(Child's POV)
As we walked into the rehearsal room, Mama was mobbed by a bunch of little girls. She handed each of them a piece of candy and then gave one to me!
"Everyone, this is my daughter, Genevieve," I waved slightly.
A tall man walked up. "I am Missour Bernard, you will call me Missour is that understood?"
"Yes Missour," I said, gulping.
"Now let's see how well you dance!" demands Missour Barnard.
After doing portabras and pleas a million times I am tired and hungry. My first Mama, La Sorelli, walks me to the cafeteria. She tells Mama, "She knows not to show she's tired"
"I think that's because she's excited," observed Mama.
I eat the steak and potatoes as quickly as I can. Mama talks about her day.
"La Carlotta no longer seems jealous of me, she said she wouldn't want to be burdened with a child; I told her Genevieve is the joy of my life!"
I grinned.
After lunch, I explore backstage. I see men painting on a big canvas. I run over ecstasy with my sketchbook.
"I can help!" I shout.
"I'm Missour Gaillard the Chief Set Designer, is that a sketchbook?" He crouches down to my eye level.
I nod yes.
"Let me see how good your drawings are," I give him my sketchbook, Missour Gaillard slowly examines my drawings turning the sketchbook lengthwise and sideways for what seems like hours! I shit from one foot to the other anxiously.
"These are beautiful!" Missour Gaillard smiles and takes my hand leading me over to the canvas.
"We're trying to draw a Medevil Village, can you help us figure out a realistic color for the straw roofs?" Missour Gaillard asks.
"I think partially blending the yellow and brown oil paint will give the staw a realistic look," I suggest.
"Do as the child says" Missour Gaillard instructs the painters,
"Maricer are you distracting my new Traesty dancer?" Miss our Barnard's arms are folded.
"He offered to help." pouted Missour Gaillard.
"Time to get back to Ballet Class Georgus," Missour Barnard says sternly.
"This season the next ballet to be performed will be Geselle," announced Missour Bernard. "And they want a few children for the first act, the elder girls will audition first."
I watched the older girls, quietly moving my feet along with theirs. When it was finally my turn I let the music take me away from the staring eyes. After the music stops, Missour Bernard can't hide his shock!
"Your Aunt and Mama told me you are more comfortable as a boy. May I call you Georges?" I nodded gratefully. "You learn fast," he continued. "You can dance onstage in the back"
I wanted my Papa to be able to see me, but just not everyone so I was happy! When we got home I told Papa "The music makes me feel wonderful, and I get to be a village boy!"
"That's wonderful-" his voice quivered. He gave Mama a 'we need to talk look.
"I better go practice," I excused myself.
(Mama's Perspective)
"Christine, what did Erik do?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary… He thinks she wouldn't have to rely on the foyer de la danse if she starts making money early."
"She relies on me!" my husband seemed jealous.
"Think of Erik as an extra pair of eyes watching over her."
"Yes, your Angel of Music is good at spying…. We wouldn't have gotten custody if he hadn't admitted to killing Philippe at my trial. But what was his intention?"
"Same as you, to protect her" I answered.
(Child's Perspective)
As I practiced my scampering, jumping mischievous little boy role, I got distracted looking at my first Mama. Missour Bernard snaps "Clumsy!" I stood up, I tripped only a little. "Focus on yourself boy!" he said more gently, but crisply. I focus. I must not disappoint him! I glissade and ciseaux, and feel the joy of movement outside my corset, in my tan shirt, brown trousers, and vest, with a cap to accent, for the first time I am free to be myself!
On the night of the performance, I was in the dressing room of my first Mama, (the Prima Ballerina had her own!) and I asked her about my Papa.
"What was he like?"
"He was tall, handsome, very gentle with me, he loved me… I tried to teach him ballet once, but he was too stiff!" she laughed with tears in her eyes.
"Would he have wanted me?"
"Absolutely!" she swooped me into a hug.
I take my position at the back of the stage when the curtain goes up I look for Papa… he's in Box Five, phew! Then the music takes over and I dance! I'm the only child on stage.
