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It is, first and foremost, a love story. But it’s backed by a tale of betrayal and loss, in the aftermath of World War II in New York City. It’s a tale of struggle and of determination. It’s the story of Elaine and William, printed in ink, and stapled beneath a cover that reads The Glass Garden.
Elaine is seventeen and sheltered by her tight-knit family. William is twenty-two and an experienced officer in the US Army. Her shy and naïve demeanor contrasts his opposite one so cleverly, so seamlessly, and so beautifully.
The story hooked me quickly, and now I want to bring it to life. I want to bring her to life.
Elaine. Sweet, little, innocent, determined Elaine.
My first audition was a monologue of my choice in front of the assistant to the casting director. It went about as perfectly as I could have hoped. And less than a week later, I was called back to meet with the casting director herself. After that second audition, which was another monologue, I practically floated my way home, full of hope. I want that third call-back, and with my nose between the pages, I feel my heart lurch and my pulse race as the beautiful story unfolds before me again and again.
The Broadway play is set to be directed by the highly praised George McAllister and will be performed at the Belasco Theatre. The budget is large; way off the map compared to anything I’ve ever been part of, and the requirements for the leads are far more difficult.
If I land it, the role of Elaine would be my biggest challenge yet. The battles that she faces with herself, with her family, and with William would test the limits of my acting abilities, giving me the chance to shine, or completely fail.
A second audition meant they saw something promising in me. But I’ve gotten second auditions before. Second auditions mean so little. Third auditions mean so much more.
So, I’ve continued to read the script, over and over again, picking out little details and imagining the story and how it would look on the stage. How Elaine would look. How I would look.
It’s been a welcome distraction from the pitiful state my mind was in for so many weeks. I’ve been trying hard not to think about Kai ever since that mortifying weekend, but I’ve been mostly unsuccessful until now. I couldn’t stop seeing his eyes, his lips, and his pained expression as I left him alone in the café that morning. But I did not want to be there. And I did not want to admit to him the way he made me feel. I didn’t want to give him that satisfaction.
He must have seen how embarrassed I was, yet he responded with cheeky comments and uncomfortable questions. It’s like our steamy encounter was just another Saturday night for him. And that’s what bothers me the most. I put myself in a vulnerable spot. For a moment, I believed I could find something fulfilling in a one-night encounter. But the pain of my past, of the man who used me for his own entertainment, is too sharp. I can’t break free from those chains that still hold me.
I’ve tried to erase the entire evening with Kai and forget him completely. But when he tried to tell me he did care, it struck different, because his truth was the very last thing I wanted to hear—and also the only thing I wanted to hear. So, I threw my walls up, attacking him instead, and using our differences as an excuse to be cold with him. It was harsh, and it was callous, but it was all I could do to keep my emotions in check and protect myself. Because I know, deep down, even if he did care, it was still only about getting me into bed with him. When I questioned him about exactly that, his flustered response was confirmation.
And so, I walked away. No phone number. No details. Self-protection was my only defense. And I’m not about to leave myself exposed again. For the last few weeks, with the distractions of my auditions, he’s barely crossed my mind, and I’m beginning to move on from what was just a trivial encounter.
Now, I settle deeper into the sofa with the script and slip a spoonful of cereal into my mouth. While I allow myself to read, I can dive deep into the story and forget about Kai. Here in the pages, I’m Elaine with my William, living out a tale so refreshingly different from my own.
My phone buzzes in the kitchen and I regretfully put the script down to retrieve it. I have less than twenty pages left on my third readthrough, and I’m really starting to pick up on the themes, but when I see the caller ID, it displays my agent’s name, and I snatch the phone up quickly.
“Hi, Laura?” I hold my breath.
Her voice is joyful. “So, Sophie, do you have any plans for Tuesday? Because if so, you’re gonna want to cancel them.”
I grip the phone tightly in my hand, trying not to let a premature smile form on my face. “Because…?”
“Because you have another callback.”
I suck in air. “You’re kidding…seriously?”
“One hundred percent serious. Sophie, they really liked you.”
I sink down into a kitchen chair as my heart thumps. “Oh my God…”
“I told you it was the perfect role.”
I bring my hand to my heart. “Oh my…so I’ve never gotten this far before…do they want another short monologue? Or…what should I prepare?”
Laura is silent for a moment on the other end. “No, that’s the thing… They want to run a few scenes with you, from the script.”
“Really? The script?”
“Don’t take my word for it, but I think…I think they have narrowed it down to you and just one or two other possible Elaines.”
“Holy crap.” I stare at the empty table in front of me, barely believing I’ve made it this far, and so quickly. “So, this is…this is it?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they have their Elaine after next week.” It’s clear she’s smiling through the phone. “So, I’m going to email you the details and the specific scenes they’ve asked you to prepare. Are you pretty familiar with the script now?”
“I’ve read it three times already,” I say through labored, anxious breaths.
