Damsel Distressed by Kelsey Macke

Author:Kelsey Macke
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Damsel Distressed
ISBN: 9781939392671
Publisher: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Published: 2014-10-30T23:00:00+00:00

19

"Okay, guys, I have a few announcements! Listen up!” Grant is shouting, trying to get the attention of the cast and crew before rehearsal. The actors, however, are still too enthralled with the sounds of their own voices to shut their yaps.

“Hey! That means you.” He gestures to a clump of chorus members who instantly melt into their seats. “Thank you.” His authoritative scowl drifts back into a glowing smile.

“Mrs. Gild will be out to talk with you in a minute. She’s working out the blocking on scene four right now, but as it doesn’t concern most of you, I’m going to get these announcements out of the way. So the coming week of rehearsals is really important. None of you should be absent or ineligible or sick or covered in head lice or infected with leprosy or anything that would keep you off the stage for the entirety of Tech Week.”

I look around and watch as everyone stares up at him and hangs on his every word. I make a mental note to tell him again how proud I am of his making stage manager this year.

“We’ll have rehearsals every night, through Thursday, and then, as you know, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is our show! Yes, you will all be required to strike the stage after Sunday night’s closing. Yes, everyone will stay to help clean the dressing rooms, green rooms, and anything else Gild asks us. We have just three shows, then we’re out. If any of you have questions, feel free to track me down, though it will probably be difficult if I’m wearing my stage blacks backstage because, as you know, when the lights go down, every techie wearing all black becomes invisible.”

I let out a chuckle, but I’m the only one.

As the crickets chirp, everyone in front of me turns around to see who the sad soul is who thought Grant’s lame punchline was actually funny.

But his enthusiasm won’t be deterred. “Okay, then. Go forth! Check your props! This is your last day without costumes! We’re getting started in ten minutes!”

The rest of us offer the traditional echo back to him. “Thank you, ten!”

Minutes later, Antonique and I are sitting at the soundboard while the cast prepares for Gild’s first declaration of the day. I automatically recite Winnifred’s words right along with Charity, who is running lines on stage. Antonique smirks at my delivery, and I have to admit it feels kinda nice to have an audience.

“Are you getting excited? I can’t believe next week is Tech Week,” Antonique says as I’m fiddling with the gain on mic two, which has been giving me fits since yesterday.

“I know. Hell Week is more accurate. It is so intense,” I say. “And opening night is a rush. The pressure can be so heavy you feel like it might squash you.”

“Oh, I can imagine,” she says. “I already feel like I’m going to barf, and it’s still days away.”

Her face looks like she might actually throw up.

“That’s not weird, but remember, throwing up in the sound booth is strictly prohibited.

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