Chapter 33

When I saw her in the morning, she was walking quite delicately into our bathroom and closed the door.

I heard a flush and she walked out looking markedly. “Don’t ask, Michael. It was singularly the best lesson in lovemaking since our first time. It’s early still ... can we lie down together for a while?”

“Sure baby, crawl in with me. My alarm will wake us up. So, you two had a good time last night?”

“Goodnight Michael, I need to recoup.”

The following morning at breakfast, there were giggles all around the breakfast table.

I saw a piece of paper on my empty plate. I picked it up and saw that it was a review of the show by the Vincennes Sun-Commercial Newspaper:

“HOLY SHIT!” I blurted.

“Michael,” my mother said. “Wasn’t that nice of Jeff? He was a saxophone player at Vincennes University before changing career and joining the local newspaper.”

“No doubt he enjoyed lessons from Janice Forrester,” I said.

My phone rang, “This is Michael Thomas.”

“Can you believe it, he liked it. He liked the show, he even mentioned me by name. Oh, thank you, Michael. Thank you so much!”

“Isabel?”

Catching her breath, she said, “Sorry, I was amazed to see my name in the newspaper. Have you ever seen your name in the newspaper before, Michael?”

“No, I haven’t, Izzy. Thank you for calling.”

“Michael, Jen Hughes and I would like to ask you to be our date tonight? It is understudy night.”

“I would love that, my dear. Shall we meet at the theatre?”

“Yes, we shall, see ya!”

I explained all that to my klatch of women, then finally sat down to some breakfast.

“So, Jenn, are you ready for the tryouts of RENT tomorrow morning? Did Katie give you a life lesson in lascivious lesbianism the other night?” I asked.

“Nice alliteration Michael,” Katie said to my girl who was lightly blushing.

Jennifer went on to say, “It was not really lascivious, but it was amazing. Besides all the stuff you might expect, she got out what’s called a strap-on dildo and fucked me with it ... in my pussy and my ass. It was exhilarating. I am not a lesbian, but I can understand what they do in the comfort of their homes. It got inside in my head a little, and I still want to try out for Maureen tomorrow.”

“I won’t stop you Jenn ... I think that you and Katie have become so close. It’s really cool. Did you take any pictures?”

With her spare arm, she elbowed me really hard in the chest.

“I am sorry baby, I couldn’t resist. Still love me?”
Later that evening, with Jennifer in the wings, my two shoulder high darlings on each arm, sat in the reserved section and moments later, the second performance began. From my point of view, the first act was technically better.

My dates were marvelous giggling in a few places I didn’t get the humor. During the intermission, I got up to stretch my legs, and getting a kiss on the cheek from each of my young consorts. I also leaned over and gave those back in the pit a big thumbs up.

When Jeremy ended the show, I was dutifully impressed, with only my Javert understudy appearing to hurt himself during his suicide(?)

He got through the light but missed his re-entrance likely due to the severity of it.

As the audience cleared, I was told that James was driven to the hospital with a possible broken left ankle. With my dates picked up by older siblings, Jenn and I got in a car and drove to Good Samaritan Hospital, and I got out while it was parked. I walked into the ER, seeing his parents, and finding they were putting a foot/ankle cast on him.

He must have seen the look on my face, and broke into tears, “Michael, I’m so sorry! I landed wrong and was just able to get myself to the light. It made no sense to come back on with it wrapped, since I had come from ... wherever. I’m so sorry!”

“Get better, if nothing else I can do the part. How long will it take to heal, Doctor?”

“Two to three weeks before he may have the cast off. Unless he heals as quickly as you do, Michael!”

With his parents there, our bunch headed home. “Are you going to play Javert next week?” Katie asked from our back seat.

“I may need a rehearsal or two with the others in the scenes. Katie, could you please contact the appropriate people to show up here on Monday evening? Include everyone in the complex ‘One Day More’ number?”

After that was done, with it going very well, the second weekend of the show went off without any noticeable issues, with the RENT auditions starting at noon on Sunday at Lincoln High.

... During the week in-between the performances, I had my tests to ‘graduate’ from Jackson Heights. Over the course of the seven proctored tests, I had an average of 98.28%. Only the teachers, Principal????? and a few select people, knew it was happening...

“Are you ready for tomorrow’s audition?” I asked Isabel during the cast party.

“Yes sir, I am,” she responded giving me a kiss ... on the lips. Jenn walked in embarrassing her.

