Hollywood: The Greatest Showman

Chapter 4: First Audition

The eager excitement made Renly somewhat excited, and he couldn't help but clench his fists tightly to prevent his emotions from overwhelming him and deviating from the norm.

Although this was only his first Hollywood audition, the sensation of the wooden floor beneath his feet was not unfamiliar at all. It slowly awakened memories of his past few years performing in London's West End. After his brain reached its peak activity, he became calmer. Every pore of his body opened up, greedily breathing in the surrounding air, merging himself with the stage.

"From left to right, everyone line up in order," a voice came from below the stage, providing brief instructions. "After stating your name and age, wait for the next instruction. Understood?" The almost tangible gaze and emotionless tone made the atmosphere on stage even more tense. The other party seemed quite satisfied with this effect and immediately announced the start of the audition. "The first person on the left, please step forward."

The first actor introduced himself in a trembling voice, and the tension of the audition was amplified in the spacious auditorium of Broadway Theater. The omnipresent amplification and echo effects created a sense of ringing in the ears. The mental pressure and the heavy atmosphere felt like a giant stone pressing on his chest, and he could clearly feel the tension in his vocal cords.

However, Renly didn't pay attention to the auditions of the others. Instead, he immersed himself in his own thoughts, clearing his mind of everything, including the role, audition, and performance, striving to achieve a state of calm focus and then maintaining it.

"Next."

Renly took a step forward, but instead of stopping immediately, he walked straight to the "T point" at the center of the stage, the focal point of the spotlight. Steadying himself, Renly began his self-introduction, "Good afternoon, I'm Renly Hall, twenty years old." Confident but not arrogant, concise yet not redundant.

"You're British?" a voice from the audience inquired, unable to discern the source due to dim lighting. "Then how's your American accent?"

"From which region?", Renly's composed response caused a slight stir in the audience.

Accent is a part of acting but not easy to learn. Anne Hathaway received harsh criticism for her English accent in "Becoming Jane." Even for actors with training, capturing subtle differences in accents from different regions, such as the slight variations between Boston and New York accents, isn't easy. Renly's answer seemed professional and confident but also somewhat arrogant.

After a brief pause, the voice spoke again, "Texas, perhaps." This wasn't a difficult question as Southern accents are quite distinct.

"So, I'm auditioning for a Texan who volunteered for the army?" Renly's pronounced Southern drawl immediately caught everyone's attention—not just for the accuracy of the accent but also because it contrasted starkly with the standard London accent heard earlier, making it hard to believe it was the same person speaking. "I wonder if he's a soldier or an officer. I guess he shouldn't be a typical cowboy."

More importantly, Renly's words weren't just off the cuff. He noticed that each actor's audition role and content were different; the first actor was asked to perform a scene of crying, and the second actor was asked to portray fear. So, he speculated that the casting director must have selected roles based on each actor's appearance and age and then proceeded with the auditions.

Just from the keyword "Texas," Renly vaguely outlined the character.

"Oh? Why do you say that?" a curious voice from the other side chimed in, with a hint of amusement. Turning to look, it was Tom.

This was the first time Tom had spoken during this set of auditions, and Renly could feel the envy and jealousy of the other competitors directed at him.

"Because I'm not a typical cowboy," Renly's straightforward response elicited a low chuckle from the audience. Rolling up his slipping shirt sleeves again, Renly added, "At least, I don't look like one."

"Haha." Tom couldn't help but burst into laughter. Indeed, Renly bore no resemblance to a cowboy, with his slender figure, slightly curled short hair, and gentle smile. The conflicting qualities of elegance and rebelliousness, restraint and abandon, seamlessly blended together, as if he wouldn't be disheveled even if he were to fall into the street. "I can't argue with that." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "You don't seem like a soldier either, at least not one who should be on the Pacific battlefield."

This was a jab at Renly's British identity—"The Pacific" focused on American soldiers.

The mocking taunt wasn't sharp; it even carried some humor, eliciting low laughter from those around. However, it disrupted Renly's audition rhythm, which wasn't good news for him. Nevertheless, Renly didn't seem flustered. He calmly said, "I only knew that Hollywood didn't allow gay actors to play gay roles, or black actors to play black roles, but I never knew they also prohibited British actors from playing Americans." With a slight upward curve of his lips, Renly added meaningfully, "Interesting."

