16727/Clobbering Time The Musical

Clobbering Time The Musical
Date of Scene:	01 January 2024
Location:	Beacon Theater
Synopsis:	Ben Grimm was teaseed by the Yancy Street Game with a fake play and totally feel for it. Much money wa raised for charity.
Cast of Characters:	Ben Grimm, Emma Frost, Michael Hannigan, Olivia Gaudin, Casey Brinke, Doreen Green, Caleb Dykstra

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Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben is not a fan of what is going on. Someone asks you, "Hey Ben, you have an interesting story, you should do a book?"

"Nah, I cant write."

"Ghost writer?"

"Nah."

"You get approval."

"nah."

"For charity?"

So he said yes. Then you go for six months and do some charity stunts, a Naked and Afraid ripoff, some documentary narrations, a few shenanigans with aliens and the like"Tuesday, and you come back and there is a subclause in the contract that gives them the theatrical rights and you know, deep in your gut that these assholes did the whole thing just for this"and you can"t throw them into the Sun or the kids dont get the cash. All neat and tidy.

So Ben is dressed to the nines, in a custom built Tuxedo (all are custom and since his shape changes every ten years or so, it is a constant affair to chang e it) wearing his biggest plastic smile. Plastic smile. Him. Sheesh. But its for kids so you dont grind your teeth too much. You might squeeze the hand of the assholes who set this up on the Red Carpet a little TOO hard, but not the actors, not the real orkers, not their fault but you hope its OK, its alright"

But you know its not. You know it.

Now its a red carpet and socializing and champaign as word has gotten quietly around town that this is gonna be the new Plan 9 and many celebs are here, some fans are here, and some legit curious theater goers are here, but word is quietly getting around that its gonna implode. There are popcorn vendors inside out despite it being a black tie affair.

Yeah.

Good times.

Emma Frost has posed:
These sorts of events are always spectactular to see in person. Emma Frost has been to enough of them that she expects the proceedings to be hilarious. Just like how for Rogers the Musical things went ever so amusingly. Emma's here for the night to have some strong drinks, amuse herself, and get settled in for the chaos of the coming year. A fresh start no doubt that will be filled with catastrophies and crisises. So best to start it off as best one can.

Relaxed, indulgent, and enjoying herself. So in one of the box seats sits Emma, having bought out what would ordinarily be a full booth for several people to just herself. A waiter on call to bring her refills of drinks and food whenever signalled to pour the glass for her and bring food catered by a personal chef rather than whatever they're serving here.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
While having recently completed a musical brought to the movie screen, Nick is not at all involved with the production going on tonight. He is instead one of the handful of people who have been offered free tickets to the performance tonight and being he specifically had this day blocked off from any bookings, he was free to go.

And so the suited rockstar finds himself getting situated in his seat. Which turns out to be near Ben's. "Evening Ben." He greets the Fantastic Four member before he shifts to his seat. "Bit of a change from the wrestling match with She-Hulk." He observes, lifting up the playbill to skim through the bios of those participating before the house lights have a chance to go down.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Liv has seen some rough nights on Broadway. New shows are the worst. When she was doing Grease that was just restarting and she could write a TV series on what was going on backstage up to that opening night.

    This musical, however, was so much worse. Liv arrived to find they got the size of her costume wrong. She had to appear front of house to drag two friends from Wicked backstage to make it work. Gaffer's tape and a ton of safety pins are all that separate her from disaster. Yet her wardrobe problems are nothing compared to what is going on with the others.

    Dr. Doom's actor is locked in his dressing room, ranting about the color of his skittles, Johnny's actor is-get this-nowhere to be seen up until five minutes before curtain, then comes in with a pair of blonde social media stars. He barely has time to get into costume.

    Liv has some thoughts on dialogue tweaks, but the director is nowhere to be found, either. Left in a vortex of pure ridiculousness, she does something she never has before. She pulls rank. She drags the cast together with a minute to go.

