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Dremerie recites:
"Ah, the Lady Dragoness!
LANDRAI!"
>Landrai takes a deep breath.
Landrai stands up.
(much cheering)
You see Lady Landrai Verethundi the Loremistress.
She appears to be a Loenthra Elf.
She is shorter than average and appears to be in the bloom of youth. She has long thick lashes framing her bright sapphire blue eyes and flawless rose-blushed skin. She has waist length, silver blonde hair flowing down her back in a mass of beautiful silken curls. She has an elegant, softly-contoured face, a classical nose and dimpled cheeks.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a haon-framed tambourine decorated with brightly colored silken ribbons in her right hand.
She is wearing a triple-strand twisted vaalin geldaralad, a rose-shaped platinum locket, a lush ashes-of-roses silk gown swirled with silver tracery, a platinum wedding ring, some delicate gartered silk stockings, a twining rose vine anklet, and some backless crystalline slippers.
>Landrai says, "One moment as I wade through the dancing girls."
Landrai goes down a walkway.
>The backstage curtains part slightly, and Landrai steps out onto the stage. A glimpse of the shadowy backstage is briefly visible before the curtains close behind her.
>(Landrai gracefully moves to center stage, the lustrous dark skirts of her gown flow about her legs. Turning to the audience, she smiles brightly, her blue eyes full of mirth.)
Landrai recites amusedly:
"Good eve to everyone here. The tale I wish to share is about a young girl who gets everything she ever wished for, or does she?"
>Ahmeuseng grins.
>Landrai winks.
>(Landrai holds up her a haon-framed tambourine letting the light play off the silvery discs. An errant breeze catches the many brilliant colored ribbons that hang from the instrument and lifts them slightly.)
>(Landrai sways her hips while tapping out a jaunty rhythm on the head of her tambourine, her body and music keeping perfect time. She begins singing in a pitter patter complimenting rhythm.)
Landrai sings flowingly:
"I met a steady man, poor as a mouse.
He could not give me diamonds galore.
How could he ever make a good spouse?
To live without pleasures, what a bore!"
(Good use of acts with the instrument, along with sing
tones. Rhyme ABAB, beat is staggered.)
(Landrai continues to accent the rhythm of her voice with that of her instrument. Her slender fingers tap the head as she causes the colorful ribbons to shake with each movement.)
Landrai sings wistfully:
"But I was sure I wanted wealth in my life,
Nights full of parties, rich gowns and fun.
Could I give it up to be a poor man's wife?
Thoughts of work made me want to run."
(Rhyme ABAB, still no beat rhythm)
Landrai kneels down.
>(Landrai silences her tambourine as she raises one hand to her heart. She gazes up, continuing.)
Landrai sings romantically:
"He said he could give me a heart full of love,
A life so steady, so predictable each day.
He said he would honor me, hold me above.
Our quiet evenings full of talk he would say."
(Landrai raises her hands above her head shaking her instrument. The disks jingle in time with the subtle movement of her hips. She brings her arms back down and softens the music with her skirts.)
Landrai sings flowingly:
"And I thought to myself, "What a hitch."
And with twist of wrist and flick of finger,
I decided, I would rather be filthy rich."
>Landrai nods.
(Good use of imagery to get audience attention.)
>(Landrai walks upstage, her feet stepping in time to the lively tempo she started, her body flowing with the music as she moves.)
Landrai sings flowingly:
"I met a rugged man who traveled the lands.
Adventure was his love, the road was home.
He had a nice smile, and large strong hands.
Never stayed in one place, he wanted to roam."
>(Landrai taps her tambourine against her leg thrice before adding sharp wrists turns, the ribbons flowing along with the movement.)
>Landrai sings wistfully:
"But I was sure I wanted a luxurious life,
Where I could have rich furs and fine drink.
Could I give it all up to be a traveler's wife?
The thought of dust in my hair made me think."
>Landrai kneels down.
>(Landrai covers her heart once more with her hand, her tambourine silent by her side. She gazes up and sings again.)
Landrai sings romantically:
"He said he could give me a heart full of love,
A life of dreams, new excitements each day.
He said he would honor me, hold me above.
Our hot evenings full of passion and play."
>Landrai stands up.
Landrai smiles as she taps her instrument against her palm, the silvery disks adding whimsical tone to the accompaniment.
>Landrai sings flowingly:
"And I thought to myself, 'What a shame."
And with twist of wrist and flick of finger,
I decided I would rather have the champagne."
>(Landrai shakes her tambourine and accompanies her voice with a complex rhythmic pattern as she continues.)
>Landrai smiles.
Landrai sings flowingly:
"I met a wealthy man, a rich noble's son.
He could buy anything he did want.
Handsome to look at, he seemed very fun,
So much silver, how could he not flaunt?"
>Landrai smiles at the audience as her fingers and wrist tap and turn with the tambourine, giving her song life.
Landrai sings wistfully:
"And I was so sure I wanted this kind of life,
Showered with jewelry, gowns and more.
I would give anything to be this man's wife.
With grand houses and servants by the score!"
Landrai kneels down.
(Landrai lets her tambourine rest against her skirts while her other hand covers her heart.)
>Landrai sings romantically:
"He said he could give me a purse full of love,
A life of riches, things to buy each day.
He said he would shower silvers from above.
Holding large parties in our place by the bay."
>Landrai stands up.
(Landrai uses both hands as she contrasts her music by alternating her pattern from tip to palm.)
Landrai sings flowingly:
"And I thought to myself, 'I may swoon."
And with twist of wrist and flick of finger,
I decided, I would have my fortune."
Landrai adopts an agreeable expression.
>(Landrai rests her tambourine against her side and continues singing unaccompanied.)
>Landrai sings flowingly:
"The years went by, and I had it all,
Of everything I had ever dreamed.
But as years went by, things felt small,
Nothing was new and exciting it seemed."
Landrai sadly says, "And all of a sudden I knew..."
>(Landrai hits the palm of her hand with the instrument, keeping time with gentle, rhythmic rolls.)
>Landrai sings wistfully:
"I will never have that heart full of love,
A life of sharing new excitements each day.
He would never honor me, hold me above.
The silvers were more important he'd say."
>(Landrai slows her tempo and lowers her voice. She silences her tambourine before looking out over the audience.)
Landrai sings sadly:
"And I thought to myself, 'I gave up all.""
>Landrai sings slowly:
"And with twist of wrist and flick of finger..."
(Landrai turns and twists her wrist, suddenly creating an energetic tempest of sound.)
>Landrai sings rhythmically:
"I decided,
Best go plan the next ball!"
>(Landrai shrugs her shoulders lightly as she raises her hand. She shakes her tambourine in a final jaunty roll before letting it drop to her side.)
>Landrai smiles at the audience as she lowers herself in a deep curtsy.
>Landrai winks.
>Landrai retreats through the backstage curtains, vanishing from sight.
Final comments: This was a great piece, and was
quite catchy. The tale made sense from beginning to end and was not overly
complicated to follow. Use of acts with the instrument and sing tones pulled the
audience into the song. The words given were used throughout the piece, without
being distracting and touched on honor possibly being a theme in the piece, even
though the singer seemed to prefer the wealth after all. The only thing lacking
was a standard rhythm to each line, which would help with technical merit. I definitely
think this piece should place, as this piece flowed quite well.
Result: Did not place.
Notes: Aspis officer, wife to Tolwynn,
another finalist.
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