Page 4 of Curtain Call
Jackson was with the touring company for a year before they became dance captain and Riley joined the troupe. That was when the understudy became the ‘real Fiyero,’ as Tiffany claims, and Riley was hired as the new understudy. Riley worked closely with Jax for the first couple of weeks to learn the steps to the dances along with staging cues. Riley still believes that if someone has a good agent, a nice social media presence, and at least mediocre talent, anyone can make it in this business. It’s all a political game of who knows who, who’s doing who, or who knows who is doing it with whom. It’s all quite messy.
“There is only one Jax,” they smile, stand, and enclose the space between them and Riley by taking the now unoccupied seat. They embrace.
“How long have you been over there? Where are you heading? Why didn’t you tell me you were traveling?” Riley smacks Jax in the arm with the back of his hand while displaying a huge smile across his face.
The stream of questions came out as Jax opened and closed their mouth to each one without a sound. There was no room for their commentary with all of Riley’s nervous energy spilling out.
“Are you done?” Jax pursed their lips and gave Riley a little side eye, and with an open hand gesture from Riley, they continued, “I am heading to see some family in Lexington but a dear friend of mine has asked me for some help with choreography for a preshow they are putting together for Boston Pops.”
“Seriously?” Riley’s brows narrowed in the middle of his face.
“My friend, Jessica, is the creative director at the Boston Ballet, and they are wanting to do a pre-show performance.”
“Sounds promising.” Riley leans back in the seat and crosses his legs as if this is going to be another long story by Jax, “Go on.”
“They want to use some of the same music but do a more contemporary piece with some of the younger kids from the adjacent school. Since Wicked uses a lot of contemporary Fosse style of dance, she asked for my assistance.”
Jax flips their scarf being a bit dramatic and extra as always.
“Well, you go Miss Thang, congrats. It sounds like a fun project.”
“So, changing topic,” Jax’s tone goes solemn, “you looked troubled or deep in thought before Glin-da,” adding a bit of twang to their voice, nor using the right syllables, “made herself comfy.”
Troubled? No. Deep in thought? Yes.
“Just thinking.”
Riley didn’t want to be a downer right before their much-needed break from tour. It’s not common to have a whole month off before returning to the open road, city after city, performing eight shows a week with only a day off.
“By the way, loving this scarf.” Riley reaches up and pulls the edge of the thick fabric between his thumb and middle finger.
“Stop avoiding the question. We still have two hours on this thing so spill it.”
Riley and Jax’s friendship developed fast and it was like they had known each other for years. Jax was easy to talk to, like Colin, and he felt at ease.
“Technically you made an observation and didn’t ask a question.” Riley teased and leaned into Jax. He wondered why his other relationships weren’t this easy.
Now it was Jax’s turn to sit back, cross their legs, and listen to Riley pour his heart out. He doesn’t pour anything. Jax has already heard about the way his and Colin’s friendship slowly faded over the years when Colin chose to stay in Rockport instead of following his dreams to the city.
The final straw was when Colin accused Riley of having an eating disorder because he was trying to lose weight. He didn’t want to be typecast for shows as the funny fat guy. It hurt Riley because it came from Colin and because it might have been true. OK, it was a lot true. Right after his two-year run with The Book of Mormon, Riley crash dieted, walked all over NYC for cardio, and became hangry. He was no longer the fun Riley that people warmed up to. He was a grouch and tried to portray the perfect image of what he thought Broadway stars were, or should, be. It became too much. It became too much for Colin.
But that was only part of it, Riley was also in love with Colin. His first love. His straight best friend. His straight best friend who made out in the back of the movie theater his parents owned and converted into a multipurpose theater for not only movies but live shows. Riley was forced to listen to all his conquests.A piece of Riley died with each story.
Riley and Jax gossip about the cast, their families, and the holidays, but mostly just sit on the train being together as friends. It’s what they do on tour. It’s what they do now. They are comfortable just being together in the moment.
“Well babe, I’m heading back to mycorner of the skyto freshen up before we arrive,” looking Riley up and down, “I suggest you do the same. You have friends to impress.”
Jax leans over and pecks Riley on the lips and gives him a hug.
“Thanks for, you know, this.” Riley motions his hand between them.
“Any time, babe.”
“And don’t think I didn’t notice that Pippin reference,” Riley mentions as the corners of his mouth turn up, and his cheeks skim the bottom of his eyes. His smile is involuntary.
Riley opens his small duffle bag and pulls out an even smaller cosmetic bag along with a fresh black sweater and fitted jeans. He places them in the seat next to him.
“It’s showtime,” he whispers to his reflection in the small compact mirror and starts applying some eye cream.