When I return to my Mama's dressing room Papa is there waiting.
"Did you see me, Papa? I was perfect!"
"You were so easy to find because you are so tiny!" he said, hugging me."No matter where you go I will always find you!"
As Erik walks Mama and me home that night he asks her in a sincere tone "How do you know Raoul hasn't cheated on you? He is a count after all"
"Erik you shouldn't say such things in front of Genevieve!"
I look into his laughing eyes. "Mama he's just teasing," I say laughing.
(Erik's POV)
I want to help Georges like I helped his Mama, I have to remember that the Managers don't know a thing about music.
(Firmin Richard's POV)
I Missour Firmin Richard found a blasted letter on my desk, from that annoying ghost;
Gentlemen,
Young Geniveve's seventh birthday comes in March, and her Papa likes to give her dolls, it would be advised that the children perform the performance of Coppélia for her parents as a gift for the little girl. She will be cast as Franz, I do believe that was the tradition, and some traditions should never die. Franz is a damsel in distress! A pretty feminine role for a little girl don't you think? No need to worry about where to get Animatronic dolls, Gentlemen, I am a ghost of many talents.
Your Obedient Servant,
O.G
(Child's POV)
"We are putting on Coppélia for it will soon be Georges's birthday, and as a present to you all, it is little girls only!" announced Misspur Bernard. The girls cheered. "Now who would like to audition for Swanhilda?" Everyone raises her hand, but me. "Then Georges will be Franz and I will be Dr Coppélius since I'm old!" We all laugh.
Missour Gaillard and I have fun imagining the wildest toys to fill the shelves in the background.
"We'll need some real toys too," suggests Missour Gaillard.
"My rag doll Victora would look great with the other dolls," I offer.
"Don't you think she might feel a little plain next to these eggstavagent toys?" He raised his eyebrows.
"My Papa and I where walking past a toy shop and she was in the window, and I tugged his arm and pointed and he went in and got her." I explained.
"Well such love will look eggstavagent" Missour Gaillard proclaims!
This is my first time dancing with a partner, an extremely talented and beautiful 10-year-old girl named Priscilla, I hope to be just like her, as a boy! We battement and pas de cheval and triple pirouette; I can barely keep up! Priscila is kind and slows down. When I finally get it, we move on to act two. Missour Bernard and I relevé and tendu sneaking up on eachother. Then he makes me fall asleep like Snow White, except with a fake drink. Priscilla comes to my rescue and I am in her debt forever! I can't understand how to stage kiss so we kiss for real in the wedding scene, which I like a lot!
Papa says "Did you kiss Priscilla?" She's so beautiful and talented I don't know why he's surprised! We make our way to the foyer de la danse.
In the foyer de la danse I meet Papa's friend the daroga.
"So you're the little mutarajjila I've heard so much about," he smiles.
"What did you just call her?" Papa looked startled.
"Mutarajjula means a girl who is like a boy"
"That's because she's still in costume," Papa explained.
What difference did a costume make? The daroga did not seem to think it made any difference I felt.
"Let us go to dinner," said Papa hurrying Mama and me out of the foyer.
I'm in my blue dress and tights and corset again, this time I'm aching and sad!
"I love Daroga! He didn't call me a girl!" I say enthusiastically!
"Sweetheart you know the ballet is just pretending don't you?" asks Papa
I nod and quietly eat my herb-encrusted lamb.
(Mama's POV)
"You know? mutarajjila does fit Genevieve." I said thoughtfully to Raoul after my niece went to bed.
"It's too long to fit her," he joked.
"The ballet master called her Georges. I asked him why, and he explained she should stay in character."
Child's POV *
"Plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras…" My legs feel like jelly I'm glad to sit down. It had been two years since my role in Gisselle. I longed to be on stage, out of this scratchy tutu, and in pants again! Missour Bernard announces "This season the ballet will perform Sleeping Beauty and I will be playing The evil fairy!" The other girls started laughing!
