Seven day runs can get repetitive; they can fall into a routine that simply goes day in and day out without much real care for where you are. If it’s Tuesday this must be Quebec etc etc.
Embark day goes with its usual chaotic pace, and by the time you finish the opening night show you’re pretty much ready to call it a day; but once in a very great while, something happens to jar you out of that routine and make you realize just how lucky a life you really lead. Last night we were all filing off stage having done all our smiles and introductions, the cast was bustling around us in and out of the dressing rooms, false eyelashes being removed, gear being backed up, and suddenly ‘Gale comes running back in from beyond the stage door.
Guys! Guysguysguys! FIREWORKS OUTSIDE!!!
And we all look at each other, blink, drop whatever we’re doing, and scurry out onto the bow, which happened to be open because it was an absolutely, beautiful clear night…and sure enough, the stars were exploding over the city skyline.
Far enough away from the coast that I couldn’t smell the gunpowder, but close enough that the sound still rattled my ribs, I stood alongside the rest of the entertainment department and just stared.
Think that’s the finale?
Nah, finale’ll have way more shells than that.
Hey everyone! It’s V’s birthday! Who arranged the surprise?
Does anyone actually know what the occasion is?
Does anyone care???
We never did figure it out, but the show went on forever. Because we had to make the tide under the bridge at a very specific hour, the Captain couldn’t stop, so we swung left and carried on, leaning on the horn to avoid the dozens of water bugs that were sitting staring with us. Despite the fact that it had threatened rain earlier, the sky remained perfectly clear and the night was so warm that even the dancers – who were still half in costume – didn’t have to throw on a jacket. There was just enough breeze to ruffle your hair. It was the kind of night, the kind of moment, where the only thing that would make it more perfect would be someone you cared about coming up behind you and wrapping their arms around your waist and just saying…nothing.
There are days when I hate my job, there are weeks when the hours are hard and the days are long, and you simply cannot wait for the contract to be over…
And then there are the nights that remind me why it is I do this in the first place….
This brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for reminding me of such a magical moment!