"Why not, you're awesome!" Lofty gasped, just as the mini bus drew up outside the theatre.
"Still don't want."
"Come on Ethan, stop messing us all about!" snapped Louise, who could be tactless to the point of rudeness. Ethan turned his back on her. Cal knew that stubborn little back.
"If you don't go on we can't do the play. And that means Toothless Taylor will be sneering, especially as their play's at the bottom of the judges leaderboard."
The stubborn little back relaxed a little.
"Okay", Mr Keogh said sounding almost cheerful, "We'll leave you here locked in the minibus until the play's over. Ben, have you one of your excellent Alien comics for Ethan to read for the next two and a half hours?"
"Here we go, Mr Keogh."
Lofty was a little anxious in case Ethan tore up his comic in a temper, but he could refuse his beloved Mr Keogh nothing, and handed over his treasure.
Ethan cut in:
"Don't want it. I'm coming out. I'll go on."
He got up and Cal hastily guided him. Ethan was even better at falling down steps than Lofty.
"Glad you changed your mind; you'll be great. I knew you'd want to wear that Director costume and strut about", Cal grinned.
"It's not that. I'm not going two and a half hours without a wee break. The Director'll get a chance to wee!"
Several teachers and pupils thanked the pull of the call of nature.
The first play by Newport Elementary school (Newport was close enough to Holby to be allowed) was a fine retelling of the Firebird legend. Mrs Beauchamp, who knew both versions of this story, sat with heart in mouth in case they did the part where the young prince is murdered by his two brothers but revived by his faithful friend, the Fox. Fortunately they concentrated on the stealing of the magic egg and the defeat of the evil magician. The Holby kids were somewhat deflated by the pleasure on the judges' faces and Cal worried that Ethan would notice this and walk out, but then saw Ethan's other trademark look. The one that said 'Nobody's going to beat me'.
After a break, in which the young Director enjoyed his wee, it was time at last.
Taylor was sitting in the front row with a big sneer on her face, and her sneer got bigger as Ethan entered as the Director.
'Fluff your lines' she thought spitefully, but Ethan was raring to go now and was word-perfect. Robyn entered and told how she'd cast a terrible spell when she'd been jilted by the king. Ha ha, they're just doing Maleficent, thought Taylor. Her face contorted in rage as she saw the next scene, where the Prince turns out to be lazy and spoiled. Cal had a whale of a time.
Several mums and one or two dads sighed as Max entered to play Danny. Max was a nice-looking little lad and Danny was extremely likeable. Pretty little Zoe drew plenty of gasps of approval and then it was time to meet the trainees Ben and Jen. Lofty prayed he'd not be clumsy and his prayers were answered; the routine was spot-on. Everybody soon picked up the tune of the Merry Woodman song and Jeff was in his element. He'd made up a little dance as well, and even though it wasn't in the script, had decided to add it. The applause he received made Mrs Beauchamp decide not to be too hard on him later.
The audience were left gasping at the tragic 'ending' – Max did just what he'd been told to and drew a few sobs from some of the mums.
Then Ethan had his moment.
"But it's meant to be a sad ending" he told the outraged 'critics' behind the curtain, 'Like Shakespeare'.
The audience howled with glee at the line, and cheered and clapped when Ben and Jen's skills revived Danny.
The evening ended with the Holby Mixed Infants at the top of the leaderboard and Taylor texting all her friends telling them to vote for anybody but Holby Mixed Infants the next night.