Four days until the big show…
In between yet another helping of Arts & Craft, which went no better then the previous two helpings. In fact the violence factor seems to have escalated quite a bit. William and Wesker were both carted to the First Aide office for massive paper cuts and concussions caused by repeated beatings with tempura tiles. Later they were treated to another canoe ride. Which ended…well…badly I suppose, as poor Richard was eaten by Neptune.
So, as I was saying, in between the arts & crafts and the canoe trip the children were forced to rehearse. We find them standing on stage in the Main Hall…
"NO NO NO!" Miss Perky shakes her head and walks across the stage. "Steve, you need to lift the skirt higher!"
Steve groans loudly, currently wearing a frilly can-can dress, and looking pissed off. I guess he is none to happy to be a drag queen at the moment.
"EXCUSE ME, if I have no clue how to wear a dress!"
Suddenly Alfred starts jumping up and down, with his hand in the air like a kid in class trying to get the teacher's attention. Everyone turns slowly to stare at him like he's lost his mind.
"Oh, oh, pick me! I know how!"
Everyone present shudders, wishing someone would hit Alfred with something. Preferably something very heavy.
"This scene is very important!" Miss Perky screeches, sitting back down in her chair. "Now, let's try this again. Barry, take it from where we left off."
Barry steps through a set of cardboard doors, part of the yet unfinished scenery, flanked by Claire and Sherry. Barry is dressed like some kind of ringmaster, while both girls are dressed in can-can dresses. Just to the left of the stage Enrico, Leon, Forest, and Ark are dressed in black top hats and tails.
Barry: Got some dark desire…
Claire and Sherry move down the steps toward the boys, who are attempting to dance and walk toward them at the same time. Which, I might add, they are failing miserably at. I guess the boys just don't have any rhythm.
Barry: Love to play with fire…
Rebecca and Steve, who is still looking more than slightly pissed off, come out the doors and head toward the boys.
Barry: Why not let it rip!
The three girls, plus Steve, partner with the four boys and commence to dance together. Well, at least it sort of looks like their dancing. In the meantime, Chris, also dressed in top hat and tails, Alfred, Carlos, William, and Brad sneak across the stage. They are trying to sneak into the Moulin Rouge.
Barry: Live a little bit!
Steve is currently partnered with Ark. Ark does not look pleased to be dancing with Steve, in fact he looks like he's trying not to throw up.
"These pantyhose are riding into the unknown."
"Please don't talk to me…"
Forest is partnered with Rebecca, both of them look to be trying to remember the dance steps. To be fair they are doing far better than the other couples.
"One, two, three…turn…"
"And kick, and lift, and turn…"
Enrico and Sherry both look to be completely out of rhythm and want nothing more than to drop dead on the spot.
"How long is this number?"
"Not to much longer…" Sherry mumbles, trying to keep in step. "…I hope…"
"Leon, you're on my foot!"
"Oops…" Leon blushes. "Sorry Claire."
Later…
"Alright, this is Satine's big number." Miss Perky claps her hands with joy. "And…ACTION!"
Jill is lowered from the ceiling on a swing, dressed …well…err…in a very reveling outfit. Chris, Alfred, Carlos, William and Brad are sitting to the left of the stage in a booth. In the booth right next to them is Wesker and Barry. Wesker is also dressed in a set of tails.
Alfred leans over the table and whispers to Chris. "It's her…the Sparkling Diamond.."
Chris is now narrating. "But someone else was to meet Satine that night…"
Jill: The French are glad to die for love…
"Zidler's investor…"
Jill: They delight in fighting duels…But I prefer a man who lives…and giiiives…expensive…jewels..
"The Duke…"
Jill is lowered to the floor in the middle of our four boys and proceeds to ah…shake her booty, as the music picks up pace.
Jill: A kiss on the hand might be quite continental, but diamonds are a girls best friend…
Of course being in the middle of four men without rythem, well, you're just asking for trouble. Which comes shortly after Jill starts singing. Ark trips and hits Enrico. Enrico trips and falls into Leon. Leon gets knocked into Brad. Then the entire heap of boysfall on top of Jill.
"AHHHHH!" Miss Perky leaps out of her chair, runs over, and digs Jill out of the pile. "Are you hurt?"
"I'm alright."
"Oh thank goodness."
Miss Perky picks Jill up, managing to step on Leon and Ark as she hauls her star to a nearby chair.
"OWWW!" Ark massagesthe hand Miss Perky has just stepped on. "Damn that hurts."
"Hey watch it lady!" Leon massages his head where Miss Perky just kicked him. "Yeesh!"
"I was so worried about you Jill." Miss Perky gently sets her down near Chris. "If you'd have gotten hurt…"
"Hey!" Enrico shouts, trying to untangle from Ark. "What about us?"
"Oh you guys are just extras." Miss Perky flips a dismissive hand toward the four boys. "Few cuts and bruises, maybe some broken bones, doesn't really matter."
"My, I feel so loved…" Forest mumbles, pulling Leon to his feet.
"Yea, I know just what you mean…"
And so the rehearsals continue…