Disclaimer: I don't own the Phantom of the Opera or any of its songs, script, etc.
A/N: OMG! Sorry, I've been slacking off since the end of the summer, trying to get ready for school and all that, I'm so sorry guys! FYI, posts are going to come further between, hopefully I'll be able to post 2 ch's each time I do post though. Now, onward!
Showstopper
Marisa
Chapter 15 – Rehearsal
"Man, I don't wanna move," I grumbled to Elise from where I lounged in my balcony seat. She made a face at me.
"Would you rather we go over parts that don't have you in them first?" she asked, waxing sincerity.
"Why, yes."
But I got up and followed her anyway.
We crept quietly down the steps as the tech people dimmed the house lights.
"I don't see why he wants the lights down," I whispered. "We're doing a cold read-through."
She sighed as we plopped down closer to the stage. "We've all seen the movie enough times, apparently we should know the lines."
"But the movie and the show are totally different," I started to argue, but Mr. Marshall strode onto the stage and cut me off.
"Hannibal scene, let's go!"
Elise and I caught up with Kendall onstage.
"Do you feel better today, 'Lise?" she whispered as we gathered for instructions.
"Yeah, a bit."
"Now," Marshall began, "we can't really do the beginning of this sequence yet because it's got major singing and dancing…"
The girl playing Carlotta, a friend of mine named Maureen, nudged me.
"I guess I don't get to be all diva-ish until later," she grinned.
I smiled. "Well, I don't get to do it at all, but you're diva enough for the both of us."
"Shut up," she said good-naturedly.
"Maureen," Marshall suddenly cut through our banter, "you'll meet with Mrs. Brighton separately to work on Carlotta's singing, since it's so much more operatic than the rest."
She nodded, and I smothered a giggle.
"Chorus, just follow along with what's going on now," he barked. "For now, we're just gonna start when the new managers show up. Go ahead, Joelle."
She stepped up opposite Jeff, Nick and Phil and glanced down at her script.
"Gentlemen, please! Would you kindly move to one side?"
"Apologies, Mme. Giry," Phil took his cue from her, turning to the other two. "Mme. Giry, our ballet mistress." He moved to Jeff's side and said in a low voice, "I don't mind telling you, M. Firmin, that I shan't be sorry to be rid of the entire business."
Jeff cocked his head quizzically. "I keep asking you, monsieur, why are you retiring?"
They held a moment's staredown, then Phil turned away abruptly, speaking in a much louder voice and making us all crack up. "We take particular pride in the excellence of our ballet!"
Nick jumped to his side quickly and nudged him, being so conspicuous in pointing me out that we couldn't help laughing again. "Who's… that girl, Lefevre?"
I went along with the charade, grinning and pretending to dance a bit.
Phil looked at me as if he'd never noticed me before in his life. "Her? Oh, she's Meg Giry, the daughter of our ballet mistress. Very promising talent, M. Andre."
Nick continued to stare at me until Joelle stomped on the floor and made us all jump.
"CHRISTINE DAAE! Concentrate, girl!"
I smothered a giggle. I swear Elise almost had a heart attack, but she nodded, going along with the idea.
"What's the matter?" I asked quietly as she came to stand with me.
"Something's wrong," she whispered back.
"What? Elise, that's not in the script—"
The stage lights went out and we heard Marshall's voice from the seats.
"Aw, come on techies! How do we expect to get through this? Get the lights on NOW!"
I felt something brush my arm in the dark.
"What are you doing? Elise?"
No response.
A moment later, the power returned. But Elise was gone.
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A/N: It's short, I know, but it's semi-dramatic. I have more coming, don't worry!
Phantomfreak07