The Actor

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Photo Copyright: Ted Strutz

Here we are again and this week we’re gathered near a large marquee, a theater box office. We’ve come together to discuss our original stories for the week. This is the Friday Fictioneer’s group. Our hostess for the gathering is the talented and gracious author and artist, Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. The challenge for each of us this week and every week is to write a story with no more than 100 words, not counting the title. It’s supposed to have a beginning, middle, end, and be inspired by the picture prompt for the week. This week’s prompt was provided by Ted Strutz. Thanks, Ted. To read the other stories by group members, just click on the link below, then on the smiling frog. Next, follow the given directions. The link for this week’s stories is as follows:

28 June 2019

Genre: Memoir

Word Count: 98 Words

The Actor by P.S. Joshi

In her Junior year of high school, my daughter tried out for the yearly school play. That year it was “You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown,” and she played Snoopy.

A large dog house sat in stage center.

Sayjal blacked the end of her nose and wore her hair in two side ponytails for ears. Some of her time was spent sitting on top of the dog house. People loved it.

I’d never seen her so excited. She’d found her vocation, auditioned for the theater class, and was accepted.

She graduated from college with a degree in Drama.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60 thoughts on “The Actor”

    • Thanks, Neil. Yes, it’s true. She’s been living and working in Chicago for some years now. She got a contract with Second City Theater Company and gets other jobs as well through her agent. She recently got married for the first time. It was the first time for her new husband also. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  3. Thanks, Tannille. She’s a determined person and wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. It took some years before she could make a living just acting but she did it. She’s made some great friends along the way and recently got married. I’m happy you enjoyed the story. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks, Colline. Exactly. It took Sayjal over ten years during and after college waiting tables and doing office work on the side, first in Greensboro, then Chicago, before she could support herself by performing alone. She gets her benefits through Stage Actors Guild. She still has no paid vacation as she’s considered self-employed. That comes with the territory. —- Suzanne

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    • Thanks, Gabriele. I’m proud of both my children. My son is a Legal Librarian. He graduated with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy, learned a lot on the job, and does the same work some people with a degree in law do. He also loves his job. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  13. Dear Suzanne,

    You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a play near and dear to my heart. My HS friend Kent and I melded some scenes for duet acting contests. I was Lucy to his Linus, and I was also Patty to his Snoopy. Lovely to read about your daughter’s passion. Well done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

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  14. Thanks, Rochelle. I bet you and Kent did a great job. It was a delightful play. I thought the teacher chose both the play and the kids for the parts well. The next year he chose “Hair”–but with the actors fully clothed. All the kids did a great job with that one also. Shalom to you as well. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  19. i’m glad that it worked out for her. as e.e. cummings once wrote:

    dive for dreams
    or a slogan may topple you
    (trees are their roots
    and wind is wind)
    trust your heart
    if the seas catch fire
    (and live by love
    though the stars walk backward)
    honour the past
    but welcome the future

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    • Thanks, Margaret. Yes, it was fortunate. It took me a little longer but I finally found I was good at teaching. It was great they needed teachers when I went back to school. I got great government loans and my dad was happy to let me live at home and not pay rent. Both my parents were supportive. I’m happy you enjoyed this little memoir. 🙂 — Suzanne

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    • Thanks, James. Yes, she’s worked hard and it’s paid off. She also found a good agent, great friends, and now a supportive husband. His parents and siblings are also supportive. That means a lot to her. I’m glad you found my little memoir inspirational. 🙂 — Suzanne

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  31. Thanks, Ted. I remember you writing your daughter was in acting. They’re fortunate when the school system supports acting. The city high school where my daughter went had a theater class she had to audition for. She was also in that yearly high school play. 🙂 — Suzanne

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