"Shut up!" I exclaimed, "If I can be a boy why can't he be a lady?" The girls were stunned and quiet.
"Thank you, Georges, very insightful" smiled Missou Barrand. (Georges is what Missour Bernard calls me en travesty) "Would you like to play the prince since you are such a polite boy?"
"I'm playing the princess, won't that be scandalous?" My first Mama, La Sorelli pointed out.
"Random boy at the Princess's birthday then." Missour Barnard declared."As for the rest of you you can practice through lunch for laughing at me!" the girls moaned. I grinned.
After Ballet class, I run backstage to find Missour Gaillard.
"We're doing Sleeping, Beatty, and I think we should glue jewels to the stained glass windows we paint for the castle so they'll shine colors on the floor like real stain glass windows!" I exclaim.
"That sounds quite expensive…" Missour Gaillard says thoughtfully. "I know I'll ask the costume department if they have extra," He snaps his fingers.
As I paint glue on the set for one jewel at a time, I tell him about the girls laughing at Missour Barnard.
"He certainly has dramatic flair" Missour Gaillard shakes his head.
I Pas de Chat across the stage on opening night with a basket of violets for the baby Princess hanging over my arm, (which unlike thousands of times in rehearsal the basket doesn't fall off), and then I watch the other dancers do their entertainment for the baby princess. Then, Missour Barnard as the Evil Fairy bursts in causing all sorts of havoc before cursing the baby! I don't think I've ever seen him happier! After the end of the performance, I asked him why he wanted to be the Evil Fairy.
"Because she's the one with the power, who causes the whole plot to happen," he answered.
(Mama's POV)
"Why would the management allow Missour Barnard to play a woman?' asked my husband.
"Because the man who choreographed it in Russia did," I answered.
"But why would he want to do it?" asked Raoul, petulant.
"Why don't you ask Missour Bernard?" I suggest.
"Never mind!" My husband crinkled his newspaper in a frustrated manner.
Chapter 3A Very Talented Travesty
(Child's POV)
As we walked into the rehearsal room, Mama was mobbed by a bunch of little girls. She handed each of them a piece of candy and then gave one to me!
"Everyone, this is my daughter, Genevieve," I waved slightly.
A tall man walked up. "I am Missour Bernard, you will call me Missour is that understood?"
"Yes Missour," I said, gulping.
"Now let's see how well you dance!" demands Missour Barnard.
After doing portabras and pleas a million times I am tired and hungry. My first Mama, La Sorelli, walks me to the cafeteria. She tells Mama, "She knows not to show she's tired"
"I think that's because she's excited," observed Mama.
I eat the steak and potatoes as quickly as I can. Mama talks about her day.
"La Carlotta no longer seems jealous of me, she said she wouldn't want to be burdened with a child; I told her Genevieve is the joy of my life!"
I grinned.
After lunch, I explore backstage. I see men painting on a big canvas. I run over ecstasy with my sketchbook.
"I can help!" I shout.
"I'm Missour Gaillard the Chief Set Designer, is that a sketchbook?" He crouches down to my eye level.
I nod yes.
"Let me see how good your drawings are," I give him my sketchbook, Missour Gaillard slowly examines my drawings turning the sketchbook lengthwise and sideways for what seems like hours! I shit from one foot to the other anxiously.
"These are beautiful!" Missour Gaillard smiles and takes my hand leading me over to the canvas.
"We're trying to draw a Medevil Village, can you help us figure out a realistic color for the straw roofs?" Missour Gaillard asks.
"I think partially blending the yellow and brown oil paint will give the staw a realistic look," I suggest.
"Do as the child says" Missour Gaillard instructs the painters,
"Maricer are you distracting my new Traesty dancer?" Miss our Barnard's arms are folded.
"He offered to help." pouted Missour Gaillard.
"Time to get back to Ballet Class Georgus," Missour Barnard says sternly.
"This season the next ballet to be performed will be Geselle," announced Missour Bernard. "And they want a few children for the first act, the elder girls will audition first."
