Upon there Within, You Shall Find Me

  Doctor William Shakespeare sat on the bench outside the promenades official 'HMV' and stared off into the air, looking slightly sad, and reflective. 
  Life on board Blue Dwarf was everything he had ever wanted.  An excellently stimulating crew environment, colleagues that were capable of working with him, someone to love him, and that he loved as well, (Hazel Coffey) and of course, a position in which he was able to perform his duties to the best of his abilities.
  There was only one thing missing.  Drama.  Acting.  Playwriting.
  He might be a doctor, a damned good surgeon at that, but it wasn't what he loved doing.  He longed for the feel of the stage again, to hear the audience applause, to feel the emotions of the crowd, encouraging him as he spoke his lines.
  Acting was what he had been made for, what he was best at, and what he missed sorely. 
  He remembered back to his olden days.  The 15th century ones, where a play of his had been produced every week.    They were the days.  He began to reminisce.
 
*
 
  William Shakespeare rushed around behind the stage curtain.
  "Were be my actors?!" he called loudly.  A muffled and general inaudible murmur from the whole crew sounded back to him.  Followed by a loud, "What actors?" from an undetermined person.
  "Yes, thank you, for my performance is mocked by those inside it.  I hope you do break a bloody leg!"
  He stormed off down to the pit where the non main leads were waiting.
  "Has anyone seen Rosencranzt?  Or even Guildenstern?" he asked, flustered?
  They looked at him pathetically, then a general consensus came back with the words:  "Who are they?"
  Shakespeare screamed.  "Why am I cursed with such Monkeys!" he said, before running back into the main area.  He put a hand to his chin and then remembered.  They were in the audience.  Talking to relations.  He slightly parted the main curtain and peeked through the crack.  the house was full.  Just like it had been the previous night.  He gulped and hoped his actors would return in time.  This was THE performance of his career.  His biggest play since the runaway broadway hit of Romeo and Juliet.  This was bigger than Macbeth, longer than Hamlet, more interesting that Midsummer Night's Dream, and funnier than Twelfth Night.  This was, 'A Chance Perhaps.'  He looked at the ceiling and said a silent prayer.  Then he opened the curtain and walked forward onto the stage.
  There was at once hush, and he saw Rosencrantz and Guildenstern running out and to the back of the hall where they disappeared (hopefully to the prep area, thought Shakespeare.)
  "Audience of mine," he said majestically.  "Welcome to..."
 
*
  He was startled as Coffey put her hand gently on his shoulder and he let out a small scream of terror, the past vanishing from his mind and he hurtled back into the reality of the Blue Dwarf.
  He turned around and breathed a sigh of relief.
  "I'm sorry Hazel, I was miles away in the land of thought."  She smiled, brushed some hair from his eyes and sat down beside him.  Putting her shopping bag to one side.
  "What were you thinking about?"
  "Acting, the stage, drama, my one true passion in life,"  he said, and then he kissed her gently on the cheek, "After you, that is."
  "Didn't I hear a rumour going around at one point, that you were thinking of starting a drama group?"
  "Yes, I still am.  I would give anything to run my own group.  I just need a room, or perhaps a cargo bay, or some kind of large space."  He stood up and waved his arms madly, whilst staring off into the distance.
  "We could practice techniques, and then I could build a stage, no, better still, an auditorium.  Perform my plays, perform other's plays.  Even star in some.  Yes, act in plays."  He grinned and then turned around to Hazel smiling widely.  He leapt down onto one knee and grabbed her hand.
  "Oh Hazel, it would be wonderful, can you imagine the reception.  Blue dwarf's very own drama group.  If only it were a reality and not a mere image in my head."
  She looked at him, a small look of puzzlement on her face.
  "Why not?" she said, the look hinting at a knowing grin.
  "Why not what?" asked Shakespeare, the expression passing over his face now.
  "Why not make it a reality?  Niples is always looking for ways to improve crew morale, bond together the crew so they are a single unit.  Your idea could do just that.  All you have to do is ask him.  What's the worst he could say?"
 "Gadzooks, you are correct," said Shakespeare, getting to his feet.  "I have nothing to lose."
  Coffey got to her feet and picked up her bags.
  "Let us go," she said, gesturing with her hand to the exit of the promenade.            Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.