“I have higher standards now,” she said looking at me and taking my hand. “I am sorry Jennifer, Michael makes me feel really important.”

“Don’t worry Isabel, he does the same for me all the time,” Jennifer said to her.

“That’s really sweet of you, Jennifer.”

“Have you told anybody what part you are trying out for?” I asked.

“Nope.”

“Keeping it a secret?” Jenn followed up.

“Yep! Need to know,” she said breaking into a huge smile and giggle.

We spent another hour with her, talking out all kinds of things, until Peter came by.

“There you are. Is she being a pest?” her big brother asked.

“No, we have been talking about tomorrow, along with other things,” Jenn said.

“We gotta go,” he said. “You need your beauty sleep young lady.”

She got up, gave Jenn a big hug and me a light kiss on the lips.

“IZZY!”

“It’s OK, Michael doesn’t mind ... Geez big brother. We’re friends. Good friends.”

“Come on. The Chapman bus is leaving, little sister.”

Everyone who wanted some took leftovers home. We got the shredded beef ... I love it, between bread or just warmed up on a plate.

We got home first. Followed by the ladies. We put all the leftovers in the fridge. Jenn and I went straight to bed -- tomorrow is a big day.

We got there an hour early. The entire assemblage of food from the previous night was gone looking like it was never there.

Stu was waiting for us. We shook hands he asked, “What do you need today?”

“Just a piano in the pit please,” I answered.

“No problem,” he said.

“You’re not using the whole orchestra, Michael?” Jenn asked.

“Don’t need them. I got Mom or Katie to play for me. Most of them are beat, giving them a break was foremost in my mind.”

“Hey,” came from behind us. It was Katie, Ally and Janice.

“How soon do we need to send the LES MISÉRABLES costumes back?” I asked mom.

“We got until January, don’t worry, Honey.”

“What’s the plan for today?” Katie asked.

“First, the Wizard, then Galinda and Elphaba, then the rest,” I answered.

“Interesting. Are you making decisions today?” Jenn asked.

“Yes, I am ... on the fly, right after each batch of auditions. Handing out scripts as well.”

“Why?” Ally asked.

“I want lines and songs memorized, if possible, before the rehearsals begin next year,” I answered.

“Wow, getting serious about this ... aren’t you honey?”

“Very.”

I saw the piano in the pit. Katie would begin as our audition pianist. Mom would be her page-turner.

Everyone started arriving, with audition forms in their hands. There were plenty of new faces in the crowd. Wonderful!

After the place settled down, I grabbed my microphone and went up on stage.

“HEY EVERYBODY.”

They weren’t as energized as I was, so I tried again...

“HEY EVERYBODY!”

“Hey Michael,” came in waves from the audience.

“I think that’s the best I can expect from you guys. For those who are here after being in LES MISÉRABLES, this is Sunday and you still have three days of school coming up before our winter break.”

That caused a groan from everyone.

“Sorry. OK, this is how it’s going to go today. We’re casting this show as we go. I will call everyone up for a specific role and have singing auditions. If that doesn’t generate an obvious choice, we will read some lines. Then, a choice will be made, and we will go on to the next role.”

“I want to get this done today, give out librettos and will ‘hope’ the songs and dialogue might be memorized before our rehearsals begin in the middle of January. Everybody got that?”

I saw heads bobbing, so I yelled, “Everyone trying out for the Wizard, come up on stage please.”

About two-dozen boys and Isabel walked up on stage. They didn’t understand why she was there. Danny Fisher stepped forward handing me his form. I handed it down to Ally.

He sang part of “Popular” to some applause.

Next up was Ken Hall, a fifteen-year-old from Lincoln. He sang “One Short Day” until I stopped him.

After a few more Lincoln boys, Isabel stepped forward. She handed me her paper, “Can I have someone sing with me please?”

Not really getting this, I said, “OK,” and Joan came up to join her.

“We are going to sing “Wonderful,” with some dialogue between it. Is that all right, Mr. Thomas?” last night’s little Cosette asked.

“Go ahead...”

The piano began...

JOAN (Spoken)
Don’t you think I wish I could? That I could go back to the time when I believed you really were wonderful? The Wonderful Wizard of Oz? Nobody believed in you more than I did.

IZZY
Oh, my dear child...

(Singing)
I never asked for this or
planned it in advance
I was merely blown here
by the winds of chance
I never saw myself as
a Solomon or Socrates
I knew who I was,
one of your dime a dozen
mediocrities

WOW!

