Act 2: Pas d' action

***Hi, I am glad that you are still here! I won't write much this time and you may skip if you want. But perhaps only two thoughts today. First, you'll probably know that I do love villains, such as Hugo (in my Christmas play). Aw, all those devils in human shape, just like Richard III. They all have their back story and they will claim what they want to have. So, it is perhaps not farfetched if I say that I do like Von Rothbart in Swan Lake. It would be cool to act him out! Well, of course, this would be so much different from impressive character dancers (for example, like Derek Rencher. I guess you do not know him, but he is indeed a villainous perfection). I have already mentioned my good old Hugo. Hugo is also the knight's name in the opera version of Undina. Undina and Sintram is the book I wished for a special Christmas some years ago. Perhaps you have never read it. In fact, they are two stories by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. Undina is such a famous fairy tale novel – there is not only the opera by Lortzing, but also by P.I. Tchaikovsky. He destroyed it, but he kept some music and recycled it for Swan Lake. Yes! We are back! The final love duet between the knight (Hugo (=Huldbrand in the original story) and the water fairy Undina (somehow the first Little Mermaid) got used for the famous Pas d' action (a slow piece in ballets, mostly used for wooing). The singing part got replaced with two instruments (violin and cello). I guess you probably know the famous part of Swan Lake, but probably you do not the original ending of the ballet piece. It is quite vivid and according to Amy, it is sometimes seen as the prince's variation. Stop, stop, you'll probably shout now. I'm sorry for my many details. I hope you know at least the basic story of Swan Lake. I mean, prince has to marry, but falls in love with an enchanted Swan Princess at a lake, the moon shines; and she can only to be released from her spell with a pledge of love. (and yeah, now we're back at Pas d'action!) ***

"Amy March, I can not do it." Laurie sighed and sat down at her side. Amy frowned and stopped the video. "Is everything all right?" she asked worried. Amy had been watching a video on her laptop with a special Swan Lake performance. Amy tried to study the Neapolitan Dance and used her time in the flat she was sharing now with Laurie and Jo in New York. When Robert Ashwell was pleased with her pas de deux with Fred, he agreed to let her dance also in Act III. In Natalia Makarova's production, the Neapolitan dance was performed by a male and female dancer. It was a vivid, happy dance, and not too complicated. And it included a kiss! And Amy was hoping it would reduce Laurie's …well…jealousy.
Laurie had not said anything and so she asked again: "Laurie, are you fine? Why are you not talking about it?"
"Amy, where are the flowers from?" he asked and pointed on the colorful posy with lilies, tulips and roses in a vase on the cupboard.
"No, they are not from Fred. They are from Robert."
"You call him Robert?"
"Um, he asked me to call him on this way, when we were discussing some steps in the nearby café."
"You were in a café with him, my darling?" Laurie asked, quite furious and Amy remembered his ancestry from Italia.
"Do not worry, it is only business, as much as between you and Ruby Randall." Amy didn't know whether she should actually mention the piano player, but as the company rehearsed actually mostly with recordings, Miss Randall was not too busy.
Laurie sighed.
"Amy, you know, I am not a ballet dancer. You can not imagine how difficult simply walking on stage is! And Benno is actually a part of the Pas de trois! Have you not thought of this?"
Amy knew the difficult highlight in the first act, this particular dance for a male dancer and two female dancers – in the current production Vanessa and June, who were also dancing the big swans in Act 2.
"Oh Laurie, you needn't do it for me. I haven't asked you for anything! I feel honored that you want to support and share time with me…"
"But not enough, Amy! There is no need for two fools in the play!" Laurie's voice had a hint of desperation. And just then, Amy couldn't stand his behavior.
"Theodore Laurence, you are grown-up and you mustn't act like a jealous teenager with a first crush! Have you already told your grandfather that you are in this ballet?"
Laurie's gaze darkened and with a sulky voice, he mumbled: "He despises ballet and he'll never get to know it."
"But…"
Just when Amy wanted to reply, Jo stormed into the room. "Hey, Apollo and Terpsichore!" (*referring to the god of music and the muse of dance*)
But when there was just a dreadful silence, Jo cleared her throat.
"Um, are you quarreling at the moment?"
"Well", Laurie replied drily, "I was considering my part as second jester in the Pas de Trois. I am afraid, Benno will to be recast as fool."
"Oh, cool! But why are you not dancing with the two big swans in Act 2? With flapping arms and perhaps white tutu?" Jo giggled and waved around with her arms.
"Haha, indeed very funny." Amy sighed. She knew she had to talk with Mr. Ashwell to find a good solution with this pesky Pas de Trois.
"OMG, what is up between dream team? By the way, I just wanted to ask whether you would like to see Friedrich Bhaer's ballet class." Jo said.
"Really? This could be cute!" Amy replied. Perhaps this could be fun and reduce the tension between her and Laurie. They had never ever quarreled before, but actually, they were indeed a young couple.
Even Laurie agreed and so it was settled.