    "Listen. This is going to be a train wreck. We know it. I have no idea where athe director is. Nor the assistant director. Nor much of anyone else. but we have a set, we have the story, and we have each other. So don't worry about it. Let's just make this happen, do our best, and keep going. No matter what. We. Keep. Going."

    It isn't much, but at this point she's the only responsible adult on set. And shocking the only one who has ever starred. She had no idea that the cast would be so green. (That's her job!)

Casey Brinke has posed:
Adapting to the ways of the Doom Patrol have not been easy. Little success in fact. Well, may be some success - but certainly not with Rita. Rita loves the theatre. She was once an actor, according to her historical records. They don't have theatre in the future so this is a learning experience for her.

Hands on hips, wearing her standard blue jumpsuit with yellow speed lines. She has a big smile on her face and eager eyes looking over all the proceedings. Champagne? sure, why not. She's never had it before.

"Bleh!," she puts the glass back on to the waiters tray before he can move away. Okay, not the smoothest of moves. But an honest reaction is the best reaction. She was looking sort of in Ben's direction at the time. Oh no - he didn't think she meant him? She smiles and waves to the big rock man in the tux. She has no idea who he is or that this play is even about him. Her knowledge going in is zero. Something something charity?

Doreen Green has posed:
Celebs. Fans. Legitly curious. All three of those cover Doreen Green to some degree. Though the latter two are the main reason for Squirrel Girl to make an appearance! It should be an interesting night regardless of how good or bad it is. Even if it is bad it's to support a good purpose and that's enough for her to pitch in.

She's hard to miss amongst the entering crowds. The bushy four foot tail just stands out no matter what. The tail also makes getting decent outfits a bother, so she's traded the lower part of her usual getup for a nice skirt, with a slit in the back for said tail, and called it good.

Doreen waves around, chats up people at the entrance, and of course gets some of that popcorn. She's doing her best to show support, because this is for the charity and that's what's important even if this does turn into a disaster.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm is remarkably not offended by the Bleh, she is saying what he is thinking but again and again, he says to himself that this is for the Kids. Its working, mostly, shaking hands, shaking hands, signing autographs, pretending he doesnt want to make the building collaps or chuck the producers into the Atlantic....its for the kids. For. The...
5r"Nick! Great to see you...." Someone who was a real person. When he had a split second later, he whispered, "If you can use your influence on these assholes to make sure no one else has this done to them, I'll be gra....hello ma'am, of course I will sign your autograph." He smiles at her but as he whips out his pen his eyes speak volumes to the rock star. The woman, of course, is blissfulyl unaware but when you have decades of experience as s celebrity and bottling your real feelings at an event you get some skill at it.

For. The. Kids.

The crowd begins to swell and some find their seats. the fact that Ben and the positive reputation of the Fantastic Four is involves ensures a certain level of good will, and Ben's presence means they assume he is in on the joke and being a good sport about the whole thing, which keeps things light and keeps them positive.

Olivia's speech backstage has a generally positive reception among folks, particularly among the crew who are utterly jaded and used ot this nonsense but work alittle harder, a little faster, and a little more. After all....
5rIts likely only for just the one night.

Emma Frost has posed:
Emma Frost goes to sit back as the crowd moves to find thier seats. Emma Frost sits to wait. Placing mental odds in her head as to what supervillain is going to try to crash the place. This will be ever so fun after all. It's a rather wide spread given the adversaries that the group has. Perhpas even Doom will show pu. Though crashing here would be beneath him, and the reigning Monarch of Latveria would probably not honor such a thing with his presence..

Or want to disrupt it, it's still something for children after all. But there's still a rather wide swathe. She goes to look through the audience, seeing what other members of the Fantastic Four might be present here. Just to see what the turnout is. She presumes that most of them, if not all of them will be here. Probably in the front row. Though she can't tell from this angle. Ah well. It's an event to celebrate..

And as she finishes her wine, and signals the waiter for another, and some deliscious shrimp that she had flown in from halfway around the world for this.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Nick smiles to the greeting but as Ben slips into his whisper, the expression shifts to a more practiced smile. A brow lifts briefly indicating that he's listening. The playbill lowers. He doesn't press as Ben, saint that he is, is making nice with those not responsible for the evening.

