Community Theater

Arden and Hunter were walking together on the sidewalk. Arden spotted a booth. They stopped. She saw it was for a theatre production of a fairy tale called "Punch and Judy". Arden knew the story. She tugged on Hunter. Hunter looked at her.

"What is it?" he asked.

"The theater is doing a production of the fairy tale "Punch and Judy". That sounds like fun! They need one director, one pianist, and a bunch of actors," explained Arden.

"What are you suggesting?" asked Hunter.

"I'm suggesting that you, me, Olivia, Hiram, Basil, Dawson, and Jerome, remember him? He's Olivia's boyfriend from Valentine's Day. We all can sign up and perform that fairy tale," replied Arden. Hunter frowned.

"I'm thinking about it...bad idea," returned Hunter.

"But, Hunter, it will be fun. There are a lot of characters. I can be the director, and this'll be the most fun we've ever had. Besides, I'm heading over and signing all of us up," replied Arden.

"You wouldn't!" cried Hunter.

"I would," replied Arden pulled out a pen.

She ran off quickly and signed everyone up. Hunter couldn't stop her.

Hunter was quite shocked. After signing up, Arden walked up to Hunter.

"What'd you put me down as?" asked Hunter.

"The pianist," replied Arden. "I'm the director and the story teller considering I know this play like the bad of the palm in my paw."

"Shouldn't an adult be the director...Basil?" asked Hunter.

"Heck no!" cried Arden. "Besides, I put him down as the bad guy of "Punch and Judy" and that's the devil."

"Why'd you sign him up for that part?" asked Hunter.

"Because I want him to see what it would be like if he was the bad guy. Hiram is playing the butcher, Dawson's the policeman, Jerome is Punch, and Olivia's Judy," explained Arden.

"When are you going to tell this to everyone?" asked Hunter.

"...now," replied Arden. Hunter gasped in more shock.
"Why now?" he asked.

"Well, I'm going to have to tell them sooner or later," replied Arden.

"I prefer later," suggested Hunter.

TWENTY MINUTES LATER

Arden came home running. When she came in, Arden saw Olivia eating Chinese food. Arden saw the Chinese food before she saw Olivia.

"Is that Chinese take-away?" asked Arden. Olivia covered her food with her paw.

"No, this is Chinese stay-away," replied Olivia.

"Well, that doesn't matter. Olivia, shut up and listen. I've signed up me, you, Jerome, Hiram, Basil, Dawson, and Hunter up to perform at the theater. We're performing the fairy tale "Punch ad Judy"," replied Arden.

"That sounds like fun, but does anyone else know about this?" asked Olivia.

"Hunter knows, and I'm about to break the news with Hiram when he walks into the door. In the fairy tale, he's playing the butcher, Dr. Dawson's the policeman, Jerome's Punch, and you're Judy," explained Arden.

"I've heard the fairy tale, and I think it's a great idea," replied Olivia.

"Well, at least someone agrees with me. Hunter will be the pianist, the person that plays the piano, and I'll be the director. If you recall, you know that "Punch and Judy" was around even in the eleventh century. It's about a clown named Punch, played by Jerome. His lover is Judy, played by you, Olivia. Punch realizes he has no money to pay for sausages from the butcher, played by Hiram. The devil, played by Basil, persuades Punch to steal them. When he does, he has to encounter a series of law and order resulting in the climactic confrontation between Punch and the devil. Also, he also takes on the Policeman, played by Dawson," explained Arden.

"Count us out," replied a voice. Arden and Olivia turned and found Hiram, Basil, and Dawson.

"Basil and Dr. Dawson, what brings you here?" asked Olivia.

"We're helping Mr. Flaversham, but after hearing your conversation, we..." replied Basil.

"...too bad, I already signed you all up," interrupted Arden.

"But..." replied Dawson.

"No 'ifs', 'ands', or 'buts', we're all headed towards The Mouse London Theater tomorrow at 8:00 A.M, and starting our rehearsal for "Punch and Judy," ordered Arden. The men grumbled under their breath.

Arden appeared in the theater wearing a director's hat. She wore a long khaki skirt and a white blouse. She had sunglasses on, a clipboard and a yellow bow in her hair. She came out first, then Olivia, who as wearing the Judy costume which was a blue and white stripped dress and a white bonnet. She had a baby mouse doll in her paw. After her came Hunter who was in his regular brown pants, brown hat, vanilla medium sleeved shirt, and shoeless feet. Hiram came in a white hat, and his regular long sleeved shirt. He had a white apron and plastic sausages in his paws. "Thank heavens these sausages are only plastic," he thought. Basil came afterwards. He was wearing a black suit with horns in his head. Dawson came next in police attire. Lastly, Jerome came in. He wasn't ready for this. He was in the Punch costume. He felt stupid.

