
"Even so, I am the final word on casting," Ludo explained. "I'm sorry, Jonathan, but the role of Alfred Doolittle is just too small a role for one of our star performers. I believe Mataya originally hired you to headline the group, didn't she?"
"Yes, she did, but ..." Jon replied, trailing off with a frown, knowing he had nothing to complain about and not wanting to earn a reputation as a difficult actor. "It's just ..." he started, looking around to see if anyone else was in earshot - especially Mataya.
Phyllis seemed to sense the actor's reluctance to talk candidly in front of her, and raised a hand to silence him. "It's all right. I'll be on my way so you two can talk in private ....son," she added with a wink and an amused grin before leaving them.
Jon rolled his eyes. The woman was hardly old enough to be his mother, but makeup and a wig would take care of that easily enough.
Ludo took hold of Jon's arm and steered him to a quiet area, away from the thrum of actors and actresses excitedly chatting about the upcoming theater season. "We've known each other a long time, Jonathan. I'd like to think we are more than just colleagues. All of my actors are like my own children. If you are unhappy for any reason, I would like to know about it."
"Oh, no," Jon started, frowning worriedly. "It's not that at all. I love the theater. As a matter of fact, working here is like a dream come true. I'm very happy here. I have no complaints about anything."
"Then, why the frown" And why the surprise at being cast in the lead role" You are a lead actor, after all. You are the most experienced actor in the rep. Why should I give you a small part, when you deserve a much bigger one?" Ludo asked, clearly concerned, as well as curious.
"To be honest, it's a little embarrassing," Jon replied, his face flushing furiously. "Especially after that whole Fifty Shades debacle."
"It's my understanding they paid you an obscene amount of money for that role, yes?" Ludo pressed him further. He had always wondered why a man from a wealthy, prominent family had agreed to taking on the role of Christian Grey when there were so many other opportunities open to him.
"Yes," Jon replied, thinking the word obscene applied to more than his paycheck when it came to that role. His paycheck for Swan Song had been pitiful in comparison, but he'd won an Oscar for that one. He had never really told anyone but those closest to him the real reason he'd signed on the dotted line for the role of Christian Grey. "You see, I sort of bought out most of 21Twelve just before it went bankrupt, with the help of my uncle, and I needed to make a lot of money in a hurry in order to pay him back and remain solvent. We never expected the studio to fold, especially not before Alyson was finished," he explained with a sigh, wondering not for the first time what had happened to Lelah. She had literally taken the money and run.
"Okay, but what does any of that have to do with Henry Higgins?" Ludo pressed further.
"Nothing, really," Jon replied. "Except that I'm now known as the guy who played Christian Grey."
"And the guy who won a Globe and an Oscar and who just made his directorial debut and is our star performer," Ludo pointed out.
"But that's just it," Jon interjected again. "I don't want to be the star performer. I mean, I do, but ....It's not just about me. There's no I in team, and we're a team here at the Shanachie. I want everyone to have a chance at the lead, not just me."
"Jonathan," Ludo started, squeezing his shoulder fondly, like a father might to a son. "You worry too much. The other actors are getting better every day, and it's in part due to your leadership. Experience isn't measured by age, my lad, and you have a lot of experience. You have a lot to offer the theater, not only as an actor, but as a role model for those less experienced than you. You are coaching the children in the STARS program, and you and your family regularly give back to the community. You have a wife and a family. There is more to you than just a lead actor, my friend," Ludo explained, with a smile. "Now, if you are really unhappy with the role of Higgins, you and Laurence can swap, but people come to the theater to see you, Jonathan. Not just you, of course, but what better way to prove that you are more than just a pretty face than by giving each role your all" Besides, you and I both know the role of Christian Grey was probably the hardest role you've ever played, yes" Don't underestimate yourself, lad. Every role you play takes courage - some more than others. Not many actors would have the guts to take on such a role, and no matter what you might think, I, for one, respect you for it."
Jon arched a brow, a little surprised not only by Ludo's honestly, but by his confidence in him. "You don't think I'm hogging the limelight then?"
Ludo laughed. "No, I think you are doing exactly what it was you were hired to do, and you're doing it very well. You make it look easy, Jonathan, and that simply shows what a fine actor you are. Never underestimate yourself. I can't think of anyone who deserves that Oscar more than you do ....except maybe Leonardo DiCaprio, but I think this might be his year."
Jon laughed. He would never dream of comparing himself to someone like Leo. "I don't do this for the accolades, Ludo. I do it because acting is in my blood. It's all I know, and all I've ever wanted." Of course, that wasn't entirely true, but it was as far as his career was concerned.
"Then, I think you just solved your own problem, lad," Ludo replied with a chuckle. "Now, next time Mataya tries to promise you a minor role - however juicy - tell her to see me first."
Jon laughed as he imagined Mataya's reaction to that, knowing her better than almost anyone, save maybe Max and Juno. "Aye, aye, Captain!" he replied, with a mock salute, feeling relieved. Now that Rhy'Din Nights was finished and there were no new film roles in his immediate future, he could focus his attention on what he loved best, and that was the theater. It was, after all, his first love, and the reason he had returned to Rhy'Din in the first place.
"What's wrong with Higgins?" Phyllis Miller, another of the repertory's cast members asked, curiously. "I think you'd make a marvelous Higgins myself. And I get to play your mother," she added with a smirk and a playful nudge against his arm.
"Oh, nothing's wrong with Higgins," Jon replied, blushing faintly with embarrassment. "It's just ....Mataya promised me the role of Alfred Doolittle."
