California Dreaming

Chapter 10

I walked into The El Capitan Theatre full of confidence from getting my job at the Roosevelt. I looked around the opulent lobby, it was everything I expected and so much more. I scanned the empty area and found a door across the room with “Office” painted on the frosted glass. I quickly walked to the door and knocked.

I heard rough gravelly voice say, “yeah, come in.”

Two men looked up from a table covered in papers, the older of the two said, “what is it kid?”

I stammered, “yes sir, my name is Ivan Romanov, I saw you are having open auditions for your Christmas production, and I would very much like to try out.” My confidence was quickly fading as the two just looked irritated at being interrupted.

The man said, “what, are you an actor or something?”

I took a deep breath, “yes sir, well not yet, but I want to be.”

The second man chuckled, “we got another waiter wanting to be an actor here Harold.”

I half mumbled, “well, a bus boy.”

Harold let out a deep laugh, “a bus boy, not even a waiter?”

Still laughing, he asked the younger guy, “how many spots do we have left?”

He flipped through a few pages that were on the table in front of him, he shrugged, “I need a few more Christmas carolers, and maybe a couple more for the last crowd seen.” He points to one of the pages, “oh, this is still open, but I assumed we would put Carl there.”

Harold nodded, “yeah, that’s what I was thinking too.” He looked up at me and asked, “you done any acting before kid?”

My heart sank, “no sir, I just got here from Chicago a few weeks ago.”

After another chuckle, “well kid, you caught me in a good mood, be here at 10 Thursday morning and we’ll see if you made the trip for nothing.” He turned to the other man and said, “give Ivan a script.”

The man picked up a script from the table and walked toward me, he said, “read over pages 22 to 24, that’s what we will have you do for the audition. You have heard of Dicken’s, “A Christmas Carol” before haven’t you?”

A huge grin crossed my face, “oh yes sir. Thank you very much.”

He nodded at me, “see you Thursday, I’m Norman Roberts, the director and Mr. Willis there is our Producer.”

I clutched the script in my hands, “thank you so much Mr. Roberts, Mr. Willis, I won’t let you down, I promise.”

Mr. Willis laughed, “there is no way you can kid.”

I didn’t care if they didn’t expect much from me, this was my chance to prove that I could be an actor, even if it was just to myself. I don’t even remember my walk home, I was too excited to even pay attention to anything. As soon as I got to our room, I flung myself on the bed and quickly turned to page 22. I had told myself that I would be happy just being in one the group scenes, even if I didn’t have a speaking part. I was pleased to see the scene that Mr. Roberts told me to look at was the scene where Scrooge is visited by the spirit of Christmas Past. I knew I wouldn’t be playing scrooge or the spirit, they would be older actors, the only other character in the scene was young Scrooge. My heart raced, if I do well on this audition, I could have a speaking part. I spent the rest of the day memorizing every word on those pages. I wasn’t watching the time, and I was startled when the door to the room opened, and Patrick walked in.

I jumped from the bed, “hey, how was your first day?”

He smiled as he gave me a kiss, “it was good, but I’m beat, I must have gone up and down those stairs a hundred times today. I really like the people I’m working with so far.”

We sat on the bed as he told me all the things that he did today and all the people he met, I must admit, I only heard about half of what he said, I was still too excited about my news.

He finally took a breath, “so how about you, how was your day?”

I was ready to burst, “it was fantastic, I stopped by the theatre, and I have an audition on Thursday, I have been studying the script all afternoon.”

He gave me a concerned look, “Ivan, what about the job at The Roosevelt?”

I suddenly remembered, “oh, yeah, I got the job, I start tomorrow at 3.”

A look of relief came over his face, “oh good, you were starting to worry me.”

I asked, “why?”

He said, “well, we are both getting low on money, I know you want to pursue this acting thing, but we have to earn enough money to eat and keep a roof over our heads.”

I said, “I know Patrick, I am going to work at the hotel, besides, I will get paid if I get a part in the play.”

Patrick asked, “really, how much?”

I smiled, “I don’t know yet, it will depend on if I get a speaking part or not.”

He thought a moment, “are you auditioning for a speaking part?”

I nodded, “yes, the part is for young Scrooge, when Scrooge is visited by the spirit of Christmas past. He and young Marley interact as they are starting their business, and there’s a scene with young Scrooge when he had a girlfriend and they split because he works too much. Old Scrooge is forced to view his past and…”

Patrick chuckled, “I’ve heard the story, Ivan. Just don’t forget about your job.”

He was right, we did need the money. I was a little disappointed that Patrick wasn’t happier for me, and he just seemed to be humoring me and my dream.

He stood and started to undress, “I need to take a bath, then I’m going to go to bed, I’m beat.”

I undressed and got into bed to wait for Patrick, hoping we could celebrate both of our jobs. He smiled at me as he walked back in the room and crawled into bed next to me. I snuggled up to him and reached around to grab his cock.

He said, “I’m too tired Ivan, sorry, maybe tomorrow night.”

I rolled onto my back and put my arms behind my head, disappointed. I went from being so excited about my audition to depressed, first by Patrick’s lack of enthusiasm for my news, and now by him not wanting to be intimate. This was the first time either of us had turned the other away. I tossed and turned for hours, finally drifting off to sleep.

I woke up the next morning, once again disappointed, Patrick had gotten up and left for work without waking me. I walked across the street and ate a quick breakfast and went back to our room. I didn’t have to be at work until three. I studied my script for a couple hours, then decided to write a letter to Henry. I had written to him as soon as we got to California, he had written back. I wanted to share my news about my audition, maybe he would be happy for me. I finished my letter and studied my script some more, then got ready for work.

