Reinvention’s of Opera
By.
Ali
Chapter One: Broadway
"I’m happy to report that you all did incredibly well
on your Phantom tests." Mrs. Ilckson smiled.
"I better have done well after suffering through that whale." Randi muttered.
Her friend, Lauren, laughed quietly. Then she raised her hand. "So do we
get to decide today which musical we’re putting on for spring?"
"Absolutely." Mrs. Ilckson smiled.
The entire drama class began chattering excitedly.
"Les Miz was such a better novel!"
"No way. Phantom was tons better."
"Les Miz has more female characters!" One girl cried.
"You won’t get a lead anyway, freshman. Why do you care?" Randi snorted.
The girl glared at her as she turned away. "You won’t get the lead either."
She snapped.
"Duh, Sherlock. Lauren will. I’m just her back-up." Randi put her arm protectively
around her slowly reddening friend.
"I’m not that good." Lauren responded quietly.
"Hell no. You’ve just been dancing ballet since you were five and have
the sexiness of some slinky prostitute and sing like…like…what’s her bucket."
"Sarah Brightman?" their mutual friend Jessi offered.
"Yeah, but Lauren’s better."
"Shut up." Said the girl who’d been put down before. "She is not."
"She is, and you know it." Randi laughed. "It’s not like you haven’t heard
her before."
The girl shrugged and turned away.
"Well, that still doesn’t solve our problem of whether we’re doing Les
Miz or Phantom of the Opera." Mrs. Ilckson responded after the room had
once more gone silent.
"Are the musicals anything like the book?" One boy asked. "Because if they
are, it’s Les Miz hands down."
"Get off it Brandon. Everyone in here knows you’d do Phantom because it’d
give you a chance to show off how-"
"Randi!" the teacher exclaimed.
"Well, he likes being seductive." Randi shot back.
Lauren grinned and whispered into Randi’s ear, "And it doesn’t hurt that
he’s hot and has an awesome vocal range."
"Oh, yeah." Randi responded dramatically. "I forget how in luuuuuuuv you
are with him. Well, you’re right. His vocal range is far from suck-ville."
Lauren blushed furiously and glanced over her shoulder to make certain
Brandon hadn’t heard. He hadn’t.
"I think I know what would help us solve this conflict." Mrs. Ilckson grinned.
She extended her hand, which held a stack of plane tickets. "That secret
meeting I had with your parents at the start of the year was really just
a charity case. I got them to fork over one thousand bucks so I can ship
your butts with me halfway across the country so that we can see both shows
live on Broadway. It’ll also help me decide what type of budget I’ll be needing
to pitch to the principle."
"God I’m glad we’re going to a high school were budget isn’t a problem."
Randi laughed.
The girl she’d snubbed earlier turned around. "You’re so greedy." She snorted.
"Some of us aren’t as rich as you."
"Good you have me around to support butts like yours, then." Randi shot
back. "Also good thing this school has the support of every rich rear this
side of Beverly Hills. They all support the Drama department you know."
The girl’s eyes narrowed.
"Don’t try to put me down." Randi snapped. "You’ll lose."
"This Thursday at 4:30." Mrs. Ilckson was saying.
"In the morning?!" Randi shrieked.
"Yes, Randi. 4:30 in the morning at the airport this Thursday. We’ll be
gone through Sunday evening. Pack nice outfits and lots of shorts and sunglasses.
Here’s the list of everything you’ll need."
"What about school Monday?"
"We’re due back at 5:30 on Sunday evening. I expect all those who wish
to perform in this show to be here the full day unless we have a delay of
some sort."
Lauren gripped her friends’ hand excitedly. "We’re finally going to see
Phantom!" she shrieked.
"Guess we all know which you want to do." Jessi laughed.
"Get your schoolwork through then!" Mrs. Ilckson finished.
The bell rang.
"See you all tomorrow morning!" she crowed happily.
"Yeah, at four blessed thirty." Randi muttered dragging herself out of
the room.
Chapter 2: Les Miz
"Well, that sucked." Jessi laughed slipping her blouse
and bra off and tossing them into her suitcase before pulling her pajama’s
over her head.
"The cover up wasn’t too bad." Randi responded defensively.
"Oh, please Randi." Lauren giggled.
"Well, you were scared when the cannon went off, too!"
"Because it shot a fireball halfway across the stage."
"And then it started the fire. If that didn’t kill half the audience the
flag poles the cast flung into the audience in panic sure as hell would
have." Jessi added.
"Well, they contained it and I thought they finished really well."
"The audience deserved it for being practically suffocated because of the
smoke." Lauren chided.
"There wasn’t that much-"
"You couldn’t see the whole front of the auditorium!" Jessi hooted.
"I’m taking a shower." Randi muttered dejectedly.
"What? I can’t hear you. My ears have been clogged with ash…" Lauren cracked.
Randi just glared then slipped into the bathroom before closing the door
loudly behind her.
"She hates it when she’s wrong." Jessi giggled.
"Ya think?" Lauren responded turning on the television. "She really wanted
to do that musical. If professionals can’t handle it you think the school
is going to let us attempt to pull it off?"