"And since when did Mataya take over as director?" a male voice they both recognized as Ludo Von Eschenbach, the repertory's director, interrupted, gray brows arching upwards, an amused expression on his ruddy face.
"Uh ..." Jon stammered uncertainly, obviously taken aback by both the casting and the director's interruption.
"She does own the theater, Ludo," Phyllis pointed out, helpfully, with a mischievous grin of her own.
"Even so, I am the final word on casting," Ludo explained. "I'm sorry, Jonathan, but the role of Alfred Doolittle is just too small a role for one of our star performers. I believe Mataya originally hired you to headline the group, didn't she?"
"Yes, she did, but ..." Jon replied, trailing off with a frown, knowing he had nothing to complain about and not wanting to earn a reputation as a difficult actor. "It's just ..." he started, looking around to see if anyone else was in earshot - especially Mataya.
Phyllis seemed to sense the actor's reluctance to talk candidly in front of her, and raised a hand to silence him. "It's all right. I'll be on my way so you two can talk in private ....son," she added with a wink and an amused grin before leaving them.
Jon rolled his eyes. The woman was hardly old enough to be his mother, but makeup and a wig would take care of that easily enough.
Ludo took hold of Jon's arm and steered him to a quiet area, away from the thrum of actors and actresses excitedly chatting about the upcoming theater season. "We've known each other a long time, Jonathan. I'd like to think we are more than just colleagues. All of my actors are like my own children. If you are unhappy for any reason, I would like to know about it."
"Oh, no," Jon started, frowning worriedly. "It's not that at all. I love the theater. As a matter of fact, working here is like a dream come true. I'm very happy here. I have no complaints about anything."
"Then, why the frown" And why the surprise at being cast in the lead role" You are a lead actor, after all. You are the most experienced actor in the rep. Why should I give you a small part, when you deserve a much bigger one?" Ludo asked, clearly concerned, as well as curious.
"To be honest, it's a little embarrassing," Jon replied, his face flushing furiously. "Especially after that whole Fifty Shades debacle."
"It's my understanding they paid you an obscene amount of money for that role, yes?" Ludo pressed him further. He had always wondered why a man from a wealthy, prominent family had agreed to taking on the role of Christian Grey when there were so many other opportunities open to him.
"Yes," Jon replied, thinking the word obscene applied to more than his paycheck when it came to that role. His paycheck for Swan Song had been pitiful in comparison, but he'd won an Oscar for that one. He had never really told anyone but those closest to him the real reason he'd signed on the dotted line for the role of Christian Grey. "You see, I sort of bought out most of 21Twelve just before it went bankrupt, with the help of my uncle, and I needed to make a lot of money in a hurry in order to pay him back and remain solvent. We never expected the studio to fold, especially not before Alyson was finished," he explained with a sigh, wondering not for the first time what had happened to Lelah. She had literally taken the money and run.
"Okay, but what does any of that have to do with Henry Higgins?" Ludo pressed further.
"Nothing, really," Jon replied. "Except that I'm now known as the guy who played Christian Grey."
"And the guy who won a Globe and an Oscar and who just made his directorial debut and is our star performer," Ludo pointed out.
"But that's just it," Jon interjected again. "I don't want to be the star performer. I mean, I do, but ....It's not just about me. There's no I in team, and we're a team here at the Shanachie. I want everyone to have a chance at the lead, not just me."
"Jonathan," Ludo started, squeezing his shoulder fondly, like a father might to a son. "You worry too much. The other actors are getting better every day, and it's in part due to your leadership. Experience isn't measured by age, my lad, and you have a lot of experience. You have a lot to offer the theater, not only as an actor, but as a role model for those less experienced than you. You are coaching the children in the STARS program, and you and your family regularly give back to the community. You have a wife and a family. There is more to you than just a lead actor, my friend," Ludo explained, with a smile. "Now, if you are really unhappy with the role of Higgins, you and Laurence can swap, but people come to the theater to see you, Jonathan. Not just you, of course, but what better way to prove that you are more than just a pretty face than by giving each role your all" Besides, you and I both know the role of Christian Grey was probably the hardest role you've ever played, yes" Don't underestimate yourself, lad. Every role you play takes courage - some more than others. Not many actors would have the guts to take on such a role, and no matter what you might think, I, for one, respect you for it."
Jon arched a brow, a little surprised not only by Ludo's honestly, but by his confidence in him. "You don't think I'm hogging the limelight then?"
Ludo laughed. "No, I think you are doing exactly what it was you were hired to do, and you're doing it very well. You make it look easy, Jonathan, and that simply shows what a fine actor you are. Never underestimate yourself. I can't think of anyone who deserves that Oscar more than you do ....except maybe Leonardo DiCaprio, but I think this might be his year."
Jon laughed. He would never dream of comparing himself to someone like Leo. "I don't do this for the accolades, Ludo. I do it because acting is in my blood. It's all I know, and all I've ever wanted." Of course, that wasn't entirely true, but it was as far as his career was concerned.
"Then, I think you just solved your own problem, lad," Ludo replied with a chuckle. "Now, next time Mataya tries to promise you a minor role - however juicy - tell her to see me first."
Jon laughed as he imagined Mataya's reaction to that, knowing her better than almost anyone, save maybe Max and Juno. "Aye, aye, Captain!" he replied, with a mock salute, feeling relieved. Now that Rhy'Din Nights was finished and there were no new film roles in his immediate future, he could focus his attention on what he loved best, and that was the theater. It was, after all, his first love, and the reason he had returned to Rhy'Din in the first place.