Who: Tina Cohen-Chang and OTA What: Tina's finishing up her audition for Les Miserables When: 12 February 2011 Where: Outside a community theatre Warnings: TBD Status: Incomplete
Tina was anxious. She never really had the confidence to go for something she wanted. Well, before Mike. Before Mike, she was a shy girl who faked a stutter to avoid being around people. But it hindered her. It kept her from going after the things she wanted. But Mike had believed in her, even where Artie hadn't. Mike had given her confidence she never knew was possible to have. And she loved him so much she could cry. She did still cry, just not around people, even though it was hard not to. Especially when she saw couples together. But she was getting stronger. And that had to count for something.
Earlier during the day, Tina had been working at the dance studio. But now? Now she was standing in front of a director, stage manager and musical director and she was trying to calm her nerves. She had to do this. She wasn't shy Tina Cohen-Chang anymore. Well, she was still shy, but she wasn't going to let that hold her back. She wanted to do this show, she had loved Les Miserables since she was a small child. And there was no Rachel Berry for whom she had to compete against. Seriously, Tina would not forgive herself if she let this pass her by.
"Hi. My name is Tina Cohen-Chang and I will be singing 'When I Look at You' from The Scarlet Pimpernel". Taking a breath, the lone female Asian of the complex looked to the accompanist and gave a small nod before turning her attention back to those she was to sing before, letting the music fill her soul and take control, her voice pure and strong, something she didn't feel at all.
"When I look at you He is touching me I would reach for him But who can hold a memory And love isn't everything That moonlight on the bed will melt away Someday!
Oh you were once that someone Who I followed like a star Then suddenly you changed And now I don't know who you are Or.. could it be That I never really knew you from the start?
Did I create a dream? Was he a fantasy? Even a memory is paradise For all the fools like me Now remembering is all that I can do Because.. I miss him so When I look at you....."
By the end of the song, Tina had tears in her eyes, her voice cracking with tears but not to the point where it was over powering. Just enough to show she was moved by the music. As the music faded away, Tina smiled to the three.
"Thank you." Turning to leave, Tina was stunned when she was asked to stay behind and sing 'On My Own'. That.. had been unexpected. If anything, Tina had expected to be cast as an ensemble member, not to be asked to sing one of the leads, and one of the most well known songs of the show. But who was she to deny? But she had been told at Asian Camp that she was tormented and delusional enough to play Eponine, so maybe her director had been right.
Going through the well known song, Tina felt jittery at the end. She couldn't tell if the director and musical director liked her or not, she could only pray. As she was excused, Tina curtsied and left, tugging on her jacket as she stepped out into the streets, still singing to herself.
"And I know it's only in my mind That I'm talking to myself and not to him And although I know that he is blind Still I say There's a way for us
I love him But when the night is over He is gone The river's just a river Without him The world around me changes The trees are bare and everywhere the streets are full of strangers
I love him, but every day I'm learning All my life I've only been pretending Without me His world will go on turning The world is full of happiness that I have never known!
I love him I love him I love him But only.. on my own...."