Hollywood also has its dark history, and what Renly said was true, either happening or had happened. The laughter in the audience became sparse, and everyone looked somewhat awkward, exchanging glances.

Tom rubbed his nose, trying to hide his embarrassment. Steven, sitting next to him, immediately came over to lighten the mood, pretending to cry out in pain, causing others to lower their heads—suppressing laughter was indeed difficult.

Tom shot Steven a sharp look, and Steven quickly looked toward the stage, avoiding eye contact, "So, you don't look like a cowboy, or an American, or even a soldier. Why did you come for the audition?"

Between jokes, Steven dug a hole for Renly. The other backup actors behind him showed sympathetic expressions, as it seemed Renly's audition was going to be ruined today.

However, Renly spread his hands innocently, shrugging his shoulders, "Because I'm an actor?" His slightly raised tone seemed to seek everyone's approval while expressing his confusion and helplessness. With a chuckle, Tom laughed out loud, and Steven beside him was left speechless.

Tom soon realized his indiscretion. Considering how difficult it was for others to suppress their laughter, he quickly straightened his clothes and spoke seriously again, "Why don't you perform a piece from Shakespeare?"

Tom's suggestion eventually caused everyone to burst into laughter because "The Pacific" and Shakespeare had no relation. It was obvious that Tom was teasing Renly—Hollywood's stereotypical view of British actors always ties back to theater and Shakespeare.

The situation seemed to deviate from the track, with all signs pointing towards an unfavorable outcome for Renly. The audition had turned into a comedy show.

But Renly didn't mind at all. On the contrary, he decided to seize this opportunity to showcase his abilities. Whether he had acting talent or not, now was the time to find out!

Lowering his eyelids and adjusting his breath, in almost the blink of an eye, he had chosen a play, a role, and a scene, and then he awakened the memories of those lines deep in his mind.

Tom's smile gradually faded as he turned to the casting director, indicating that the audition could proceed.

Generally, the audition performance was determined by the casting director, and Tom and Steven were here to provide reference.

Renly's excellent accent change had caught Tom's attention, serving as a small diversion between him and Steven. But this was just a small ripple. In the world of Hollywood, talented actors, even geniuses, were numerous, and one more or one less wasn't a big deal. Soon, the ripple smoothed out.

Tom opened his mouth, but before any sound could come out, he saw Steven lean forward slightly, his eyes behind the lenses becoming unusually focused, showing a hint of intense interest. This made Tom instinctively turn his head and look back at the stage.

There, standing in the center of the stage, Renly underwent a miraculous transformation. It wasn't about changing his clothes or stretching his movements; it was an indescribable change in aura.

Renly remained upright, his towering figure even more pronounced due to the height difference between the stage and the audience. Yet, the slightly tense line of his shoulders, amidst the interplay of light and shadow, outlined a grandeur tinged with sorrow. It seemed as though he was suppressing surging emotions deep within, barely able to contain his grief yet still holding on. A few subtle changes made the entire atmosphere of the stage quietly settle down.

Tom raised an eyebrow, uncrossing his legs and fixing his gaze on the stage. Then, Renly lifted his head.

With stiff steps, Renly staggered to the side, waves of mourning surged between his brows and eyes, swiftly replaced by a surge of anger, like the sea under a coming storm, eerily calm, "Ah, great Caesar! Have you fallen like this?" The overwhelming despair seemed fragile as if it could break at a touch, but within it, a storm of fury erupted, the magnificence of a thunderstorm about to burst forth, "Have all your great deeds, all your glorious victories, turned to nothing?"

His towering figure seemed on the verge of collapse. Dropping to one knee, he supported himself with his hands, "Farewell! Brave men, I don't know what you see as poisonous or whom else you have marked for bloodshed." The despairing and heroic words carried a hint of resentment, the grinding of teeth audible, "If it's me, then I can die with Caesar at the same hour, let the sword in your hand, stained with the noblest blood in the world, end my life. There couldn't be a better fate!"

(A/N: Don't really know how accurate this is.)

Suddenly, he lifted his head, his eyes sharp as they gazed at the audience, piercing like substance, stinging the eyes of everyone present, his unwavering determination and righteous indignation projected forth, making everyone feel ashamed and unable to meet his gaze.

Three lines, just three lines, and the emotions of everyone in the audience were twisted into one rope, firmly controlled by one person: the unique figure standing at the center of the stage.

In an instant, silence enveloped the room.