[RiddleRose]: 298.Contest Entries.Backstage

Julie was applying lipstick to Lily. The minute she was done, Lily shot out of her chair and ran over to me. “Oh my God, Sonia! I’m so scared! What if I forget my lines?”

“You’ll be fine, Lil,” I said soothingly, “if you forget your lines, just say ‘line’ and the prompter will give you the first few words. Then you’ll remember.”

“OK. I guess I’ll be all right. I gotta go get the rest of my makeup on.” She walked over to Amanda, who began liberally applying eyeshadow.

As Amanda finished with Lily, and Julie finished with Nate, I walked around backstage, making sure everything was all set and ready. Chris started circulating some vile-tasting herbal concoction called Rescue Remedy. I politely declined, saying that my nerves were fine, but she should give some to Lily, because this was, after all, her first Farmhouse School play.

I tightened the sash on my costume, and adjusted the veil. I was Sheherezade; I had to be dignified. However, it was hard. Those butterflies in my stomach were really going to town! It felt like they were having a full-scale circus in there, complete with acrobats and trapeze artists! 

I went back on stage to the makeup team. They were finished with everyone, so I helped them carry the tables and chairs backstage. 

Nate was turned toward the wall, muttering lines and blocking under his breath. This was his first Farmhouse School play as well. Nathan, Ben, and Sam were receiving Rescue Remedy from Chris, while Lily helped Amanda carry chairs offstage.

“Good luck everyone! Break a leg!” Amanda and Chris went offstage to take their places in the audience.

Just then Zachary came onstage, hopping on one foot while attempting to pull a sock onto the other. I steadied him.

“Thanks Sonia! This stupid sock won’t go on!” He yanked at it. 

“Zachary, it won’t go on because the other sock is inside of it,” I said, noticing a lump in the toe.

“Oh. No wonder.” He fixed it, “Thanks!”

“You’re welcome,” I said, and wandered over toward Nathan and Nate, who were practicing their duel in Act Two.

Just then Julie said, “places everyone!” Everyone froze, then hurried to their places. Zachary drooped artistically in his throne, Nathan played a miniature mandolin, I balanced on one leg, and Nate juggled. The rest were doing generally entertaining activities. We all froze in place. 

Julie made a little speech to the audience, and I thought, Two hours! I have so many lines! Hundreds! And I never go offstage! I hope I don’t sneeze, or something like that. Then my calm and reasonable mind said, Relax Sonia. You love acting! You’ll be fine. You can do this! 

Julie finished her speech and came behind the curtain. “Break a leg everyone!” she said, and went backstage. 

Finally, the curtains lifted. The audience gasped. There we were, frozen in time, like a diorama of an ancient court. Then Zachary shifted in his throne. “I’m bored!” he said, and the play began.