I arrived at the Roosevelt at about 2:30, Mr. Mills introduced me to my coworkers and went over my duties for the night. I was paired with another bus boy, Sam. He told me that the waiters would signal us when we were to clear a table between the main course and desert and then after the guest was finished eating. While we were waiting, we were expected to monitor the restrooms and floors to keep them clean. They had given me a uniform to wear, the cost was going to be deducted over my next several paychecks. We were to stay out of sight unless we were clearing a table and were not to speak to any of the guests, unless they spoke to us first. Even then, our only response was to be, “yes sir or madam, I will get your waiter.”

The first few hours were very slow, Sam told me that most of the guests didn’t show up until 8 or 9. He was right, we were busy for the rest of the night. I was clearing a table when Mr. Mills was seating a party at the next table, I glanced up and saw who it was. I quickly took a tray of dishes to the kitchen and found Sam.

I said, “do you know who that is?”

He looked at the table, “I don’t know his name, but I think he is some actor in the movies.”

I looked at him incredulously, “some actor? That’s John Barrymore, I saw his movie “The Show of Shows” back in New York with my friend Henry.”

Sam shrugged unimpressed, “oh.”

I said, “the man is a great actor, so are his brother Lionel and sister Ethel, the whole family are incredible actors, he played Hamlet in London for God’s sake.”

Sam shook his head, “he’s just another guest whose dirty plate I will have to carry to the kitchen Ivan. You know the rules, we can’t talk to the guests, so what difference does it make who he is?”

I shook my head as Sam walked away, how could he not be impressed? I cleared the next table, it took all I had not to go over and talk to Mr. Barrymore, but I knew I would be fired if I did.

I made it through my first night and headed home at 1am, Patrick was asleep, I knew he would be. I quietly undressed and got into bed next to him.

He stirred, “hey, how was work?”

I excitedly said, “I saw John Barrymore, it was wonderful.”

He rolled over, “that’s great Ivan, good night.”

I awoke the next morning, again alone in the bed, Patrick didn’t even say goodbye when he left for work. I resigned myself to the fact that this would probably be our new routine. I practiced for my audition and got ready for work.

I was settled into my job and was getting more excited about my audition tomorrow. Thursday morning, I woke up as Patrick was getting ready for work.

I leaned up on my elbow, “so how has your week been?”

He looked over at me, “oh, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.”

I said, “It’s alright, I don’t mind. We haven’t been able to spend much time together this week.”

He nodded, “yeah, I know, but we both have Sunday off, we can spend all day together.”

He leaned in and gave me a quick kiss and turned to leave.

I said, “I’ll let you know how my audition goes when I get home tonight.”

He looked back at me, “oh, I forgot about that, yeah, good luck.” He walked out the door.

I fell back onto my pillow, “thanks, thanks a lot.”

I got up and took a bath, then reviewed my lines one more time. I made it to the theatre an hour before I was scheduled. Norman Roberts was walking out of the office as I walked in.

He said, “Ivan, you’re early, we have another audition before yours.”

I said, “I’m sorry, I can wait out here until you’re ready for me.”

He waved his hand, “no, it’s fine, you can come in a watch the audition with us.”

I followed him into the theatre, I was in awe as we walked down the aisle to the stage. That stage, it was incredible, it was so big, the lights were so bright.

Mr. Roberts said, “have a seat right here.” He pointed to a seat about three rows back. Mr. Willis was already sitting in the front row next to a boy about my age, they looked back at me as I sat down.

Norman raised his thumb at me, “the kid was early, I told him he could wait in here.”

Harold nodded at me, “yeah, no problem.” He turned to the other kid and said, “alright Carl, go ahead and get on the stage and start on page 22.”

I realized that we were auditioning for the same part, and when heard him call the guy Carl, I remembered what they said in the office a few days ago. Norman said he had Carl penciled in for the part, I was suddenly thinking I didn’t have a chance, they had obviously worked with Carl before.

I sat and watched Carl read his lines form the script as Norman read the other actor’s parts. I was saying the lines in my head right along with Carl. I couldn’t help but notice Carl didn’t seem nervous at all, my hope was dying with every line he read. He looked to be about my age, maybe a year older. He had blonde hair and his blues eyes sparkled against his pale smooth skin. His wide smile showed off his perfect white teeth and two perfect simples. Damn, he looked like an actor with his broad shoulders and square jaw.

Once Carl finished, he came down from the stage, Harold said, “well, that was fine Carl, have a seat, Ivan here is going to read for the part too.”

Norman said, “alright Ivan, let's see what you can do.”

I stood and walked up on the stage, even if I didn’t do well, at least I could say I was on the stage of The El Capitan Theatre. I took a deep breath as I tried to calm my nerves, I squinted at the bright lights as I looked out into the empty seats.

Norman said, “whenever you’re ready, go ahead and start. Oh, wait you left your script in your seat, I’ll get it for you.”

I said, “oh no, Mr. Roberts, I don’t need it.”

He gave me a quizzical look, “ok, if, you're sure.”

We went through the scene; as soon as we started my nerves disappeared and I never missed a line. There was silence as I said my last words.

I looked at Mr. Roberts, then to Mr. Willis and Carl, they were all just staring at me. I thought to myself, well, I gave it my best shot, maybe they will at least give a part as a caroler or in one of the crowd scenes.

Mr. Willis broke the silence, “you are a bus boy and have never acted before?”

I hung my head, “yes sir.”

He stood up and lit a cigar, “well kid, you are our young Mr. Scrooge, we open in three weeks, rehearsals start Monday. Work out your bus boy schedule with Norman before you leave, welcome to the theatre.”

  

To be continued…