the stage
for the ARTIST
lights, camera’s, nerves
there is a lot of things
happening at once
it’s chaos behind stage
barely dressed actors are
getting dressed
no shame, the lot
there’s little time to
notice naked before a show
cameo go-go girls are
going nowhere
they are standing around,
looking at one another
with envy, maybe hate too
cause you’re just as
pretty as the next girl:
who’ll probably take your
part from right under your nose
someone is smoking
no one is supposed to be
smoking backstage!
unless it’s the backstage
manager
no one says ‘you can’t’
to the manager
she’s been behind the
stage for ages
she even smells like the
place
one shouldn't be able to
imagine her out on the street like a normal person
she belongs to the
theater
it’s her territory
the opening applause
arrives like an uninvited guest
a thunder of clapping
– it roars with acoustic
delight
the audience still hasn't
a clue what’s to be served tonight
if all goes well, it’s
not disappointment
they paid, you know
the curtain call comes up
cue, then music:
the orchestra starts to
play the introduction
a little off beat, some
of the violins, then suddenly heavenly
the assembly of
instruments get along well
bodies line up behind the
curtain
ballet dancers, a.k.a
people who eat nothing to transform into feathers
& off one goes:
a bird leaving the nest
for the first time,
off onto a stage that
suddenly has presence
beamed with more lights
than what will ever be needed
more claps follow softly
as to not to interrupt the show
time goes by quickly now
the previous scene
removes itself to make way for the next
the stage fills up, runs
empty
fills up again
the crowd seems to be
enjoying themselves
backstage it’s still
chaos
props go missing,
replaced by ornaments & on the spot change of plan decision making
the manager has lost it a
few times already
where’s Margot?
one of those gems who
always misses her cue
you wouldn't believe it
but an hour has passed
things are actually running
smooth
the manager takes a third
gulp of vodka
she does it smartly;
who said water bottles
should be filled with water?
the ninth scene has
started & Margot is on stage
it’s a miracle
the opening night will be
a success!
the cast does not smell
the fire, but they notice smoke
someone had forgotten to
switch off their flat iron
it’s not the worlds
biggest fire, well, yet
but it’s catching on
better than the two technical support students who’s kissing the whole
time
front of house notices
nothing for they are caught in the moment
this is good, & it
should stay this way
the ticket payers only
know of the scene before them:
a love sequence, with
dramatic music
how ironic
back stage someone has
managed to find a fire extinguisher
which hasn't been serviced
in forever
on activating, it only
gives two pathetic white spits
a dust cloud of meager
proportion swirl close to the fire
& dissipates too
quickly
it doesn't make the
slightest difference
the manager is frantic
some of the crew has
departed to the exits
“but the show must go
on,” yells she who can never leave the theater
the producer is backstage
he’s usually a plump man
who smokes cigars while wearing a far too expensive suit
in this case he is a she
and she’s not happy
the costs is all she is complaining
about
nobody worries about the
fact that someone can get hurt
it’s theater, people die
performing more often then what the audience knows
the fire gets killed by a
bucket of ice water
the barer of the bucket
is a standby actor who never sees the stage
he is cheered, & will
definitely be cast again as backup actor
for he has purpose
the show closes thirty
minutes later
everyone is exhausted
by the time the manager
& producer has to bow on stage, no one dares mention a fire
the audience is thrilled
with tonight’ grand performance
there are some who decide
to buy yet another ticket to see the show again with other friends
the ticket office
administrator sighs with relief, for she can sleep peacefully tonight
her job, & those of
the company, is safe
for now
©2015 / J. J Brits
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