What theater-themed short story involving a wallflower actor am I having trouble remembering?
October 15, 2011 4:35 PM Subscribe
I am trying to find the name of a short story that involved a socially awkward actor brought out of his shell romantically by Shakespeare's words.
Read the story in the 90s, although it might be much older than that. The plot involved an actress and a wallflower actor in the same play. The former is romantically interested in the latter, but he always makes a hasty retreat after each rehearsal. The actress eventually catches him backstage before he leaves and thrusts a copy of Romeo & Juliet in his hands. They perform the balcony scene, leading into a courtship that may or may not have been entirely comprised of acting out famous theatrical romances. Feel free to flag this question if it's all too common a plot device, but this is all I remember.
For some reason my mind is telling me it was written by Isaac Asimov, although I haven't had much luck googling on that front.
Read the story in the 90s, although it might be much older than that. The plot involved an actress and a wallflower actor in the same play. The former is romantically interested in the latter, but he always makes a hasty retreat after each rehearsal. The actress eventually catches him backstage before he leaves and thrusts a copy of Romeo & Juliet in his hands. They perform the balcony scene, leading into a courtship that may or may not have been entirely comprised of acting out famous theatrical romances. Feel free to flag this question if it's all too common a plot device, but this is all I remember.
For some reason my mind is telling me it was written by Isaac Asimov, although I haven't had much luck googling on that front.
saffronwoman has it! There was also an American Playhouse adaptation of this story which stars Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken. It's pretty good...!
posted by OolooKitty at 4:58 PM on October 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by OolooKitty at 4:58 PM on October 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Seconding the American Playhouse film of this story. Susan Sarandon and Christopher Walken are both wonderful. Sweet and charming story with a lot of hot and steamy from the lead actors.
posted by marsha56 at 5:46 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by marsha56 at 5:46 PM on October 15, 2011
Response by poster: That's it! Thank you all so very much. Guess it's been long enough since I've read Vonnegut's works for the first time that it's worth putting them back on my reading queue.
And thanks for the link to the adaptation! I have a feeling I'll enjoy watching it (after re-reading the story, of course).
posted by noyb42 at 8:40 PM on October 15, 2011
And thanks for the link to the adaptation! I have a feeling I'll enjoy watching it (after re-reading the story, of course).
posted by noyb42 at 8:40 PM on October 15, 2011
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posted by saffronwoman at 4:48 PM on October 15, 2011