It isn't until the crowd settles that Nick tilts his head back to speak lowly to Ben. "How about drinks after? We can talk in detail. In the meantime, focus on the good things..."

Casey Brinke has posed:
Ushers are ushering. She follows the flow of people and sits in a seat. A man towers over her with his hands holding a ticket and looking awkward, "Uh. Sorry. I think you're in my seat." Casey looks around at all the seats as people start to fill them.

"You own this seat?"

"Nono. No.. it was assigned. See here on my ticket." He shows her the ticket stub and she pulls out her own and notices the allotments. A letter and a number.

"OH! My apologies." She rises up smoothly and takes an educated guess as to where her ticket is, then leeeaps over the various people in to a far isle and hunts down her seat.

Shuffling past some people who don't know how to tuck their legs in, she finds her seat and settles. "My this is exciting isn't it. Imagine, people playing out simulations as if they were the characters!" Apparently the people sitting next to her cannot relate.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    Olivia now finds herself in the middle of an inferno of activity. Places are called. Again. People scramble. Dr. Doom opens his door and storms out, looking suitably ominous. Huh. That's a win! Deny the man his skittles and you get something interesting.

    There are so many questions for Olivia in the last 30 seconds she is dizzy. The crew was just left out to dry on a bunch of decisions.

    "We don't have the lighting figured out for the final song of the show?" She sees she has ten seconds. "Catch me at intermisssion. Bring me two choices. Same goes for everything else that wasn't decided. Spread the word."

    Good lord. What is about to happen. She eyes the curtain nervously. The timer hits two seconds. A breath in, a breah out. The curtain starts to rise. The nerves go with it.

    It's show time.

Doreen Green has posed:
"The Mighty Thing!" When she gets her chance to shake Ben's hand Doreen grabs his in both of hers to do so and vigorously. Or at least it's vigorously to her, it probably barely budges his hand despite the Strength of Squirrels(tm). "This is great, looks like you've attracted quite the crowd. It's going to be a big night with this show."

Then she stands on her tiptoes to lean a bit closer and whisper. "Remember, it's for the kids." Followed by a wink, a supportive pat on the shoulder, and then she bounds off to find her seat.

Which doesn't take her long to do. Doreen finds her seat and puts her butt in it. Then drapes her tail over the left side and tucks it down between her waist and the chair arm so it doesn't block anyone else's view. That would be rude!... even if some of them may end up wishing they couldn't see by the end. She leans back, glances to one side, to the other, and whispers "You can come out now, but keep quiet." Tippy-Toe and Monkey Joe poke their heads out of the collar of her jacket, and she hands them kernels of popcorn to chew on.

What, did you think she wouldn't have them along? She's got a brand image to uphold!

Ben Grimm has posed:
The curtain call goes out, a soft pealing tone that pleasantly reminds people for the train treck they paid good money to see; for the kids. He looks at Nick and whispers, "There's not enough alchomahol on the planet but I'm game to try...." He is actuallly smiling now though he doesnt now why until the intern for the producers (who are to terrified to ask directly) hand him the note asking him to introduce the play. SERIOUSLY?!?!?!?

Ben smiles a very clenched smile and waves to the producers. . o O "I can crush every bone in your body to powder. Thats right assholes. I know a man who can transfer your minds into Llamas and would do it for fun if I bet science couldnt do it...thats right, smile."

People take their places. He walks down the aisle of the place and people begin to quiet down as he steps up to the mike and the spotlight comes on to him.
5
"For the kids. I appreciaet you all comin here, this is for the Yancy Street Community Center, a dream that I and many othr fine folks shared. So, as we explore the um..." keep it positive, "the boundaries of what it means to er...um...explore the boundaries of artistic...uh...creativity. I want everyone to rememer that this is for charity and the kids. For a better tomorrow....and um....yeah. For the kids." He waves and there is a minor stirring in the audience at his speech and the lights dim, and the curtain begins to rise.

.

.

