It had been a while since that night in central park, he pulled himself through each day, doing what he'd always done, only each day now seemed longer, however tiresome it had seemed before, now it seemed much worse. He felt so separated, nobody else seemed to understand what he felt, and even Gina didn't understand this feeling… not like he did anyway. He'd started saving all his money to go to the theatre as often as he could, when he was watching a performance he could imagine he was up there with the people on stage. Dancing and looking out over the hundreds of faces that he'd never seen and would never see again. He knew he didn't have a chance of earning a place at a stage school, through it all he remained realistic. Newsies just didn't go to stage schools; he didn't have the tuition he needed anyway. Besides, he was too old for a 'school' and he couldn't give up work. He was too shy to sing in front of the guys so he stuck to doing it while he was selling, strangers didn't bother him so much.
He woke up on a day in December, it was nearly Christmas, it was getting colder and the nights were getting longer, leaving less selling time. He left early and silently to go for a walk and try to wake up, He strolled calmly through the square and past the distribution centre, then over towards Irving Hall. Many people he knew asked Medda for jobs if they wanted to be on stage but he just didn't feel happy about doing that, he needed to get there on his own merit, however long it took. Besides, Medda couldn't offer jobs to the entire population of Manhattan. He knew where he was going, he walked all the way over to the main theatre district, as he strolled past the billboards and theatre doors he fell in love all over again. The wood around the doors was so dark, the velvet curtains lining the windows were so close he could almost touch them, He could smell polished wood blending in with the same old smells of the city but is was magical…
Still, this was one dream he'd have to leave, at least until tonight.
As the lights dimmed and the tense, strained, haunting music started to break through the air, a hush came over the whole theatre. Red light crept over the stage, forming twisting shadows across the scenery. One by one the characters came onto the stage, poising themselves perfectly and holding their limbs in place, like machines, only agile… and beautiful. When they spoke their voices were clear and beautiful and…perfect. As the texture built the story was conveyed by every move made, the suspense grew and grew everyone knew it was coming…but what was 'it'? Finally as the music rang around the theatre, and the crowd of actors fell back to clear the centre of the stage, the curtain at the back of the stage opened slightly. The gap grew wider, so smoothly you could hardly see it move, then a single, dark haired figure moved forward slowly to the centre of the stage and inhaled slowly through his parted lips. The music built and he began to sing, playing with the minds of the audience and creating anything he wanted in their minds…it was such power, he could make them laugh, cry…He could make them fall in love…just like him…
Then he woke up, still smiling…He could feel a cold sweat breaking over his forehead and he lay perfectly still as it all flooded back…
He woke up on a day in December, it was nearly Christmas, it was getting colder and the nights were getting longer, leaving less selling time. He left early and silently to go for a walk and try to wake up, He strolled calmly through the square and past the distribution centre, then over towards Irving Hall. Many people he knew asked Medda for jobs if they wanted to be on stage but he just didn't feel happy about doing that, he needed to get there on his own merit, however long it took. Besides, Medda couldn't offer jobs to the entire population of Manhattan. He knew where he was going, he walked all the way over to the main theatre district, as he strolled past the billboards and theatre doors he fell in love all over again. The wood around the doors was so dark, the velvet curtains lining the windows were so close he could almost touch them, He could smell polished wood blending in with the same old smells of the city but is was magical…
Still, this was one dream he'd have to leave, at least until tonight.
As the lights dimmed and the tense, strained, haunting music started to break through the air, a hush came over the whole theatre. Red light crept over the stage, forming twisting shadows across the scenery. One by one the characters came onto the stage, poising themselves perfectly and holding their limbs in place, like machines, only agile… and beautiful. When they spoke their voices were clear and beautiful and…perfect. As the texture built the story was conveyed by every move made, the suspense grew and grew everyone knew it was coming…but what was 'it'? Finally as the music rang around the theatre, and the crowd of actors fell back to clear the centre of the stage, the curtain at the back of the stage opened slightly. The gap grew wider, so smoothly you could hardly see it move, then a single, dark haired figure moved forward slowly to the centre of the stage and inhaled slowly through his parted lips. The music built and he began to sing, playing with the minds of the audience and creating anything he wanted in their minds…it was such power, he could make them laugh, cry…He could make them fall in love…just like him…
Then he woke up, still smiling…He could feel a cold sweat breaking over his forehead and he lay perfectly still as it all flooded back…
