♛ | OPEN LOG : 'Like Clockwork' performances [5/24 & 5/25]

[had_not_lived]

When; Evenings of Thursday, May 24th and Friday, May 25th
Rating; presumably PG?
Characters; Everyone and everyone involved with or coming to watch the play!
Summary; Log for the performances of Like Clockwork. Backstage or out front, before or after - just label the when and where in threads please :3

Log;

Before the show, of course, things are abuzz backstage with last-minute fixes and bits of preparation, wardrobe tweaks (inevitably someone always manages to tear something,) murmurs of excitement and nerves and admonitions to break legs. The sets are in place, the lights ready, the actors and actresses waiting in the wings for that moment when the curtains swing open and, for a brief span, they become other people entirely.

It's too much to hope for it to go off entirely without a hitch, but it goes well, and as far as Neil can judge, at least, it's well received. After the last bows, there's always laughter and shouting (Neil loudest of all,) as everyone wriggles out of their costumes and rubs the worst of the makeup off and gets ready to find their friends out front.

Comments

BACKSTAGE / OPEN | Opening Night, Pre-Show

[skintoskin]

This Neil isn't sure why he volunteered for a part in the play. He's nervous, even though his role is small. His role is that of someone in the street who is also cursed and he only has a few lines. He's standing in his 'costume', which is some version of 'regular clothing' that isn't so outlandish that he can hide behind it.

The young man looks at the floor and goes over his lines.

[had_not_lived]

Part of his job, as he sees it, is getting everyone else up to his level of enthusiasm. Or, at least, the closest approximation possible. He's grinning as he walks over, hoping his confidence will be infectious, since Neil looks nervous.

"Excited?"

[skintoskin]

"Uh... " Ot wasn't the word he'd have used, but it'd do. "Yeah, excited. Really, really excited."

[had_not_lived]

"See, that's the spirit."

He grins, trying to seem reassuring without... well, overtly reassuring Neil, since that would be tacitly admitting to the possibility that anything could go wrong. He prefers to work on the assumption that things will go perfectly; not that it matters if they don't, but not considering failure means not dwelling on it.

[skintoskin]

Neil takes a deep breath and looks up at the other Neil with wide, blue eyes. "And terrified. Really kinda terrified. In an 'I think I was a tree in a school play in grade three' type of way and 'Shit, how am I going to actually say my fuckin' lines with people watching?'"

[had_not_lived]

"Don't think about the people watching, think about... Think about the world you're in. The play. The characters you're talking with. You were great in rehearsal," he replies. "You'll be great tonight, too."

[skintoskin]

He's pleased that Neil thinks he's been doing well, but glad he didn't have a bigger part. He doesn't want to let everyone down by screwing up. "Thanks. Guess I'm not used to people having faith in me."

That's a stupid thing to say, shithead...

"I've just bever done anything this before..."

[had_not_lived]

"Everyone starts somewhere."

It's a gentle response to the latter statement. The first one, Neil doesn't react to; not visibly, at any rate. It's the sort of thing you can't say much of anything to, only do something about it. (Namely, continue having faith. He's good at that, at least most of the time.)

[skintoskin]

"I guess." Neil takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "See? I remembered the breathing thing you showed us." He holds up one of his hands in front of him. "Mostly steady..."

[had_not_lived]

"Steady enough," he agrees. "And once your scenes're over you can relax, too."

[skintoskin]

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to the 'done' part," Neil admitted to, well, Neil. "Don't get me wrong. You gave me a part, despite what must've been a shit audition, and I thank you for it, it's just... Nerves, I guess."

[had_not_lived]

"Wasn't so bad. I promise." Stubbornly optimistic, Neil only focuses on the promise in auditions, not how far they have to go. "Nerves are normal. I promise."

[skintoskin]

He nods and smiles and knows Neil has a lot more important things to do than to deal with his theatrical doubts. It's just a small role and an angsty one, at that.

He can do angst.

"Thanks, Neil. You're the best, man."

[had_not_lived]

The answering grin is wide and easy. He straightens a little, taking a half step back.

"Break a leg, Neil. And try to have fun."

[skintoskin]

He saluted with a grin, feeling better about his performance and grateful that Neil had given him a much-needed pep talk. He waited for his cue, entered the stage on time and performed his little heart out.

And Neil was right: it was fun.