Behind The Scenes At The Theater [FICTOID]

They had exactly one minute and seventeen seconds to change costumes while the star recited his soliloquy on the loneliness of solitude.

The chorus, who just left stage dressed as an Edwardian garden party, now had to don the rags of lepers living in a marsh.

The producer beckoned to the chorus to change faster.  The star had just reached the portion of his soliloquy where he talked about eternity, and that meant the chorus had lass than twenty seconds left.

“We need to stretch out the soliloquy,” the producer hissed in a whisper to the director.  “I beg you, find a way to do it.”

“I would if I could,” said the director, not really wanting to converse with the producer at that moment.

“The problem is old Reggie there,” he said, gesturing to the stage.  “Have you any idea how long it took him to memorize his lines?  Add something new and he’ll have a complete meltdown.”

“Well, I’ll admit that would be entertaining,” the producer said.  “The problem is, what do we do on the next night…and the night after that…?”

“You always were a softie,” the director said, snapping his fingers to get the chorus to line up as they started jogging into position.

“As soon as he finishes,” he said, then instantly heard the audience applauding.  “Okay, here we go,” he said, pushing the chorus out.

“There’s got to be an easier way to make a living,” the producer said.  “I hear bomb disposal pays better.”

“What?!?!?” said the director.  “And get out of show business?”

© Buzz Dixon