#WIPitUp - 3/9/16 - Acting Lessons - Directing the spanking scene #KissMeKate #Spanking

WIP: Work in progress.  WIP it up Wednesday is a hop where writers share portions of the project they're working on with readers.  I really like the idea because it allows me to share something that's still in the creative stage as well as work behind the scenes as a prompt to keep me writing.

So, I want to continue sharing "Lessons in Love" with you, but today, I'm also going to share a snippet from my 5th spanking book, Acting Lessons, loosely based on the story of Kiss Me Kate. So, it's another two-fer from me.

He was a strict and demanding college professor turned professional director who excelled at giving acting lessons.  She was his shy and uncertain former student who became a professional actress under his tutelage.  They fell in love, married, and won two Tony Awards before tragedy struck and a simple kiss ripped them apart.

After a six month separation, Peter Thorton decides to take matters into his own hands by making his famous wife, Kate, an offer she wouldn't refuse.  Plainly put, he wants her back and he intends to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal, even if it means giving his stubborn, willful leading lady a daily reminder over his knee that she promised to obey him.

In this scene, which occurs two-thirds into the book, Peter Thorton is directing his wife and some college students in a production of Kiss Me Kate and they've reached the famous spanking scene near the end of the musical. Though Peter spanks Kate in real life, she's done everything she can to get him to cut this scene, because spankings are intense, intimate and extremely personal for her and she doesn't want one to happen on-stage. Peter, however, assures her the stage spanking will be nothing like the real ones, and it is essential to the story, so it can't be cut. Kate reluctantly agrees to try, but she has severe misgivings about doing this scene, so Peter has the actors take their places.

            "Okay, we need two chairs and a table across the inner courtyard from Baptista's front door, which according to the design will be stage left.  Baptista, rather than cross directly to Petruchio, I want you to cross upstage, stopping just above center.  Here," Peter said, marking the spot.  "Katharine, on your cue, I want you to enter from your home downstage of Baptista and cross to Petruchio.  Tom, would you stand in for me during this scene?"

            "Sure, Mr. Thorton."  If anything Kate's eyes grew even wider, and Peter could sense her unease from across the room.

            Ignoring Kate's stunned expression, Peter directed Tom to his mark. "Stand here, if you would."

            "Peter…."

            "It's okay, darling.  We're only blocking right now."

            "But--"

            "Katharine, take your place, please."  Kate hesitated for a moment, then did as he ordered.  He would need to be firm with her as he traversed the tightrope between directing and dictating."

Kate may be a professional, but there are some things that are just too personal to share with an audience.

M/F, DD and a staged production of Kiss Me, Kate.

If you're 18 or older, you can read the first three chapters at Acting Lessons

Buy the book directly from Blushing Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords