Fifteen minutes to go and the audience was slowly taking its seats. There was a contented buzz and the crackle of sweet bags opening.
Suddenly the lights went down, ten minutes early!
The orchestra frantically set about finding the music for the overture. There was a rustling of paper as the conductor raised his baton, then one by one the musicians got started.
Suddenly the lights went down, ten minutes early!
The orchestra frantically set about finding the music for the overture. There was a rustling of paper as the conductor raised his baton, then one by one the musicians got started.
The curtains swept aside and the spotlights flickered into life.
There, blinking in the middle of the vast empty space stood Stage Manager Billy in his paint splattered dungarees with a spanner in one hand, a screwdriver in the other. The totally confused members of the orchestra stopped again.
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The only sound was the thud of seats as people continued coming in.
Billy looked left, looked right, looked up, and looked down. He’d always dreamed of being an entertainer. Was this his big chance?
He shrugged, the crowd laughed. Billy laughed back and the crowd laughed louder! He started juggling his tools. The crowd loved it!
Nothing else appeared to be happening so he started telling jokes!
"Two cannibals are eating a clown. One says to the other 'Does this taste funny to you?'"
Laughter!
"I went to buy some camouflage trousers the other day but I couldn't find any"
More laughter!
It didn’t last long though. The curtains flew closed just as Billy was getting into his routine. The audience roared for more, but to no avail. A couple of minutes later the show proper got under way.
It didn’t last long though. The curtains flew closed just as Billy was getting into his routine. The audience roared for more, but to no avail. A couple of minutes later the show proper got under way.
But it wasn't Billy's only performance! Nowadays he entertains in local pubs and clubs still in dungarees, still juggling tools and still telling corny jokes!
Tomorrow a change of style as I'll have a whimsical tale about fairies for you called The Flutter
Tomorrow a change of style as I'll have a whimsical tale about fairies for you called The Flutter
It must be fun to be accorded an audience more so a cultured one. It is interesting to see that he could relate to them and were readily accepted. Certainly it takes courage! Great prose and lively one too Keith!
ReplyDeleteHank
Thanks Hank - oh, that rhymes!
Deletebut was change forced upon him? did he find some joy? may be you can tell it in a sequel
ReplyDeleteHe's on the next series of Britain's Got Talent!
DeleteAccepting change is step of courage.
ReplyDeleteTo some it comes naturally.
DeleteGood for Billy! That's something that would horrify me, being exposed on a stage with no preparation, but he rose to the occasion and found his true calling.
ReplyDeleteHe always was a showoff!
DeleteAnd so an entertainer is born - isn't it often the case that luck provides opportunities more than anything else?
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more.
Deletevery fun story! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteit even made me smile and I wrote it!
DeleteFun read thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike - loads more to come!
DeleteThat was fun! I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAnd I enjoyed writing it! But the best is yet to come...........watch this place!
DeleteOh yes, that clown tasted funny!
ReplyDelete.....best served in a pie!
DeleteFunny. I could actually see it happening in my mind. Especially the orchestra scrambling, and then sort of fading away in confusion.
ReplyDeleteI would love to see it happening! Thanks so much for dropping by.
DeleteWhat fun! Channeling your process would change my life! :)
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteJust needs a start :) Then the talent just flows. Wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering where I had heard the name Keith's Ramblings. felt very familiar. And I just remembered. Carry On Tuesday!