《神奇树屋》 第二十五册 Stage Fright On A Summer Night 06 Onstage!

　　Will led Jack 1 and Annie through a door into theback of the Globe Theater. Then he led them up adark stairway.



As they headed upstairs, Jack heard laughtercoming from the audience. His legs felt like jelly.



"This way," said Will.



He led Jack and Annie into a crowded, dimly litroom. Actors were rushing about everywhere. Eachseemed to be in his own world. One was pulling on acape. Another was tying a rope around his waist. Athird was whispering words to himself.



"I'll find your costumes," said Will.



As Will dug through a large basket of clothes, Jackand Annie looked around the costume room. It wascrammed with fancy gowns, purple and blue capes,gold and silver wigs 2, stacks of hats, and masks.



"Cool," whispered Annie. She touched a donkeymask and a lion mask. "These would make gooddisguises, huh?"Jack was amazed she was acting 3 so calm. Didn't sheknow they were about to stand in front of threethousand people? The thought made him break into asweat. His stomach felt fluttery.



"Here!" said Will. He handed them green tunics,hats, and slippers 4. "Put these on! No time to dally 5!



Your parts come up soon!"Jack and Annie slipped behind a curtain andchanged into their costumes. As they put on theirhats, Annie hid her pigtails.



When they came out, Will handed them each asmall scroll 6. "Here are your rolls," he said. "They haveonly your lines on them, no one else's."Jack unrolled his scroll. He had two long speechesto read.



"Wait a second," he said. "I thought I just had a fewlines. I didn't know I had a ton.""Don't worry," said Will. "Just remember--speakvery clearly an with feeling. And above all, actnatural."Act natural? thought Jack. How do you act naturalwhen you're about to have a heart attack?



Just then a short, chubby 7 man burst into thecostume room. He had curly hair and bright redcheeks. He was dressed all in green, too.



"For goodness' sakes, Will!" he said in a franticwhisper. "What will we do?""Don't worry! Look who I've found! They both canread!" said Will. He pushed Jack and Annie forward.



"Jack and Andy, meet Puck, 'merry wanderer of thenight." He'll take you to the stage. Good luck!"Annie smiled. Jack groaned 8.



"Come, boys!" said Puck. "Follow me!"Puck led Jack and Annie out of the costume roominto the hallway. Then he guided them to a dark areaat the back of the stage.



Actors stood silently nearby, waiting to go on. Onewore a beautiful white gown. Others wore tatteredbrown rags.



Through an arch, Jack saw the roof of the stage. Itwas blue with stars and a moon. A huge crowd stooddirectly in front of the stage. More people watchedfrom the galleries above.



Every single person in England is out there! Jackthought with horror. How did I let Annie talk me intothis?



"I'll take you onstage first," Puck whispered to Jack.



"When I say, 'How now, spirit! Whither wanderyou?', start reading your lines. Understand?"Jack barely nodded. His mouth felt dry. He tried toswallow, but he couldn't.



Puck turned to Annie.



"You go onstage with the fairy queen," hewhispered. He pointed 9 to the actor dressed in thebeautiful white gown. "When she tells you to sing herto sleep, you start your song.""What's the tune 10?" asked Annie.



"Just make it up," said Puck. "Now, if they yell rudethings, do not stop. Just--""If who yells rude things?" Jack broke in.



"The groundlings get a bit wild," said Puck.



"Groundlings?" said Jack.



"The rowdy folk who don't have seats,~~ said Puck.



"They're standing 11 close to the stage. If they throwrotten fruit, don't stop, either. Just keep going."That does it, thought Jack. He couldn't go onstage-notwith groundlings throwing things, not with threethousand people watching, not with a million lines toread--and not when he was about to throw up!



While Puck and Annie watched the show, Jackslipped away. He looked for the exit. Just as he foundthe stairs, he bumped into Will.



'Where are you going?" Will whispered.



"I can't stay," said Jack. "I'm sick!"Will sucked in his breath. But then he put his handson Jack's shoulders and spoke 12 calmly.



"Close your eyes for a moment, Jack," Jack closedhis eyes. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears.



"There is nothing to fear," Will whispered. "Imagineyou are a fairy. You're in the forest, on a summernight. See the silver moon over-head? Hear the owls 13?



Hooo-hooo."Will's deep whisper seemed to cast a spell over Jack.



He felt calmer. He could picture the silver moon. Hecould hear the hooting 14 of the owls.



"Are you in the forest, on a summer night?" askedWill.



Jack nodded.



"If you believe that, the audience will believe it,too," whispered Will.



'We're on!" whispered Puck. The chubby actor ranto Jack. He grabbed his hand and pulled him along.



Before he knew it, Jack was onstage!