The Role of Her Lifetime

by Nanisi Barrett D'Arnuk

  Both Ms. Allenson and Ms. Jacolby have performed in several Windsor Opera Company productions. This is the first major role with this company for each of them.

  It also included photos of Marie, Jackie, and William, and another from the Thursday shoot of all the major characters in their costumes.

  Marie immediately cut it out of the paper and sent it to her mother.

  Let Valerie see this!

  * * * *

  That evening, Car and Chris took Marie to dinner at the same five-star restaurant Car had taken Chris to the first weekend they were dating. The same maître d’ stood at the front desk.

  “Ms. Weldon!” he gushed. “It’s so nice to see you again. You haven’t been here in a while.”

  “We’ve been very busy.”

  “Your usual table?”

  “Yes, thank you, Robert. How are you this week?”

  “Quite well, thank you. And you?”

  “Better every day,” she assured him.

  He glanced at Marie and Chris with a smile. “Are you Christine Anthony?” he asked.

  Chris nodded.

  “Your perfume advertisements were spectacular.”

  “Thank you, Robert,” Chris said. “And this is Marie Jacolby. You’ll be seeing a lot more of her, too.”

  “Ah, yes, Ms. Jacolby, from the new show? I read the item in the Times this morning. Congratulations. I’m looking forward to seeing the production.”

  Marie bowed her head in thanks.

  Robert took three of the large white menu folders and led them back to the table by the window. He had chit-chatted long enough for Car Weldon’s favorite table number to come up on the computer screen under his desk.

  “Your usual drink?” he asked Car.

  When she nodded, he turned to Chris.

  “The same as Ms. Weldon,” she replied.

  “And you, Ms. Jacolby?”

  “A vodka gimlet,” Marie replied.

  He nodded and walked away. In just a few minutes, their drinks were delivered.

  “To us all becoming successes,” Chris toasted.

  “I’ll drink to that!” Marie exclaimed.

  Car held her drink up to both of them as they clinked glasses.

  “Does everybody in town know you?” Marie asked Car.

  “Almost,” Chris answered for her.

  Car, or Caroline Weldon, was a very successful stockbroker who amassed a private portfolio for herself that made her worth somewhere in the eight- or nine-digit figure range.

  “They’ll all know you, too, in a few weeks.”

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” Marie said, shaking her head.

  “You will be,” Chris said with a big smile on her face.

  “This happened so quickly,” Marie mumbled.

  “It always feels that way. You just have to stay focused. Don’t let it go to your head.”

  “Everyone’s been giving me advice,” Marie said with a smile. “Put at least ten percent of each paycheck away for when you’re unemployed again.” She changed to another voice. “Don’t get complacent.” And another voice. “There’s always an end to every production.” And still a fourth. “Always look ahead to your next job.”

  “That’s good advice for every career,” Car agreed. “I learned not to keep all my investments in the stock market, and those that are there are not in just one type of stock. That way, if the tech market goes south, I still have investments in service, utilities, or food and I always have rental properties to fall back on. Everyone’s got to have somewhere to live.”

  “It’s still confusing,” Marie said. “I’ve never had a lot of money.”

  “If you need help, we can sit down and discuss some options sometime,” Car offered.

  “If the production goes longer than three months, I’ll need to take you up on that.”

  Chris picked up her menu and opened it. Marie did the same.

  “Good God,” Marie exclaimed softly. “The prices are outrageous.”

  “Get used to them, hon.” Car smirked. “You’re in the major leagues now.”

  All three laughed. They scanned the menus. When the waiter saw them reading, he came right over. Chris and Car ordered right away, but Marie just stared at the printed words.

  “I have no idea what I want,” she said as her gaze stayed on the list of entrees.

  “Have the trout. You like fish,” Chris urged her.

  “Seafood, not really fish,” Marie mumbled. “How can you grow up in Seattle and not like seafood?”

  “Then have the prawns, or go against type and have prime rib,” Car advised her.

