Gatsby

As many of you know already, I'm in the last year of high school. Every year of every grade we have a play and usually they're those greek mythology stories that are just plain boring. But the grade 12s always did something different. Last year, my seniors put up Mama Mia if I remember correctly and man was it something. It got me wondering what kind of play my grade would do when we're in the 12th grade. 

As it turns out, my play was an adaptation of The Great Gatsby. A story I knew NOTHING about. And it wasn't like I needed to know what it was about. Hell, I wasn't even in the play. But damn I wish I was. Gatsby was to take place on the very last day of the first term which meant that a lot of practice had to be done. the whole last 2 weeks of school was taken just for practice leaving me and my friends plenty of free time. In those 2 weeks, I can say with confidence that for anyone who wasn't in the play, you didn't really HAVE to come to school. Especially since the school decided not to have the first term exams. 

Most people who weren't in the play just didn't bother to come to school in those 2 weeks. But me being well, me, I came everyday. And everyday would go on the same. Come to school late, complain to my non-play friends about how lucky play-people were with missing all these classes, attend the first 2 periods, regret attending those periods and played basketball the rest of the day. Well, that was until one time they closed the gym. I didn't want to go to class so me and some other friends went to the auditorium. 

It was NICE in the auditorium. The AC was on and it was always dimly lit. Perfect for sleeping after a tiring basketball game hehe. What was more interesting was watching my fellow classmates practice the play. Saying the dialogue properly, knowing where to stand, the cues for the lights to go on. From that point on, I had a new routine in those 2 weeks. I'd go to the auditorium all the time and watch the play practice and day by day I saw the pieces of the puzzle finally come together to make one brilliant play. I was in the audi so many times that I pieced together the entire story just by watching rehearsals. 

Seeing how everyone was trying to give their best effort to put up a good show, it reminded my of when I was into basketball, and also when I was into filming. I wanted to put in the work required to be good and so did these guys. There were many laughs here and there between cast members and it was nice to watch them enjoy their time. 

Throughout those 2 weeks, I saw a group of people that worked to give a great performance. All the hours of rehearsal, all the do-overs and re-runs they had to do after school. It was a group effort that made The Great Gatsby happen and the only thing I can say about that is - I wish I was part of that group. 

Though at the same time, I was glad that I wasn't. Hehe.