Madeleine’s eyes moved back from scanning the formation in front of her back towards Jon at the sound of the slap. She was about to tell him that was not Karyn, but he was so sure that it was that she was sure that even if she had, he would not have listened to her.
She thought she had seen the American girl a few rows further forward, but just as she was about to check the girl out, Geneviève slapped Jon. Well, he did deserve it; she thought it was more than likely what she would have done if a strange man started shouting someone else’s name at her and then put his hand on her shoulder. He was lucky to have gotten away with just a slap. But by the time she looked forward again, the curtain had opened, and the chorus had made its way onto the stage. Now they would need to wait to see if she could get this American to do so.
Simone had ventured a step or two beyond where Madeliene was standing with Jon. Jon was still rubbing his face. Geneviève had slapped him hard, Simone thought. At the time she had been a step or two behind them, still lost in her own thoughts. She really wished that she was going out on stage with her friends, but somehow they did not recognize her. She still wasn’t sure how that made her feel. She crept as close as she dared given what was happening, and she saw her again, this Blonde imposter. The girl looked like she was having the time of her life out in front of the audience. Her audience, Simone thought, but there was nothing she could do about it now; she would have to wait until Le Jardin des Plumes was over, then she could give this girl a piece of her mind. How would she like it if some stranger walked into her and stole her friends or her Job, not that she ever thought of dancing as a job.
Karyn Black stood on the stage just a few yards away from Jon and the others, but now that the curtain had fallen she had no way of reaching him. She could see the stagehands at either side of the stage. They must be there to stop people from walking on during a performance, she thought, but now they were stopping her from walking off.
The music started up, and the others took up their positions. Karyn had no idea what her position was, but she figured out that it had to be the empty space, so she moved forward to fill it. It was then the words of her drama teacher popped into her head. Fake until you make it. Ms Mackenzie had said to her many times when Karyn told her that she was no good at Drama.
“I will let you into a secret. Most of the big actors you know now, and I mean the famous ones, all said that at one time or another and their drama teachers all said the same thing as I am telling you now. Fake until you make it.” Well, I only hope Ms Mackenzie was right; she thought.
I will do what she does, and hopefully no one notices, at least until I can get off this stage, she thought as she focused on a nearby dancer. Hopefully I won’t fall flat on my rear.