I watched the older girls, quietly moving my feet along with theirs. When it was finally my turn I let the music take me away from the staring eyes. After the music stops, Missour Bernard can't hide his shock!
"Your Aunt and Mama told me you are more comfortable as a boy. May I call you Georges?" I nodded gratefully. "You learn fast," he continued. "You can dance onstage in the back"
I wanted my Papa to be able to see me, but just not everyone so I was happy! When we got home I told Papa "The music makes me feel wonderful, and I get to be a village boy!"
"That's wonderful-" his voice quivered. He gave Mama a 'we need to talk look.
"I better go practice," I excused myself.
(Mama's Perspective)
"Christine, what did Erik do?"
"Nothing out of the ordinary… He thinks she wouldn't have to rely on the foyer de la danse if she starts making money early."
"She relies on me!" my husband seemed jealous.
"Think of Erik as an extra pair of eyes watching over her."
"Yes, your Angel of Music is good at spying…. We wouldn't have gotten custody if he hadn't admitted to killing Philippe at my trial. But what was his intention?"
"Same as you, to protect her" I answered.
(Child's Perspective)
As I practiced my scampering, jumping mischievous little boy role, I got distracted looking at my first Mama. Missour Bernard snaps "Clumsy!" I stood up, I tripped only a little. "Focus on yourself boy!" he said more gently, but crisply. I focus. I must not disappoint him! I glissade and ciseaux, and feel the joy of movement outside my corset, in my tan shirt, brown trousers, and vest, with a cap to accent, for the first time I am free to be myself!
On the night of the performance, I was in the dressing room of my first Mama, (the Prima Ballerina had her own!) and I asked her about my Papa.
"What was he like?"
"He was tall, handsome, very gentle with me, he loved me… I tried to teach him ballet once, but he was too stiff!" she laughed with tears in her eyes.
"Would he have wanted me?"
"Absolutely!" she swooped me into a hug.
I take my position at the back of the stage when the curtain goes up I look for Papa… he's in Box Five, phew! Then the music takes over and I dance! I'm the only child on stage.
When I return to my Mama's dressing room Papa is there waiting.
"Did you see me, Papa? I was perfect!"
"You were so easy to find because you are so tiny!" he said, hugging me."No matter where you go I will always find you!"
As Erik walks Mama and me home that night he asks her in a sincere tone "How do you know Raoul hasn't cheated on you? He is a count after all"
"Erik you shouldn't say such things in front of Genevieve!"
I look into his laughing eyes. "Mama he's just teasing," I say laughing.
(Erik's POV)
I want to help Georges like I helped his Mama, I have to remember that the Managers don't know a thing about music.
(Firmin Richard's POV)
I Missour Firmin Richard found a blasted letter on my desk, from that annoying ghost;
Gentlemen,
Young Geniveve's seventh birthday comes in March, and her Papa likes to give her dolls, it would be advised that the children perform the performance of Coppélia for her parents as a gift for the little girl. She will be cast as Franz, I do believe that was the tradition, and some traditions should never die. Franz is a damsel in distress! A pretty feminine role for a little girl don't you think? No need to worry about where to get Animatronic dolls, Gentlemen, I am a ghost of many talents.
Your Obedient Servant,
O.G
(Child's POV)
"We are putting on Coppélia for it will soon be Georges's birthday, and as a present to you all, it is little girls only!" announced Misspur Bernard. The girls cheered. "Now who would like to audition for Swanhilda?" Everyone raises her hand, but me. "Then Georges will be Franz and I will be Dr Coppélius since I'm old!" We all laugh.
Missour Gaillard and I have fun imagining the wildest toys to fill the shelves in the background.
"We'll need some real toys too," suggests Missour Gaillard.
"My rag doll Victora would look great with the other dolls," I offer.
"Don't you think she might feel a little plain next to these eggstavagent toys?" He raised his eyebrows.
"My Papa and I where walking past a toy shop and she was in the window, and I tugged his arm and pointed and he went in and got her." I explained.
