To the Captain

The past two weeks of rehearsal have been interesting as far as "serious" character development has gone. Last week I found Anne's deep want. This week, I discovered why she hangs around Frobisher. The question of if Anne had any real loyalty to Frobisher/ why does she stay with him came up.

It's not because he pays her well, because he doesn't.
It's not because he's a respectful, understanding, charitable human being...because that's not really Frobisher.
So I'm going to let you all read her answer in her own words, a bit more eloquent than the answer that I fished up at the time.

Anne's Words-

Wherefore do I remain in the service of Captain Frobisher? If you wish a honest and true answer you must give me your solemn word that you shall not disclose this information to him. For I do not think that I could face him if he did hold the knowledge of my great debt to him.
It is no secret to me that my guise and great pretend is hardly a disguise at all. While some do seek to keep me in a woman's place, or jail, I am relieved that there are many more who simply ignore the fact displayed in front of them.
Except the Captain. My Captain, it does seem, remains blind despite all manner of blunders and accidents that have transpired during the time I have been in his employ as his apprentice. There are times as such when he does slip and call me by the name of "Mr. Drew" and then a blank look crosses his face and we do resume our normal camaraderie. I cannot therefore say for certain that his is completely unaware of my true self. And I find that I do owe him my loyalty for that fact alone, that he willfully (as least, I so do assume) remains blind and chooses to believe that I, Anne Drew, am Andrew. It is by this belief on his part that I do remain as his apprentice until such a time when I have completed said apprenticeship, or some other fate does befall me (may that never come to pass, for I can think of many an unpleasant ending).
Do I wish that my Captain might one day be able to accept me as his apprentice without this great pretend? I do suppose that I wish that no matter who my master would be. However, just by the fact that he has not thrown me off of his ship for good, or killed me, or worse, is enough for the time being. I do think well of the Captain for all of his eccentric ways.

Now keep these words to yourself or else I shall cause you a mischief so that you will not easily rise from your bed for a sen'night at the least!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So thank you to Steve- who gave me this question. And thank you to my cast for giving me a set of Hot Seat questions that almost stumped me and actually made me think. Too often I've gotten the superficial questions and this week you all gave me doozies that I am still grappling with and thinking about. Anne is not one to open up often about certain parts of her life, but I'm glad fro the chance to explore.

Anne's Want

Well...wonder of wonders, I've found Anne's SuperObjective. Yes this is a big and scary looking word and has often been the bane of my existence when creating characters.

The question- What does your character want most?

That question made me stop and think for a minute because it's not really about a material or superficial thing. Some superficial things came to my mind as I tried to sort through Anne's layers (Shrek onion moment!).
- Anne wants to be paid. Okay that's nice, but that's not the only thing she wants. Anne would like a warm cloak too but that's not really a deep and burning wants.
- Anne wants to be captain one day. Gee that's great too, but that's more of an external ambition that might change as she "grows up" (since Anne will never really grow up enough to become a Captain- her storyline is placed at Ship's Boy status indefinitely).

I passed a few other ideas through my head before this particular thought popped into my brain. "Where does Anne able to be just Anne?"
The answer is a little bit sad. Anne doesn't really have a home or a place that she can just be Anne Drew (or Anne FitzHawkyns/FitzJohn). She doesn't have a place where she can belong without being questioned. The mere fact that she is obviously a girl dressing in man's clothing makes people question her.
Anne loves being a sailor. She loves the freedom and adventure that going on voyages brings. She loves the community that is on ship.

What Anne wants most of all is a place in the world where she can do what she loves without society judging her and forbidding her from doing whatever it is.

The character who happens to give Anne a chance at that is a rather unlikely character. His name is Lefty. He just wants Anne to be happy. He just wants everyone to be happy. He sees Anne for who she is and he accepts her without question as to why she's trying to perform a man's job, and dressing in male clothing.
In return, Anne notices Lefty. Not many people do. Anne not only notices Lefty, but when the Gabriel is in port at Bristol Anne tries to seek Lefty out and make sure he's eating something more than pine cones and grass.

So to put it simply as possible for the moment (I'll continue to par it down as the season goes on).

Anne wants to belong somewhere without needing to comprise herself.