Summary: The shining Theatre Merveilleux has been standing on the corner of the most famous street in New York City since its inception in 1900. The gleaming building is a beauty from the outside with faceted glass windows, gilded gold accents, bright spotlights reflecting off of every surface, and its line to get in always wrapped around the corner. But on the inside, the famously talented players of this stage go through loyalty and betrayal, forbidden romance and heartbreak, deadly lies and the dangerous games that go along with them in the most entertaining industry in the world: showbiz. All the world's a stage...but who is the ultimate player? AU.
AN: Did anyone else do NaNo this year? I certainly tried, but alas, with homework, high school, and life, I in no way made 50,000 words (sob). But I wrote a few chapters of a Glee story I was thinking of for a few months, and now that NaNo is over, I thought I'd post it here :)
I'm so excited for this story, I love doing an actual Glee narrative, especially AU, and I love the concept. I think of it as like a mix of theatre drama and Desperate Housewives (both things I love). I really hope you enjoy it, I have many chapters typed up so far so I'll debate when to post them depending on the feedback. Enjoy! :)
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Glee. Everything belongs to Ryan Murphy and its creators.
Chapter 1
Oh my man, I love him so
He'll never know
All my life is just a spare
But I don't care
The theatre is hushed, a tentative silence settling over the audience leaning forward in their red cushioned seats; they've been waiting to see this show for weeks, while their tickets have been reserved for twice that long.
The critically acclaimed singer's trembling alto voice draws in the crowd, making them concentrate on only her, her glowing black dress, the tears falling down her cheeks. She sings of loss and heartbreak, her eyes shining brightly with wetness, body almost collapsing within itself out of pain. They feel they can relate to her disparity, her afflictions, her unyielding sorrow.
It cost me a lot
But there's one thing that I got
It's my man
Cold and wet, I regret
But all that I'd soon forget
With my man
She's become angrier now, her voice building up tension and echoing off the thick theatre walls. The song amplifies, the piano is played with more force, the audience's anticipation grows. They lean even closer towards her, though the immense noise of her ballad vibrates all around them.
But then, suddenly, it's not anger anymore. It's neither sadness nor pain, just sheer pure force of need for love.
What's the difference if I saaaay?
I'll go away
When I know I'll come back on my knees someday
She knows she has them now. Their wide-eyed, open-mouthed faces are priceless. Every person who comes to see the show is intrigued and unable to look away for every single scene, already deciding by act 2 that it's the single most extraordinary performance they've ever seen. The reviews and old-time notoriety of the theatre house lure them in; the charming actors with devious and comical characters and voices as smooth as spilling honey are what seal the deal. And what will make them remember this very play, remember every line, every placement of each prop, what will make them rave on and on about it to every person they knew, is her. The star, the lead singer, the strikingly beautiful and "astoundingly talented", as the newspapers say, actress who plays the desperate heroine. She's the one the theatre critics from New York City to Los Angeles call the true "star of the show".
For whatever my man is
I am his
Foreeeeeveeeer
Moooooore
Everyone in the theatre stands immediately and begins clapping, cheering, shouting uncontrollably. The noise is deafening, so loud that her voice and the final notes of the song bellowing from the pit orchestra are drowned out.
Her favorite thing about the finale of the first act is in the beginning, when she's solitarily standing with a single spotlight shining on her weeping face, the theatre is so quiet you would be able to hear a pin drop. But then, in stark contrast, at the end of her high-powered and outdone flourish, one would have to scream to be heard over the thunderous applause and approbation.
The standing ovation lasts for minutes. Still being very professional, the singer doesn't make a sound nor face, staying perfectly in character. She throws her head back, tears spilling down both sides of her face and down her rosy cheeks, arms slightly outstretched in a stance that pushes every ounce of her power in her body through her to her voice. The curtain slowly closes across the stage while the crowd continues to cheer.
As soon as she's gone from the audience's sight, she runs off the stage, her heavily curled locks bouncing up and down with her. There's no time to go to her dressing room to change; she and a team of two quickly, and very visibly, shed her sparkly black gown and begin pulling on a new outfit.
"You were great out there," a young Irish man, a stagehand named Rory says, walking up to the her, flushed and starry-eyed.
"Oh, Ror-…um," she stammers, briefly unsure of his name. He's just immigrated from Europe and has the thickest accent and most unusual sayings she's ever heard. Plus, he's a Roman Catholic.
"Thank you, but I don't have the time," she says, and turns away from him.
"Oh, of course, I most certainly understand." He runs his hand through his hair nervously, trying to slick the sweat off his palms. "I'll let you be, Ms. Quinn."
His voice dies in the air as Quinn is rushed over to get her make-up and hair fixed. Rory quickly leaves, running onto the stage to start setting up props and chairs. Quinn's golden hair is straightened as best as it can in a matter of minutes. Moments after her shoes are secure on her feet, she saunters back onto stage, winking at a fellow actor, emitting attraction with every swing of her hips.
The lights are dimmed once again, as the second half of the performance begins. Everyone is already back in their seats, not daring to risk missing one second of the play.
Please leave a review telling me what you thought of it. I'd love any opinions or constructive criticism you have. Next update will be soon and longer :)
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