ALL NOVEL Chapter 69
AN: I have added YouTube links to the songs in the chapter as suggested by a reader, which will help in the immersion in the story.
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The show continued after a 15-minute break.
Months passed in the story, and the village was celebrating Christmas when Billy’s dad got drunk and sang about his wife, who died three years ago. Billy met with Michael, who coaxed him to show some of his ballet moves, but Billy declined his offer. As Michael went home, Billy stood in the hall silently contemplating before picking up a chair from the corner and moving towards the left side of the stage, rotating it on its axis.
Evan was surprised by that sudden move. He had seen Troy perform most of his dance routines, but not this one, so he was eager to see what the team of the musical had cooked up this time.
While Troy was yet to move on to the next dance step, an older version of Billy came on stage and started doing exactly the same steps, but on the right side of the stage. The theme of [Swan Lake] played in the background as the two Billys danced in perfect sync. White smoke was wafting through the air in the background while Evan was mesmerized by the beautifully coordinated scene unfolding in front of them. Each jump, lift, and twist seemed effortless on the part of the two dancers. Then suddenly they stopped in the middle of the stage, where the older Billy attached a wire to the younger Billy’s back. The wire went tight as the older guy helped the younger one by swinging him through the air. The whole scene looked right out of a dream as the young Billy was flying high, without an ounce of fear on his face. In fact, he looked to be in bliss.
That scene evoked a sense of longing in Evan. He wanted to fly, just like Troy was doing for this dance.
As the sequence ended, Billy stopped dancing right in front of his visibly angry father. But the audience went wild at that masterfully choreographed dance. Not one to remain behind, Evan and everyone in their box stood up and cheered to show their excitement for Troy’s best dance performance to date. From the actors’ reactions, it was clear that the father was supposed to say his line, but he had to wait for the audience to calm down before he could do it.
When they did, he asked Billy to go home before going to Mrs. Wilkinson’s place himself to talk to her about Billy’s audition. There he finds out that there is still hope, but Billy would have to go to London, and it would also cost a lot of money for his tuition. Overcome with grief and regret, the father breaks strike to work in the mines to earn some money for Billy, only for his older son Tony to stop him, and the older man breaks down.
Their community bands together and collects money for Billy and his father to go to London at the Royal Ballet School. While there, when his audition doesn’t go well, in a fit of childish rage, Billy hits another student and is reprimanded harshly by the staff. They ask him an important question: Why does he dance? The answer is unique in itself.
“~I can’t really explain it
I haven't got the words
It's a feeling that you can't control.”
As Troy started singing in his perfectly toned voice, Evan felt his desperation to dance.
“~I suppose it's like forgetting
Losing who you are
And at the same time
something makes you whole.
It's like that there's a music
playing in your ear.
And I'm listening and I'm listening,
and then I disappear.
And then I feel a change,
like a fire deep inside
Something bursting me wide open
Impossible to hide.
And suddenly I'm flying
Flying like a bird
Like electricity, electricity
Sparks inside of me and I'm free!”
Suddenly, Billy threw his bag to his father, who caught it deftly, and at the same moment did two consecutive backflips before going into the traditional ballet formation for boys. This was his best dance yet as he twirled and flipped, doing everything in between, more than enough for any viewer to discern that Billy was indeed a very good dancer.
As the song neared the end, Billy did ten or so continuous spins on his right leg without putting his left leg down at all. Evan had seen this dance routine many times before, but seeing it executed so perfectly left him stunned. Troy came down in a relaxed position, heaving heavily, but completed his remaining part nonetheless: “Electricity, sparks inside of me. And I’m free. I’m free!”
As Troy took the final resting pose of his performance for the audition, the audience went wild, and simultaneously everybody stood up from their seats and started clapping loudly once more. Howls, whistles, and cheers filled the stadium as people kept applauding a performance that wasn’t even the finale of the show. Evan was new to the theater scene, so he wasn’t sure if this was the norm or if Troy was extraordinary just now.
Troy was visibly touched by this reaction from the people for a moment, but he controlled himself because he had a show to finish. So he waited patiently in his final position for people to sit down so that he could continue with the next scene, but they didn’t. Even when two minutes had passed, people kept on applauding.
