Jen010 - Shambolic Rehearsal

Jenna gets a call from Brendan, during final rehearsals...

The atmosphere in the theatre was tense and edgy.
Yvonne was in a bad mood.  She’d had a hard day, and frankly she wasn’t at all convinced that they were ready for opening night, tomorrow.
Jenna shuffled awkwardly around the stage.  She was wearing her costume – a long sweeping dress which she suspected Yvonne had picked up from a charity shop.  It itched like crazy.  She was sure it was riddled with flees!  Gross!  Yvonne’s grouchiness was making her – and everyone else – increasingly nervous.
“Jenna!” Yvonne snapped, “Where’s Brendan?  We’re about to start the first scene!”
Before Jenna could answer, her phone sprang into life.  She studied the display, “Oh, this is him now.  Hold on Yvonne...”
She answered the call with a sinking heart.  He wasn’t coming, was he?
“Hun?”
“Hi Jen.  You Ok?”
“I’m fine.  Where are you?  Why aren’t you here, at the theatre?  We’re all waiting for you”
“Oh Jen, I’m so sorry.  I can’t make it this evening”
Jenna wandered over to a quiet area of the stage.
“Oh Brendan!  Why, what’s happened?”
“It’s Anne-Marie.  Her brother has gone missing – she’s really upset...”
“Ramone?  That big guy?”
“No, one of her other brothers”
Jenna jolted into work mode, “How long has he been gone?”
There was a pause, as though Brendan was thinking about his answer.
“A few days” he said, “She’s starting to get worried”
“Do you want me to fill a Missing Person’s report at the station?  I can–“
“No, no, don’t worry Jen.  I’m sure he’ll turn up...”
“Ok... if you’re sure.  Tell Anne-Marie I’ll do whatever I can though”
“Sure.  Thanks Jen”
“Are you coming home tonight?”
“I don’t think so.  I think I’ll stay up here”
For a moment she felt like crying.  She wasn’t sure why, entirely, but it felt like a betrayal... no, a rejection.  He was choosing Anne-Marie – who he’d only known for a week – over her.  He knew how important the Show was to her, and yet he was staying away on the eve of their opening night... why would he do that to her?!
She quickly pulled herself together, telling herself to grow up!

“Ok hun.  But please, please say you’ll be here tomorrow, for the opening night!”
“I will.  Of course I will”
“Please don’t let me down!  We’re all relying on you.  Nobody else knows your part.  If you’re not here it’ll be a disaster!  It’s sold out – 350 people will be here... please don’t let me down on this Brendan”
“I won’t let you down Jen”
“And can you get here early?  We’re all supposed to be here at lunchtime, for final rehearsals and preparations”
“I’ll be there as early as I can”
“You promise?”
“I promise.  Don’t worry”
She sighed and scratched at her back – the dress was driving her crazy! “Ok hun.  See you tomorrow”
She felt dejected.  He’d always had that power over her – he could make her feel like the most special person in the world, or he could make her feel utterly miserable, without actually doing anything wrong.
“Jen, you know I love you, right?” Brendan added, apparently sensing her dejection, “You know you’re the most special person in the world to me, right?”
She felt her heart melt in her chest; her mood swung like a pendulum.
“I love you too hun”
“Listen, good luck with the rehearsal!  You’ll be fine!  I’ll text you later, ok?”
“Ok hun.  Bye”
“Jenna!” Yvonne screamed as they hung-up, “Where-is-BRENDAN!?”
“Oh, yeah, he’s not coming” Jenna said, returning to centre-stage, “Family emergency”
Yvonne glared at her. “What?!”
“Don’t worry” Jenna said, “He knows his lines by heart, and he’s promised to be here by lunchtime tomorrow, and–“
“Fine, fine!  Well we’ll have to move on” Yvonne said, switching her attention onto other things with the air of a businesswoman adjusting to some chaotic turmoil in the money markets which required her to adapt nimbly and reposition her strategy.
Jenna was vaguely listening to Yvonne’s orders, but her mind was elsewhere... she was thinking about Anne-Marie’s brother – had he really just disappeared?
“JENNA!” Yvonne bellowed.
Jenna started.  “Sorry, Yvonne.  What did you say?”
Yvonne threw her hands in the air, “Get into position!  We’re starting at Act two!”
Jenna nodded and scurried across the stage.