Sing for Their Supper - 40

 

When Tuck drove up to the theater the next morning, he saw a woman he didn't recognize pacing by the front entrance. She looked like she was in her late twenties, with blonde hair pulled into a bun at the back of her neck. He had the feeling she must be their choreographer. He and Brent had been trying—unsuccessfully, until yesterday—to find one who would be willing to work with untrained dancers. 

 

Last night, when Tuck got home, Brent had told him, "I talked with a man this afternoon from one of the high school theaters. He told me about the woman he used for a couple of their musicals. She works for a dance studio, so I called her then went interview her. Her name is Gloria." 

 

"And?" Tuck asked. 

 

"She's interested, as long as it doesn't interfere with her schedule at the studio. I asked her to come by the theater in the morning to talk with you."

 

Now, Tuck walked up to the woman, holding out his hand. "I'm Tuck Williams. I hope you're Gloria." 

 

She smiled—sort of—shaking his hand. "I am. When can I meet your cast? I have to be back by one."

 

"I'll take you inside so you can see the stage, then I'll round them up. Have you ever done Oliver!?"

 

"No. But I'm going to watch the movie tonight, to get a feel for it."

 

He nodded, escorted her inside, and then went to get everyone. On his way back to the theater, he saw two more cars in the lot. One he recognized as Norm's. He hoped the other one belonged to Peg, the costumer. She'd called to tell him she was going to come by today to see the costume shop and take the cast's measurements.

 

When he walked into the auditorium, he saw Gloria and Peg deep in conversation, with Norm watching from a distance. He heard Gloria say, "They have to be able to move easily in their costumes."

 

"I'm aware of that," Peg replied, looking annoyed. "This isn't the first time I've costumed a musical."

 

"But you said you're a student."

 

"I'm working on my MFA in costuming," Peg told her. She saw Tuck and waved. "Ms Ford and I were discussing dance and costuming," she said when he joined them.

 

Tuck almost said "discussing or arguing" but thought better of it. "The kids will be here momentarily. I'll introduce you to them. Then—"

 

"I'll want to see how they move," Gloria told him. "I need to get a feel for them so I can create dances they can handle."

 

Tuck was tempted to salute. Instead he said, "That will be fine," just as his cast came into the auditorium, some silently, others chatting excitedly, with Vin bringing up the rear. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you'll take your seats, please." He gestured to the chairs on the stage.

 

They did, looking at the two women. Vin sat in one of the auditorium seats, eyeing them as well.

 

"This is Peg. She's our costumer," Tuck told them. "As soon as Ms Ford is finished with you, Peg will be taking your measurements. Do you want to do that here or in the shop?" he asked her.

 

"In the shop."

 

"All right. Norm, would you mind showing her where it is?"

 

As soon as they were gone, Gloria said, "I'll need music."

 

Vin came up on stage when Tuck nodded at him. "What kind?" he asked, sitting at the piano.

 

"Something they can dance to. You," she pointed to Sam when Vin began playing. "Dance. Or at least move to the music."

 

Oh, boy. This is going to be interesting. If she's not careful, she's going to alienate everyone before she leaves today. Tuck turned a chair around, straddled it with his arms across the back, and watched.

 

Gloria didn't alienate anyone, to Tuck's surprise. She observed and managed to give at least some praise to each of them—even Mace, who obviously didn't have a dancing bone in his body. She was ecstatic when Ricky took center stage to show off his considerable talent.

 

"That should do it for now," she said, looking at the notes she'd taken. Turning to Tuck, she asked, "When do you want me back again?"

 

"I'll call you. We've barely started, and I'm nowhere near blocking out the scenes with them yet. Once I have, then you and I can get together and go from there."

 

"All right." She smiled at the cast. "We're going to make this one hell of a show, between you all, me, and Tuck—and Vin, of course." With that, she thanked everyone, told Tuck she'd wait for his call, and left.

 

"She doesn't seem bad," Roma said. "But I've got the feeling she can be a real martinet when she puts her mind to it."

 

"A what?" Dena asked.

 

"A martinet. Someone who expects you to do exactly what they say and to do it right, or else."

 

"Like my mother," Dena muttered.

 

Everyone laughed, Tuck included. Although from the look on her face, Tuck thought Dena's mother might be the reason she'd run away.

 

"Okay, guys," Tuck said when the laughter died down. "Let's invade the costume shop so Peg can measure you. Then, since the morning's half gone already, we'll wait to do another read-through until after lunch.