Lord of Entertainment C16 Performance

Never Enough - Loren Allred

***

The next morning, at 7:30 AM sharp, I made my way to Rocky's theatre. As I entered the grand stage area, expecting to find it empty, I was surprised to see a group of young people in the midst of rehearsal.

Rocky was there, guiding them with practiced ease. As I ascended the stairs to the stage, he noticed my arrival. "Ah, young Arthur. You've graced us with your presence," he said, his tone warm and welcoming.

I nodded in greeting, my eyes still on the rehearsing group. "And who might these energetic young thespians be?" I inquired.

Rocky's eyes twinkled with pride as he explained, "These bright-eyed aspirants comprise the theatre group slated to perform this Saturday. They're students from the local high school who frequent my humble establishment every weekend, honing their craft in pursuit of their acting dreams."

"I see," I nodded, impressed by their dedication.

Rocky clapped his hands, his voice carrying across the stage. "Your attention, if you please, everyone."

The group halted their rehearsal, all eyes turning towards us.

I took in the sight of the twelve young performers, seven of whom were girls, all looking at me with curiosity.

"Allow me to introduce Arthur Whitlock," Rocky announced with a flourish. "He'll be gracing us with a musical performance in the upcoming production." A ripple of surprise ran through the group.

After exchanging greetings with each of the young actors, I turned to Rocky to discuss my role. He nodded sagely, "Your scene, my boy, is elegantly simple. You'll be delivering a musical performance, the choice of songs left to your discretion. I've had the pleasure of witnessing your street performances, and I must say, your repertoire is most impressive."

I nodded. I stood there, surrounded by the energy of the young actors and the timeless grandeur of the theatre.

***

As time passed, 8:00 AM finally arrived. I was aware that my role would be brief, given it was my debut at the theatre. Soon, dozens of people began pouring into the auditorium.

Although the hundreds of seats weren't completely filled, the turnout was impressive. "Your customers don't seem to be too bad, Rocky," I commented.

Rocky nodded, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and resignation. "Well, it's not entirely surprising. The tickets for performances featuring our amateur actors, who are merely aspiring students, are more modestly priced. Furthermore, a portion of our audience consists of the students' friends and families." He paused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "I must add, this liveliness is primarily a weekend phenomenon. Weekdays see a different demographic, with more professional actors and consequently, less affordable ticket prices."

I nodded, observing the crowd below. It was easy to spot the younger audience members who seemed familiar with the performers, as well as adults who appeared to be there in support. However, these supporters were in the minority. As more people filed in, it became clear that many were there simply for affordable entertainment.

"How does this theatre manage to stay afloat, Rocky?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

Rocky sighed, a hint of weariness creeping into his voice. "Well, I occasionally lease the premises to more affluent theatre companies seeking a venue for their productions. The income from such arrangements, while modest, suffices to compensate my own troupe."

As the performance began, I realized it was a rendition of the famous romance, "Roman & Julianna." Rocky turned to me, his eyes alight with interest. "So, what musical piece have you selected to complement this timeless tale? I presume you're familiar with this renowned story?"

I laughed, feeling a sense of comfort in the familiar narrative. "Actually, I've read the book 'Roman & Julianna' many times."

Rocky nodded approvingly. "My group is performing Part 2 of the saga. As you may be aware, the cinematic sequel to this story left many audience members rather disenchanted. That disappointment is partly responsible for today's robust ticket sales – people are eager for a more satisfying continuation of the beloved tale."

I nodded in agreement, remembering my own disappointment with the sequel film. It had indeed done a disservice to the original "Roman & Julianna" story.

As the performance continued, it finally reached the scene where Julianna was alone in her room, seemingly lost in contemplation.

Rocky nodded at me, signaling that it was time for my performance. A piano had been prepared, likely because Rocky had only seen me use one during my street performances.

I sat down at the instrument, my fingers hovering over the keys. The red curtain parted, and the spotlight illuminated both the young actress playing Julianna and myself.

Taking a deep breath, I began to play, the melody reminiscent of a powerful ballad from my previous life.

As my fingers danced across the keys, I leaned into the microphone, grateful that I didn't need to use magic to amplify my voice. "I'm trying to hold my breath," I sang softly, pausing for effect. "Let it stay this way."

I could feel the audience's gaze upon me, their attention captured by this unfamiliar yet stirring melody.

"Can't let this moment end
You set off a dream in me"

My voice rang out through the theatre speakers, clear and emotive. "Getting louder now, Can you hear it echoing?"

"Take my hand
Will you share this with me?
'Cause darling, without you..."

I paused, building the tension before launching into the chorus:

"All the shine of a thousand spotlights,
All the stars we steal from the night sky,
Will never be enough,
Never be enough."

As the song continued, I could hear gasps of surprise from the crowd. Even the young actress playing Julianna seemed taken aback by the power and emotion of the song.

The melody swelled, filling the theatre with a sound unlike anything they had heard before. It was a perfect blend of the familiar emotions of the story and the innovative style I brought from my other life.

As I sang, I poured every ounce of feeling into the performance.

I could see members of the audience leaning forward in their seats, completely captivated. Some had tears in their eyes, moved by the raw emotion of the song. Others looked amazed, clearly trying to understand how I was producing such a unique and powerful sound.

The final notes rang out, leaving a moment of stunned silence before the theatre erupted in applause. As I stood from the piano, I caught Rocky's eye offstage.

His expression was a mix of awe and excitement.

As I made my way offstage, the applause still ringing in my ears, I couldn't help but smile. I had effectively stolen the show, but I didn't mind one bit. I waved at the crowd, numbering at least a hundred or so, before stepping behind the curtain.

Rocky was waiting for me, his eyes shining with excitement. "My dear boy, that was simply marvelous! Your song was nothing short of extraordinary!"

I smiled, feeling a mix of pride and slight embarrassment at his effusive praise. "Well, I'm not really used to singing that style of song, but I guess it worked out pretty well."

Rocky's smile widened. "Indeed it did! I've had the pleasure of hearing your performances before, and I must say, your usual style is quite... unique." He paused, searching for the right words. "You have a rather peculiar way of singing, almost barbaric in its raw energy, yet strangely charming. It's unlike anything I've encountered before."

I chuckled as I heard his description. It was clear that rock music wasn't a thing in this world yet. That probably explained why I had found it challenging to gain fans in the square. Now that I had performed in a style more familiar to this world, the reception seemed much more positive.

Glancing at my system interface, I saw that I had gained 20 fans from just this one performance. It was a significant jump compared to my street performances.