A Sunny Day Anonymous

When I found out I had been cast as Emile de Becque in the musical South Pacific, I was excited but confused, and even a little scared. Why had I been picked as the lead, even though I was a sophomore with no experience singing in the operatic style of Emile? How was I going to pull off a French accent? What did a French accent even sound like? Was I just going to make a fool of myself?

These questions agonized me. I seriously considered telling the drama teacher that I thought she had made a mistake, that someone else could do the job better than I could, and that I’d rather take a smaller role. But then I remembered why I enjoy drama so much. I love the pressure. I love how you have to face the audience, showing no fear, and become someone else for those few moments on stage. Most of all, I love the sense of accomplishment after a good show. I realized that, because this would be my most challenging role yet, it could end up being my most fulfilling one. So, after laughing at the insanity of what I was about to do, I set to work.

First, I tried to figure out how to speak with a French accent. I looked at old versions of the play, and tried to mimic the way Emile spoke. My drama teacher told me I sounded like Count Dracula, so...