...."Space. Space. Space is Big. Space is enormous and cold. But one man dared to challenge space...and mutate his whole family into weirdos...."

Ben actually laughs out loud at this as he takes his custom large seat in the front row. MAybe this wont be SO bad?

"Behold, the epic, the legend, A THING is born....

" And out came the tap dancing Thing.

Oh Great Maker.....

Emma Frost has posed:
Over in the crowd sit the Fantastakids - or whatever appropriate name is given them. Valeria and Franklin, along with Johnny Storm. Whatever Johnny's on and off again snarking with Ben is like, he's still here to support the cause.. And probably to revel in all of the blackmail he'll get from it later.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
While Ben's thoughts weren't audible, the look he was giving spoke volumes. "You got this, Ben." Nick offers in encouragement. "First round's on me later."

As Ben comes up to give his introduction, Nick smiles, trying to add to the friendly face in the crowd counter for the different type of blue-eyed rock star.

And then the tap dancing begins.

Brows lift and then Nick gives a slight nod.

Okay. At least they're not overdoing it on sound effects to simulate the weight involved in such a motion.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
It's surprising that a kid from Gotham would somehow get tickets to an event such as this, but... Here he is: Caleb, and he seems to have been able to whip up something for the event, in a last hour call.

It's mostly a rental for the day. But a nice rental: dark grey suit with a modern cut, and a tie (clip-on) that's a couple shades bluer.

And he seems to have made it just in time. So, the show starts, and he takes a seat. It was all so sudden, and so last-minute, that he doesn't bother to see who's about. Maybe Mike would be, after all he got the ticket from Wade Shaw.

So, the show starts, and he watches the 'for the kids' presentation, and he can already see he has to mentally prepare for this.

And, when it comes to the tap dancing Thing, he's already in his deep breath phase.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    You know, Olivia only had her lines for this. This is her first chance to see the rest. She does not like it.

    "Holllyyyyy shh-"

    "Miss Gaudin! We have a problem!"

    As much as Liv wants to keep the stage under her watchful eye, she has to deal with another fire drill. She's obviously off mic.

    "So the tap dance was actually in the script?" she asks, as she is rushed to the next disaster. She's a fan of tap, but wow, opening with it is bold! And in this case, terrible.

    If the audience thinks they are having a bad day, she would be happy to swap places. It turns out there is a flame suit that is supposed to be used in the play. It ignited spontaneously and now they aren't sure if they can even use it.

    "This... is going to be an interesting night, everyone."

    Some of the smoke is probably noticable by the audience. The fire is out, at least, but the smell is pretty unpleasant.

Doreen Green has posed:
'But really awesome weirdos!' is what Doreen would shout back if this was a normal show, but she refrains because it's suppose to be upscale and classy. Even with the opening joke.

Then the tapdancing Thing comes out.

"Huh. Maybe this is suppose to be a comedy?" Doreen muses, to which her squirrels just shrug. Tippy-Toe, quietly as a squirrel can, chitters something in her ear. "No, I don't think they'd go so far as parody." Pause. "Not intentionally?" Another shrug, and she flicks more popcorn in her mouth. Then holds up the bag for her companions to help themselves. "It's going to be entertaining one way or another."

A lot of people probably think she's talking to herself. That is nothing new.

Casey Brinke has posed:
'You had me at: Space' Given Casey is a totally legit space hero. Her eyes widen in delight. She had no idea this would be a story about her favoratist thing. She's nodding along to 'Space is Big'. That's one of the best bits about space. It goes on and on and on.

The story takes an unexpected turn at 'mutate his family into weirdos' - and then... then there's a tap dancing person in a rock muscle suit. She looks around the audience slowly as if something were only now just dawning on her.

No one else here is a rock person. Just that one guy. The guy she said Bleh at by accident. The guy who introduced the show. Wait... is this a show about RockGuyInTux? Given her new found family are all 'weirdos' this is starting to take on a very different tone for her. Her butt shuffles to the edge of the seat as she watches in rapture.

