Brendan had seen Sally around the saloon frequently enough that he needed no introduction, and he had seen the petite blonde waitress in the diner a few times. Just as Sally had mentioned Arabella's "close friendship" with Miriam Kaufman, the young ladies' escorts arrived.
Brendan sized them up in a minute. Worn but shiny boots, an almost-disguised air of nervousness and feeling out of place. Cowpokes for sure, and they weren't used to being in a theater any more than he was. Although they were clearly a few years younger than he was, he felt an instant connection with them. However, they were more preoccupied with Sally and Constance than they were with introductions, so he just slid his arm around Caroline's waist and watched the two younger couples.
That one had some manners on him with that fancy kiss to Constance's hand. He glanced sideways at Caroline, wondering if she'd be flattered by that or would think it was nonsense. It was worth a try.
"Well, Miss Mundee, shall we go in?" He took one of Caroline's hands, bent over it, and kissed it, grinning up at her.
"Me too. I haven't been to a theatre in a long time, since I was back home in Cincinnati," she informed him, "Must admit I had hoped for a comedy rather than a Biblical one but Miss Mudd will certainly do her best I'm sure."
"From what I've heard around town," Justus chuckled, "it might could be a comedy!" He hoped something would happen to make the evening interesting, well, more than just being with Constance.
"Never been t' a play," he admitted, "not really sure what t' expect. Is this one'a them plays that's all singin'?" Not that he'd know the difference, he'd never been to any sort of play, but he couldn't imagine people singing to talk!
Caroline saw that same over the top gallantry as one cowboy attempted fancy kiss to Constance's hand.
"Well, Miss Mundee, shall we go in?" Brendan now took one of Caroline's hands, bent over it, and kissed it, grinning up at her.
"Oh stop that. It's too late for you to impress me now anyways," Caroline grinned right back. They took a few steps toward the seating.
"When we're in there, behave yerself too. No necking and no booing even if Ara's play is the worst thing you ever saw," she whispered into his ear.
"From what I've heard around town," Justus chuckled, "it might could be a comedy!"
"Now that wouldn't be so bad," Constance smiled, "Perhaps even refreshing."
Regardless Constance liked the young actress from the get go and even if it turned out dreadfully serious, she still had Justus for company. She liked the young cowpoke too, granted they were still just getting to know each other.
"Never been t' a play," he admitted, "not really sure what t' expect. Is this one'a them plays that's all singin'?"
"Oh, it's easy. You just sit there and watch and listen. Clap at the right times especially the end," Constance advised cheerfully.
"And no, those are usually billed then as musicals. It did not say that on the poster. But we will see," she also explained for his sake.
"Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows" - Helen Keller
The Piano music came to an end and there was a pause as whoever had been playing it struggled for a second to find her way past the red velvet curtain that had hidden her from view, but presently the blind young lady Frances Grimes appeared from behind it and addressed the people she could not see in the crowded and noisy lobby in a surprisingly commanding tone.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, tonight's performance of 'Scenes from the Old Testament' performed by The Excelsior Players is about to commence, please make your way to your seats. Ladies, please remove your hats and no spitting, fighting or catcalling in the stalls. Gentlemen, this applies to you too. Thank you for your kind attention."
Arabella had also told her to announce that the play had been "Theologically sanctioned by the Reverend Gideon Evans and the Synod of the Methodist Episcopal Church" but Frances knew Arabella and didn't believe her for an instant.
Storyteller / Shared NPC
As all those customers began to file into the seating area in anticipation of the performance, two other want to be theatre goers were attempting to enter the premises without paying for tickets. Weedy and Wyatt had discussed it between themselves and decided they wanted to see this play. But both knew they wouldn't get permission to go and they couldn't afford tickets on their own so the only course of action then was to sneak in.
They had done their due diligence in the days before the premiere and scouted the building, even figured out a way to sneak inside unseen. Now they were determined to do it for real. First off was managing to open a side window toward the back of the theatre, clamber on in and close it. It was dark back there, obviously no one present. Next up was to climb up to the rafters where they would have the best seat in the house for this exciting event.
Wyatt kept his voice to a barely audible whisper, "So far so good. Sounds like it's starting real soon too."
Grinning, Weedy nodded to Wyatt. "We're gonna make it," he whispered back to his friend. Sure, the rafters were a good ways overhead, but they were boys, and scrambling up to places was part of their skills, especially since both boys were accustomed to working in barns.
Of course, if Addy ever found out about this, Weedy knew he'd be working in the barn until he was old and grey! But, if that poster was anything to judge by, it might very well be worth it!
As their eyes adjusted to the low light, they spotted a desk and a couple of crates that they were able to use for a boost to get closer to the rafters. A little bit of creativity, and soon they were perched above the balcony seats, peering down at the stage. It was a far ways off, but the boys were just glad they made it, so anything they had a gander at up here was better than nothing!
"Look, there's the marshal...and deputy Pike." Weedy wondered, as he pointed, if they could go to jail for this, but then, that would save him from Addy's wrath, and piles of manure!
"Well, reckon I'll stick it out either way." Justus grinned, offering Constance his arm as the call came to be seated. "Where ya want ta sit?" He figured Cody and Sally would be behind them and sit with them.
"Don't really know what ta expect," he admitted, looking toward the stage that was shrouded in a huge curtain, "kinda curious!" Whatever it was, it would be a new experience, and Constance was there, and that was what really mattered!
Chatting and visiting was a nice change of pace, and Emeline was enjoying herself when the call came to take their seats. She glanced at Clara and Jacob. "Will you join us?"
She wasn't sure where to sit, though, and would let someone else decide that. Too close could make it hard to take in the whole of the stage, but too far back could make it hard to see the actors' faces and expressions, and to clearly hear the dialogue, although she doubted that would be an issue with Miss Arabella Mudd!
"There's four seats in the middle," Barnabas said spotting the seats dead center, give or take, and about halfway back from the stage. "Might be the best in the place!" He started in the row hoping that Em, Clara, and Jacob were following him. The idea of attending a play was a first for him in quite some time, but then a man like him seldom was anywhere near where there was a theater.
The time spent in Virginia City allowed him to see several performances at Piper's Opera House. An opulent theater where the rich were seen at every performance given. But before and after that time, none, unless singing to a herd or witnessing it counts. This production was on a much smaller scale, not that that would mean such a performance could not be as good as those he had seen before.
"Em, right here. This should be great Clara can sit next to you and I'll sit next to Jacob. How's that?" He asked.