Page 16 of Reckless Chance
Not having seen a dress rehearsal, I was holding my breath that the show would meet my high expectations. Thankfully, it has so far. The sets and props are impressive, and the scene changes are extremely smooth, which is expected. The acrobats and fireworks are spectacular—the best I’ve seen. Hopefully, Dad would be proud.
As the music grows louder and ominous, a tired and bedraggled bunch of treasure-hunting adventurers traipsethrough a dense forest carrying bags of tools. They finally reach a windowless cabin with a padlocked steel door and unsuccessfully attempt to break it down. Losing hope, one of the performers shouts, “If only we had dynamite, we could blow open the door.”
Suddenly, a spotlight shines on a woman holding a microphone. She’s standing next to a man in the front row. He yells, “I have explosives,” holding up red sticks marked DYNAMITE in giant letters.
The audience laughs in unison.
Leaning toward Lowri, I whisper, “This is where the audience member saves the day.”
“That’s what the announcer meant when he said one of us may be the key to their dreams. Is that guy part of the show?”
“No, they talk with the person sitting in a specific seat in the front row before the show starts and clue them in on their role. It’s usually a VIP who wants a chance to be in the spotlight.”
We watch as the woman ushers the audience member onto the stage.
“He doesn’t look like a VIP. He’s a little disheveled. His tie’s so loose, the knot is hitting him mid-chest.”
“You’d be surprised how much the VIPs let their hair down when they’re here. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” He chuckles.
“I’m counting on it.”
“Touché.”
“But do you think he’s been drinking a little too much?”
“He’s walking fine. It shouldn’t be an issue.”
Once on stage, the man hands the sticks of dynamite to one of the performers who connects a fuse and sets the sticks in front of the cabin door. Everyone scurries to hide behind trees, while the guy from the audience drags the long fuse with him as he walks toward a huge tree in the middle of the stage. There mustbe hidden stairs on the back side because his head is gradually rising higher and higher until he reaches a platform wedged at the base of the three main branches. The platform sits ten or fifteen feet above the stage. Standing on the platform, he grasps the smaller, leaf-covered branches that form a fence around the platform to steady himself.
We see him reach forward, pulling back on an oversized lever built into one of the branches. Within seconds, an explosion of fireworks rocks the theater and smoke fills the stage.
The music soars louder and turns from ominous to jubilant as the smoke clears, revealing gold coins pouring from the cabin. The treasure hunters fill bags with their riches and, hearing the clop-clop of horses’ hooves and gunshots, one shouts, “Someone’s coming. Quick. Hide in the trees.” They grasp dangling vines that raise them to the treetops as the curtain drops.
We join the rest of the audience in a standing ovation. I’m expecting a curtain call for the performers to take a bow. It never happens. Instead, a couple of minutes later, the lights turn on, signaling it’s time for the audience to leave.
Before we have time to plan our exit, one of Athena’s security team catches my eye as he approaches.
In a quiet voice, he says, “Mr. Cartwright, could you accompany me backstage? There’s been an accident.”
“It looked like one of the performers twisted his ankle. How canIhelp? Wouldn’t it be better to call the doctor?”
“Umm, this accident is on the serious side. The stage manager insisted that we notify you,” he says.
“I see. Give me a second.”
Turning to Lowri, I say, “They need me backstage. Someone has been hurt.”
“Oh, it must be the guy who fell from the vine,” she says.
“That’s my assumption. You can wait for me in your suite or my apartment. This shouldn’t take long.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d love to come with you to see what happens backstage at one of these major productions.”
“Okay. Let’s find out what happened, and then I’ll show you around.”
11
SEAN