"I am happy to welcome you! These are excellent news!" Friedrich Bhaer was really beaming full of joy, when he greeted Any, Laurie and – of course – Jo.
They were in a little side room, with a barre and a recorder. And there were three little girls, with pink bonnets in the hair and ballet skirts.
"Hi, I am Kitty!" "My name is Minnie – just without Mouse!" "Hello, call me Tina! You are beautiful! Are you actually a real ballerina? May I touch you?"
Amy laughed and her heart felt so much lighter again, when she was surrounded by the little girls – they were admiring her beauty and grace with a true innocence.
"Now, let us show what we learned! " Friedrich called the girls, but of course, with a friendly manner.
Together, they started to hop and wave their arms in a ballet like manner, and the girls twirled, with Swan Lake music coming from the recorder.
Jo even began to join them and the girls imitated her sassy turns. It was hilarious, just like the dance of the four little swans!
Amy clapped and also Laurie, quite relaxed, pretended to be an imaginary piano player for the young ballet stars. It was as happy as her favorite part in Swan Lake, the pas d'action between Swan Queen and the prince.
It lasted, until a woman came to fetch the girls – Mrs. Kirke. She was Kitty's and Minnie's mother.
"He is such a generous man! Ballet classes are usually so expensive – but he actually doesn't want to have a penny. So, sometimes I'm bringing him some surprises, such like a cake or an umbrella." Mrs. Kirke confided to Amy. Amy was really touched. She looked at Jo, who was standing next to him and listening to him carefully.
"Mum, Mum, why is Swan Lake a bad story?" suddenly a sobbing voice destroyed the pleasant atmosphere.
It was Kitty, and also the other girls seemed to be in distress. "Mr. Laurie said that the prince and princess are dead in the ending!"
Laurie raised his hands to signalize his innocence. "They have asked me for the ballet story. And I can't change Swan Lake, can I? And anyway, it is happy because the evil wizard Von Rothbart is dead, too."
"Uncle Friedrich is dead, too?" Now all three girls were crying even noisier. Of course, they apparently knew his part in the production.
Amy turned to Laurie and said: "Don't worry, this can be fixed!"
She went down on her knees and whispered: "Shush, little girls! Do not worry! Laurie has told you only one possible ending of the ballet called Swan Lake. But this is not the right ending. Swan Lake has actually a really happy ending! Just trust me! And you'll see it soon! Because Laurie and me will be on stage and you may watch it backstage if you want. Just be patient a bit!"
The girls seemed to be satisfied by this promise, but Amy was a little bit nervous – she hadn't asked Robert Ashwell about the ending so far!
"And I could tell you a really happy fairy tale." Friedrich went on, "The story of Fairy Lake – Le Lac des fees – der See der Feen. It is an opera by Daniel Auber based on a fairy tale from my home country."
"Wait a minute, this could be interesting!" Jo exclaimed. "Could I read perhaps this fairy tale? And do you have a collection with Swan tales?"
"Klaro, Jo, I have a library with fairy tales from many countries, such as England, Scandinavia, Russia and of course, Germany." Friedrich replied.
"Excellent!" Jo said and Amy supposed that Jo was still involved in her research.
Just when the girls left with Mrs. Kirke, Amy's phone rang. "Hi, Robert…Mr. Ashwell…" Amy said, but then she gasped. "No, this is impossible….I understand….I'm coming!"
Having finished her call, she turned to Laurie, Jo and Friedrich.
"Someone has destroyed my ballet costume. And apparently, there was kind of an eerie message."

If you want to take a look at the productions I mentioned here:
Swan Lake pas d'action (full): watch?v=oeGwaiM_HMI (Shame on Watkin for daring to change the plot eventually in his production, I will never forgive him that.)
Natalia Makarova's Swan Lake: Neapolitan Dance at: 1:06:06
 watch?v=7e8WdmHPJqk&t=4106s