Then suddenly I am here,
respected, worshiped even
just because the folks in Oz
needed someone to believe in
does it surprise you
I got hooked and all too soon
what can I say? I got carried away
and not just by balloon...

Wonderful
they called me wonderful
so I said, wonderful, if you insist

(She began a cute dance sequence that Joan joined in. she had taps on)

I will be wonderful
and they said wonderful
believe me it’s hard to resist
‘cuz it feels wonderful
they think I am wonderful
hey look who’s wonderful
this corn-fed hick!

Who said it might be keen
to build a town of green
and a wonderful road
of yellow brick!

(Spoken)
See, I never had a family of my own
since I was always traveling,
and I guess I just wanted
to give the citizens of Oz everything.

JOAN (Spoken)
So you lied to them?

IZZY
Only verbally. Besides, they were the lies they wanted to hear. Elphaba, where I come from we believe all sorts of things that aren’t true ... We call it history!

(Singing)
A man’s called a traitor
or liberator
a rich man’s a thief
or philanthropist
is one a crusader
or ruthless invader
it’s all in which label
which is able to persist
there are precious few at ease
with moral ambiguities
so we act as though
they don’t exist...

They call me wonderful
so I am wonderful
in fact, it’s so much who I am
it’s part of my name!
And with my help
you can be the same...

(I was crying inside as this eleven old was really doing it!)

At long, long last
receive your due
long overdue Elphaba,
The most celebrated
are the rehabilitated
there will such a whoopdee doo!
A celebration throughout Oz,
that’s all to do with you!
Wonderful, they will call you wonderful!

JOAN
That does sound wonderful!

IZZY
Trust me it’s fun!!!

BOTH (back to the dance steps)
When you are wonderful,
it would be wonderful!
Wonderful, wonderful

WIZARD
One, two and...

(They dance in an obviously choreographed moment)

Sam Choate stood and led the place into as big a sound as we had on Thursday night’s performance. The other boys from before left the stage. Joan gave Izzy a hug and left.

“We have our first part cast. Isabel Chapman, would you please play the part of the Wonderful Wizard of OZ?”

“Thank you, Mr. Thomas, I would very much like that.”

I handed her script number one.

She ran to her brother who gave her a big kiss.

“Next, I want all Galinda’s and Elphaba’s up on stage please?”

I saw many get up, mostly in pairs.

Jenn got up and joined Joan who was still up on stage.

First up were Mary Mitchell and Nancy Newman. They sang, “What is This Feeling?” It was pretty good.

Shirley Wicks and Kaylee Peterson were next. They sang “One Short Day” rather well.

Sarah Kent and Camren Boyden came forward. I think they were best friends. Something I heard around Lincoln. The two of them sang, “What is This Feeling?” Again, pretty good, but they didn’t have much chemistry.

The Reagen twins, Celia and Melissa, were next to step forward. I can never be sure, which is which. They are seventeen and sang “One Short Day” to a nice applause.

Stepping up next were Joan and Jenn. Joan said they were going to sing “For Good.”

I noticed that Mom and Katie changed places. So, I have been played a little. A spotlight came on them.

Stuart is in on this?

JENN
I have Heard It Said
That People Come into our
Lives for A Reason
Bringing Something
We Must Learn
And We Are Led To Those
Who Help Us Most To Grow
If We Let Them
And We Help Them In Return

Well, I Don’t Know If
I Believe That’s True
But I Know I am Who I Am Today
Because I Knew You
Like A Comet Pulled from Orbit,
As It Passes A Sun
Like A Stream That Meets A Boulder
Half Way Through the Wood
Who Can Say If I have Been
Changed for The Better?
Because I Knew You...
I Have Been Changed
For Good...

JOAN
It Well May Be,
That We Will Never Meet Again
In This Lifetime
So Let Me Say Before We Part
So Much of Me
Is Made of What I Learned from You
You will Be With Me
Like A Handprint On My Heart...

And Now Whatever
Way Our Stories End
I Know You Have Re-Written Mine
By Being My Friend...

Like A Ship Blown
From It’s Mooring
By A Wind Off the Sea
Like A Sea Drop By A Sky Bird
In A Distant Wood

Who Can Say If I have Been
Changed for The Better?
But ... Because I Knew You
JENNBecause I Knew You

BOTH
I Have Been Changed...
For Good...

