Welcome, dear reader!

Here we are with another love story, and it could not be more appropriately timed and named. A Valentine’s Day special, this is surely going to be one emotional journey. Buckle up and let’s get into it!

It was quiet in the waiting area, each gentleman on a seat putting his brains and fingers to work as they traced the edges of the script for ‘Beyond The Rain’, perusing its content. Around them, the murmur of voices and the occasional shuffle of feet filled the air. The air was full of hope and expectation, each man readying himself for this potential life-changing opportunity.

A poster on the wall bore the name Amfo Visions Entertainment in bold letters, the logo a sleek amalgamation of a film reel and a rising sun. Leslie Amfo, the young man behind this fledgling production company, was a name many had heard buzzing around the creative scene: a former YouTuber with an infectious charisma and an ambitious eye for storytelling. ‘Beyond The Rain’ was his first foray into stage plays, and many in the entertainment industry were eagerly looking forward to it.

And these young men were there, looking to get a role as the lead actor – Kwame, a kind but headstrong farmer who falls in love with a lovely seamstress named Rose.

And one of those young men was Sakyi Ampor-Jones.

On the seat nearest to the audition door, Sakyi was totally immersed in the script, his lips moving silently as he rehearsed his lines.  He had always loved acting, even as a child. He remembered putting on impromptu performances for his family, especially after they had watched movies. He’d proudly stand before his parents and declare he could do everything the actors on the screen did, and even better. They usually laughed it off, chalking it down to youthful exuberance. That enthusiasm for acting, however, did not wane as he grew older, but rather increased. And once he chanced upon this opportunity on social media, he instantly jumped at it.

He strongly believed this role could be his big break—the first step toward the life he had always imagined for himself. In his mind’s eye, he could see the possibilities unfold.

From delivering heartfelt monologues to packed theaters, to his name on posters, glowing under marquee lights, and the sound of applause so loud it echoed in his chest. It was all very possible. He had spared no expense to get to this stage: reading books like Uta Hagen’s “Respect For Acting”, memorizing iconic monologues like Charlie Chaplin’s closing speech in ‘The Great Dictator’, among others. It was only a matter of time until these daydreams became a reality…

“Sakyi Ampor-Jones?”

The voice snapped him out of his thoughts. His heart leapt as he looked up to see a young woman with a clipboard standing in the doorway, her expression polite but expectant as she looked at him.

He nodded quickly. “That’s me,” he confirmed, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him. He rose to his feet and brushed imaginary lint off his shirt.

As he moved toward the door, he took a deep breath, his heart pounding insanely against his chest.

This was it.

The moment he had been waiting for.

Time to get this dream going.

***

He stepped into the audition room, the door creaking faintly as it shut behind him. The room was starkly minimalist—a long table at the far end, three figures seated behind it. The lady with the clipboard sat in a far corner.

Leslie Amfo, a man in his mid-thirties with a naturally mischievous appearance, sat in the middle, his trademark energy visibly dulled by frustration. To his right was a woman Sakyi instantly recognized: Anita Baafi, an award-winning actress whose performances he had admired for years. To Leslie’s left sat an older man, silver-haired and stern-faced, with sharp eyes that seemed to pierce right through one’s soul. Sakyi recognized him as Wisdom Addai, a veteran talent scout whose discerning eye had discovered some of the country’s biggest stars.

The air was heavy with the kind of tension that came from disappointment. Sakyi quickly deduced that the previous audition hadn’t gone well. It wasn’t too surprising, though; the guy had virtually been trembling from the moment his name was called. His anxiety must have led to a crappy performance.

Leslie leaned forward, flipping through some notes. “Alright, Mr… Sakyi Ampor-Jones,” he called, his voice clipped but not unkind. “Introduce yourself. Briefly.”

Sakyi swallowed hard, then smiled. “Good afternoon. My name is Sakyi Ampor-Jones, I’m 27 years old, and I’m currently working as an assistant in a pharmacy… and I’m honoured to audition for Beyond The Rain.”

Leslie nodded. “Alright. And why do you believe we should take you on for this role?”

His voice was steady and his words genuine as he answered. “I’ve been passionate about acting for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always sought to share this talent with the world as I ought to. And this role, I believe, is perfect for me. This role, the role of Kwame… it really speaks to me. I might not have read it entirely, but feel like I understand him deeply, and… his hopes, fears, and loves mirror mine in ways that feel deeply personal. I believe I’ll play the role flawlessly.”

Leslie nodded, an eyebrow raised, but his expression remained neutral. Anita crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly as if trying to size him up, while the older man scribbled something on a notepad.

“Alright, Sakyi,” Anita finally spoke, her tone cool but curious. “Let’s see what you’ve got, then. Act out the part where Kwame confesses his feelings to Rose under the baobab tree.”

Sakyi nodded, then took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a brief moment, and stepped forward. The room seemed to fade away as he stepped into Kwame’s shoes. His posture shifted, his eyes softened, and his voice carried the weight of love and vulnerability.

“Rose,” he began, his voice trembling slightly, “listen to me… no, no, no, listen! I’m not toying around right now, Rose, listen to me! I… have spent my whole life tilling this earth, sowing seeds and watching them grow. I’ve seen bountiful harvests that have filled me with so much happiness. But see, I swear on my grandmother’s resting place, that no harvest has ever brought me the kind of joy that you do. You… you are the rain to my fields, the very sunlight my soul needs to thrive. I don’t know if I’ll ever have much to offer you beyond this simple life, but I promise you, I will love you with every breath I have.

 “My dear, if you like, you can push me away with the fierceness of a thousand tempests; I promise you my heart will still find its way back to you. No act, no word, no hardship could ever diminish the love I hold for you in my heart. And please, if at any point in time in your life, you ever doubt your worth or the light you bring to my life, know this: there is nothing… absolutely nothing on God’s green earth, that you can do to ever make me turn away from you. I love you. With every sinew of strength in my being.”

By the time he finished, the room was utterly silent. The panel sat motionless, their earlier irritation replaced with something entirely different.

Leslie’s lips curved into a faint smile, and his sharp gaze softened with approval. Anita’s eyes shone as she exchanged a look with Wisdom, who leaned forward slightly, his hands clasped on the table.

He turned to them, giving a quick bow to acknowledge his end.

“That…” Leslie began, breaking the silence, “was outstanding. Simply… outstanding.”

Anita nodded in agreement, a warm smile breaking across her face. “Indeed. You truly brought Kwame to life. I felt every word you spoke. Every single word.”

Wisdom let out a satisfied hum. “Yes. Yes, that was excellent,” he added with a smile that carried weight. “Definitely one of the very best we’ve seen today.”

Leslie looked at Anita and Wisdom, whispering at them before turning back to Sakyi, his earlier irritation completely gone. “Thank you very much for that, Sakyi. We’ll be making our decision soon, but I’ll tell you this—you’ll hear from us by tomorrow.”

Sakyi’s chest swelled with pride, his pulse racing as he gave a polite bow. “Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, and thank you for that little show. It was great,” Anita responded warmly.

As he walked out of the room through the exit door opposite the entrance, the tension that had coiled within him unraveled into an electric excitement.

He had done it. He had truly done it.

Once outside, he couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his face. His fingers curled into fists, and he resisted the urge to let out a triumphant cheer. Oh, what a joy to have fully impressed Leslie and the two other judges! All that hard work and preparation had paid off, with a minute’s show that had them spellbound.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

Nice! So he impressed them with his audition. Hopefully he gets the nod…