All the world's a stage

Posted on Fri May 17th, 2024 @ 2:30 by Claire Cavendish & Jonathan Monroe

Chapter: Winter's Crest Festival
Location: English classroom
Timeline: Wednesday, 16th of December, 1992
1466 words - 2.9 OF Standard Post Measure

"Can we do that one more time?" The producer of the BBC crew was standing near Jonathan and Claire and looked down at his watch and planning sheet. They should have some more time, and while a bit of awkwardness was to be expected from kids trying to perform a Shakespeare scene the display he had seen just now wasn't something he felt truly represented the people there. He wanted to make this piece in an effort to humanise the mutants at Avalon, give the people at home something to relate to.

Claire looked at Jonathan and gave a bit of a smile, they both knew how important this exposure was for the institute and the mutant community, but they also needed to protect the kids in their care. There had been some that they had avoided with the camera's since their identities needed to be protected, and there were some that had no issues stepping into the limelight. "I think we might have one more in us, what do you reckon Mister Monroe?"

Jonathan let out a long sigh, trying to put a brave face on it. "Yeah, we can do one more I suppose." He motioned for the students to reset to starting positions, then glanced at Claire. "One more, right?" he added in a low voice. "They're kids, not performing monkeys..."

A slow nod from the head mistress told him that she knew this was probably the limit of what they could expect from the kids. To be fair, it was good practice for the performance on Friday, but they weren't professional actors, so some stiltedness in their performance was to be expected. "You got them quite far in just two and a half days." Claire hoped giving him a compliment would appease him some.

"I picked the ones who were more capable. And, uh, I convinced our Miss Misati to give a few of them a bit of a confidence boost. Just a little one, don't worry..." he continued, trying to allay any fears of mutant-powered enhancements being the only reason for success. "I figured they needed a little helping hand is all."

Claire nodded carefully, she didn't really want the BBC people to hear about that or get suspicious. She looked over at the producer sternly and stepped closer. "Last chance, make it count."

The camera crew decided on a slightly different angle and set up again to make sure they could record the sound and actors properly. "Any take on the academic papers around Shakespeare having been a secret mutant?" The news reporter had stepped closer to Claire and Jonathan to ask his question.

Jon glanced at Claire, sharing a kind of 'what the hell' look before he answered. "It's certainly an interesting theory. Regardless of whether it's true or not - and I'm sure it would be difficult to prove - we're delighted to be able to teach our young people the value of literature and history."

"What's the value of literature to people that can create disappear in front of your very eyes, or even create flames from their very fingertips?" There was a strong implication from the journalist that these two examples weren't just pulled from thin air.

"Education for any group is important," Jonathan replied. "Just imagine handing over a sword to someone without teaching them what the pointy end does. If we're to ensure a future for these young men and women, they should be able to function in the real world. They should have enough education behind them to achieve the best they can in life." He glanced at Claire, hoping she would back him up with some of her classic words of wisdom.

Claire wasn't quite sure where the journalist was going with this, besides the boom man and the camera had been pointed at the troupe currently putting on a stilted version of a Shakespearean play. "Besides, education is not preparation for life, education is life itself." She added quoting an American philosopher whose name momentarily eluded her.

The journalist simply nodded a bit at that, "but how do you know what the pointy end does in this particular group.." he seemed to stop himself from adding a signifyer for the group.

"How indeed," Jon nodded. "Perhaps it's easier for those of a mutant persuasion to understand and help nurture those with similar life experiences? And to help them learn from history and literature how great power should and should not be used." He paused, unsure whether to use the quote or not. "Ralph Waldo Emerson: 'Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding'."

There was a modest applause once the amateur troupe of Avalon finished their performance. It broke the tension that seemed to grow between the journalist and the English teacher. "Do you mind if I ask you a few questions on camera, Mister Monroe?"

Claire turned to Jonathan, knowing how he wasn't one for standing in the spotlight, "There's no obligations, Jon."

Indeed, the request sent an uncomfortable chill down his spine. But he sensed how important this was to Claire, and letting her down was the last thing he wanted to do. Besides, Liana had been encouraging him to be less inward all the time...

"Fine. A couple of questions. Sure." He nodded to the journalist, taking a deep breath to try to clear the uncertainty.

"Cheers." The journalist waved over the camera once the final run through of the Shakespearian play concluded. "Just stand here." He positioned Jonathan in front of the stage with the kids still on there. "Alright then, here we are with one of Avalon Institute's English teachers Jonathan Monroe, tell me Jon, how does a Kansas farm boy end up teaching English Literature in the Scottish Highlands?"

Taking a self-conscious moment, Jon considered his answer. "That's a very long story. But I'm not the only one who travelled a long way to get here to the Avalon Institute. I view this school as a haven for those who need a home; somewhere safe where they can learn and become contributing members of society. Somewhere they can be given a chance."

"You feel as though these children wouldn't have a chance out in a regular school?" The journalist immediately latched on to a little bit of the answer to spin a bit of his own narrative. It made for compelling television, and the topic at hand was bound to draw in viewers on its own anyway.

"Those are your words, not mine," Jonathan corrected, his brow furrowing just slightly. "It's no secret that they're different; that's hard enough for any teenager. But here they don't have to worry about being different; because everyone here is. That's the point I was making."

Kris didn't seem to want to press on the fact that it had been heavily implied in his initial answer. "How does Shakespeare help them deal with all those differences?"

"Tragedy...comedy..." Jonathan shrugged just slightly. "The lessons woven in Shakespeare are just as relevant and relatable today as they were then. Is there anything more tragic than being tormented by a circumstance thrust upon you by the world? It's an important lesson that everyone should learn."

"What's the most important lesson you've learned from the Bard?"

“I think the King is but a man, as I am. The violet smells to him as it doth to me. The element shows to him as it doth to me. All his senses have but human conditions. His ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man.” Jonathan almost spoke the quote into the middle-distance, a faintly rueful expression on his face. "Sorry...Henry V. The lesson he speaks of is that even Kings...those with power...feel the same things as those without. At the end of the day we're all the same emotional creatures." He paused, dwelling on some memories of past times, some of them less comfortable. He cleared his throat quickly. "I think...I've had enough of the questions for now, if that's okay? I should get back to the students..."

The journalist simply nodded and habe a faint smile at that before turning to Claire, who in turn also smiled at the exchange. She motioned for them to pack up and join her back out on the hallway as Jonathan returned to the kids that had clearly been enjoying their 15 minutes of fame during the performance for national television. It would seem that the entire news report was coming together quite nicely and the editors would be hard pressed to stitch together something that would put them in a bad light.

"Shall we then?" Claire added to spur along the news crew towards their next stop on the tour.