It wasn't long until the night of the play finally rolled around, and Hollywood Arts was buzzing with energy. The stage had been fully transformed into Victorian London, complete with fog rolling through the dimly lit streets and the shadowy outlines of old buildings looming in the background. Students scurried backstage, finalising props and adjusting costumes, while a packed audience filled the seats, murmuring with anticipation. This was the show of the year.
Jade sat near the centre of the theatre, arms crossed but clearly invested. On her right was Tori, flipping through the program and muttering about costume details, and on her left, Andre leaned back in his seat, casually eating popcorn, his attention fixed on the stage.
"Beck's gonna kill it," Andre said, nodding as the lights dimmed. "Guy's got Scrooge down."
Jade rolled her eyes but smirked. "Of course he does. Beck lives for this kind of thing."
Tori glanced over, her excitement bubbling up. "And the costumes? I think this might be some of our best work. Cat really outdid herself on Scrooge's different outfits, and I'm pretty proud of the Ghost of Christmas Present."
Jade glanced sideways at Tori but nodded in reluctant agreement. "The costumes are good. But it's Beck. He could wear a trash bag and people would still say he's amazing."
As the overture played softly, the audience fell quiet, and the curtains slowly rose, revealing the fog-draped streets of London. Centre stage stood the play's narrator, dressed in an old maid's garb. Various underclassman actors appeared on stage behind, reenacting the scene of Marley's funeral - and so the play began.
Shortly after, the set moved indoors, to reveal Beck, sat at a desk, dressed in his Scrooge costume. He looked completely in character, his face stern and set with the heavy scowl of the miserly old man, with character makeup extenuating it all. The dark green wool coat Cat had designed for him fit perfectly, the gold buttons catching the light just enough to make the outfit look expensive but aged, worn down by years of bitterness. A matching waistcoat peeked out from underneath, adding a regal touch, and the white cravat at his neck gave him the air of a man who clung to formality despite the state of his soul. At current the narrator was still talking, and Beck was continuing to scribble at his desk, hunched over as any old man would.
Backstage, Cat hovered near the props table, a backstage runner for the production tonight. Her eyes were wide with excitement as she watched the scene unfold from the wings. She had spent weeks working on Beck's costumes, making sure every detail was perfect. Now, seeing him up there, fully transformed into Ebenezer Scrooge, made all the hours worth it.
Robbie, perched at the lighting booth in the back, adjusted the spotlights with precision, casting eerie shadows across the stage as the Ghost of Christmas Past entered, draped in flowing white robes. He glanced down at Cat from his elevated position and gave a small wave, though his expression remained a little distant since the Karaoke Dokie incident. Cat, still feeling guilty about not inviting him, gave a small apologetic wave back.
A little while later, as the Ghost of Christmas Present appeared on stage, Tori sat up straighter, her eyes lighting up. The Ghost was dressed in a lavish red velvet coat with fur trim, adorned with holly and ivy—a creation of Tori's design. The large, glowing lantern the ghost carried illuminated the stage with a warm, festive glow, and the actor's booming voice filled the theater with holiday cheer.
"Look at that," Tori whispered to herself. "Perfect." Cat had helped her hugely with the costume, but Tori wasn't any less proud of her handy-work. She didn't want to peruse fashion or costume design long term, but for now it had been fun.
Jade raised an eyebrow, glancing at the costume. "Not bad, Vega. Not bad."
The play continued, and Beck's portrayal of Scrooge became even more powerful as the story unfolded. He transitioned seamlessly from a cold-hearted miser to a man slowly realising the error of his ways. His voice softened when he saw the Cratchit family's humble Christmas dinner, his anger melted into regret when faced with the tiny figure of Tiny Tim (played by a particularly small Freshman boy), and by the time the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come loomed ominously over him, Beck had the entire audience in the palm of his hand.
Cat, racing back and forth backstage to assist with quick changes and scene transitions, kept stealing glances at Beck's performance. Despite the chaos behind the curtain, she was proud of the role she played in making the production run smoothly.
The climactic scene approached as Scrooge, now redeemed, stood in the middle of the stage, a changed man. Beck's smile was wide and genuine as he embraced the joy of Christmas, and the final scenes played out with a flourish.
As the final line was spoken, and Beck's Scrooge declared, "God bless us, every one!" the audience erupted in applause. Cat, watching from the wings, beamed with pride, knowing that everything had gone perfectly.
After the curtain call, the audience filtered out, buzzing with excitement and praise for the performance. Jade, Andre, and Tori lingered in their seats, waiting for the crowd to clear before heading backstage to congratulate their friends.
"Well, Beck definitely knocked it out of the park," Andre said, standing up and stretching. "Not that ever I doubted him."
"His costumes were amazing, and the lighting too" Tori added, grabbing her bag. "Cat and Robbie really did an awesome job. We should go tell them"
Jade didn't say anything, but her smile was genuine as she stood, making her way toward the backstage door with Andre and Tori following behind.
Backstage was a flurry of activity, with actors still in costume hugging and congratulating one another. Cat was huddled near the costume rack, making sure everything was in order for the cast to return their outfits. When she saw her friends approach, her face lit up.
"You guys!" she squealed, bounding over to them. "Did you see it? Beck was so good, wasn't he?"
"Seriously, Cat," Andre said, giving her a fist bump. "Those costumes? Flawless. You've got some real talent."
"Agreed," Tori chimed in. "The whole production looked fantastic."
Jade, standing a little behind them, gave a subtle nod. "Yeah, you did good, Cat."
Cat beamed at the praise, feeling her heart swell. "Thanks! It was a lot of work, but it was totally worth it. Beck looked amazing up there."
"And hey," Andre added, "Robbie killed it with the lights too. The whole atmosphere was perfect."
Just then, Beck appeared, still in costume, but with a wide grin on his face. He was drenched in the post-performance glow that came with a successful show. "You guys catch it?"
"We did," Tori said. "You were incredible, Beck!"
"Yeah, man," Andre nodded, clapping him on the shoulder. "You nailed Scrooge. Might be your best role yet."
Beck smirked. "Thanks, guys. I owe a lot of it to this costume, though." He spun around, showing off Cat's design. "Made me feel like I was really him."
Cat grinned, her cheeks turning a little pink. "I just wanted to help make it feel real."
Jade, crossing her arms, raised an eyebrow. "Well, you managed that."
They stood together for a few more moments, chatting and laughing as the night wound down, the energy of the performance still lingering in the air. Cat's eyes sparkled as she talked about the production, proud of the work she'd done not just as a costume designer but as a key part of the entire backstage team. It had been a long night, but seeing everyone come together and succeed made it all worth it.