"Yeah, but Christine gets more airtime that Cosette, so you’re better off
with Phantom anyway."
"That’s not why I want to do it." Lauren muttered defensively. "I like
the choreography and music and…and…"
"Everything better?" Jessi supplied. "How many times have you seen it?"
"Five." She supplied. "And I listen to the tape almost constantly.
"For example it’s currently in your alarm clock." Jessi responded picking
up the machine and gently shaking it in her friends’ face. "I’d call it
obsessed."
"I’m not obsessed." Lauren cried.
Oh my goodness, Lauren. You just want to marry someone who talks like him,
sings like him, acts like him…"
"That’s not obsessed. It’s called family planning." Lauren responded shuffling
her feet. "And his name is Erik." She looked up and met Jessi’s raised eyebrow.
"What?"
Jessi shook her head. "Nothing." She sighed. "I’m going to bed."
"I’m waiting for the shower." Lauren replied.
"You’ll be awake for hours before she comes out. Randi can’t ever look
less than perfect. She knows how dirty she got."
"I’ll wait." Lauren replied.
Chapter 3: The Meeting
"Are you serious?!" Lauren cried jumping up and down in
ecstasy. "We’re meeting the Phantom cast?"
"Yes, yes." Mrs. Ilckson laughed. "I thought it-"
But she was cut off my Lauren’s eager screech. "Randi! Did you hear her?!
We’re meeting them! We’re meeting the cast! I’m meeting Erik!"
"His name isn’t Erik. He plays Erik." Randi laughed.
"You know what I mean!" Lauren cried. Then turning to her teacher she asked,
"When do we leave?"
"Well, we’re meeting them before the show because after they’re having
dinner or something for a departing tech member. We leave the hotel in one
hour."
"An hour?!" Lauren cried. "I have to shower! I have to put on make-up!
I have to find a good outfit! I have to figure out what I say to them. How
can I do that in an hour?!"
"Better get started." Jessi laughed.
Lauren dashed off and let herself into the bathroom.
"Think she’s excited?" Brandon asked the group jokingly.
"She’s enthralled." Randi responded. "The rest of us however, had better
begin following her lead."
One by one the group dispersed from the lobby. Exactly forty-five minutes
later everyone was piled on the couches the surrounded the front desk.
"I suppose we can leave a little early." Mrs. Ilckson said, glancing at
her watch. "They won’t mind, I’m sure."
"Looking hot, Lauren." Randi smiled. "Did you dress up for the cast or
for Brandon?"
"I love how you can tell me I look hot, and I know in which context you
mean it." Lauren giggled completely ignoring the question.
Jessi glanced at Randi behind Lauren’s back and raised an eyebrow. Randi
rolled her eyes. Brandon, she mouthed. Jessi nodded in amusement.
Chapter 4: Prima Dona
"What the heck do you mean you aren’t having a show?"
Lauren cried.
"I’m sorry." The manager replied. "It would seem that our Christine’s father
died quite suddenly this afternoon."
"So call in the alternate." Randi replied.
"She’s taken ill. And her back-up was in a car accident two days ago and
is currently on morphine for minor whiplash."
"You’ve got to be kidding me." Lauren burst out. "There’s got to be someone
who-"
"No one else has practiced for the part in months." The manager interjected.
"Oh, for Christ’s sake." Randi muttered shoving Lauren forward. "Put her
on. If she doesn’t know this production, the pope isn’t Catholic."
"Randi!" Lauren hissed. "I want to see the damn thing, not be in it."
"It’ll be good practice." Randi grinned. "You know you’ll be the lead when
we do it for spring."
"I will not." Lauren protested.
"Oh, you will too." Then pulling Lauren toward the manager she said louder,
"She’ll do it."
All eyes turned to gaze at Lauren.
"You will?" Miss Ilckson asked.
"If she knows the score…" the manager began hesitantly.
"Yeah she does." Jessi replied.
"And it would allow me to not have to call off the show, tonight."
"Yeah, you only have about two hours and you have to call a helluva lotta
people." Brandon added, winking at Lauren as she tried to protest…to no
avail.
"Her size is perfect. She could easily fit into the costumes." Said a cast
member coming up beside the manager.
"I agree." The manager responded. "She’s in. Go with Kerrie, she’ll take
you to rehearsal so you can practice with Ted."
"Who?"
"The current Phantom." The manager responded.
"Oh." Lauren nodded. "Okay."
"Break a leg!" cried her friends in excitement sending her off.
"Don’t forget to have fun." Randi called as her friend disappeared behind
the curtain.
"She looks nervous." Brandon laughed to Jessi.
"She’s performing in front of four balconies of people…a full house I might
add. I’d be nervous with only two hours of rehearsal." Jessi giggled.
"Yeah, I would too." Brandon responded. "Let’s go sit. My feet are killing
me."
"Save your energy. Lauren’ll be needing a neck massage tonight."
"Brandon reddened. "What makes you so sure I think she’s hot?" he asked.
"You’re eyes are connected to her-" Jessi glared menacingly at Randi.
"Uh…neck." Randi finished.