Sniff sniff. She glances over to the sides of the stage. "Does anyone else smell smoke?"

"SHHH!" says the woman next to her.

Ben Grimm has posed:
There is a rather straight forward recreation of the imfamous recording of the four before they lift off, as well as their conversation durignt he cosmic storm, but at that point, its clear that a significant chunk of the budget went into special effects as sparklers and fireworks light up for Johnny who lies around the room and Sue Storm who is wearing a mylar body suit that is actually physically cool but Stretch is...a problem and looks more like Gumby than Mr Fantastic...they are all singing at eh same time and the music is well written if any of the four of them had bothered to rehearse...together.....

Ben squirms in his seat and looks at the actual Johnny...props to hot head for supporting a worthy cause but...oh the shame...the shame...in their informal decales long tet a tet, this was....he wouldnt EVER live this down....

The Narrator continues, "But when heroes are born.....there is, of course....a villian to every story....DOOM...doom doom doom" Percussoin and a demented Blue MAn group mixture with Smash and Doom Bots comes onto the stage in all flash and lights.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As Caleb finds his seat and sits down, Nick turns his head to find the student sitting in Wade's seat. "...Let me guess. Work got Wade?" Nick whispers to the student, giving a slight smirk. With all the times he's gotten lectures about overworking from the studio owner, it's always good to have something he can throw back to the manager.

As the scent of smoke filters to his nose, Nick turns his head, glancing around for any signs of things burning.

Ok that's one special effect that might be overkill.

Emma Frost has posed:
There's a laugh from Emma that's covered up by things oer in the crowd. Glancing over at the 'Doom Bots' to see if they're going to be interrupted by the real thing or not. Well, there's no sound of monologuing or harranguing, so probably not as of now. she goes to politely hold her hands up as if applauding rather htan letting her laughs carry.

Taking another sip of her wine while moving to take a bite of her shrimp. Ahh, it's the good life.

Down in the crowd, Valeria and Franklin are appreciating things.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    On stage, Olivia is doing her best. she cannot change the lyrics that are sung with others, but damn near everything else is adjusted. She has to do a considerable amount of ad libbing, honestly, just to make things work. She has the crew in an ear bud, too. Ever try singing, acting, dancing, and listening at the same time? Yeah, that.

    While things more or less proceed according to plan for the first arc of the story, there are a few instances where Olivia's Susan Richards is just on stage alone. It is obvious that she wasn't supposed to be, too. This does give Liv a chance to do some quality work at monologue, which even culminates in a song she wrote herself. She asked the director if she could use it about a month ago and hear nothing. Silence is consent, right?

    Those who are close to the stage can hear a brief shout from backstage, followed by several loud bangs, then a 'Woooahhh!'

    Olivia is not getting paid enough for this.

Casey Brinke has posed:
Happy butt squirms is what Casey has right now to the very badly performed musical number. When she starts to clap the man next to her places a hand over her hands and re-iterates, "Shhh." Way to burst Casey's bubble there dude. She sits on her hands because it's oh so hard not to want to join in.

Casey lets out an audible *GASP!* as the narrator warns of DOOOM... Wait, are the doom patrol the bad guys? She tilts her head thoughtfully. Nope- the robots aren't their style. Except for Robotman, Cliff, but he's a one of a kind piece of awesomeness.

"But if a villain was born then that means they were all probably family, or best friends," Casey exclaims.

The woman to her left turns in her seat, "Would you please shut up? I paid good money for this! and everybody knows the story"

Casey blinks a few times and twists her lips. "I don't know the story. It wasn't in my historical records."

The man to her right leans over, "I don't care about your historical records or how much you spend on the ticket. Would you two zip it!" His strained exclamation trying to keep it quiet but intense gets a scoff from Casey and the woman, who leans back feeling perturbed to be accused of the thing she was accusing Casey of doing.

