Sing for Their Supper - 62

 

"The first one I'm considering is Fiddler on the Roof," Tuck said. "The thing is, it requires five girls and two of them are nine and twelve. There are three young men, to go with the older girls. That leaves one of you guys, and Roma, to play… Well, we'd have to figure that out. There are ten adult parts, some of which potentially could be done by kids your age or older, say in their twenties, with makeup."

 

"But you'd still need Fran and Andy and other adults," Roma said. "And you have to find young 'uns for the two youngest girls."

 

"Yes. This is not a show that can be double cast."

 

"What are the other ones?" Ricky asked.

 

"Bye Bye Birdie. Same problem, though. It's fifty-fifty adults and teens, and a lot of them." When Dena asked what it was about, he gave a brief rundown of the plot.

 

"That sounds like fun," she said when he finished.

 

"It's a good musical."

 

"If we can find enough people," Sam said.

 

"And that might be difficult. The third one we were thinking of is Peter Pan."

 

"Isn't that a kid's story?" Mace asked.

 

"Believe it or not, no. It has a lot to do with growing up and learning that you can't run from your problems."

 

"Ouch," Ricky muttered.

 

"That was not meant as a put down," Tuck said emphatically. "All of you have valid reasons for leaving your homes and families." His gaze went to Evie, and she nodded.

 

"How big a cast?" Roma asked.

 

"As far as the leads go, not too bad. Peter Pan, the Darling family—two adults, three kids—Captain Hook, Tiger Lily, and Smee. Then there are the lost boys and the pirates. There don't have to be dozens of them, but like the workhouse boys and Fagin's gang in Oliver!, there have to be some."

 

"And Tinker Bell," Jolie said. "I remember her from the cartoon."

 

"On stage, Tinker Bell is represented by a small white light." Tuck grinned. "So we don't have to cast her."

 

"What double casting is possible?" Ricky asked.

 

"Mr. Darling and Hook are played by the same man. That's tradition. Liza, the family's maid, plays Tiger Lily. Nana the dog and the Crocodile are done by the same person."

 

Sam nodded. "So we have to find some more kids for the pirates and the lost boys."

 

"Yes."

 

"What do you guys think?" he asked the others.

 

"Not the Birdie one, if it takes a million adults," Jolie replied.

 

"Same problem with Fiddler. Right, Tuck?" Ricky said.

 

"I'm afraid so."

 

Sam looked thoughtful before saying, "There are four free beds in the girls' cabin and three in ours. But I bet we could fit a couple more in each cabin if we had to."

 

"I don't see why not," Evie said. "So…it's back to the streets for us to start looking."

 

"Not until I know you're unanimous in your decision on which show," Tuck told her—and the others. "You might want to talk it over before you decide." He opened a folder lying next to him then handed each of them three sheets of paper. "These have the cast lists and a short synopsis for the shows. Take them back with you, read them over, then discuss. Let me know what you decide in the morning."

 

"Why wait until morning?" DJ asked. "Give us ten minutes, and we'll let you know."

 

Tuck arched an eyebrow. "If that's all you think you need."

 

"Guys?" DJ said. They all nodded.

 

"All right. Have at it. I'll go…do something." Tuck smiled, then left, but only to the wings of the stage, since he was interested in their pending discussion.