Evan felt elated to see the reaction of people.
When the audience didn’t show any signs of stopping, Troy turned to the man who was playing his father, who motioned for him to go on. Getting the hint, Troy went back to being Billy, and in character ran to his father, grabbed his jacket and bag, and dashed off backstage. All this while, the people were yet to cease their applause or standing ovation.
That was the most electrifying moment Evan had ever seen in his life.
As the story continued, life back in the village went back to how it used to be, with the miners still on strike, supporting each other. Billy eventually receives a letter from the Royal Ballet School and he tells everyone that he didn’t get in. He crushes the letter and throws it in the bin, only for his brother Tony to retrieve it and announce to everyone that he got in, in a very brotherly fashion by tackling him to the ground. As soon as he did, the crowd went wild again, clapping and cheering for Billy.
But the applause was cut short when it was announced that the miners lost and the strike was over. It was like being soaked in ice-cold water in the middle of December for everyone, including the audience.
Yet, life had to go on, and so did Billy’s. What followed were emotional farewells, first to his family, then Mrs. Wilkinson, followed by the ghost of his dead mother, and finally his best friend Michael. Finally, Billy walks off into the audience.
The curtain falls as the show ends.
Troy, who had descended into the audience, was caught off guard by the reaction of the crowd, who were literally on their feet and clapping loudly. A few of the people around him shook his hand.
Back on stage, as the curtain rose again, the cast members walked to the middle and hugged. Seeing his opportunity to go back, Troy ran up to the stage, stood in the middle, and joined hands with everyone as they bowed to the audience in unison.
The audience members stood up once again and started applauding like crazy. Soon the woman who played Mrs. Wilkinson pushed Troy forward, and he was front and center on the stage. He bowed again, and the crowd went wild. Whistles and shouts rang across the auditorium.
“Encore!” a lone voice shouted loudly before being accompanied by a multitude of similar shouts throughout the audience.
Getting the cue for what it was, all the actors took their positions for the finale, which was essentially everyone getting a chance to show their ballet moves. From Dad and Tony to Grandma and all the miners, everyone wore a tutu and danced out, ending with Billy being hoisted up above everyone else in his classic pose as the curtains fell for one final time.
(Break)
As the final notes of the last song slowly faded away, I stood breathless and exhilarated. The weight of the performance lifted from my shoulders like a heavy burden. The applause thundered through the air behind the curtain, a deafening roar of appreciation and adulation that filled me with a sense of pride unlike anything I had ever experienced.
I exchanged hugs and appreciation with many of my fellow cast members, and my jubilation soared with each person I met. Since this was our first performance for the audience, I wanted to personally thank each and every one of them for giving their best in tonight’s show. After all, theater is not a one-man job. Everyone came together to create this beautiful piece of art.
At that moment, I just knew that I would love every minute I spent on stage because it was a euphoric high. I hadn’t taken any recreational drugs, but I knew for sure that nothing could beat this feeling. Call me an attention whore or whatever, but I loved the response we received from the audience. A performer just knows how their show went, and the audience’s reaction is a good measure of it. Sure, it was just the first show, but I was happy with the current response. Even if the critics call me out to be the worst performer ever, I wouldn’t care because the people liked me at the very least.
I know this because when I was preparing for the show, Stephen Daldry suggested I see some other musical shows at the West End so I could know what to expect from the audience. I watched a few popular shows like [Les Misérables], [Phantom of the Opera], [Rent], and [West Side Story], but in none of the shows did the audience go as crazy as it did just now, multiple times during the show. Hopefully, we will be able to maintain this level of performance in the coming months as well.
“Troy!” Stephen Daldry suddenly came running towards me and lifted me in a hug. “You were wonderful out there. God, I’m so happy we did this.”
“Thank you, Stephen,” I said in slight embarrassment. I didn’t like getting lifted but had to get used to it because of my age. “It was all thanks to you and so many other people here.”
Stephen put me down before nodding, “You’re right. And some of them want to meet you today.”
“Oh?” Before I could ask who it was, I came face to face with Elton John, who came forward and hugged me as well.
“Man, you’re exquisite,” Elton John said in my ear. “I’m already dreading the day you’ll leave this role behind.”