JOAN
And Just to Clear the Air
I Ask Forgiveness For
The Things I have Done
You Blame Me For.
JENN
But Then I Guess, We Know
There’s Blame to Share
BOTH
And None of It Seems
To Matter Anymore!

JENN
Like A Comet Pulled From
Orbit As It Passes A Sun...
JOAN
Like A Ship Blown From Its
Mooring By A Wind Off The Sea

JENN
Like A Stream That Meets A Boulder
JOAN
Like A Sea Drop By A Bird
JENN
Halfway Through The Wood
JOAN
In The Wood

BOTH
Who Can Say If I have Been
Changed for The Better?
I Do Believe I Have Been
Changed For The Better.

JENN
And, Because I Knew You
JOAN
Because I Knew You
BOTH
Because I Knew You
I Have Been Changed
For Good...

The cheering and applause was universal. Every single person there stood up and yelled and gave them an ovation. The remaining pairs of girls left the stage. They even cheered.

After things quieted down, the spotlight turned off and I went between the girls and said, “We have our Galinda and Elphaba, unless either of you ladies wish to turn down my offer?”

Their response was to kiss me on either side of my face. That got applause. “Will the Wizard come up on stage please?”

Isabel ran up and got in between us, smiling really big.

“It appears we are on the way to a remarkable cast of characters. Let’s take a little break and have Madame Morrible and Dr. Dillamond auditions next.”

I put on the headset Stu had left for me just in case. “They threatened me Michael. I hope you aren’t too upset?”

“No problem, Stu. I understand.”

After casting the three most important roles, in my mind, the rest was rather straightforward.

Along with the smaller kids from Jackson as Munchkins and the taller kids from Lincoln as the Ozians, by two pm things were done. Ally and I handed original librettos to everyone. Lastly, I thanked the bunch that showed up, reminding them of what was happening starting in January.

I got a big goodbye hug from Isabel and Peter who is playing Dr. Dillamond. Auditions were supposed to get easier as they went ... maybe next year?

Back at home, I went for the spa, even though it was only 42° outside. Nobody joined me, but if felt relaxing nonetheless. After I came back in, with a towel around my waist. Lunch was ready ... shredded beef. Mom had, in the outside freezer, sourdough buns she carefully microwaved to make sandwiches from. Talk about great tasting food. We might have this for every meal for a while.

“So, since WICKED was the final show of the following year and is now five months away, what is replacing it Michael?” Katie asked.

“I have two shows in mind. Either INTO THE WOODS or THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, I can’t seem to decide which. One has sets that might prove awkward and the other has costumes that look dreadfully uncomfortable.”

“Maybe find a show that has no sets and no costumes,” Jenn suggested.

“That’s what RENT is, from what I can ascertain. I will keep looking ladies.”

“When do we leave on our trip?” Katie asked.

“The Monday after Thanksgiving. I want us to have our first family Thanksgiving together,” Janice said.

“I wonder if I could take a known story ... and turn it into a musical?” I thought aloud.

“Like what?” Jenn said excitedly.

“I don’t know. A story without having to pay rights for it would be best, don’t you think?”

I took a big bite of my beef sandwich and thought about that while I was chewing. “Shakespeare?”

“What about him, Michael?” mom said.

“Nobody owns the rights to anything Shakespeare, do they?”

“What are you thinking about?” Jennifer said.

“Take a Shakespeare play, rewrite it for the masses, add music and you got a musical.”

“It’s not as easy as you make it sound, Michael,” Ally said. “There have been other productions of many of his works.”

Despite everyone’s questions, the gears in my head were going at the speed of sound.

“I have almost three years to write it, I will keep it on the down low for now.”

“That’s my boy.” Mom said giving me a big hug from behind.

Jenn and I created a Cast List of the principals:

Elphaba Thropp
Witch of the West
Joan Prefontayne
Galinda Arduenna Upland
Witch of the North
Jennifer Guthrie
Wizard(ess) – Leader of OZ
Isabel Chapman

Nessarose “Nessa” Thropp
Witch of the East
Geena Prefontayne
Madame Morrible
Press Secretary/Head of Shiz
Bethany Sierra – ‘Stage Debut’
Dr. Dillamond
Elphaba’s Professor/Goat
Peter Chapman (His Finale?)

Fiyero – Winkie Prince/Scarecrow
Daniel Anderson – ‘Stage Debut’
Boq – Munchkin/Tinman
Jack Miller – ‘Stage Debut’
Lion
John Howard – ‘Stage Debut’