Inside Sir Weissenasche’s study, Joshua began casting for the movie ‘Hachiko: A Dog’s Life.’
Sir Weissenasche recommended a great number of performers. So far, Joshua had audited thirteen performers. All thirteen of them passed the audition and became casts in ‘Hachiko: A Dog’s Life.’
Seeing some of those performers so excited that they started hugging one another, Joshua felt the desire to inform them that they’re only playing minor roles.
“Next.”
After Joshua finished auditing a fat performer and decided on casting him as a shop owner that feeds Hachiko barbecue, he instructed Sir Weissenasche to have the next performer come inside.
Sir Weissenasche opened the door and a girl that looked to be about the same age as Ynor walked in. Joshua has been auditioning for all this time. Finally, he managed to see a girl with an appearance that could match Ynor.
Her identity in the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe was also on par with her extraordinary appearance.
Joshua took a glance at the register provided by Sir Weissenasche that he held in his hand. That register was similar to a ‘roster.’ It listed the names of the Weissenasche Theater’s performers as well as a brief introduction.
The order for the casting was done according to the ‘roster.’
According to the register, she is the main female performer of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe. In the brief introduction listed below the name, Sir Weissenasche praised this actress’s potential and talent nonstop.
“Noli?”
Joshua read the name on the register.
“Mister director. To be exact, my name is Noli Ekaterine,” she said.
It seems that Sir Weissenasche had informed all the performers of the theatrical troupe the various ‘terms’ Joshua used at the filming site.
Judging from her expression, she seemed to be certain that she will be the main actress for the next movie.
Her confidence was befitting the Weissenasche Theater’s female star. If all the praises Sir Weissenasche wrote on her ‘CV’ were true, this Noli Ekaterine was indeed a very talented actress.
Unfortunately, Joshua’s next movie... does not possess a female lead. If one insisted on having a female lead, then perhaps only that pet dog could be the female lead.
Joshua believed that no matter how pretty and talented of an actress Noli Ekaterine might be, it would still be impossible for her to take on the role of ‘Hachiko.’
“I got it. Next.”
For the time being, Joshua decided to have her be the daughter of the movie’s male lead. But, she didn’t leave after Joshua wrote her name on the performers list.
“Please excuse my presumptuousness... Mister director, is it possible... for you to tell me what my role would be?”
Unlike the other members of the Weissenasche Theater that left right away, she wanted to know what the young director will cast her as in his next movie.
Was this her pride and arrogance as the female star of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe?
“A supporting role. You will be the daughter of the main protagonist. In terms of workload, it’s not a lot...”
Joshua patiently answered her.
“Supporting role...”
Noli stood shocked for a moment after hearing that response. She took a glance at Sir Weissenasche who stood on the side of the room. Sir Weissenasche was shaking his head at her nonstop.
In the end, she bit her lip and, after a couple more seconds of hesitation, finally accepted the role arranged by Joshua.
After the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe’s female star left the study, Joshua continued on with the audition of the next person.
In less than an hour, Joshua had reached the last page of the register. The final performer from the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe was a young boy.
At the end of the audition, practically all the supporting roles needed for ‘Hachiko: A Dog’s Tale’ have been filled. As for the main character, the professor, Joshua had several candidates in mind. Among them was Sir Weissenasche.
“Are these all the members of your theatrical troupe?”
Joshua closed the register. Compared to the amount of people in the Black Swan Theatrical Troupe, using the phrase ‘pitifully few’ to describe the number of people in the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe would be a praise. Logically, a large stage play theatrical troupe shouldn’t have only this few people.
“My apologies Mister Joshua. A portion of the performers has decided to return to their hometowns. They are the only ones that chose to stay...”
Sir Weissenasche grew slightly dispirited as he said those words. Ever since movies appeared, apart from the manager of the Norland’s National Theater, the two theatrical troupes in Norland also received enormous shock.
Even though the movies allowed Sir Weissenasche to earn money that he would’ve never been able to earn in his entire life, he couldn’t help but feel an unspeakable sense of sorrow the moment he recalls the bitterness encountered by Norland’s two theatrical troupes.
In the end, Sir Weissenasche got his start as a stage play performer. Even now, he’s still a stage play performer and a stage play lover. Unfortunately, with the emergence of movies, the method of ‘performance’ has reached a new level.
Perhaps stage plays would not die out in the future. But, a decline would be inevitable.
Right now, Sir Weissenasche could only closely follow the change of the era so that he would not become one of those abandoned behind.
“That is indeed a pity.”
Joshua most definitely needed a large number of performers in the future. Norland does not possess an art institute that cultivates performers like Farucci. Because of that, the members of the two theatrical troupes were ‘talents’ that Joshua needed.
Unfortunately, most of those people had chosen to leave and escape.
Joshua took out the performer list for ‘Hachiko.’ He was planning to give the role of the main character, the professor, to Sir Weissenasche. However, at this time, the door to the study was suddenly knocked upon.
“Come in.”
Joshua shouted to the door. The study’s door was pushed open and an old man wearing an attendant outfit walked in.
“Sorry to disturb you,” said the old man.
No matter how Joshua looked at him, this old attendant didn’t seem like someone who came to bring tea or water to him. With a confused look, Joshua turned to Sir Weissenasche.
When he did so, he discovered Sir Weissenasche’s face was covered in shock.
He extended his trembling hand to point at the old man.
“Morgan... Master Morgan!”
Perhaps it was a bit weird, Joshua was able to actually hear a sense of... pious devotion in Sir Weissenasche’s voice.
Even though this old man was wearing the attendant outfit for the Weissenasche Theater, Joshua realized through Sir Weissenasche’s reaction that this old man had snuck into the Weissenasche Theater through either disguise or infiltration.
But, more terrifying than anything, Sir Weissenasche didn’t manage to discover him all this time.
“It’s been a while, Kelman. The last time we met was at the premiere for ‘Léon: The Demon,’” said the old man.
Kelman was Sir Weissenasche’s original name. This old man knew Sir Weissenasche. Furthermore, Sir Weissenasche was becoming more emotional.
“No... Master Morgan, why are you dressed like...”
“The theater I’m with is not having any shows. That’s why I came to your theater to earn some living expenses as an attendant. I’ve heard that you’re recruiting performers for your new movie. May I give it a try?”
“Master Morgan, you...”
Sir Weissenasche wanted to say ‘no problem at all’ when he suddenly recalled that he was no longer the master of this theater.
Because of that, he turned to look at Joshua.
“That’s no problem,” said Joshua with a smile.