Act I, Scene I

hush...

the crowd is silent.

and i know
in thirty seconds
that hundreds of eyes
will focus upon me.

i press my eye
to the sliver of light
shining through the set door.
i want to know who is there...
i want to make the audience
real.

the brightness of the stage lights
blind me.

i step back
to breathe
and blink away
the spots of light
in my eyes.

the opening music has started;
i hear sinatra croon 'love and marriage'
and tangibly feel the stage
resonate
with anticipation.

i fix my bra strap.
i check my hair.
i smooth my shaky hands against the silk
of my negligee.
yet none of this assists in calming
the butterflies
that flutter-
flutter fly
inside.

i place my hand upon that doorknob.
waiting...
waiting...
waiting for my cue.

we have rehearsed this night
for months.
we have traipsed about this stage
-spilling our blood and our coffee
and our souls-

we could not be more ready.

yet nothing quite prepares you
for that moment.

that
silent moment
when you step on stage
and the world
fades
away.

Reviews

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

Oh Kara you are such a magnificent writer... I love the use of a stage as a setting for the real world

the brightness of the stage lights
blind me.

Yes indeed the weight of the world on our shoulders can be overwhelming.

we have rehearsed this night
for months.
we have traipsed about this stage
-spilling our blood and our coffee
and our souls-

in life many times we go through the motions of certain feelings like love and relationships hoping to get it right...

that
silent moment
when you step on stage
and the world
fades
away.

and no matter how many times we try we still don't get it right in the next scene...

BRAVO BRAVO.... standing ovation my darling(throws a bouquet of roses at your feet... clap clap clap...

Oncore oncore!!

[turtlegirlluver]

Wow, I loved this, you capture the emotions so well, and I can relate to every one of them. You spend countless hours preparing, and yet, as you said, nothing quite prepares you for when you step out on stage with people watching. Great job!!

[Nik'aule]

What a cresendo of emotion leading up to walking out on the stage! Wonderfully penned piece from beginning to enter stage right... lol

[Becca]

I love this piece! I'm an actress of many years and loved it to bits.

[Ron Cole]

Bravo! Wonderful prose poem, which expertly captures the anticipation and butterflies of a stage appearance! I played in a small band in my youth, and that huge sense of anticipation never goes away; the moment just before going onstage! Nice work, Kara!

[Shannon K.]

Wow. You've captured perfectly the moment reight before you walk on stage. I'm a small town actress. I've only done a few shows at the local theatre, but its such an exhilerating thrill to step upon the stage. Great job at capturing this.
S.k.

[Chad Marinkovits]

I absolutely loved the way you captured the anxious flow of thought that goes through someone about to perform on a stage. I think you captured it so very well that anyone could relate, whether they've been in that position before or not. Well done!

Chad

[Leah Simone]

Those final moments before the curtain rises - such intense minutes of insecurity and eagerness combined - only a performer could have written this . - BRAVO!- Leah

[Mandika]

You captured the anxiety of minutes before entering the stage effectively. The imagery of angst and excitement was excellent. I bit my nails and chewed my bottom lip as the poem progressed to the end. Another good write.

[Caitastrophe]

*shivers* Man, you brought every jittery moment I've ever had flying back at me! Intense and stunning.. definitely one of my new favorites!