Chapter 2

Now then everyone, let’s determine our cast, shall we? Make no delay!

This is Romeo and Juliet, so we’ll start with the most important role: Juliet.

Ohh, so Juliet’s the most important role?

Sorry I’m a little clueless, I’ve never actually read Romeo and Juliet… I don’t know that much about it.

Fufufu. Well, it’s quite normal for boys to not have read it.

Don’t say it’s normal! I–I mean, nobody really reads Shakespeare nowadays anyways, right…?

You should take the time to read the original play, Tomoya.

I’m pretty sure the drama club always has some Shakespeare on our bookshelves, and there are all kinds of scripts, too… Umm…?

Wah—I’ll look for it myself later, Hokuto-senpai! Don’t worry about it!

No, the sooner you go through it, the better. Whenever I’m cast in something, I read the script and its related works over and over again to make sure I’m more familiar with them.

But you’re not familiar with them in the slightest to begin with. You can memorize your lines, but you never seem to grasp the heart of the story.

In any case, the story of Romeo and Juliet begins and ends with the titular Juliet.

Had she simply accepted her fate, the story would have ended right then and there.

She is, therefore, the propulsive force that drives the story forward.

You say that like she’s a rocket engine… But it is true that Romeo’s just there to shout out words of love.

He’s not entirely passive, but at the same time, he doesn’t leave that much of an impression.

Fufu, so it’s like the only thing he has his eyes on is Juliet, since he loves her so much. It’s good that he’s so dedicated to her, right? ♪

No, Romeo isn’t really all that dedicated.

In the beginning of the story, he’s infatuated with a completely different woman. Then he just happens to meet Juliet and falls in love with her at first sight.

I’d say he’s more of a philanderer.

I don’t get him at all… Uh yeah, maybe I will take a crack at the original then.

Mm, this kid-friendly abridged version is pretty easy to read. You should be able to get the gist of things with it.

You can take it home if you want so you can look over it.

Oh wow, thanks a bunch Hokuto-senpai… ♪

Fufufu, you’re really acting like a proper senpai, Hokuto-kun~ ♪

Are you trying to imply something…? Whatever, let’s get back on track. Since Juliet is such an important role, you should be the one to play it, right Buchou?

Even in the story, Juliet is like a princess, while Romeo is more of a prince.

So it’d be easier to cast me as the prince and you as the princess, just like usual.

Hmm, but that feels like we’re being typecasted, don’t you think?

But Hokuto-senpai’s prince is so perfect and so so so cool… ☆

Thanks. But he’s right—just doing the same thing over and over won’t help me improve.

Then would you like to try your hand at Juliet, Hokuto-kun?

She may be an essential role in the story, but she doesn’t require all that much acting ability.

In Shakespeare’s time, female actors were often seen with disdain…

And so it was more common for a young boy—an apprentice—to play the female roles.

They were roles for people with little to no skill.

Of course, that’s no longer the case.

But should you prefer to stay faithful to the original, it won’t be such a difficult role to play.

Ohh… I looked at the book, and it does look like Juliet has fewer lines overall compared to Romeo.

Hm. I think that just playing female roles as men would already be difficult. …But I do want to broaden my range of skill, too.

Yes, yes. You’ve entered your second year, after all; perhaps it’s time to step up your game. Standing still is no different from death—We must be constantly evolving, hm?

But you’re such a ham actor, Hokuto-kun, so I doubt you can pick up a new role in just a month.

Who are you calling a ham actor… Not that I can deny it, though, which is the most frustrating part of it.

I’d imagine so. You’ve only been able to learn the role of the prince after performing it time and time again.

And even that has just barely enough marketable value to present to an audience.

So when you think of it that way, there truly is little choice but for you to play the princely Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet has two protagonists, and as we’ve two actors of substance on hand…

Well, I don’t want to rely too much on process of elimination, but c’est la vie.

Umm, but couldn’t you get someone from the theater course or something to play the part…?

Hmm, this performance is to be put on by the drama club, though.

It’s imperative to keep the focus on us as much as possible, and only consider the theater course to make up for that which we lack.