There’s an air of excitement in the room as Marco talks the cast through his ideas for the show. Everyone listens and nods, and most people jot notes onto their scripts. Liam, however, isn’t holding a script, but leaning forward and frowning in concentration.
He has an energy about him these days that’s new. Sort of an aggressive simmer, like there’s a dark cloud following him around, drawing down his brows and putting tension in his jaw. I know it’s become part of his sex appeal, but I’m intrigued to know what’s causing it.
He sits next to Angel without touching her. In fact, when she leans over to whisper something in his ear, a flash of irritation passes over his face before he pulls away. Angel looks around to see if anyone noticed. When she glances in my direction, I diplomatically go back to tapping notes into my laptop.
It’s heartening to know they’re not always as blissful as they seem in their pictures. It makes them seem more human.
I can’t even imagine what it must be like to be engaged to the world’s most lusted-after man. It’s no secret that Angel regularly receives death threats and abuse on social media from Liam’s more rabid admirers. If I were her, I’d be paranoid as hell, but she always seems perky and upbeat. It must be exhausting to stay as positive and put-together as she does. Even when she’s caught exiting a spin class, she looks like she’s just stepped out of the pages of a glamorous fitness magazine.
Fitness is just one more thing she and Liam have in common. I know they’re in the business of looking good, but really, no one needs to exercise as much as they do. It’s wrong and unnatural. My idea of working out involves yoga pants without the actual yoga. In fact, my yoga pants should be called “sitting around eating cheese pants.” A longer title, sure, but more accurate.
“My final point is this,” says Marco. “Even though Taming of the Shrew is a play which can easily be seen as chauvinistic, we’re aiming to dispel that perception. Angel will portray a Katherine whose bitterness stems from her unwillingness to conform to society’s definition of a woman’s role, as well as a reaction to her father’s blatant favoritism toward her sister. Petruchio will not be her tamer as much as her partner in crime. My goal is to show our audience a couple who brings out the best in each other, who feeds upon each other’s unusual sexual desires, and who manages to poke fun at those who are trying to make them something they’re not.”
He clasps his hands together and smiles. “So, with all that in mind, let’s see what we can create together. Let’s work through the first scene. Places!”
Over the next few hours, we block out the first three scenes in the first act.
At first, Angel is way too nice as Kate. After Marco asks her to be stronger, she goes too far in the other direction and plays Kate’s scenes with her sister and father like a screaming banshee who’s likely to hack them to pieces, Lizzie Borden style.
I’m no director, but I think Marco’s going to insist on a little more subtlety.
Liam, on the other hand, is excellent right off the bat. His Petruchio is passionate and charismatic, and he has great chemistry with the actors playing his servant and friends.
Being in the rehearsal room with him again reminds me how mesmerizing he is up close. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve watched the Rageheart series too many times to count. But as powerful and intense as Liam is on-screen, he’s even more so in the flesh. It’s refreshing to see him play a character so different from that brooding and violent demon. His version of Petruchio is a lovable rogue, and I’d almost forgotten how stunning he is when he smiles. He didn’t do it much while he was massacring all those sadistic angel overlords.
As I look around, I notice that every single person has their eyes glued to him, and this is why he’s a star. Liam is one of those actors who just has it. It’s part talent, and part confidence, and just enough raw vulnerability to make you want to fuck him and hug him at the same time. At least, that’s how he affects most women.
Despite being a six-foot-three wall of rippling muscle who could no doubt beat anyone who messed with him into a bloody pulp, he makes you want to take care of him.
“Did you know he was this talented?” Marco asks when I release the cast for a coffee break.
“He was excellent as Romeo,” I say. “I wasn’t sure how he’d handle this role, but it fits him like a glove.”
Marco nods. “I only wish Angel were as good. I’d hoped she’d bring some level of complexity to Katherine. But she’s playing her as a two-dimensional screamer.”
“Art imitating life,” our production intern, Denise, mumbles beside me.