#WIPitUP - 10/18/17 - Acting Lessons - Peter works on the spanking scene with Kate #KissMeKate #SpankingRomance

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.

However, today, I want to share a snippet from my 5th spanking book, Acting Lessons, loosely based on the story of Kiss Me Kate. It's been. a while since I shared from this book (6/15/16). So, if you want to know what happened right before this scene, you can read it HERE.

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 on-stage. Peter, however, assures her the stage spanking will be nothing like the real ones he gives her, and the scene is essential to the story, so it can't be cut. Kate reluctantly agrees to try despite her severe misgivings, so Peter orders the actors to take their places. 

If you're unfamiliar with the musical, Kiss Me Kate is a play within a play about a recently divorced couple attempting to put on a production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew. In this scene, Tom is filling in for Peter as Lilli's husband actor/director Fred Graham who is also acting the role of Petruchio. Kate plays the actress Lilli Vanessi who is acting the role of Katharine. So, Peter, who is currently directing the scene, refers to the actors by their Shakespearean characters' names as well as their Kiss Me Kate characters' names in addition to their "real" names. Baptista is the name Shakespeare gave Katharine's father. Confused? Hopefully the scene below in Peter's POV will help make it clear. 

            "Okay, let's start from the top. Baptista, your line."

            On this reading Tom gave a trace more swagger to his words, so Peter commended him. However, the student's expression of uncertainty when Kate crossed over to throw the "bouquet" at his head was almost comical. Peter waved his arms to stop the scene and turned to his assistant. "Karen, make a note, we need something more substantial for a bouquet than a rolled up newspaper. Speak to props, will you?" When Karen nodded and scribbled a message for herself, Peter rolled the paper into a cone, so the object looked more like a bouquet, then artfully folded it back to hold his makeshift flower arrangement in place before he tossed the paper funnel back to Kate.

            "Go ahead; throw your flowers at me, Lilli." She did and he caught it in one hand, pleased the "prop" held together. "That's what I want you to do, Tom." Peter examined his creation with a frown. "This bouquet is going to wilt quickly, I'm afraid, but we'll toss the thing about until it does." He lobbed the paper back to Kate.

            "Okay, you two, play catch." Kate threw the paper again and Tom fumbled. "You don't participate in a lot of sports, do you, Tom?"

            "No, sir."

            "Didn't think so. Try again."

Kate may be a professional, but there are some things that are just too personal to share with an audience. However, she also feels sorry for Tom. He's just a student, and Peter can be a tough director.

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