My first hit.
Three word practically synonymous with success for a rising star, a talented painter, a passionate author or a proud theater owner, one of which is me.
Buster Moon.
But with success comes expectations. With expectations comes demand, longing, anticipation and, most of all, stress. If you were to be some Shakespeare on 5 hour energy, you could crank out success after success like it's nothing. However if you're an ordinary animal like me, you need a different approach. Yes, I've written my own share of stage plays but experience has told me that I have a long road of improvement in front of me. It makes me really wonder.
That concert. What, besides the talent, was the pull factor. Was it the money? No, I don't think so. Could it be... The opportunity? The chance at stardom? The common relatable performers? Most likely. Who doesn't want to see the hidden talent among them? How could I do that again without another competition?
"Good evening Mr Moon!" A large gray figure entered my field of view, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Oh hello Meena! Everything going alright? Nice of you to visit!" Finally I stood up from my chair and began walking around my office. "I haven't had the chance to call all of you."
"Actually, that's why I'm here. Everyone is at the pizza place down the street and we were wondering if you wanted to come join us." Meena poked her head out of Buster's office to look at Ms Crawley. "Would you like to join us too?"
"Oh yes dear, let me just go find my purse and I'll be right there." Ms Crawley began looking around her desk. "It's nice to know everyone is still in touch." Buster mused. "Except Mike, I'm guessing."
The group of three walked down the street, chatting lively among themselves. They made their way into the pizza parlor and quickly found the rest of the group and, as expected, no Mike. "Hello everyone. It's great to see you all. How have you been?"
"It's been great, Buster!" Rosita smiled. Buster had insisted being on first name basis with all his age-mates after the show. "The kids have been getting more and more curious about my Goldberg machines. Norman has been more careful around the house now too."
"I got offered a few gigs, mostly covers but sometimes I use a few of my own." Ash said browsing the pizza menu. "I've been looking into recording them but all that paperwork is going to be the worse."
"I've been asked for a photo shoot!." Gunther shifted excitedly. "They're gonna see all my outfits and stuff and it's gonna be super mega awesome! They want to use the theater for it."
"So I heard. I got the letter so remind me to sign it later." Buster looked at Johnny. "And you big fella? Anything new to report on? Maybe your dad? Or the mechanics shop?" He nudged the gorilla's arm as he spoke.
"Wot? Oh uh yeah. The shop's fine and so is mah dad." Johnny looked down at his hand before quickly changing the subject. "So Mr Moon? What's gonna be done at the theater? Anything new in the works?"
"Well... No... Not really." Buster paused as soon as the waiter showed up. While everyone placed their order, Buster raked his brain for a plan. "Okay, I'll be very honest. I have no idea what to do. Right now, the Moon Theater has everyone's attention. No doubt that the next performance will get a lot of people. People who will expect something good. Something as good as the show. An opportunity that cannot go to waste. I'm afraid my writing can use a lot of improvement."
"Then let someone else do it." Ash drank some of her drink before continuing. "If you don't want to waste the opportunity, then give it to someone else." The performers stared at Ash for a solid while before she took a deep sigh. "Look. The competition got everyone's attention because besides all the money, people want to get famous. If you let someone else write a script, obviously they'll work hard on it because their name is on it and they'll get attention for it. Maybe they become famous for it."
"Ash has a point. You could let people submit scripts. Writing may not be your strength but you do have an eye for what works and what doesn't." Rosita looked at Buster. "It probably didn't work with the other productions because you wrote them and everyone is a little biased towards their own creation."
"An eye? Well, I'm not sure." Johnny quickly cut off Buster. "Mr Moon, you made me play the piano, which turned out to be a good idea. You paired Gunther and Rosita, which made the best opening ever! You let Meena sing without being absolutely sure that she could. All good choices! Except turning Ash into a pop princess but that was a misjudge of character. Point is, you know what works."
"Maybe you guys are right. We should... I know! How about we open a submit box and every so months we pick one to do, now it just needs a name. Something common with drama or theater. Maybe..." Buster mused. Rosita turned to her purse and took out a piece of paper and pen and began writing. "Come on everyone call things out! I'll write them."
"Shakespeare's spot?" "Casanova?" "Chance to play?" While the group went around and added their own names, some of them sillier than the others. The pizza came and the slices went. The pen and paper went around and everyone wrote. Buster sat back as he read the entire list before seeing the one favored.
"All in favor for 'The Scarlet Letter Box' say I."