Page 29 of Curtain Call
“The kids make it easy.”
“You’re a natural with them.”
“Come on, I wanna show you some more.”
Riley pulls Colin by the hand and leads him back to the main stage, down the side stage stairs, through the open hall to the back of the theater where crews are now setting up more tables and chairs. Colin stops halfway through the hall and Riley almost trips.
“What’s wrong?” Riley asks as he looks at Colin with knitted brows. Riley notices the smile on Colin’s face looking childlike.
“Look,” Colin is pointing to the ivory Greek statues that overlook the symphony hall. Staff members are decorating them with scarves and Santa hats. Colin hasn’t felt the holiday spirit in a while and this year he was determined to take it all in. He missed too many holidays, and he wasn’t going to miss this one. Especially not with Riley by his side.
When they get through the large ornate doors leading into the lobby, Colin notices a set of staircases that are roped off to the right. Riley leads Colin toward the stairs, unhooks the large red velvet ropes on one side, and takes Colin by the hand up the stairs.
When they get to the top of the stairs, Colin notices that there is only a single brown door with a matching placard etched in gold lettering.Lighting. A professional lighting booth that puts on shows for international stars who sing with the Boston Symphony. This booth is where the magic happens. The booth that transforms any stage into another world. The one thing that got Colin interested in theater to begin with, and Riley remembered. Riley brought him here to this room.
“Hey, Riley, great job with the kids today,” one of the tech guys said while tweaking some buttons on a large panel.
“Thanks for brainstorming some lighting concepts with me. I think it will help set the tone we are looking for, especially in that final number,” Riley commented. “By the way, this is a good friend of mine, Colin.”
“Hey guys,” Colin greeted them wide-eyed as he was scanning the lighting booth.
“Colin here runs the Review Theater over in Rockport,” Riley says as if he were proud of Colin.
“I love that theater. My parents used to take me there every year for the school musicals,” a guy called out standing behind a large spotlight.
“We’re putting on the Grinch in another week, you should come check it out. I can comp you a couple of tickets,” Colin says.
“Thanks. I’ll take you up on it.”
Riley glares over at Colin. Colin knows that he can’t afford to give away tickets, but he figured a couple of tickets won’t help him reach his goal and if the theater is going to close, he can at least give a few nights of great performances to some patrons.
Colin looks around the lighting booth while Riley finalizes some of the lighting choices. Colin is nosey and looks over Riley’s shoulder while resting his chin. Riley reaches up and runs his hand through Colin’s hair.
Colin steps back and Riley notices something in his eyes. They are darker than before. His genuine smile was replaced with a fake one. This was too much for Colin. It was a reminder of what he let go and lost; his future and career in New York doingthisfor a living. Not worrying about that little theater. Maybe letting the theater go would be a blessing and he could sell the house and move to New York. Would Riley still want that?
“Hey, Colin,” the third tech guy calls out – Colin is terrible with names and can’t remember any of them. “We are doing a dress rehearsal in a few days. Why don’t you come by and hang out with us? Give us a hand.”
Colin perked up, “Seriously?”
“We could always use extra help. Besides, fresh eyes are always helpful when setting up a new show.”
“Let me move some stuff around on my schedule,” Colin mentions as he puts his arm back around Riley.
Today was a great day for visiting Riley at the theater. It reminded him of their time in high school when Riley was on stage, and he was in the lighting booth making sure Riley’s character looked the best he could. Colin can’t stop shaking the idea of going back to the original NYC plan.
He needs to find a way to talk to Riley because he isn’t sure if this is something Riley wants anymore. They fell back into their groove quickly and started this dating thing, but he can’t shake the feeling that something is left unresolved.
Scene11
Setting: Pete’s Pub
Boston, Massachusetts
Colin
Colin is wearing a fitted button-down and jeans that showcase his best assets while his hands clinch the cocktail glass. He has some nervous energy that needs to go somewhere. He would rather be holding Riley, but being in a straight bar, he’s not sure that’s a good idea. In fact, Colin isn’t sure of the rules since he is new to this scene. If he was with a woman, he thinks, it would be easy to put his arm around her and pull her into his side without second guessing. He’s never really been with anyone though that makes him feel so complete, and yet destroyed, at the same time.
“A toast,” Riley yells out over the crowded bar while holding up his fruity cocktail that tastes more like coconut rum than it does pineapple juice, “to my friend Mac, for finishing a fantastic set design.”
