A/N: This double-update is devoted to Ana-Misa, who has, for some time, given generous feedback through analyses and questions which have been of immeasurable value to me. For you, Ana-Misa:
Chapter 53 – Meeting the Director
When Anne entered the theater and was told she would not be able to proceed, she hesitated in the doorway as two figures came toward her. One of them was Gina.
"Anne! What ever are you doing here?" A look of dawning recollection crossed Gina's features. "Ah, the French girl is auditioning today. What was her name?"
"Meg Giry."
"Yes." Gina took Anne's arm and escorted her into the house where those who waited to try out were seated before the stage. It looked to be an audition by invitation; less than a dozen performers were in attendance. Anne quickly recognized Meg and sat down beside her.
"Good morning," said the woman who had accompanied Gina. "You are here to try out for one ballet solo in The Siren of the Laconia. As you should already be aware, it is a neoclassical style and will require a performance of pristine ability. So, to exemplify your skill, you should have a comparable selection chosen." She eyed the dancers and moved away, announcing the first performer.
"Oh, I'm so glad you are here!" whispered Meg as the first dancer introduced herself and her piece. "I was hoping I'd be one of the first, but I am next to last. I will understand if you cannot stay for the duration."
"I have no pressing business. In fact, I had planned to take you out to eat," responded Anne. "If that would be pleasing to you…"
"I can't even think about food, right now. My stomach is very sensitive."
Anne put her arm around the girl. "You will do wonderfully; there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that you are going to exceed all expectation."
Meg looked at her gratefully. "Thank you. Would you please be sure to inform me if they call my name? I need to meditate. Sometimes I get so caught up, forgetting everything, and not hearing when someone addresses me." Anne nodded, and as Meg closed her eyes the older woman smiled. She knew exactly how the dancer felt; she had experienced many an audition when she first moved to New York. She had been so filled with hope then.
In those last painful weeks before her final evaluation, Madame Martyniere sensed her anguish at having been parted from Erik. "My dear, you have much talent. It would be very tragic, indeed, if you allowed it to be wasted. You must learn to channel your sorrow and use it as an impetus to help you sing. Right now you are using it to keep you from relating to your audience, and that will work against you."
Anne understood her instructor's advice. She had learned to channel her pain early on in life after she had lost her mother, and this was where it had put her. Part of her was pleased with her work; she greatly loved to perform and give herself to music. But another part of her was empty; and it reminded her that no matter how she devoted herself to the passion of singing, she would always be alone. She was without her mother, who had been her best friend, and now Erik. Was there any point in continuing? She had no hope of happiness without him, she told herself.
Through this thought, she convinced herself that she should write to him to tell him that she would wait. He needed to know; he couldn't understand unless she told him. She wrote the letter on the last week of her final semester and entrusted it into Sophia Giry's very hand. "Give this to him," she had entreated, knowing that his sister would know to whom the epistle was meant to go.
"Anne, the voice is incredibly fragile. It can change over a lifetime. Yet yours has a quality and strength I have rarely found. That is why I think it best to recommend a new instructor that I think will aid you the most in continuing to refine your skill," Madame Martyniere advised when Anne met with her immediately following the evaluation.
"You will not continue with me?"
"I would love it; but while further training and education are important, you need a more diverse experience to teach you the direction in which you must go. You must find the desire from within, Anne. You cannot let the distractions of life stand in the way of your dreams." The seasoned instructor smiled upon Anne, but her eyes contained pondering solemnity. "I have written to a professor, once a student of mine; she lives in New York. She will know exactly how to help you; not only to challenge your voice, but to open the right doors to you. And don't forget to come and visit me. I will watch for you, my dear. I have a sense that you will be one of the great ones." She had gone to New York with her instructor's encouragement and a persistent faith that Erik would follow.
Yet all of her expectations had turned to hopeless disappointments when he did not appear. She had felt the emptiness of celebrating with no one on her success in making the cast-lists and bowing with the rest of the performers to great applause, only to return to a solitary room later in the evening. There was no joy in her music, no joy in performing. The passion in her singing, which she had discovered through Erik, had faded away.
A short time later - though it might have felt interminable to the dancer – Meg's name was called. She stood up beside Anne; and an assistant, sitting near Gina, handed the instructor the dancer's resume. The music began, and Anne could hardly believe the helpless girl who had been sitting beside her was the confidently elegant performer interpreting the emotional piece with such exquisite precision. It was almost painful to watch her; Meg was so in tune with the score. It gave Anne the sweet remembrance of another. Yet she noticed the assistant rise and exit through a side door.
As the piece ended, Anne found she had been holding her breath. The combinations had been very difficult, yet Meg had handled them as though her body was an extension of the music. She had kept a momentum that seemed impossible to attain for such a small figure as hers. Her motions had been entrancing, as though Meg Giry were only alive when the music began. This was the little Giry she had known at school, so full of vitality.
The dwindling number of inhabitants in the room showed their appreciation for little Giry's skill. It was only as Gina turned around to look to the doorway from which the assistant had exited that Anne noticed the man standing there. He was short of stature and wore a cap of Persian wool, giving him a mixture of distinction and eccentricity, which some might have viewed as humorous. Noting his features, Anne wondered if he could be Daroga, the director.
"You did wonderfully. How do you feel?" Anne asked as they walked down the corridor and out into the light.
