Part 55
With the latest crisis averted, the troupe was able to get back to normal with constructing the sets and making the costumes. Suki had seen the big productions go up at Crystal Entertainment but those sets and costumes were largely built and made by professionals. To see this troupe come together to do it all themselves with help from their families and friends was a sight to behold.
The work went on for a few weeks. Gunter didn't know when it happened or how but somewhere during the production process, he started seeing Eddie differently. He started noticing how his brown eyes glittered in the lights of the stage. How soft and white his fleece was, like the snow that was falling outside the window.
When regular rehearsals started, Alphonso and Tyler moved the truck outside the theater. A few other trucks joined them, giving the dancers, actors and musicians plenty of options for meals.
Finally it was opening night. Suki watched as everyone was in flurry doing the last minute checks.
"Suki!" Linda cried her name, running to her best friend and hugging her. "Look at you."
Suki hugged her back. "Yep, the doctor said it could be anytime now. I can't wait to meet my boys." She rubbed her swollen belly. She didn't want to say how much she was starting to hate being pregnant. Her back hurt. Her legs hurt. She hadn't seen her feet in weeks. She especially didn't want anyone to know she was having serious discomfort and pain. They were just false labor, she was sure. Nothing to be worried about. "Oh, I gotta go get in position. You're in the Family box." One more hug and she ran to get to her mark.
Alphonso went outside just once to check on the truck before the show. "How are you guys doing? Do we have enough supplies? I can do an order if needed."
Tyler shook his head. "We're doing great. We're going to shut down during the performance so we can come see it." There was no point in being open during the performance. They would open again at the end.
Alphonso nodded. "Alright. I'll help clean up afterwards, I promise." He hated leaving them to do so much of the work.
"Alphie! I swear, we are capable of handling it. You work way too hard. Go on, you have a job to do," Tyler pushed the elephant out of the food truck, laughing.
Alphonso wanted to protest but he was right. He had to get in place.
When Ryan invited them to the theater for opening night, Jackson had been reluctant but Katherine insisted they attend. So they sat up in the family box, occasionally conversing with Norman and Nana.
"So my son actually has a real role in this show?" Jackson asked. "He's not just a chorus girl?"
Norman nodded. "Yep, he's Carlos, one of the four VKs who are invited to Auradon Prep."
Katherine was reading the program. "Yeah, see, Jackson. Ryan Hunter-Green as Carlos DeVil. Oh, it's about to start."
The lights dimmed and the curtain opened to the electronic backdrop. Meena was on a box using a can of spray paint to touch up a green and purple image. "They say I'm trouble, they say I'm bad. They say I'm evil and that makes me glad."
Johnny sat up from behind some crates. "A dirty no-good down to the bone, your worst nightmare can't take me home…"
Wearing a leather blue dress, Porsha walked down at catwalk as though modeling. "So I got some mischief in my blood. Can you blame me? I never got no love."
A window on one of the building facades opened and Ryan climbed. "They say I'm callous, a low life hood. I feel so useless, misunderstood!"
Together they converged on the center of the stage. "Mirror on the wall, who's the baddest of them all. Welcome to my wicked world. Wicked world. We're rotten to the core, rotten to the core, who could ask for more. We're nothing like the kids next door. We're rotten to the core, rotten to the…. rotten to the core."
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Suki-Maleficent stood on the platform, pretending to be a wax statue while also trying not to show how much pain she was in. The pains came and went. She was starting to think this might not be false labor but she didn't want to ruin the play.
Meena-Mal approached the statue and sang. "Look at you, look at me, I don't know who to be, Mother. Is it wrong, is it right, be a thief in the night, Mother? Tell me what to do."
Suki-Maleficent began cackling before waving her hand. "Don't be so serious, dear." She gestured for Meena to approach and she sang. "I was once like you, my child. Slightly insecure. Argued with my mother too. Thought I was mature." She grimaced as the pain gripped her abdomen and she dropped to her knees. She saw Marcus watching her and nodded.
"Mother," Meena asked loud enough for the audience. "Are you alright?"
Suki was about to respond when there was a very audible splash. "Mother's fine dear, but I need to step out for just a few moments." She hurried off stage with Meena following.
