Mystery on Stage by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Author:Gertrude Chandler Warner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company
Published: 2010-08-06T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

Problems on the Set

“Someone noticed a light on in the theater late last night,” Jim announced to the cast and crew the next day. He paused to nervously pull up the collar of his faded blue shirt.

“Are you sure it wasn’t the janitor?” Richard asked.

“I was the last one in the building. I turned out all the lights and locked the door,” Jim said as he paced up and down the stage.

Violet was worried about Jim. He looked paler and thinner than ever.

“Okay, let’s get started,” Jim called. He suddenly seemed in a hurry to begin rehearsing. “I want Sarah, Jessie, Melody, Harold, and Richard on stage.”

As Benny made his way backstage, he noticed Sarah in the wings. She had a large manila folder tucked under one arm. When she noticed Benny looking at her, she quickly stuck the folder in her script.

“Did you ever find your script?” Benny asked, trying to sound friendly.

“Uh, yes. I mean no. Nancy found an extra script.” Sarah seemed anxious to get away from Benny.

“I really think there should be a softer light on me in this scene,” Richard was saying loudly to Henry and Jim on stage. “I see no need for a green gel.”

“A what?” Benny asked Jessie.

“It’s a piece of thick plastic you put over a stage light to make it change color,” Jessie explained softly.

“You have to look green.” Jim tried to sound patient with Richard. “We need to have green lighting in this scene. The Wizard does live in the Emerald City.”

“Why can’t there be a soft, white spotlight on me?” Richard demanded.

“Look, I give the lighting directions here,” Jim said firmly. “Now, please take your positions so we can get on with this scene.”

“Come on, Benny, you should be backstage,” Henry called softly. He pulled one of the levers on the lighting board down to low.

“I’m going,” Benny said. He did a few dance steps from his Munchkin routine.

“You’re showing off,” Henry teased him.

“Not as much as Richard is,” Benny pointed out. Henry couldn’t argue.

Backstage, Violet and Soo Lee were making the tail for Jessie’s lion costume. Benny went over to watch them.

“Oh, Violet,” Nancy called as she came into the costume room. “Could you make a big poster for the show? We open in a week and we need more advertising.” Nancy sighed and looked at the jumble of materials spread out on the big table in front of the girls.

“I can make the poster right here. Remember, we found lots of crayons and paints in this drawer.” Violet opened the long thin drawer of the black dresser.

“Good, I know you’ll do a good job. All you Aldens are such a big help around here,” Nancy said, looking appreciatively at Benny and Soo Lee. “By the way, Benny, if you’re not busy, I’d like you to help Mrs. McGregor paint the Yellow Brick Road on the backdrop. I have to be in the wings all afternoon to give the actors their cues.”

“I’m coming,” Benny said cheerfully. He liked to paint.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.