Twisted Every Way: A Haunting Love Triangle

Chapter 4: First Feelings

(Steven's point of view, Erik Destler)

Julia and I walk back on set and Hal jumps up onstage. Our hands are still intertwined and I feel her other hand resting on the bend of my elbow. "That was incredible, you two. Andrew is going to be pleased. There is just one thing I want to work on. Steven, take your place back behind the mirror, and Julia, just stand in front of the chair, and don't sit. Act as though you've just stood up when Steven says his 'flattering child' line. Julia nods and we walk back to our places. Before we let go of each other's hands, I feel her squeeze my hand a bit tighter. Leaning down, I whisper "are you ok, Julia?" I notice her eyes are glistening with tears. "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about my dad." She drops my hand and takes her place. I can't help but wonder what triggered her thoughts about her dad. I step behind the mirror and Hal addresses Julia. "When he says his line 'see why in shadow I hide', I want you to walk over near the light to the left of the door. That way your shadow is cast on the mirror, so it's as though he is hiding within your shadow." Wow, he really is brilliant. I never would have thought of that. Julia nods and Hal takes his place back in the audience. "Steven, start from 'flattering child. And, action." I quickly straighten up and keeping my voice mellow address Julia, whose back is now to me. "Flattering child, you shall know me." As she walks towards the light to the left of the mirror, her shadow covers the mirror. That's really powerful, I wish I had thought of that during my tour days. "See why in shadow I hide. Look at your face in the mirror." Julia turns and looks at me once again, her eyes sparkling, yet dry. "I am there inside!" I hear Hal yell "CUT!" and I exit the mirror. Julia turns to face Hal and as I approach her, she grabs my hand again. Hal chimes in. "Much better that time. Now let's go on to the lair scene. We'll start from where Steven leads Julia into the mirror and then go straight through. However, instead of doing it with full sets, we'll just rehearse movements for now." We turn towards the mirror and I step into it before starting my last line before the lair scene. "I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music. I sweep my hand over her again and this time, it rests on her right shoulder. The fact that she is shaking catches me off guard. I lead her off the set and we start the haunting theme song.

(Julia's point of view, Christine Daae)

Steven and I approach Hal onstage, our hands still interlocked. I place my other hand in the bend of his elbow. Why do I suddenly feel uneasy about this whole thing? Hal congratulates us on a job well done. "Andrew will be pleased. There is just one thing I want to work on. Steven, take your place back behind the mirror, and Julia, just stand in front of the chair, and don't sit. Act as though you've just stood up when Steven says his 'flattering child' line." I nod and we retreat back to the set. Before I let go of Steven's hand, I squeeze it a little bit tighter as tears well up in my eyes. I can feel Steven's breath on my cheek as he leans down and whispers "Are you ok, Julia?" How does he know something is bothering me? "Yes, I'm fine. I'm just thinking about my dad." Maybe it's because in the story Christine's father sends her the Angel of Music. Maybe Steven is my Angel of Music. I let go of his hand and hear him walk behind the mirror, so I take my place in front of the chair. Hal turns to me. "When he says his line 'see why in shadow I hide', I want you to walk over near the light to the left of the door. That way your shadow is cast on the mirror, so it's as though he is hiding within your shadow." Wow, he really is brilliant. I never would have thought of that. I nod and Hal hops off the stage and sits back down in the audience. "Steven, start from 'flattering child. And, action." As Steven starts his line, I walk towards the left side of the set and as my body passes in front of the light, my shadow casts an eerie darkness on the mirror. That's really powerful. Steven continues his lines. I turn to face him when he sings "Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!" Before I have a chance to sing again, Hal yells "CUT!" I turn to face Hal and once I feel Steven's presence on my left side, I reach for his hand again. "Much better that time," Hal announces, sounding pleased. "Now let's go on to the lair scene. We'll start from where Steven leads Julia into the mirror and then go straight through. However, instead of doing it with full sets, we'll just rehearse movements for now." Steven leads me towards the mirror and he steps inside it. "I am your Angel of Music. Come to me, Angel of Music." He leads me into the mirror and sweeps his hand over me, but I am shocked when his hand finds itself on my right shoulder. I wonder if he can tell that I'm shaking. We walk off the set and start the haunting theme song.