"Alright everyone, gather around," called Arden. "Hunter, you go to the piano, and stay there."

Hunter nodded and headed towards the piano. He placed himself on the piano seat and pulled out his piano music book.

"Alright everyone..." Arden cried.

"Before we do anything, I think I shouldn't be playing the villain. I've got more potential than this," objected Basil.

"You think so? Let me hear you sing then. If you think you can do better, let me hear you sing," replied Arden.

"Alright, I will," retorted Basil. Basil took off the devil horns and rushed up the stage. He cleared his voice. Basil sang a simple song that everyone seemed to like.

Basil finished and there were applauses everywhere. Even Arden clapped. They were all amazed.
"Well Basil, all the male roles are gone," said Arden.
"Well...oh, alright, I'll have to play the devil," Basil replied.
"Are you sure?" asked Arden.
"Yes," replied Basil.
"Well, alright then," returned Arden. "Anyway, for those of you who don't know, "Punch and Judy" was around even in the eleventh century. It's about a clown named Punch, played by Jerome. His lover is Judy, played by Olivia. Punch realizes he has no money to pay for sausages from the butcher, played by Hiram. The devil, played by Basil, persuades Punch to steal them. When he does, he has to encounter a series of law and order resulting in the climactic confrontation between Punch and the devil. Also, he also takes on the Police mouse, played by Dawson. Now remember, you won't need lines."
"Then what'll we know what to say?" asked Jerome.
"I'll be the narrator and as I go through the story, you all will make funny sounds with your voices," replied Arden.
"Is that how it'll go?" asked Olivia.
"Yes, and your voice will do nicely," replied Arden.

Suddenly, Hunter started playing music on the piano. Arden walked up to the piano.
"Hunter? Hunter! HUNTER!" she cried tapping on the piano.
"If you don't like the music, let me know," informed Hunter.
"Thank you, Hunter," replied Arden. Arden went back to the actors.

An hour went by, and while they were rehearsing, Dawson, in his police attire, came on to the stage.
"When will my turn be it?" asked Dawson. Arden was confused when she saw Dawson. She noticed Dawson wearing a silly, red clown nose.
"Dr. Dawson, why are you wearing a funny nose?" asked Arden.
"I'm a funny police mouse," replied Dr. Dawson.
"You're not supposed to be mean. The audience cheers for Punch and Judy, yet they hate you, and Basil, you're not doing well! You keep on saying your lines in a normal British voice! You're supposed to be evil! You know what evil is! You've dealt with Ratigan before. Surely, you know what evil is and dealing with Ratigan! Like I said, you're supposed to be evil! Professor Ratigan evil!" protested Arden.
"I'm sorry, but I can't handle the fact that you think I'm doing a bad job," replied Basil.
"And what about Olivia, if she's an innocent young Judy then why does she have baby?" asked Jerome appearing out of nowhere.
"We won't get into that," replied Arden. "Now EVERYONE...you're making a problem of the whole thing!"

Hunter started playing the piano again. Arden turned and smiled as she walked over again.
"Hunter? Hunter! HUNTER!" This time, Arden slammed her clipboard on the piano.
"Like I said, if you don't like it, let me know," replied Hunter.
"It's not the problem of not liking it. It's just the problem of not yet!" returned Arden. Arden went back to actors. Another hour went by, and there wasn't any luck. The actors were driving Arden crazy. Soon, everyone started arguing, and Arden was finally driven up the wall. Afterwards, Hunter started playing the piano. This time, Arden slammed the piano lid on Hunter's fingers. She started to cry. Hunter came up to her.
"I'm very sorry. I never should have done that done that," cooed Hunter.
"How would you know?" asked Arden. Hunter kissed Arden. Arden blushed.
"Oh, thank you. I never knew you could be so nice. You've given me the strength to go on. Excuse me," whined Arden. She took Hunter's handkerchief, and blew into it. She turned around, and went back to the actors. She turned her head Hunter though.
"But still, no playing on the piano," she instructed.
"Not yet?" asked Hunter.
"Never..." replied Arden. She left Hunter, and went back to the actors.

After back breaking work at the theater, it was 3:00 P.M, and everyone was dead tired.
"Since we're done, wanna go home?" asked Arden.
"...best idea you've had all day," replied a dead tired Basil. Arden glared at him.

The next day, Punch and Judy was performed. Arden and Hunter worked on when to play and when not to.

The play was a success. Afterwards, if you were a member of the Flaversham family yourself, you'd see Arden and Hunter sleeping on the couch back-to-back.