  Marie shook her head as she stared at the menu. “All right,” she finally said with conviction. “I’ll have the prime rib, medium rare.”

  The waiter smiled and walked away.

  “Tell me about the opera,” Car urged. “I understand it’s a version of Cinderella.”

  Marie explained the story. “It’s a before-and-after story. Act One shows Ella dealing with her mother’s new husband and his two obnoxious daughters. It shows the young prince as a spoiled brat who thinks he’s God’s gift to women. Act One takes it up to the wedding. I’m a little nervous,” she concluded. “I have to kiss four or five girls.”

  “Why is that a problem?” Car asked.

  “Because I know they’re not lesbians. Well, I know one is, but she keeps it well hidden. I assume the rest aren’t, and there’ll be hundreds of people watching. And the woman who plays Ella, well, I noticed her a couple years ago. She’s pretty hot.”

  Both Car and Chris laughed.

  “The woman who plays Lady Evangeline is also hot.” She looked over at Chris. “Remember Ashley?”

  “Ashley Sheppard?” Chris sounded amazed. “She’s in the show, too? Did I miss something in the paper?”

  Marie nodded. “I went out to dinner with her the other night, and she was still flirting with me.”

  “And you didn’t flirt back?” Chris exclaimed, aghast.

  “No,” Marie admitted with a shake of her head. “We did that four years ago. I don’t think I want to go through it again. She hasn’t changed. But…we actually talked to each other. That’s something we never did before.”

  “But you dated her?” Car asked.

  “Well, you don’t necessarily have to talk to a person you’re dating.”

  Chris and Car laughed.

  “Do you get to kiss either of them in the show?” Car asked.

  “Both. I know it will only be a kiss on the cheek or a very chaste kiss on the lips, but what if I forget and really get into it?” Marie sat there with a very mischievous smirk. “I could do that with either of them.”

  “Then go for it,” Car advised. “People are always saying there’s not enough reality in an opera. I mean, how can a woman sing an aria if she’s dying from tuberculosis?”

  “That’s very true,” Chris agreed.

  “So you think I should really kiss them?” Marie asked with a goofy grin.

  “I would,” Chris agreed.

  “Me, too,” Car put in.

  Marie nodded thoughtfully. “Yes. We must put reality back in opera.”

  The three nodded happily.

  Then Marie continued, “Act Two is about the un-happily-ever-after. It’s five years later. They have two kids, and the prince is cheating on her. Ashley’s one of them, and she gets big and pregnant. There are several women who claim he’s the father of their children. He gets in so much trouble, his father takes him aside and lays down the law. He’d better man-up, ask for Ella’s forgiveness, and start being a good husband and father, or the king will disown him and name the grandson as heir.”

  “So she takes him back?” Car asked.

  “That’s the fun part,” Marie smirked. “The ending is beautiful. I’ll be reprieving the vows the prince made in Act One, and the older prince is asking for her forgiveness. All Ella ever says is ‘Maybe. We’ll see.’ The audience has to make up their own minds about w
hat happens next.”

  “Wow,” Chris put in. “That’s quite different from the fairy tale Disney showed.”

  Marie laughed. “It sure is. I guess that’s another way of putting reality back in opera. I think it’s going to fly, though. The music is beautiful. Jackie and I have an aria in the first act that will have everyone in tears. She sings that she has so little of anything, while I sing I have so much of everything. I get real narcissistic in it. My prince thinks he has everything right under his thumb.”

  Chapter 8

  Monday morning, Marie saw a car pull to a stop in front of the Windsor Opera Company offices. Jackie got out of the passenger seat, bent down to talk to whoever was in the driver’s seat, then stood up and hurried around the car to the sidewalk. She turned back and blew a kiss to the driver, who waved and shouted “love ya,” as he drove away, his arm waving wildly.

  Then she saw Marie walking up the block. She smiled happily and waved cheerfully.

