Echoes in the velvet seats

4. The Visit to the theater pt. 2

The Visit to the theatre pt. 2

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The rehearsal draws to an end, and the lead singer guides Edith through the theater. The frantic chatter of other singers discussing the rehearsal fades into echoes as they move away from the stage. The girl introducing herself as Claire is warm and engaging, her passion for opera evident in every word she speaks.

They walk down a long corridor lined with old posters and photographs, relics of past performances, while fewer, newer posters adorn the opposite wall.

"This place has seen better days," Claire says, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "But it's still standing, holding onto its rich history. Louis built this theater with love, and though he's gone, I like to think his spirit is still here, watching over us."

Edith listens intently as Claire leads her through another dimly lit corridor.

"You know, I was just starting out when I met Louis. He gave me my first real role on this stage. He believed in giving people a chance, in nurturing talent. That's why so many of us stayed, even after he was gone. We wanted to keep his dream alive."

"And after his death, who took control of the theater?" Edith asks, admiring the once vibrant decorated wallpaper covering the corridor's walls.

"It passed to his son, but as you can see, he never cared much for this place. It's us musicians who keep it going " Claire responds, a hint of resentment in her voice.

They pass through a small doorway into a narrow hallway that leads to the backstage area. The walls here are even more worn, covered in peeling tapestry and old set designs. The scent of sawdust and paint fills the air, mingling with the faint odor of musty curtains.

The figure watches from the shadows, his gaze fixed on the two girls. He carefully remains hidden, slipping silently from one concealed spot to another as they move through the theater.

Claire guides Edith to the dressing rooms, which are small and cluttered with costumes and makeup. She points out a few, sharing anecdotes about past performers, their triumphs and tragedies and described how the room they were in was the prima donna's room. It wasn't hard to notice, all the mirrors and cabinets full of perfumes and cosmetics, the dresses adorned with cristals and fancy ribbons made this room stand out among the others.

Finally, they reach the orchestra pit, a small space beneath the stage where musicians play during performances. 

Edith stands stiff near the director's stool, looking with an empty gaze in front of her.

"It's empty now; today is a day off from orchestra rehearsals" Claire says, running her hand on the backs of the velvet-covered chairs.

She can't help but imagine the musicians sitting down, tuning and following the director's guidance. It brings a warm feeling inside her, a feeling that tells her she belongs there, belongs to the theater.

"This is one of the places that's changed the most. We used to have the most prestigious orchestra in the country, with some of the best musicians around. But now... we're barely scraping by. With the fire of 1861 a lot of the musicians perished, and it's been hard to find replacements." Claire continues, turning to face Edith.

At the mention of the fire Edith stirs awake from her thoughts, remembering the clue given by her grandfather.

"What about the fire? How did that happen?" she asks, hoping to finally uncover the truth.

"Nobody really knows... there are various rumors going around, the most likely blames it on a faulty cable to wich was hanged the chandelier."

"It must have been a tragedy..."

"It was.." Claire sighs, "The majority of the deaths came from the orchestra, wich was directly under the chandelier. After this incident, we've had to cut back on so much."

She looks at the empty space, imagining herself there, guiding the orchestra as the concertmaster. The idea takes root in her mind, growing stronger with each passing second.

The singer looks at the ceilig, staring at the beautiful chandelier hanging on tom of them. "Sometimes I wonder how much longer we can keep this place going. But we do what we can, for Louis. For the memories."

Edith always loved playing the violin, taking lessons from her grandfather, but it's been a solitary pursuit, something she did more out of obligation to her parents than for herself. But here, in this theater, it feels different. The thought of playing in this place, being part of something that wasn't forced on her by anyone, excites her in a way she hasn't felt before.

She hesitates for a moment, her eyes still lowered on the concertmaster's seat, then speaks up.

 "I've been playing the violin since I was four. I'm not... a professional or anything, but if you need musicians, I'd be happy to join the orchestra. If you'd have me."

Claire turns to her, surprise and delight lighting up her face. "You play the violin? That's wonderful! We could definitely use a musician like you. If you'd like, I can arrange an audition."

Edith smiles, finally looking up at Claire with a sense of purpose filling her. "Yes, thank you! With the connections I have to this place.. I think I belong here."

Claire reaches out and squeezes Edith's hand, a gesture of warmth and welcome. "We'd be lucky to have you, Edith. So, is your surname Harrison too?"

"No, my family name is Lloyd. My granfather was a dear friend of Mr. Harrison, he helped with the construction of the theater."

"Oh, I can just imagine the pain that man must have gove trough..."

As Claire and Edith finish the tour and head back to the main auditorium, still discussing about the theater, the mysterious figure slips away into the darkness, retreating to the safety of his hidden world.

"Edith... Lloyd."