Conner's Performance

Chapter 5 - Dress Rehearsal

It was after school only a week before the day of the production and everyone was racing to get things finalized. The stage crew was setting up the main auditorium for the performance and had moved most sets there over the last week. Mrs Bell had set up a small dressing area for the actors which included one section for makeup and small booths for changing. The auditorium was usually the gym but for tonight's rehearsal and next week's performances it was their theatre. Today was the last opportunity to fix anything with the sets or costumes which is why they were doing a full dress rehearsal. Mr Farley's class were wearing brightly colored clothes in primary colors only, they were sitting on some benches chatting between themselves waiting for the rehearsal to start.

Conner was sitting in a makeup chair with Trish working on him, he felt a little special to have his own makeup person while everyone else either had Mrs Bell or another volunteer help with theirs. "We aren't going to do everything for tonight since some of the prosthetics I want to use next week are one time use. Tonight I think we just need to get the point across, we will get you fully ready for next week's performances." Trish explained to Conner.

"Okay, that should be fine. You also have my costume ready, I haven't tried it on yet?" Conner asked Trish.

"Yes, it's in a costume bag on the rack over there, I'll help you with it after we do your makeup." Trish told Conner.

Trish was applying different types of makeup to his face, this gave the illusion of black and grey fur, she applied it to his face and neck using a small brush. She pulled a small case from her supply bag. "How do you feel about wearing contacts?" She asked Conner.

"I don't need glasses, so I've never used contacts before." Conner said, feeling a little nervous about it.

"I can help you put them on, I think it will really sell the look. Just lean your head back." Trish commanded, Conner complied as she took the contacts out and placed one in each of Conner's eyes, he blinked a few times but barely felt them after a few moments. He wanted to see himself in a mirror but they were all taken up by the students who could do their own makeup.

"Just a couple more things and then we can get the costume on." Trish said. She pulled out a small can of hairspray and told Conner to shut his eyes. "I'm just giving your black hair some white highlights to match the look." She explained to Conner, his hair went down to his neck and was naturally shaggy. After that she pulled out two professional looking black and grey pointed dog ears. "These are nicer than the ones I gave you, so no headband this time." Trish said, she then carefully clipped them into place on Conner's head. "Give your head a shake." Trish said, Conner dutifully obeyed and the ear's seemed to stay in place. "Perfect, looks like we are done with makeup, like I said the actual performance will be a little more involved, especially around the face." Trish warned him.

"Thank you Trish, it's nice of you to help me out." Conner told Trish.

Conner got off the chair and headed over to the mirror his sister was sitting in front of. He popped his head in front of the mirror so he could see. Looking back at him was the head of Toto, his face made up to look like a dog with considerable skill. Trish had done a decent job of blending his hair color to his face and she was right about his now enlarged pupils selling the look. "Oh, I see Toto has arrived on set." Jessica told him.

"Trish just finished up the makeup, just the costume left now and I'll be ready." Conner told his sister.

"Well you better hurry up, we are going to start soon." Jessica warned him.

Conner led Trish to one of the booths to change in, at the end of the booth were some cubbies to store their belongings. Trish grabbed the costume bag off the rack and followed Conner.