I am a Big Player
Chapter 529 - 523, The First Performance at Black Box Theater (First Release)_1

Chapter 529: 523, The First Performance at Black Box Theater (First Release)_1

Everyone had originally felt indifferent towards Ren He lying there and completing an entire play, given that this was the nature of the role, and also because at the moment of Ren He’s explosive acting, he was absolutely soul-shaking.

Playing opponent roles with such a teammate is a test of one’s foundational skills. If your partner doesn’t keep up, even the lead could be overshadowed by a beggar character.

In fact, during the last performance, they were already unable to suppress his presence!

The entire play lasted 1 hour and 28 minutes, and for the first 1 hour and 20 minutes, Ren He’s character was merely a point of humor, merely part of the background. However, in the final 8 minutes, nobody could overshadow his brilliance.

But this was exactly the result Chen Da had wanted; for him, the true climax of a normal play was only those 8 minutes!

Perfect!

Now, things were different. Once Ren He got on stage with the "Shang Fang Sword" and sprawled down, he recited his lines properly, but something always felt off. Just catching a glimpse of Ren He would immediately break the immersion...

On closer thought, there wasn’t any special action on Ren He’s part. The other party was still usual, just a bit more relaxed... Yes, relaxed!

It was this sense of relaxation that broke everyone’s immersion, almost causing Chen Da to spit out blood after discovering the problem.

Saturday night was Chen Da’s troupe’s performance time at the Black Box Theater, with the show starting at 7:30 PM and ending at 9 PM.

Ren He thought he had nothing to worry about since Zheng Yi hadn’t yet joined the troupe, so the usual performance would do.

But Chen Da made a grand gesture, "Zheng Yi, go familiarize yourself with the ’Cang Hai’ script. Since Director Zhang has chosen you, make a good impression, and let’s perform as we’ve rehearsed before."

What did that mean?

Honestly, everyone was baffled. Although Ren He was ready, no one expected Chen Da to put him on stage so quickly.

When everyone else joined as understudies, didn’t they all need months or even half a year to be thoroughly ready before taking the stage? This preparation period had become their default understanding. In their view, Zheng Yi should have been completely replaced before Ren He took over.

After all, the senior who originally played the beggar hadn’t fully gotten into the character yet!

Zheng Yi was indifferent; he was eager to conquer the script he had just received. Being able to get away from the troupe was also a good thing, and he had actually requested it of Chen Da.

Ren He didn’t mind either. He had even prepared to invite Yang Xi to watch his performance, wondering what her reaction would be after seeing him play a beggar.

He was quite looking forward to it.

The other actors didn’t care either. Who was acting didn’t change the fact they were performing, right?

Only the one who was originally playing the beggar was suffering. Even though he knew the lead’s lines well, getting into character was definitely not as simple as just remembering lines...

Ren He first went back to the dorm to let Li Shuaizhen and the others know that he was making his debut on stage tomorrow, inviting them to come and watch.

The brothers in the dorm gaped in astonishment—damn!

"You’ve just had two rehearsals, and you’re going to perform at the Black Box Theater?" Li Shuaizhen was shocked. What kind of place was the Black Box?

Although it was the smallest formal theater in the Central Academy of Drama, the teams that could perform in the weekly schedule were the strongest within the academy!

There were 12 troupes organized by teachers in the Central Academy of Drama that could perform at the Black Box; 11 were teams of graduate students and professors, with only Chen Da’s being the undergraduate team!

Moreover, the audience at the Black Box Theater is not ordinary people, once a week, usually many officials, tycoons, and celebrities will be among them.

This is not about small celebrities padding the numbers but about big shots from the Central Academy of Drama coming back to watch their younger schoolmates’ performances, including Director Zhang, who is a senior alumnus.

As long as he doesn’t have anything particularly important to do, Director Zhang always comes to the Black Box Theater to watch the shows, rain or shine.

Some stars from other places also come to watch because many people in the circle believe that drama is more professional and artistic, and many celebrities intentionally stress their theatrical experience when introducing their resume to others.

This is why everyone wants to break their necks getting into the Black Box Theater - who knows who might take notice of them?

But the Black Box Theater is also considered the most sacred place in the Central Academy of Drama, and even slightly flawed things can’t make it to the stage.

Yet, this opportunity, which most students at the Central Academy of Drama would die for, Ren He landed it just two months into his freshman year...

What a demon!

Ren He laughed heartily, "It’s all luck, all luck. I was even planning to ask Yang Xi to come and see my stage debut. Remember to keep it a secret and just pretend you don’t know her when you see her."

"Yang Xi is coming to watch?" The others in Dorm Room 313 gasped, tomorrow really would be the day they met this Dota teammate of theirs.

Although they have grown quite familiar with each other playing Dota, they have never met in real life, and she is an international pop star!

Once you add the word "international" before "pop star," it seems a bit fancier - don’t you see, most domestic celebrities still have to buy their way onto the red carpet abroad?

When Ren He told Yang Xi about this, she burst into laughter upon learning that Ren He would be playing a beggar, "You playing a beggar? No, no, I think you’d do quite well as a nouveau riche, basically playing yourself!"

Ren He felt a bit of a toothache: "I’m a proud nouveau riche, who’s looking down on whose acting skills? Spit it out, are you coming or not?"

"Of course, I’m going. I want to see what kind of beggar you make. Surely you won’t be holding a golden bowl, right?" Yang Xi teased merrily.

Their conversations now were mostly playful banter, creating a very relaxed atmosphere.

They both knew which jokes the other liked and which they didn’t, like an unspoken understanding.

They were best lovers and also the best of ’frenemies,’ and Ren He felt this kind of relationship was actually very good.

"Be careful on your way here, alright? Your sunglasses and mask are in the third cabinet on the right side of the wardrobe at the Courtyard House. Be cautious or you’ll cause a sensation at the Central Academy of Drama," Ren He reminded with a smile.

"Got it, got it. Now hurry up and get online for Dota."

Ren He’s face darkened, now he was really starting to regret introducing this internet-addicted girl to Dota, she was even more hooked than he was!

After hanging up the phone, Yang Xi suddenly started to daydream in front of her computer. That person was finally going on stage; although she was well aware that such occasions were fleeting since he had no intention of pursuing it seriously, the key issue was, wouldn’t this be the first time watching him perform as an audience member?

Yang Xi always felt that Ren He was actually much more dazzling than herself, but he had been hiding his own brilliance.

Now being able to see him perform on stage truly felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Speaking of which, should she bring him a bouquet of flowers after his performance? Will she be recognized? To give or not to give? Maybe give them when she gets back home in the evening?

Such a dilemma...