Page 24 of Play Room Actor

Is it not monstrous that this player here,

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,

Could force his soul so to his own conceit

That from her working all the visage wanned

Tears in his eyes, distraction in his aspect,

A broken voice, and his whole function suiting

With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing—”

Dominic looked around with an air of defiance. When our eyes met, I was completely captivated by his presence and aura, and I struggled to keep up with his monologue.

“For Hecuba!” he called out energetically, pounding his fist against his chest.

He wasn’t just reciting. No, he was Hamlet, using everything he had to convince us. His expressiveness was immense. He even climbed onto the chair and involved the entire Piadina Bar. People had gathered by the open window and entrance, as the acoustics were good enough to hear him even outside.

“Had he the motive and the cue for passion

That I have?” Dominic continued. “He would drown the stage with tears

And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,

Make mad the guilty and appall the free,

Confound the ignorant and amaze indeed

The very faculties of eyes and ears.”

I sat there with my mouth open, amazed. The man was fearless, and it was obvious he was enjoying the performance. This was his element—just like the light was for me. Dominic immersed himself in the role to the point that all I could see was Hamlet in him.

“Who calls me villain,” Dominic cried, “breaks my pate across,

Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face,

Tweaks me by the nose, gives me the lie i’th’ throat

As deep as to the lungs?”

His voice grew louder. More dramatic. His gestures became filled with anger and challenge. With every word, more and more sadness seeped into his voice. When he turned back to face us, our eyes met again.

“With this slave’s offal,” Dominic continued.

“Bloody, bawdy villain,

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain.

O, vengeance!

Why, what an ass am I: this is most brave,

That I, the son of a dear father murdered,

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell.”

Dominic paused for a moment, then bowed deeply as the room erupted into applause. The guys at our table were going wild, and I was at a loss for words as Dominic thanked his audience, laughing as he casually returned to his seat as if nothing extraordinary had happened.