Doreen Green has posed:
In spite of the decent but poorly rehearsed musical number and special effects that could give rubber suit monsters a run for their money Doreen still smirks around her buck teeth as the approximation of Doom comes onto the stage. "I bet he still insists it was a Doom Bot," she murmurs to herself, getting squirrel equivilent snickers from her companions. And maybe it was that day. It doesn't really matter in the end. "I bet no one told him about this, or he'd probably sue for making him look... awkward." She does her best to impersonate him without raising her voice enough to be annoying. "I am Victor Von Doom, and I disapprove of your mockery of my egotistical grandeur!"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"You got it", Caleb whispers back to Nick. "Either that, or he got wind of the whole show, and he decided to throw away the ticket to the unluckiest S.O.B. that happened to come by."

His eyes are fixed on the play, and he just looks mesmerized.

"I...", he halts, trying to find his reasoning, "I can't ask for the money back, because it was free. But...", he finds the strength, "...this suit is a rental, and I will be asking him for the money. And the time of my life I won't be getting back."

Ben Grimm has posed:
There proceeds the gates of hell...though ben is laughing hystrically at metalhead....anything that mocks him is good....this was almost worth it...he says that and then...

The scene where he days girl after girl and breaks things one after the other is just a little too personal for him....there is brief mention of the Syrum but they skip over it and then they talk about Nora....He almsot lifts up his seat and throws it at them but abides...

The scene with Galactus is infuriating..."What do you mean he's a cloud? He wasnt a cloud? What nonsense is this? Does this look like Its a wonderful life?"

The actors clearly heard him adn nearly stop but for Olivia's constant encouragement and he feels terrible, these gus are just doing their job...

The flying bathtub...is an actual bathtub int he sky which is the most blatant ripoff of a Whole New World and Reed singing it that he has ever seen...he likes the mockery but it is just...lame...then the people yelling at Casey keep it up and finally he has something he can do. As they proceed their bad behavior, Thing moves through the aisles adn just...LOOKS atthe people not Casey....and they....quiet down as eh moves to sit down.

For the kids. For the kids. Forthe kids.Forthekids. Dont look at Watch. This is the passing of time. I am a leaf on the wind...lalalalalaal...

Jawas? What the HELL are Jaws doing on stage?

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Nick chuckles slightly to the confirmation Caleb made to Wade Shaw's current situation. But the mention of the suit having to be rented does get a slight nod. "Hmm. We need to get you your own suit." He comments lowly.

An aside glance is given to the student and then to what's going on stage. "...Well, it is for charity." He allows, watching as Olivia goes into her solo. "Not all shows go the way you want...But even then, there are some gems hidden away." He tilts his head towards Olivia, before glancing back to Caleb "She's doing well with what she was given. Enjoy what you can."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen Green outright laughs at the depiction of Galactus. Sure, they didn't have a lot of options to represent a huge force of galactic nature, but really that is just... silly. "More like Galactus' fart after taking a bite out of Mexico." That gets a few snickers out of other people sitting around her. Looks, if it's going to be terrible at least people can enjoy how bad it's going to be. For the kids!

Casey Brinke has posed:
Oh look the Rockman is coming. Though, if she is following the plot of the story he is called Thing. Like from The Addams Family. Or Ben. She smiles to him even as he glares past her at the other patrons of the performance. "Hi Ben," she says as he trudges back away.

The others next to her glare at her and then look back to the stage. So does Casey. The whole Galactus cloud thing is very confusing. She's not sure what to make of it. A fever dream perhaps. The bathrub too for that matter.

The whole bit about him trying to date people and failing. And breaking things. She clutches hands over her chest where her heart is and bites her bottom lip. It's just like when Rita turns in to goo. Or Robotman. Always Robotman. Robotman and Rockman certainly have a lot it common. Less swearing from Rockman probably.

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    The cloud isn't that bad, Olivia thinks. Until someone tells her that is supposed to be Galactus. "What the hell are you talking about?" she asks abruptly. "Who signed- ugh. Whatever. We will make it work." She has to get back on stage!

    When Ben calls it out, she does not waver.

    Must go on. Must go on. Must go on. In character, she delivers an encouraging speech during the encounter. It wasn't in the script. It's honestly just for the cast. They need it. The orchestra is brilliant at somehow just going with it. They deserve all the credit.

