It was opening night and eight months of rehearsal were about to come to fruition. Tonight was a sell out; everything was in place except for Muriel Stepford who was suffering with nerves.
She was under the stage, in tears, saying she couldn’t do it. She said she couldn’t find her character. It had gone, she wasn’t motivated, she was devastated beyond words. It took the director a good twenty minutes to convince her that the entire production rested in her hands. No one he explained could play the third witch nor say her one line like Muriel could.
Written for: http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2014/04/02/4-april-2014/
Morpethroad 
Dear Michael,
Hope Muriel recovers from her stage fright. The last line made me laugh.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle, she was a little tense.
I love a diva! Or I love divas who are ‘luvvies’. 🙂 Nicely understated Michael.
Thanks Sandra, you have to love them don’t you.
Hahahaha! The old “what’s my motivation?” story. SO true. Great!
Thank you so much, thanks for your comment.
Hehe her one line! Nice story 🙂
Thanks Jessie.
She was probably afraid to miss her cue ! Hahah good story.
Thanks Pat, some actors are so highly strung.
Lol…Her one line, This is rich!
Thank you Dawn
I thought perhaps she was a Stepford wife, but no, just an actress with a bit part and lots of nerves. Good one, Michael! I think this has happened many times. Loved the last line.
janet
Thanks so much Janet. Yes sadly it does happen, but we are all human and subject to stage nerves. Have a good weekend.
Well, a diva indeed! Although, I felt a little sorry for her. I get stage (blog) fright with my writing sometimes. Great story, Michael!
Thank you Lisa I can understand blog fright, it can be that way sometimes.
It takes a great director to coax everyone along. It looks she’s making a tempest in a teacup. 🙂
Thanks David you are right a good director is valuable to everyone.
That director deserves every penny of his wages. Loved the characters in this – so well drawn in such a few words.
Thank you Claire happy you enjoyed my piece.
Poor kid – kudos to the director for his patience — what a funny tale, darling.
Thank you Helena appreciate you reading and your comment.
All that fear over one line! Good “catch” at the end.
Thanks Alicia I like your comment.
Well, a good actor must find the character they say. Ha-ha! Good one Michael.
Thanks Jackie or a good character needs a good actor. Thanks again.
A warmhearted story with a humorous ending. She will no doubt never forget him.
Thanks patricia I doubt she will ever forget the whole experience.
Such a relatable tale of stage fright, both realistic and humorous. It’s interesting that even with a single line, Muriel puts so much pressure on herself. Then again, if she’s unable to deliver that one line, she might have difficulty finding another gig. So, maybe her anxiety isn’t that unreasonable. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful piece!
We must be psychic as I just commented on your piece. Thanks for your comment. There are actors like Muriel who love to perform but who do get incredibly anxious about the actual performance. They can be very difficult to work with when they behave this way on opening night though. Thanks again Adelie.
Very surprising end and cute story. I’m worried for her one line too!
I think if we knew we’d be on the edge of our seats praying we was ok. Thanks so much Perry.
Ah.. She will forget her one-line You really knows what makes a director’s job difficult…
Well if I was the director I would hope she wouldn’t forget. Belief Bjorn belief!
Oh, the Life of The Diva…and her One liner. er, line. Nice.
Thanks Shandra, there’s is a trying life to be sure.
Oh the drama! Well done, Michael.
Thanks so much Dawn. I see you are on a trip? Hope all is going well.
Yes, Michael… we’re in Belize. VERY limited wifi… mostly a dream vacation, but had an accident yesterday and broke some ribs. Not Fun. Beautiful place to recover, though.
Hey you take care, no way to have a holiday. Will send you some Aussie repair ribs vibes.
I welcome any help I can get, M. 😉
They should start working any minute now…..or they got lost on the way over, had to look up exactly where you are.
😀
Every part has its purpose to the play 🙂
So true and if not played as it should could let down the entire production. Thanks for your comment.
The things directors have to go through. I guess they all face their Muriels from time to time. The third witch/one line ploy is genius.
Thank you so much Patrick….that’s a very lovely comment, I appreciate it.
Well written with a great ending. It made me smile especially as I played the part of a third witch once, though it was a relatively nerve-free experience unlike poor Muriel 🙂
Thanks Siobhan, I can imagine the third witch equally important to the the first and second witches. I wrote Macbeth’s witches into a play last year, the third witch had some great lines.
LOL – One line? 😉
That’s all it takes RoSy, have to get that one line right.
I love your ending! I think once Muriel gets onstage and does it at least once, she can do it. I hope she gets over stage fright! The Third Witch is important.
Very important Amy, thanks so much for your comment.
Aw, bless her. A small but essential cog in a big wheel!
Very much so. Thank you for your comment.
A very patient director – great little story 🙂
Thank you so much.
I imagine the director wanted to throttle her! Written from past experience, Michael? Great story 🙂
Thanks Freya, I would say Muriel is a combination of a few I have known.
Little do they realise that all these people are future fodder… 😉
Haha high maintenance much?
Thank you Riya the theatre is full of people who consider themselves precious.
One line? Really – what a diva! Great story! Nan
Thanks Nan, happy you thought so.
Too funny! You had me as I was reading about her terrible stage fright, and then came the last line – she only had one line to perform. What a great take on the prompt!
Blessings,
Cheryl
Thank you Cheryl. Please drop by again.
Lovely narration. I wonder if Muriel will get many more parts. Not sure whether to feel more sorry for her or the director, who must have the patience’s of a saint!
Well a good director not only has a vision but the patience of Job. Thanks Sarah for your comment.
You made me laugh. However, as one who knows all about stage fright, it’s got nothing to do with the size of the part (or in my case) song. Still, I debuted with Mozart. Mad. But I thought, if I’m going to humiliate myself, I’d rather do it BIG! Anyway, good story. Well written. And funny.
Thanks Ann I like that attitude humiliate in the biggest possible way. Thanks for the comment.
🙂