Knowing You

All eyes are fixed on the stage as the night’s Evita delivers her last line in “Lament.” Tears start to shed from the eyes of aged patron women among the anticipating audience. Tears for the end of a wonderful narrative of a pious icon fading to her end and it’s not just Evita causing this burst of emotion but the nearing end of the performing company. This evening’s performance is the farewell offering of the company of the marvelous actors of the Harper Theatre Ensemble and the Walden Avenue Group. Both are born from a visionary’s hands, Anthony Carr. It was not all bread and butter keeping both companies on the theatre scene. He toiled and struggled to achieve this final grand presentation to make it memorable not just for the audience but to the actors as well. This is a showcase of their epic talents which may not only mean a closing door, but rather an opening of more doors of opportunities. Tony can assure other striving companies that his basket of talents is a treasure trove. The marvelous presentation ends with actors and crew crowding the stage and taking their final bow as a group. The audience stands to applaud in roar which lasted longer than usual and the curtains had to wait for a few more minutes before it could fall. The cheers resonated throughout the closed auditorium. Among the cheers are praises and sobs of loyal patrons. Outside, the night sky is smothered with stars as though they gathered to bid the Harpers and the Waldens goodbye as well. Some of the pioneering Harpers and Waldens gathered in front of the huge poster outside the auditorium. A huge “SOLD OUT” is stamped over the words “GRAND FINAL PRESENTATION”. They watched the last poster fade from their sight as they boarded a van headed to the after party where most of the younger less attached members took off. A slow and dragging music reverberates throughout the disco hall and only one or two couples are dancing. Most are just sitting with drinks in their hands and having small chatters as if mourning for a lost friend. A redhead beauty arrives with a pretty model tagging along and finds the scene rather disappointing. She comments, “Is this what they call a party?” turns to her companion, “I think we need to lighten up things a little bit.” She signals the DJ with her hand but he does not see it since the lights are dim. She stomps her way to the DJ’s stand and demands a change of the music. The slow music fades and energy starts flowing to the crowd as disco music plays and the actors take their place on the dance floor. Carlyn goes to the table where Suzie and some of their friends from the Harper’s Theatre Ensemble were sitting. One gay friend shouts to Carlyn, “Thank goodness! The reigning empress of the Harpers has arrived!” he meets her with a friendly kiss on the cheek, “We were worried you had us hanging in here with all the misery in the world after this night’s epic final show. We were all very sad…believe me…ain’t that right Harpers??! The crowd replies with a loud YES and Carlyn is but won over. She takes Tom with her to her table. “Thomas Miller! I wouldn’t miss this after party for the world. If Suzie didn’t call you wouldn’t have suffered from that stupid bedtime song.” Thomas interrupts, “Suzie…again. Of course, it will always be her stealing your time and attention. And the stupid bedtime song a while ago? It was a love song.” he teased. “It was for lovers. You could have taken her to the dance floor for some sweet lov’n time Carlyn.” “Tom, how many times do I have to tell you? We’re just partners, not lovers.” “Partners in what? In business or in crime?” He said with a comical gasping of air and added, “In what crime?!” “Cut it out, will you? I know you’re just jealous of her.” “I beg to disagree. I’m not jealous. I just think she’s quite a nuisance. The way she is always around you like a pet…I find it utterly annoying.” “Shh…zip…she is here.” Suzie approaches and kisses Carlyn on the lips then greets Tom. Tom responds with a sarcastic smile. Suzie just smiles back and wraps her arms in Carlyn’s as she takes her to the dance floor. “C’mon Carly, let’s dance.” Tom watches them, still annoyed. “Leave them alone…those girls just wanna have fun.” said Robert Grey from the other theatre group, Walden Avenue Group. “Robbie! I didn’t notice you there. Where is Louis?” “He…uh…went to get a drink I guess.” “Ah…so you’re alone? That is just pathetic. Aren’t you jealous of Carly and Suzie getting cuddly over there? I think you must be. C’mon! I can be Lou’s proxy.” He grabs Roberts arm but Robert retorts, “Dammit Tom! I told you Louis’ here. Go grab somebody else.” Tom hisses at Robert, “Loyal dog…pets!” he angrily strides back to his seat on the side and drinks tequila. “Those girls just wanna have fun…” he murmurs, imitating Robert’s words. “What now?! Faggots wanna have fun too!” he murmurs again. A friend comes to Tom’s aid and sweeps him off his chair into the wild crowd on the dance floor. He deliberately brushes his shoulder to Rob’s and sings mockingly. “I wanna dance with somebody! Hooh!” he to face his dance partner, “It’s nice to be dancing with somebody!” and throws a quick glance to Robert who gets pissed off and takes off to the bar. He looks around but still can’t find Louis. He orders five shots of drink from the bartender instead. Not long after, Louis arrives with an older gentleman in a formal suit. He leads him to the stage and asks the DJ to turn the music down. He sound tests the microphone and proceeds. “A pleasant evening my fellow thespians!” He greets his complaining colleagues and then continues. “I apologize for interrupting the celebration but no worries, this won’t take too much of your time. Now, I’m pretty sure you all know this reputable man I brought here before you…” gestures to the old gentleman standing behind him. “Chairman Tony Carr! I want to request from all of you a big round of applause for this brilliant gentleman, who for these past ten years has given all his love and effort for both of our theatre groups. Let’s give him a hand, people!” Everyone applauds. “Tony, thank you so much for giving us the experience we will never forget.” They shake hands and Louis gives a respectful nod for Tony. “Tony, would you like to say something to everyone?” “Yes, I do.” “All ears here everyone, our Chairman and father wishes to make a speech.” Tony stepped towards the microphone stand and everyone was silent. “Everyone, thank you so much for that wonderful performance you had a while ago in the Birmingham Stage. You made us all proud. I…want to apologize for failing you all this time.” He pauses to stop his tears from coming. He continues, “If I could, I would not allow our family to end up this way. I have so much hope for all of you. So much hope!” he runs his gaze to every possible face he could see. “All of you have so much potential that I just can't help but be distraught by these recent events. But as it goes with every performance, it may end for once but the show still must go on! I’m sure each of you will be back on the stage in no time. I’m pretty sure of that!” Everyone cheers and screams. Some blew kisses in the air to the one who fathered them as artists. “And to Carlyn…where is she?” “I’m here!” she raises her hand as she approaches the stage pushing her way through the crowd. “There you are!” he offers a hand to Carlyn as she climbs the narrow stage. He then signals Louis to come closer and he wraps each of his arms to each of their backs and around their waists. “These two here…I wouldn’t have made it this far without them. I want all of you to give these two beautiful people a big hand as well for being your mentors and older sister and brother…” “But who’s the sister and who’s the brother?” shouts one queer voice from the crowd. Amused, Tony answers, “Well, that depends…” and everyone laughs. “It doesn’t matter…just applaud for these two and we’ll call this a night!” Everyone applauds and screams. “Have fun for the night everyone!” Tony, Carlyn and Louis took a private room on the second floor away from the noise for a serious conversation. Carlyn and Louis has been Tony’s most trusted among the artists from each group ­ the cream of the crop per se. They were sort of the assigned leaders. Though both have worked together a couple of times, they have not known much about each other aside from their first names. Tony confesses the last plan of action he could only think of to save most of what may be left behind after the companies separate ways, his last stretch of effort for his artists. He suggests to Carlyn and Louis to never let the Harpers and the Waldens fully disengage. They somehow find this quite impossible because after this night, most of these young artists are bound to leave for other places to look for other opportunities. But they also agree on one thing – this idea is brilliant.