Wonder Stage
1
Tsukasa
Okay, team!
Let's start our first full rehearsal!
2
Emu
Yeah!
3
Emu
But are you sure you're okay?
Doesn't it still hurt?
4
Nene
You hit your head pretty hard, so take it easy. We don't want to make you worse than you already are.
5
Tsukasa
Are you worried about me or just mocking me...?
6
Tsukasa
Anyway, I'm fine! I got checked out at a hospital just to be sure.
7
Tsukasa
Let's focus on the rehearsal today, okay?
8
Emu
If you're REALLY sure you're okay... Let's get started!
9
Nene
We're going to do a read-through first, right?
Rui, you said you'd bring us copies of the script.
10
Rui
...
11
Nene
Rui? Hello?
12
Rui
Sorry, what was that? Ah, the script.
Here are your copies! Ready to go?
13
Nene
Yeah...
14
Emu
Director! We have a remarkably large audience today!
15
Tsukasa
Oh? Excellent!
Let's see what sort of demographic it is this time... Huh?
16
Tsukasa
Am... Am I seeing this right?
Are these creatures...crawling out of graves?!
17
Tsukasa
Could they be... No, they DEFINITELY are zombies! And they're headed this way!
18
Emu
Yikes, you're right!
And they don't smell very nice either!
19
Tsukasa
That's not the problem! Goodness me, we must evacuate our visitors at once!
20
Tsukasa
Before the zombies get them, that is!
21
Rui
At this point Tsukasa makes his way to the center of the audience seats while addressing the guests as he passes them.
22
Tsukasa
Run away! Run away!
Zombies are coming!
23
Rui
Next, he faces the oncoming zombies and...
24
Rui
No, er... He should turn back and return to the stage. Then he says his next line....
25
Tsukasa
Hold on, isn't that kind of anticlimactic?
26
Tsukasa
This is the first scene with the zombies.
It needs to have more of an impact.
27
Rui
Yes, I suppose so...
28
Tsukasa
How about I fight the zombies?
29
Emu
Cooool!
I wanna fight too!
30
Nene
That could work. Tsukasa could struggle as he tries to fight one zombie and the audience will know that these are formidable opponents.
31
Rui
Yes... We could have that. And while he's struggling with the one zombie, a whole throng of them can appear from the other side...
32
Rui
Tsukasa dashes back towards the stage, the zombies close ranks and the audience will hold their breath.
33
Tsukasa
Hah! Everyone's eyes will be glued to me!
34
Emu
And then? What happens next?
35
Rui
Just when the zombies are about to catch him, Tsukasa performs a miraculous leap!
36
Tsukasa
Ah, it's wire-flying time!
37
Rui
He somersaults in the air and flies past his pursuers...
38
Emu
That's going to look INCREDIBLE♪
39
Tsukasa
This is just the kind of daring performance I was born for! What comes after that, Rui?
40
Rui
Actually... This might be too much action so early in the play. It'll throw off the pacing.
41
Tsukasa
Really?
42
Rui
I need to give it some more thought. Let's leave it for now and move on to the next scene.
43
Nene
Rui...?
44
Tsukasa
Sooo... The next scene is where I get dragged away into the trap room!
45
Tsukasa
We had a bit of an accident last time, but I'll pull it off without a hitch this time!
46
Rui
About that scene...
47
Rui
I'd like to tweak it a little.
48
Tsukasa
In what way?
49
Rui
Disappearing into the trap room creates a problem where the audience can't see what's happening.
50
Rui
It would be better if zombies appeared at the far side of the stage and you'll find yourself cornered.
51
Rui
You can still act the being dragged underground part, just you'll be doing it while in the full view of the audience. Don't you think that would be better?
52
Tsukasa
Well, it's not bad but...
53
Tsukasa
Are you sure you're happy with just that...?
54
Rui
Hm? What do you mean?
55
Tsukasa
Our Halloween show deserves to be more original than that. I'm fired up for it and really want to outdo myself.
56
Tsukasa
There's nothing wrong with pantomiming it but it's going to take away from the realism we're trying to create.
57
Tsukasa
Now, zombies emerging from beneath the stage gives it a real sense of danger!
58
Tsukasa
Let's have TEN zombies gang up on me and pull me under for a powerful and dramatic effect!
59
Nene
That many? It sounds risky, especially since you nearly got hurt last time we tried it with just one.
60
Tsukasa
That was due to my carelessness. Don't worry, I can do this! The audience will be even more thrilled if it looks a little dangerous!
61
Tsukasa
What do you think, Rui?
62
Rui
Um...
63
Rui
I don't think it would be visually appealing.
We should keep the action on the stage.
64
Rui
Let's go with the change I mentioned earlier... Hm?
65
Rui
What is it?
Did I say something strange?
66
Nene
Not strange, but...
67
Emu
It's just that...
You don't sound like yourself.
68
Rui
I don't...?
69
Rui
Hmm. I'm not doing anything out of the ordinary. How am I acting different from usual?
70
Emu
It's hard to put my finger on it, but...
71
Tsukasa
...
72
Tsukasa
Hey, Rui...
73
Tsukasa
Is this honestly what you want from this show?
74
Rui
Huh?
Next Chapter: Greatest Production