Eddie quickly grabbed his microphone. "Alright, I think we need to take a brief intermission. Good time to go get something to eat or drink or use the facilities. And we'll be back shortly." He hit the lever to drop the curtain. Suki was doubled over backstage when he got there. "Are you alright?"
Marcus appeared and asked at the same time. "Suki, are you alright?"
She nodded and breathed. "Yes. But I'm going to have to go to the hospital. It's time." She explained.
Eddie nodded. "It's fine. I just need to find a new Maleficent within five minutes."
"I can do it," Linda announced herself, going to her best friend's side. "I helped Suki rehearse during downtime. I know the part."
Suki quickly got out of her costume and gave it to Linda. Marcus picked her up so she wouldn't have to walk. "Johnny, you stay and finish the show with Porsha and Nooshy." He instructed his son who looked like he wanted to follow his dad.
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Katherine returned to her seat with a couple of crepes and two hot cups of coffee, one of each she gave to her husband. "What's going on?" She asked.
Norman shook his head. "Judging from experience, I think Suki's in labor." He looked up as the lights dimmed again.
"Oh! She shouldn't have gone on tonight," Katherine observed the obvious.
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The rest of the show went according to plan. Alphonso-Ben and the dancers taught the audience how to spell 'RIDICULOUS.' They went on their date to the Enchanted Lake. Porsha-Evie flirted with Darius-Doug and he saved her from being expelled for cheating.
Culminating in the climax. Jane stole Rosita's wand and a special effect later showed the barrier on the Isle broken.
Meena-Mal grabbed the wand from Jane and shouted. "Stay back!"
Alphonso-Ben stepped up to her. "Mal, give me the wand. It's okay."
"Ben, I said stand back!" She shouted again.
Ben shook his head. "So, you really want to do this?"
Mal shook her head. "We have no choice, Ben! Our parents…."
"Your parents made their choice. Now you make yours," he challenged her.
She stood there, holding the wand defensively. "I… I think I want to be good."
"You are good," Alphonso insisted. He liked this script. It really embodied his beliefs.
"How do you know?!" The elephant in the purple wig demanded.
"Because I'm listening to my heart," he
Meena shook her head. "I want to listen to my heart too… And my heart is telling me that we are not our parents. Jay, stealing things doesn't make you happy. Tourney and victory pizza with the team makes you happy. Carlos, rubbing Dude's belly makes you happy, who would have thought. And Evie, you don't have to play dumb to get a guy. You are so smart. And I don't want to take over the world with evil. It doesn't make me happy. I want to go to school and be with Ben. Because Ben makes me really happy. I choose good, you guys."
After a few more exchanges and Carlos reflecting on how mad their parents were going to be, Linda-Maleficent entered the scene. She and Mal fought over the wand but ultimately Mal prevailed with a well-placed summoning spell, taking the wand from her mother.
Special effect smoke blocked their view as an animatronic dragon appeared and began to chase the VKs. Porsha-Evie pulled out a little mirror. "Magic mirror shine a bright light!"
Mal got in front of friends and stared down the dragon. "The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before four hearts as one." With her friends drawing near, she repeated the line three times until with more smoke the dragon disappeared to be replaced with a small bearded dragon. "What happened? Did I do this?"
Rosita-Fairy Godmother ran up. "No, your mother did. She shrank to the size of the love in her heart. That's why it's so itty bitty."
After everyone had a chance to calm down and realize that the battle was one, Ben decided it was time to "Let's get this party started."
Together, they sang, "Ohay ohay, Hey!"
The cast and ensemble sang the finale song, "Set it Off" but at the end, Meena turned her head to the audience and asked. "What? You don't think this is the end of the story, do you?" The curtain fell and everyone clapped. The curtain calls brought even more applause.
Eddie and Gunter exchanged glances. They had done it. Their first show, Eddie's first time producing, had been a success. For the first time in a long time, Eddie felt like everything was going to be alright. He could do this job and do it well.
"I hope you enjoyed that, Buster. That was for you…" he took a deep breath as he felt an arm looping around his shoulders.
AN: The first real show that Eddie produced has gone well and Suki is having her twins. In the comments include your favorite boy name. Please review and be honest please.