Brandon stared, confused, and Jessi began to laugh. Randi shrugged helplessly
at her friend.
Chapter 5: Tension
The night was going perfect.
Lauren began singing her heart out at her cue for "Point of no Return."
So far, she’d hit every note effortlessly, her dancing hadn’t slipped up,
and her friends were constantly stamping their feet and screaming her name.
It was a little embarrassing, and Lauren wasn’t much of one for attention,
but with this role it was difficult to avoid.
Ted had also been wonderful, as had all the leads. But it was Ted who was
constantly making sure she had water backstage, knew which costume she had
to wear next, and when she was to be on stage.
Gently, she began to weave her fingers into his hands. Slowly, she edged
them down to his waist and gave him a gentle squeeze. Something wasn’t right,
though.
Damn, don’t let this get screwed up now! She thought wildly. It had to
just be her imagination. But in rehearsal, Ted hadn’t tensed as her character
moved seductively over his body. It wasn’t like he was inexperienced. And
his hands weren’t quite as smooth. So he put on lotion backstage. Lauren
thought panicked. No big deal. She glanced out, unsure, at the audience.
Then it was time for her character to realize that the man beneath the cloak
was not Piangi. Her character gasped and struggled, but kept singing as she
tried to escape the Phantom’s hurried grasp. He pulled her to him gently,
but tightly.
Too tight. Lauren was sure. She and Ted had practiced this scene twenty
million times, and he’d never clamped her as if he couldn’t let go. She unveiled
the man to the audience…and her eyes widened in fear. The mask wasn’t the
same flimsy plastic type porcelain. It was made of a shiny plaster. The
face wasn’t Ted’s either. And neither was the voice. All of the greatest
Broadway Phantom's combined could not have matched the breathtaking and
utter beauty and passion that flowed from this man.
Damn it, damn it, damn it. She thought. Maybe it’s an understudy.
No…they would have told me or motioned to him or something. Oh, sweet Jesus.
Is he going to-
She began to run off stage in panic. They wouldn’t let her off. They didn’t
know it wasn’t Ted.
What if he kidnaps me? Her mind screamed in panic. She glanced out at the
audience and once more sent a silent plea for help. Randi stopped smiling
and glanced down the row to Jessi, who gazed questionably at Brandon, who
shrugged in bewilderment.
Chaos erupted on stage as "Christine" tried to unmask the Phantom. He wouldn’t
let her. Rather he caught her arm with his hand and smiled at her, slowly.
I am so screwed. Lauren thought miserably, unable to wrench herself from
his grasp.
Chapter 6: Erik's amusement
He had to hand it to this girl. She was doing a bloody
fantastic job of not letting the audience onto her suspicions. Even more
suprising was that the imbeciles backstage had not noticed Ted Keegan, mouth
taped and hands bound, in the dressing room, nor had they noticed that he
was not acting. This Lauren girl however, was rather quick. Quicker than
he’d imagined. Of course, he’d hinted with his inexperienced tension when
she’d seductively tightened her grip around his waist, but still. A moron
would have continued on without a clue. And he didn't really feel like matching
his voice with the stage Piangi's either. He felt like showing a little feeling
tonight.
He gripped her hand gently when she tried to unmask him. That was not going
to happen this time. Amused, her stared into her panicked green eyes. He
knew what she was thinking. Would he kidnap her? Of course he would. The
understudy who’d been ill was miraculously better and waiting backstage…all
thanks to him. They’d find Ted, have a brief intermission, and the show would
go on, leaving the audience fairly happy. They’d be without their seventeen-year-old
prodigy, but he had better things in store for her below the theatre.
He swirled his robe around them both, and was gone behind the set instantly.
Lauren went slack in his arms, and he gently picked her up before carrying
her through the open door backstage.
He ran with her into the night, as surprised cries echoed through the Majestic.
He smiled to himself. Then into the sewer he ran, following the pipes and
tubes of madness down deeper and deeper, until he reached the layers below
Broadway, where he’d built his new home. This time, he was unable to get
the to the theatres through the cellars. He’d made that mistake once and
was almost killed by the angry mob that followed.
Gently he laid the girl down in the back room, which would have been Christine’s
were she still alive. No more. She’d passed away long ago. If this girl
would have him, it would be hers, as would the expensive Persian rugs, furniture,
and exotic clothing from France, Spain, and Portugal.
First she had to learn to love him. It was obvious she was attracted to
him. She danced around her room almost nightly singing along with a strange
contraption called radio, from which burst forth fairly impressing imitations
of his voice. She spoke of him constantly and her room adorned pictures from
all the musicals she’d been to that featured him. Lord on high, the girl even
had what was known as a website dedicated to him.
And her voice. Oh, her voice. Her movement. Her perfect features. Her hair
smelled richly of shampoo, her hands were tiny and perfectly smooth. Her
confidence needed a boost, but she sure as hell had no problem being provocative
on stage. And she was damn good at it too. He hadn’t had such strong feeling
towards a woman in years. And this damned curse would keep him alive and
looking exactly as he did until someone came a long and said they loved him.
Well, good Lord. Might as well start again somewhere.
TBC....
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