“Thanks, Elton,” I said after he released me. I wanted to say a lot more, but I didn’t have the energy to do so. Performing for nearly three hours while playing the lead role is very draining.
Seeing my face, Elton John chuckled, “I can see that you’re tired after your performance. I’ll let you change and rest. Maybe we can meet some other time and talk more freely?”
“Yeah, sure, Elton,” I gave him a relieved smile, glad he understood my plight.
Elton John chuckled before patting my head and walking back to wherever he had come from.
What followed was more people coming to greet me for my performance, including Peter Darling, our choreographer, and so many crew members.
Everything was happening in such quick succession that I had yet to process it all. Back in my green room, as I peeled off my costume and wiped away the sweat from my brow, the reality of the situation dawned upon me. I had done it. I had overcome my fear and performed as perfectly as I could. As far as I recall, I didn’t make any major mistakes during the show.
“Troy!”
I suppressed a groan as my family and friends came to the green room. As much as I love them, I wanted some alone time right now. Unfortunately, I knew I couldn’t do anything but greet them with a smile as everyone heaped praises upon me.
(Break)
“You didn’t have to come here in person, Troy,” Evan said uncomfortably as someone else recognized me in the first-class airport lounge and tried to come near, only to be stopped by a hyper-vigilant Roger.
“Nah, it’s fine,” I waved off his concerns. “I had to be here to see you off. You’re flying back to Los Angeles, all alone. And today’s my day off, so I don’t even have to worry about rushing back to the theater. Don’t worry too much about the fans. I will sign a few autographs after you leave, so even they will be happy.”
Evan shook his head, “I still don’t know how you handle all this.”
“You don’t handle it,” I smiled at him. “You just get used to it.” Sensing the dampening of our moods, I changed the topic. “So, your parents would be there to pick you up, right?”
“Yeah,” Evan nodded. “They are also arriving back in LA today. If they couldn’t come, then they would probably send my uncle to pick me up. Worst case scenario, I’ll get a cab. My place isn’t that far from the airport.”
“Alright boys, done with your talk?” Dad interrupted our conversation as he approached with Evan’s boarding pass in hand. “It’s time, Evan.”
We got up from our seats, and I hugged Evan tightly, unsure when I would see him again. Then Dad hugged him as well. As we started walking toward the terminal, a loud announcement blared over the speakers.
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen. This is an urgent announcement. Due to unprecedented terrorist attacks in New York City, all flights to the United States have been suspended until further notice. We understand this is a significant inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time. Please proceed to the nearest customer service desk for further assistance and rebooking options. Thank you for your cooperation.”
My blood froze as memories of today’s date flooded my mind. Of course! Today is September 11, 2001. The day that changed American society forever. I silently thanked the heavens that I was here in London with everyone I cared about.
Then I looked at my best friend, who appeared confused by the news.
“Terrorist attacks? In New York?” Evan asked, bewildered.
I shrugged, trying to mask my own shock. I couldn’t have known about them for obvious reasons. Yet, it seemed strange to me that I hadn’t received a déjà vu of this incident already.
“Let’s see the news,” Dad said, a deep frown etched on his face. Together, we walked over to a large TV surrounded by a crowd. Everyone watched in muted horror as footage of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center being struck by planes played on the screen.
“This morning, in an unprecedented act of terrorism, two planes were hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center in New York City. The first impact occurred at 8:46 AM Eastern Time, striking the North Tower, followed by a second plane crashing into the South Tower at 9:03 AM. Both towers have now collapsed, causing massive devastation and loss of life. A third plane has crashed into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a fourth plane has gone down in Pennsylvania. These attacks have brought the United States to a standstill, and emergency response teams are working tirelessly to rescue survivors and manage the unfolding crisis. The planes that crashed into the World Trade Center originated from Boston and were going to Los Angeles when they were hijacked and rerouted. No survivors are expected in either of the flights, including the hijackers.”
Evan’s face went pale. His parents were flying from Boston to Los Angeles.
“Evan...” I started, but words failed me. I reached out, grasping his arm as the weight of the situation settled over us.
“No,” he whispered, shaking his head in denial. “No, they can’t be...”