Introduction

 

A "The Play" Story

 

By Thelma Mary Caroline

 

 

 

A woman peeked out of the curtains, as though she was studying the audience.  In truth, she couldn't see them.  Not with all the bright lights. 

 

Then she bounced out, her curley black hair flouncing behind her.

 

"Hi!" she said cheerfully.  "My name is .. uh ..."  She glanced at her hand where words were scrawled carlessly.  "Chico!  I'll be playing the Scarecrow in tonight's performace of the the Wizard of Oz!  But first, I have to go over some rules of the theather.  I'm sure you all have been to a show before, so you all know what to expect.  So if you have to go to the bathroom, now's the time to do it."

 

None of the shapes moved.

 

"All right, I'm serious.  If you have to go ..."

 

Still no one seemed to moved.

 

"Okay, well, at least there won't be a line."

 

Chico bounced off the stage, and a few seconds later a flush was heard.  She quickly came back out, at first not noticing the piece of toliet paper stuck to her shoe.

 

The audience laughed.  A strange laugh, very deep and though it came straight out of their throats.

 

Then she noticed.  She picked up her and shook it.  It didn't come off.  Stepping on it with her other foot did get it off, but it stuck to her other shoe.

 

The audience continued laughing their gruff laugh.

 

Finally she scraped it off, and then kicked it into the front row.

 

"All right.  I see some of you guys headed my advice.  Now for the rules."

 

Rapid, staccato music began playing, and Chico sang.

 

 

Please do me a little favor

And don't whisper to your nieghbor

The actors have a hard time hearing

And sometimes they start dispearing!

 

A cloud of smoke erupted, and cleared a few seconds later.  Chico was gone.

 

But quickly she ran back onstage.  "I'm just kidding!" she said.  "This isn't a magic show."

 

Don't let tomatos go to waste

Don't throw them at us in haste

If you do not like the show

Just walk out, that lets us know.

 

Since this is a new sensation

We would like a long ovation

And even at the smallest pause

The actors like a loud applause.

 

 

All the actors appeared onstage, applauding loudly and cheering widely.

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the cast of The Wizard of Oz!" the curly haired woman shouted loudly.

 

Chico stepped back and took a deep bow.  She tried to see the face in the audience, what they looked like.  Maybe this was some kind of prank, or a plot twist in the movie.

 

They had been captured by aliens, or at least that's what they were told.  Now three days a week they put on plays and musicals as entertainment.

 

Captured by aliens.  Again.