  “Hello!” she called.

  Marie waved back and walked a little faster to meet her at the entrance.

  “How was your weekend?” Jackie asked as Marie held the door for her.

  “Real good,” Marie replied. “And yours?”

  “You wouldn’t believe. We were standing in line at the movies, and someone recognized me from the item in the paper. I got asked for three autographs!” She laughed.

  “I got recognized, too, but the only thing they asked me to sign was the credit card slip. I was shopping with Chris, and she’s more recognizable than me.”

  “I wish I had been with someone like that. I was embarrassed.”

  “I guess we’re going to have to get used to it.” Marie shook her head in trepidation.

  “I think it’s going to be hard once all the advertising comes out. I’ve been told paparazzi stalk new performers, and you always have to look good, cause they love to snap you when you look a little disheveled.”

  “Well,” Marie replied, “what you see is what you get. Besides, I’m not sure they’d recognize me when I’m not in drag.”

  Jackie laughed and gave her a shove. The elevator door they were standing in front of opened, and they got on with a couple other cast members.

  “How ya doing?” Joy asked them. Joy played Ella’s mother.

  “We were just discussing the paparazzi,” Marie replied. “Jackie got asked for autographs over the weekend.”

  “So soon?”

  “It seems everyone’s excited to see this version of Cinderella,” Jackie told everyone in the elevator.

  “I hope that keeps up,” someone else said. “We need a long run.”

  Everyone agreed as the elevator opened, and they all got off.

  “Oh, Jackie!” someone called as they started to walk into the rehearsal room. “Eunice wants to see you before you get started today. She’s in the sewing room, fifth floor.”

  Jackie waved to the messenger, said goodbye, and returned to the elevator to go up to the upper floor.

  Well, that may have answered that question, Marie thought. That was a cute young guy in the car. They seemed rather intimate. If he was dropping her off on a Monday morning, it probably means they spent the weekend together. Damn! Just when I was getting ready to ask her out. I guess it’s better I know she’s straight now before I put my foot in the middle of it.

  * * * *

  Between practices for blocking of the remaining scenes and meetings with the music director, the next week was filled to the brim with activity. Most of the blocking had to do with both Marie and Jackie, except for Thursday morning, which was dedicated to the scene between the young prince and the king.

  Marie looked in Mike’s eyes as the scene began. Mike was a much bigger man than most in the cast and commanded respect just by standing there.

  * * * *

  “It is about time you settled down and had a family,” the king said. “You are my only son, and our line must continue. You need to choose a wife. Lady Evangeline is a good prospect. I could talk to her father about the match.”

  “But she’s so much older!” the prince sang. “I hear she’s twenty-two. How could we react to each other? What would we find to do?” Then the prince got a very lecherous look in his eyes. “Except…”

  The king looked quite upset. “It won’t matter. Conversation with your wife is highly over-rated, and once you turn thirty, age doesn’t matter. I’ll speak to her father tomorrow. At least meet with her. She is a good prospect.”

  “But there are many younger girls in the village. I’ll pick one of them. I just have to meet them and try them out!”

  “Try them out?” the king bellowed.

  “Meet them and talk to them,” the prince said, back-peddling.

  “My boy,” the king sang. “You must provide an heir.”

  “Yes. It will be a pleasure to fulfill that duty. But why do I have to get married first?”

  * * * *

  Laughter broke Marie’s concentration, and she turned to see who else was in the room. Ashley stood in the doorway, watching.

  “Sorry I broke your lines,” she apologized, “but I can just imagine a guy like him thinking that.”

  “That’s okay,” Marie replied. “I didn’t think anyone was watching, but it’s good to know where to expect the reactions so I won’t break during a performance.”

  “Let’s take a ten-minute break,” Kent decided. “I need something to drink.”

  “Me, too. Scotch would be nice,” Mike agreed.

  Kent chuckled as he left the room. The other four people in the room relaxed and stood. All but Marie started for the doorway. Ashley stepped aside to let them pass.

