Superhumans of the Dome City

Chapter 1518: Chapter 7: Recollections Theater (Part 2)

I believe a good actor should at least master basic performance skills, so I purchased the software specifically for dancers. Science and technology are very convenient; with prosthetics capable of finely controlled movements, even an amateur can have dance moves comparable to professionals.

After all, in the United States, "professional" refers not only to skills but also to technology. The software and prosthetics of actresses in Meteor City are likely even more advanced than this amateur’s. But in any case, this expensive technology should be sufficient to deal with the audiences of a small, desolate town. Referring to the dance data I saved earlier, I performed a passionate routine during the afternoon rehearsal.

But after seeing it, the troupe leader just flicked his sleeve and, once again, tied me backstage with that thread. After that night’s performance, I was indignant, not even bothering to take off my ballet outfit before wanting to go confront him. My angry stance must have resembled that of the legendary enraged Saint, as the green-haired girl frantically stopped me.

"Miss Ada, you are already a living doll, don’t let yourself become a dead puppet!" she pleaded earnestly.

"What’s the difference? To the troupe leader, everyone is just a puppet."

"Is it really worth getting that angry over a ballet dance?"

"He completely ignored my efforts."

I explained in detail how much I spent on the software, to which the green-haired girl sympathetically nodded.

"Firstly, our troupe is broke, and the leader will definitely not reimburse you," she said. "Secondly, I think your effort is misplaced. No matter how well you perform, if you’re not immersed in the role, it’s pointless. The leader certainly won’t let you perform by yourself."

Immersion. Immersion. There’s that phrase again. Dissatisfied, I asked, "May I ask what it means to be immersed in a role?"

"The play is fake, but the person is real. To be immersed, you have to make the fake real!" The green-haired girl wagged her finger, "Without immersion, what’s the difference if you dance yourself or the leader controls your movements?"

I had to admit, the veteran member made some valid points. I thanked the green-haired girl and asked her for a script, which I studied before bed.

This was my first time reading the performance script, as I had previously been controlled by threads and knew nothing about the plot. This play was about the story of the Legendary Saint from long ago, who, later in his travels, came to the White Night State, exploring the mysteries between moonlight and memory.

The giant dragon landscapes of the White Night State are moonlight that deprives memory. Long ago, the pioneering families of this state tried to resist the Church with totemic power. Meanwhile, the Saint gracefully navigated the moonlight, single-handedly seizing the totem, casting a sealing, and transforming this terrifying land into a habitable paradise.

The script outlines a bold, confident, and exuberant figure in a few words, which made me appreciate the troupe leader’s writing skills. As for casting a female to play this role, it’s not surprising; the idea of the Legendary Saint being a woman is a heretical idea popular among a few zealots, perfectly fitting for an outlandish and unpopular troupe like ours.

However, this script is more suited for a Ranger like Seviss; it’s very hard for me to portray a woman who laughs heartily while handling predicaments. No wonder the leader wouldn’t let me perform personally. If I performed light steps with a gloomy mood, such a contradictory performance would surely lead to disappointment, causing the audience to hurl insults and throw rotten eggs and rusty screws at his tall hat.

I made up my mind to portray a Saint image that matches the script. I bought a new set of expression plugins, and from the next day, I strived to present myself as a cheerleader admired in a university campus. I practiced in front of a mirror for half an hour and walked confidently to chat with the troupe members, only to be met with a burst of laughter.

"Please give this clown hat to Miss Ada."

The green-haired girl handed it to the cook, who kindly placed it on my head.

I angrily pulled off the hat and threw it to the ground.

"This is outrageous!"

The green-haired girl laughed and waved her hand: "Honestly, it was super funny..."

"How can you disregard my efforts like this?"

"Downloading a plugin doesn’t count as effort, right? Your way of thinking is quite strange," the green-haired girl picked up the clown hat and put it on herself. "Someone who doesn’t want to smile, no matter how hard they try to smile, will end up with an ugly expression. That’s too fake, and coming on stage with a fake expression will make the audience uncomfortable."

"But I’m not a sunny person by nature; isn’t this forcing the impossible? I can’t possibly play the Saint well!"

I shouted in despair, and the cook looked at me in confusion.

"Why do you want to play a character you definitely can’t portray well?"

I was speechless.

·

I think the cook must be someone who’s wise despite appearing dim-witted because his words were too accurate. A person can’t become an existence that goes against who they are, and without common ground, any performance is bound to be fake.

To be immersed, you need a sense of reality; to achieve that, an actor needs to resonate with the play. Emotional resonance and similar experiences allow me to perform wholeheartedly. Such a storyline certainly doesn’t exist in the Saint’s tale. To perform well, I’ll inevitably need to adopt a script that’s more suitable for me.

I decided to write one myself.

Three afternoons later, I handed the completed script to the troupe leader. He flipped through it carelessly and asked, "Where do the characters in the book come from? Where do the events in the play originate?"

"The protagonist is me, and the events are my own experiences," I told the troupe leader. "I’m an immature actor, and if I want to deliver a heartfelt performance, I’ll probably have to play myself."