"Relieved. I was so anxious beforehand, but it all went away. Now I am rather giddy. How did I do? Did you think my flourish at the end was too much? I tried to include it because it is part of a combination in the Siren."
"Oh, Meg. You were brilliant."
"So, you think I'll get the callback?"
"I think you'll get the part!" The young woman beamed.
"Anne!" Gina called out to her as the door was reopened behind them. "We are breaking for lunch. Won't you and Meg join us?" Anne looked to Meg, whose expression was one of rapturous excitement at the prospect.
Anne found it very strange to be introduced to Frederik's friend, Daroga, across the table from an ever-bubbly Gina, and sitting beside a quietly ecstatic Meg. Perhaps it had not been such a good idea to agree to the lunch, but she did hope it would bode well for the small dancer. Meg did not touch the salad she had ordered, leaving the other three to conduct themselves the way a normal meal is played out: by consuming the food before them.
Daroga looked to the small dancer. "Eat," he commanded, "You can't dance like that and not feed your tired limbs." Meg gave the man a small smile and did her best to comply.
Gina grinned. "Oh, tell her, Daroga. You are too cruel."
Anne and Meg both looked to him. "You have the part. There is no callback needed. How long have you been dancing in that style?" Meg's mouth was still chewing. "You are well-conditioned for the piece."
"Well that was easy enough," began Gina, taking an enormous bite out of a hearty sandwich.
"Nonsense. We still have the understudy for the dancing siren to decide upon." Anne looked to Daroga with a confused expression.
"Excuse me. Might I ask: how many sirens are in the play? I gathered that there was only one."
Daroga smiled. It was disconcerting, for his was a face that did not seem comfortable with such an expression. "You have not seen it." It was not a question. "Knowing the details of a performance belongs to the artist. You will have to wait until opening night."
"Daroga," stated Gina, her mouth still full of food. "Anne is an artist, as well. She is a singer, and she also teaches voice at Archibald nearby."
The man's eyes darted to peruse her features. It was hard to tell whether his expression was one of suspicion since it was the normal mode of his countenance to look watchful. The attention discomfited her. "Your name is Anne?"
"Yes."
"What have you performed in recently?"
"I don't – I have given it up for some time."
"Was 'Anne' your stage name?"
"No. I was Christine Elliot, then."
Daroga's lips paled as they tightened on his countenance. "Christine Elliot. Yes, I think I recall that name."
Gina raised her eyebrows at her friend encouragingly. "I don't doubt it. If you ever heard her sing, you'd never forget it." Daroga did not respond, but dropped his eyes. Yet, she had the impression that his thoughts regarded her. Was it possible that Frederik had mentioned her to this man?
He turned to Meg abruptly and stated, "Be at the theater on ---- Ave and ----; No. ----, tomorrow at 6 pm. I want to acquaint you with some of the details of the performance. I will have your contract, and we will discuss that, as well. Anne, will be there, too, I imagine." Anne did not respond. The statement surprised her. Why did Daroga assume she would accompany Meg?
That afternoon, after Gina and Daroga had returned to work, Anne congratulated her friend. "I will see you tomorrow evening, then. I gather he thought I should be there to support you," she said, speaking of Daroga.
The dancer looked down at her shoes. "It is my fault," she stated. "I should have been more assertive." The girl sighed.
Anne took the opportunity to bolster the girl's spirits. "Meg, you are an exquisite dancer. I have no doubt you will bring a performance that will be like none before it." She watched the girl's expression. "You do not need to be uncertain of that."
Meg smiled but did not look persuaded. "I will see you tomorrow, then. And thank you," she kissed her friend, "Thank you for helping me through today."
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A/N: The Persian, or "Daroga" as Erik called him, was more of the phantom's nemesis in POTO.
lina, Momo, and vixen519: Frederik, Frederik, Frederik! What is it this guy has that Raoul doesn't? You make a good point, vixen519, it does change the story a bit to have her fall for Raoul. And, Momo, your "fluff" request will be granted…later. (Cackling)
bluetinkerbell: I'm so thrilled you are wondering about what happened with Sophie!! What could it mean?! Any ideas? Thanks!
LaLumacca: You like Raoul? Yey! But, you're still hoping she'll get with Frederik in the end. Wow, isn't that cruel to play with the poor vicomte's heart, though? (Wink)
followthestory: I can't say much, else I might give something away, but "Brava on your analysis of Frederik; very, very observant." Yes, it is horribly unfair to Raoul. "Realistically & logically, she should end up with Raoul." Yikes, so are you saying that if I perceive myself as a realistic and logical writer, then Anne must end up with him? I will consider that.
Ana-Misa: I feel as though I have been given the sweetest hug! I am so grateful for such compliments, but I am especially appreciative that you are finding the journey so delightful! You're on to Frederik's pov, too, I see. Yes, your thoughts on Sophie's past and perceptions are exceptional. (Gleeful grinning)
Nonny: I just found the Lost song for Persuasion (2007) on youtube. Squealing!!! (I was actually hunting down the 1971 mini. I have never seen it.) Yeah, I understand your feelings for the 1995 Anne. Rarely can a movie inspire like a book does. There's a simple "coming back around" feeling that Sophie brings to my story which makes it gather in momentum again, I think. At least I hope it is perceived that way.
Misty Breyer: Glad you enjoyed finding Daroga here, and hope you liked finding out more about him in this chapter. Thanks!