"Well such love will look eggstavagent" Missour Gaillard proclaims!
This is my first time dancing with a partner, an extremely talented and beautiful 10-year-old girl named Priscilla, I hope to be just like her, as a boy! We battement and pas de cheval and triple pirouette; I can barely keep up! Priscila is kind and slows down. When I finally get it, we move on to act two. Missour Bernard and I relevé and tendu sneaking up on eachother. Then he makes me fall asleep like Snow White, except with a fake drink. Priscilla comes to my rescue and I am in her debt forever! I can't understand how to stage kiss so we kiss for real in the wedding scene, which I like a lot!
Papa says "Did you kiss Priscilla?" She's so beautiful and talented I don't know why he's surprised! We make our way to the foyer de la danse.
In the foyer de la danse I meet Papa's friend the daroga.
"So you're the little mutarajjila I've heard so much about," he smiles.
"What did you just call her?" Papa looked startled.
"Mutarajjula means a girl who is like a boy"
"That's because she's still in costume," Papa explained.
What difference did a costume make? The daroga did not seem to think it made any difference I felt.
"Let us go to dinner," said Papa hurrying Mama and me out of the foyer.
I'm in my blue dress and tights and corset again, this time I'm aching and sad!
"I love Daroga! He didn't call me a girl!" I say enthusiastically!
"Sweetheart you know the ballet is just pretending don't you?" asks Papa
I nod and quietly eat my herb-encrusted lamb.
(Mama's POV)
"You know? mutarajjila does fit Genevieve." I said thoughtfully to Raoul after my niece went to bed.
"It's too long to fit her," he joked.
"The ballet master called her Georges. I asked him why, and he explained she should stay in character."
Child's POV *
"Plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras, plié, port de bras…" My legs feel like jelly I'm glad to sit down. It had been two years since my role in Gisselle. I longed to be on stage, out of this scratchy tutu, and in pants again! Missour Bernard announces "This season the ballet will perform Sleeping Beauty and I will be playing The evil fairy!" The other girls started laughing!
"Shut up!" I exclaimed, "If I can be a boy why can't he be a lady?" The girls were stunned and quiet.
"Thank you, Georges, very insightful" smiled Missou Barrand. (Georges is what Missour Bernard calls me en travesty) "Would you like to play the prince since you are such a polite boy?"
"I'm playing the princess, won't that be scandalous?" My first Mama, La Sorelli pointed out.
"Random boy at the Princess's birthday then." Missour Barnard declared."As for the rest of you you can practice through lunch for laughing at me!" the girls moaned. I grinned.
After Ballet class, I run backstage to find Missour Gaillard.
"We're doing Sleeping, Beatty, and I think we should glue jewels to the stained glass windows we paint for the castle so they'll shine colors on the floor like real stain glass windows!" I exclaim.
"That sounds quite expensive…" Missour Gaillard says thoughtfully. "I know I'll ask the costume department if they have extra," He snaps his fingers.
As I paint glue on the set for one jewel at a time, I tell him about the girls laughing at Missour Barnard.
"He certainly has dramatic flair" Missour Gaillard shakes his head.
I Pas de Chat across the stage on opening night with a basket of violets for the baby Princess hanging over my arm, (which unlike thousands of times in rehearsal the basket doesn't fall off), and then I watch the other dancers do their entertainment for the baby princess. Then, Missour Barnard as the Evil Fairy bursts in causing all sorts of havoc before cursing the baby! I don't think I've ever seen him happier! After the end of the performance, I asked him why he wanted to be the Evil Fairy.
"Because she's the one with the power, who causes the whole plot to happen," he answered.
(Mama's POV)
"Why would the management allow Missour Barnard to play a woman?' asked my husband.
"Because the man who choreographed it in Russia did," I answered.
"But why would he want to do it?" asked Raoul, petulant.
"Why don't you ask Missour Bernard?" I suggest.
"Never mind!" My husband crinkled his newspaper in a frustrated manner.