  “You’re doing great,” she told Marie. “I think this role was made for you.”

  “Thanks. I am having fun with it.” Marie leaned onto the tall stool Kent had been using. “How is your part going?”

  “There’s not that much of it in the first act, but Sandra, Sylvia, and I have been working on the piece where we dis you.” Ashley smiled. “It’s quite intricate.”

  Marie nodded. “I heard part of it this morning. It sounds good.”

  “It’s like we’re all talking at once and not even listening to each other. It’s hard when we sing a scale with each of us having just one note at a time. Even slowly, it’s difficult.”

  “I can imagine,” Marie replied. “Mike and I have something like that at the end of this scene, so I know how rough it can be, but there are only two of us.”

  “I can’t wait to see what Kent does with our scene. It’s short, but we can make it fly.”

  “You’re mean to me in that scene.” Marie pouted.

  “As I should be, you young two-timer.” Ashley laughed. “But you can make it up to me by going out to dinner with me tonight.”

  “Make it up to you?” Marie replied with a scowl. “You’re the one who should make it up to me.”

  “Okay,” Ashley acquiesced with a smile. “Then I’ll pay for it. Where do you want to go this time?”

  Marie thought it over. “It doesn’t matter to me, but you chose last time. I’m thinking I want seafood tonight. You can choose where.”

  “That sounds good. I know just the place.” She took a step forward and gave Marie a kiss on the cheek.

  “I didn’t know we were rehearsing that scene yet,” someone said.

  They turned. Naomi walked in the doorway, sipping a can of soda.

  Ashley laughed. “I don’t think Evangeline ever kisses the prince, but he’s all over her.” She smirked at Marie.

  “Boy, the prince is quite something, isn’t he?” asked Naomi as she sat on a stool at the side of the room where she had been watching the rehearsal.

  “Yes,” agreed Ashley. “It was definitely type-casting.” She patted Marie’s cheek. “See you tonight.” She walked out of the room.

  “Are you two dating?” Naomi asked.

  “No,” replied Marie, turning to her. “We’re just friends.”

&n
bsp; “I wouldn’t mind dating her,” Naomi admitted. “She looks like she’d be good in bed.”

  Marie laughed. “Yes, very good. I believe she’s had a lot of practice.”

  “I just bet,” Naomi added as the others came back into the room.

  Marie and Naomi looked at each other and laughed at their shared joke.

  “All right, let’s finish this scene and go on to the one after the prince has met with Evangeline. I think that end scene is going to get a lot of laughs.

  Marie laughed. “Especially when the prince sings, ‘She’s pretty, yes, pretty…boring. She’s old before her time. Besides, I saw her make eyes at the City Council member. He must be a hundred years old!’”

  “He’s younger than me,” Mike added his part of the song. “I still think she’s a good catch.”

  “Then you can marry her.” Marie put a foot-stamp at the end for emphasis.

  They all laughed until Kent said, “Let’s take it from ‘My boy, you must provide an heir.’”

  They got into their places and ran the rest of the scene.

  “Phew.” Marie sighed as the scene ended. “You really gave me a workout.”

  “Was it too much?” Mike asked. “Did I hurt you?”

  Marie laughed. “Not hurt, but you move faster than I expected!”

  The prince had to duck away when the king decided to spank him for all the trouble he’d been getting into.

  “There have been times I’ve wanted to spank my own son for things he’s been doing. I think the feeling carried over onto you.” Mike laughed.

  “Just warn me next time!” Marie exclaimed. “Maybe Eunice should put more padding in my breeches!” She broke out into laughter.

  “I’ll suggest that to her. She’ll have to put more in mine, too,” Naomi said with a broad smile on her face. “And, Mike, you’ll have to remember I don’t move as fast as Marie.”

  “Pfffa,” Mike blew the thought away. “You both move fast enough. I’ll just have to remember not to get too deeply into the character.”