Act 1Act 2
The festive preparations started. Lucky and Michael were put in charge of procuring yuletide supplies. Emile went home to negotiate about getting his cousins to participate. The kids themselves were thrilled to come, but their parents tried to insist they must be paid. But finally, after Emile reminded them that the kids would be at the theatre on several days a week until Christmas, they agreed. The singers convened to pick Christmas songs that suited their voices and would be well known and popular among the audience.
Soon it was time for the first rehearsal. Lucky somehow managed to get the kids in line, just in time before Lawrence went nuts with them. He was hissing and puffing, but Emile managed to calm him down.
“They are just such huge fans of yours, they can’t keep away from you! But we’ll make sure they don’t crowd you anymore.”
Lawrence settled in his corner, while Owen and Rowan moved around the stage pretending to haul gifts in a sleigh. The kids were asked to just be generally merry. Even though it seemed that the kids interpreted merry as mischievous, after a while they had the basics planned and everybody more or less knew where to stand and what to sing and when.
From there it would be smooth sailing until the show opening!
***
As it turned out, there were some bumps in the road. The shipment of led candles Michael had ordered for decorations was delivered, but Lucky had forgotten to get the ornaments. After having sorted this out the troop encountered several mishaps.
A balloon filled with homemade slime had somehow appeared on top of the doorframe of Lawrence’s dressing room. Lawrence himself moved softly like a cat, but when Emile went in, the balloon landed on his head. His pride and joy, a.k.a. his hair was totally messed up. Emile was so shocked he had to go home to lie down (after a bubble bath, of course).
The stage lights blinked, and sometimes all lights went off, usually just when everyone’s singing was particularly good. It didn’t help with morale.
Rowan received fanmail containing a wrapped present. When he opened it, the present turned out to be a jack-in-the-box, shooting a weird horse-like creature at him. Rowan got badly spooked (“Did… did you see that thing? Its black, empty eyes… and it has far too many legs!”). Owen had to lure him out of his dressing room with coffee and cake, but in the end, Rowan decided to brave the stage again.
Weird noises from the sound system freaked Rowan out again, but luckily only temporarily. Lawrence on the other hand freaked out when ham sandwiches arranged as a break snack contained no ham.
At the opening of the second dress rehearsal there was a tragic moment when everyone in the troop was simultaneously sent to Whamhalla. Michael swore that he never let the offending song anywhere near the tapes used for the show, but what was done was done. Whamageddon claimed them all on the 5th of December. The kids happened to be late on that day, so they were miraculously saved.
When it was time to start decorating, Michael discovered that the crate that was supposedly holding the candles was full of candy.
Owen’s reindeer costume sprouted extra legs overnight, irritating him no end. Emile had to work at super speed to fix it while Lucky was bodily hanging on Owen’s arm to stop him from storming out.
These mysterious occurrences were never explained. It was almost as if there was an anti-Christmas ghost in the theatre! Michael tried to drive it away by shouting:
“I’ll have you know I do NOT appreciate shenanigans. You better watch out, because Santa Claus is coming to town!”
But it was to no avail.
There was another incident however, where the culprit was evident. The kids found Owen backstage, taking a nap before the rehearsal. Hector wanted to follow in his cousin’s footsteps and be a stylist to the stars, and he fancied himself quite the hairdresser already. It was probably for the best that he nicked Owen’s ear before he got very far with his great haircut design. Owen’s fiery curses were likely heard all over the city and beyond, but at least most of his hair (and his ears) were saved.
***
Most of the shenanigans, as the troop had taken to call the mysterious occurrences, were irritating but not actually harmful. One time however the consequences were serious. The lights were gone again and were not turning back on. Ms Victoria sent Michael to the top of the stage to investigate. Unfortunately, an old step gave way under him, and he fell, landing badly on his arm.
“The doctor told me to keep the sling for three weeks.”
“Three weeks? That can’t be! Everything’s ruined! After all the hard work!”
“Pick up your spirits! I can still sit in the chair.”
“We cannot show the children an injured Santa! They will worry about their gifts. The show really is doomed! And so is the troupe!”
“I’m a little surprised to see you reacting so poorly to what happened.”
“But I’ve never experienced failing my crew mates so horribly! We have to pull the season short! Everyone, go home now.”
“Shall we at least have a word with the others, before we pull the plug?”
It turned out that Owen was still unwilling to be Santa, besides he had processed himself as the reindeer already. But he said he knew a Finnish guy who might be just the right man for the role.
“He’s big and imposing and has a great white beard. As well as a Finnish accent. He’ll be cut out for playing Santa.”
“Well, that sounds good. But surely, he’ll be booked for the season already?”
“I don’t think so. He doesn’t really go out looking for work, rather his work comes to him. Plus, he’s known to be… eccentric. He might well be available.”
Mod note: Act 3 - Finale 
