Protasis
Ann had enjoyed going to the theatre group for years now. She had started after she split with her Ex as a way to get out and meet some people. It had been something a little bit different. At school she had enjoyed drama and music and whilst she still didn't think she was very good she had been welcomed in and quickly found that she liked everyone. The cast and people there grew and diminished over the couple of years that she had been there and recently their lead director had decided to try and do a bigger show piece to get a bit more notice from the local community.
She was easily one of the youngest there in her mid-twenties and when she found out his intention was to put on a production of the Phantom of the Opera she had immediately auditioned for the part of Christine as she had always wanted to do that at some point and never believed she would get the chance. She was both delighted and surprised when she got it and immediately started talking to the woman who designed and made the costumes. She was quite tall at five foot seven and knew she had quite some cleavage to fit in to whatever outfits they designed and went for. Her dark hair was perfect and she couldn't wait.
Anna sat around at the first rehearsal wondering who had been chosen for the other parts - there were a few older women and she figured she could guess which parts each would go for, there were a few middle aged-men and she realised with a slight start that one of them could be playing the Phantom or Raoul. She eyed them up surreptitiously and wondered which one she would end up playing - she almost giggled to herself when she spotted the oldest member of the group in the corner dozing off as he normally did.
As Mel the director took to the stage with a list in her hand Anna sat up straighter and bit her lip slightly as she waited to find out who she would be acting opposite. She started off with the usual polite congratulations to everyone that tried then announced that Anna would be taking on the role of Christine Daae and everyone clapped and smiled at her - she felt the nerves bubbling away in her stomach now. Mel went through the list reading off who would take the other roles likes Carlotta, Piangi and the owners. She explained who would be taking the other roles and then that everyone else would take on the roles of the chorus this time.
"You will have noticed that I haven't allocated the roles of the Phantom or Raoul to any of our cast this time - as this is a bigger production I have tried to do something a bit special and got two guests in to take on those roles. Both of them are semi-professional and have done quite a bit of show work in the past and you may recognise them - they have very kindly said they will take on the roles of the Phantom and Raoul for our performance and here they are now..."
Everyone turned to stare up at the top of the stairs as the doors dramatically opened. In walked Nick Tenebrae, a tall dark-haired man with broad shoulders and piercing green eyes. Next to him was Chris Richards, similar build to Nick with slightly lighter brown hair that was down to his shoulders. Instantly Anna felt that familiar feeling of excitement and nerves and something else stirring inside her. They were both very handsome - she would guess in their mid-thirties and were smiling as they made their way down to the front.
"Nick has very kindly agreed to take on the role of the Phantom, and Chris is going to be our Raoul." Anna couldn't agree more with the casting. Nick had a dark intensity about him, even when he smiled that brilliant smile and Chris seemed very good natured and fun from the way he was already joking around with people at the front. Anna couldn't decide who she was more looking forward to working alongside but she knew it would be fun.
People on the chorus parts headed off, their roles were fairly easy this time and taking their music and notes away they would have plenty of time to work on their parts at home to begin with. The other people with main parts slipped off to one side with Mel to go over the schedule and notes for what they would need. That left her alone with Nick and Chris! With butterflies in her stomach she walked over to them to introduce herself.
"Hi, you must be our Christine?" Chris asked with a smile as she arrived next to them. She found herself trying really hard not to blush as both Nick and Chris looked her over from head to foot.
"We are very lucky to have someone as gorgeous as you in the part." Nick said with a laugh as he and Chris shared a look.
"Really?" She blurted it out before she thought about it and then blushed again as the both smiled at her. "The last 'Christine' we played opposite was old enough to be our mothers.
"So, you've worked together a while?"
"We have been friends for a long while and often end up in parts opposite each other - apparently your director is friends with one of our closest friends and we were mentioned. We are both fairly local to the area and didn't mind coming back for this one as it's a fairly easy part for us to play." Chris grinned as he perched himself on a nearby tall stool.
"Well, I hope I'm good enough to work alongside you, I just do this for fun and I've been doing it a few years but never as a proper job or anything like that."
"Why don't we have a quick go at a few bits then now - Mel is obviously busy so Chris and I can run through a few things with you and see what you think. Chris - Music of the Night?"
"Sure..."
Chris hopped off the high stool and made his way over to the piano and began to pick out the piano parts for the Music of the Night as Nick extended a hand, taking hers, he led her onto the middle of the stage as it reached the parts of the song. His voice was low and deep, a bass voice with all the depth and mystery that the Phantom needed. His voice was a whisper in her mind as he led her slowly around the stage as though leading her down into the warren of tunnels below the theatre. She felt herself flushing and getting lost in the music, the warmth of his hand on hers and the sound of his deep voice taking her away into her fantasy world where she fell totally into character.
Her voice joined his, high and sweet, filling the theatre with the words of Christine as she sang alongside her Angel of Music. It didn't take long until she was no longer in the theatre there but a world away with a mysterious stranger calling her into world she barely understood but desperately wanted. All too soon the song was over and Nick applauded her, bowing slightly before switching places with Chris. Moments later the familiar notes of 'All I Ask of You' started to fill the room.
"No more talk of darkness, forget these wide-eyed fears..."
Chris' voice was higher than Nick's - more tenor to his bass, strong and fearless, proud and soft at the same time. Just the sound made her feel safe and comforted, like a blanket wrapped around her holding her safe and warm. His words, those familiar words that she knew off by heart, sounded so personal, just addressed to her and as she made eye contact with him during the song she could see something in those eyes that she didn't quite understand. They seemed to reflect her in a way she didn't recognise, something that she couldn't quite believe.
She joined her voice with his, connecting already on a level she didn't fully understand as their words combined in the lyrics of the song, a meaning already growing behind the words beyond that of just actors in a play. His smile as he sang 'Love me, that's all I ask of you' was so natural and warm she felt herself blush again. She kicked herself mentally - she was going to have to work on that, or wear a lot of make up in the performance so she didn't blush like some innocent little virgin.
As the song finished and she tore her eyes away from him she heard the applause from the room. Mel was beaming, "I knew I made the right choice - this is going to be amazing." Everyone was staring at her including Nick and Chris in such a way that set her off blushing again.
"I think this is going to be a lot of fun!" Said Nick and Chris almost in unison and everyone collapsed laughing. "You've been around me too long." Nick said to Chris with a grin.
"That's it for this week really - Nick and Chris - if you want to swap numbers with me and possibly Anna if she is okay with that then we can discuss and share ideas over the next week before the rehearsal next week. I think we will focus on Christine and the Phantom next week and then Christine and Raoul the week after if that's okay Chris."