and Damon to leave as the chorus hurried onto the stage. The curtain rose, the chorus took their bows, stepped forward and bowed again just as the curtain lowered a third time.
The crowd continued to roar. Juliet took Richard’s hand as Roger Payne, the stage manager, beckoned wildly for them to return to their position at center stage. As the red velvet curtain rose again, they skipped down stage then to each side giving the entire audience full view for one last curtain call.
Juliet stepped forward and bowed gracefully. As she returned to Richard’s side the pair took several steps forward, separated, then opened their arms and saluted the conductor, the orchestra and the assembled dancers behind them. When they came together again the conversation continued. Together, they took two steps forward. He took her hand again and they both bowed.
“Still, she’s breathing down your neck, Love. She attended every gala and fundraiser this season and is seriously sucking up to Phillip Waverly.”
Juliet pulled a single rose from her bouquet and handed it to Richard. He took it and gracefully bowed to her. “So let her, I’m tired of being trotted around like a show pony, just to please a bunch of moneybags.”
“Hey, don’t bite the hand that feeds us. Beside, some of those moneybags aren’t half bad.”
“You didn’t?” Juliet said just before they parted and stepped aside. Vanya and Damon returned to the stage and the chorus hurried off.
Each single performer took a solitary bow then Damon took Juliet’s hand as Richard took Vanya’s hand. Each man bowed to his dancer then they returned to their respective partners.
“Beg your pardon?” Richard said as soon as he and Juliet were reunited.
“Don’t play innocent with me, you know the rules, never, never touch the purse strings. Just make sure that the powers that be don’t find out,” she chided him then begged for an answer. “Which one?”
“A true gentleman never kisses and tells.”
“Since when were you a gentleman,” Now alone on stage they prepared for the final bow sending the roaring audience into hysterical applause.
“You are in a seriously nasty mood, PMS?”
“Shut up.”
“Ooh you are cheeky tonight,” he shivered jokingly. “Sounds like you’ve still got some Carmen left in you.”
“ Carmen ain’t got nothin’ on me,” she boasted.
“Apparently not,” he said.
She circled around him going further down stage. After a deep bow and curtsy, they stepped back and waited until the final curtain fell.
As soon as the edge of the curtain hit the floor, Richard leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Will I still see you at the fundraiser this evening?” he asked emphasizing each word, making his meaning clear knowing her tendency to change her mind when it came to public appearances.
“I promised Patricia that we’d go tonight,” Juliet said as she began moving her mouth animatedly to relax the strained muscles from her smile.
“Good, I’ll see you later then,” Richard said. Juliet nodded.
As soon as Richard walked off, the lead wardrobe mistress, Nadine Palmer, hurried on stage to meet her. “You were wonderful Juliet.”
“Of course I was,” Juliet said confidently.
Nadine shook her head not at all surprised by the remark. “Your friend Patricia Franklin called twice and Senator Kingsley regrets that he is unable meet you this evening,” Nadine said as she took the two flower bouquets and handed them to her assistant. She wrapped a thick terry robe around Juliet’s shoulders and handed her a soft white towel.
“Thanks,” Juliet smiled tightly then responded automatically, while waiting for the inevitable. It came as expected.
“Oh, before I forget to mention it, that last pirouette at the end of act two, scene one should have been a full rotation longer. It should have been two triples not a triple and a double.” She turned to walk away then paused and returned. “Oh, one last thing, your final
The crowd continued to roar. Juliet took Richard’s hand as Roger Payne, the stage manager, beckoned wildly for them to return to their position at center stage. As the red velvet curtain rose again, they skipped down stage then to each side giving the entire audience full view for one last curtain call.
Juliet stepped forward and bowed gracefully. As she returned to Richard’s side the pair took several steps forward, separated, then opened their arms and saluted the conductor, the orchestra and the assembled dancers behind them. When they came together again the conversation continued. Together, they took two steps forward. He took her hand again and they both bowed.
“Still, she’s breathing down your neck, Love. She attended every gala and fundraiser this season and is seriously sucking up to Phillip Waverly.”
Juliet pulled a single rose from her bouquet and handed it to Richard. He took it and gracefully bowed to her. “So let her, I’m tired of being trotted around like a show pony, just to please a bunch of moneybags.”
“Hey, don’t bite the hand that feeds us. Beside, some of those moneybags aren’t half bad.”
“You didn’t?” Juliet said just before they parted and stepped aside. Vanya and Damon returned to the stage and the chorus hurried off.
Each single performer took a solitary bow then Damon took Juliet’s hand as Richard took Vanya’s hand. Each man bowed to his dancer then they returned to their respective partners.
“Beg your pardon?” Richard said as soon as he and Juliet were reunited.
“Don’t play innocent with me, you know the rules, never, never touch the purse strings. Just make sure that the powers that be don’t find out,” she chided him then begged for an answer. “Which one?”
“A true gentleman never kisses and tells.”
“Since when were you a gentleman,” Now alone on stage they prepared for the final bow sending the roaring audience into hysterical applause.
“You are in a seriously nasty mood, PMS?”
“Shut up.”
“Ooh you are cheeky tonight,” he shivered jokingly. “Sounds like you’ve still got some Carmen left in you.”
“ Carmen ain’t got nothin’ on me,” she boasted.
“Apparently not,” he said.
She circled around him going further down stage. After a deep bow and curtsy, they stepped back and waited until the final curtain fell.
As soon as the edge of the curtain hit the floor, Richard leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Will I still see you at the fundraiser this evening?” he asked emphasizing each word, making his meaning clear knowing her tendency to change her mind when it came to public appearances.
“I promised Patricia that we’d go tonight,” Juliet said as she began moving her mouth animatedly to relax the strained muscles from her smile.
“Good, I’ll see you later then,” Richard said. Juliet nodded.
As soon as Richard walked off, the lead wardrobe mistress, Nadine Palmer, hurried on stage to meet her. “You were wonderful Juliet.”
“Of course I was,” Juliet said confidently.
Nadine shook her head not at all surprised by the remark. “Your friend Patricia Franklin called twice and Senator Kingsley regrets that he is unable meet you this evening,” Nadine said as she took the two flower bouquets and handed them to her assistant. She wrapped a thick terry robe around Juliet’s shoulders and handed her a soft white towel.
“Thanks,” Juliet smiled tightly then responded automatically, while waiting for the inevitable. It came as expected.
“Oh, before I forget to mention it, that last pirouette at the end of act two, scene one should have been a full rotation longer. It should have been two triples not a triple and a double.” She turned to walk away then paused and returned. “Oh, one last thing, your final
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