    It more or less stays in this state until the curtain falls on act one. For reasons that Olivia never understood, she finishes the first act with a bombastic love theme. Seeing the rest of the show, she can confirm it makes no sense, but the songwriter clearly wanted to mug for attention. Not that she used more than half his lyrics.

    And the curtain comes down. Breathers for everyone. Everyone who isn't backstage. Olivia has no experience directing, but she's seen it done. She has obviously been very well directed in her career. This is the first time she's had a director go into hiding. With good reason, too.

    "Show me what you have for those lights. Reed, no no no, you are with me. No dressing room. You and I are fixing the finale!" He looks at her uncertainly. The first act did a number on his confidence.

    For all the stress, though, Olivia realizes something. She loves this. There is no better place on earth than in the eye of this storm!

    That finale, though. There's some discussion on lighting and an exciting idea for a finisher. It makes no sense at all, but who cares? Unbeknownst to the actors, though, their mics are still hot.

    "Okay, but how are you going to get from here to there, though?" That's Reed's actor. "You are a big boy. Toss me. As far as you can," answers Olivia. He replies, "But then you will have to get back to me at the end, what are you going to do, walk? It'll look awkward as heck." And then drops the kind of teaser that may perk some curiousity. Olivie asks, "You ever see the end of Dirty Dancing?" And then their mics are finally cut off.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Dude", he tells Nick, "...I think I'm traumatized for life. This makes crap like Tommy Wiseau's 'The Room' look like a master-piece. And I had to sit through that movie three times in a row once, when I was back in Gotham, if you know what I mean, so I have a pretty good iron gut."

"I think I've got cinemaphobia, now...", he let's out, perhaps a little too loud for a whisper. "Know of a cure?" He shakes his head to him, "It's not my own suit, I'm sure."

Emma Frost has posed:
They're nearing the end of what is the intermission. Emma Frost isn't paying that close attention to the proceedings. She's been to plays that have high school level budgets and a slapped together feel before. Perhpas rarer than in forums like this one, but she's sitll finding it extremely amusing. Most of her attention is over on the crowd instead of the performance. And poor Benjamin J Grimm. The things that the long suffering do to try and help otehrs.

Emma continues to find herself incredibly amused, occasionally letting out a clap over at things passing back and forth while looking very smug with herself.

Ben Grimm has posed:
When the curtain comes down for intermission there is just silence, but Ben clas. Three is laughter, mutering, and everyone is wondering if it can get any worse. Silly Rabbit, of course it can.

Ben has not smoked in years, sets a bad image but he wants a smoke then...instead he takes out the popcorn someone randomly gave hhim and eats it. This is not happening. This is not happening. This is not happening.

Casey Brinke has posed:
Intermission. Everybody is leaving. Casey watches as one by one people get up and retire to the lobby for a leg stretch, a breather, and hushed venting about the play. The play which Casey is LOVING. She walks up to the stage and gets a few odd looks from the musicians.

A hand wraps on the stage floor. "It's just simple wood," she remarks as her eyes roam over the big lighting setup. "How elaborate."

An usher approaches with a torch light in hand, "Ma'am. If you'd head to the lobby for intermission. The canape are being served and more complementary drinks."

Casey looks the short man up and down and his silly little hat. A nod is given and she strides to where the rest of the crowd is. "I'll have a canape please." The waiter turns around and has a tray of tiny little foods. Casey stares a moment. "Am I allowed more than one?"

He smiles, "Ma'am you can have as many as you like."

Casey nods her head and lifts the tray out of his hand and wanders away nomming on the tiny little foods. Ah. The rockman. Ben aka Thing. She offers the tray to him, "Canape?" He looks like he could use a tiny snack or ten. "I love your musical. It's the best one I've ever seen. Also the only one I've ever seen but I will definitely see more now that I've seen yours."

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Nick glances up as the discussion is going on over the microphones. Eyes widening, he gives a soft sigh before he brings his hand up to cover most of his face. Oh those poor performers.

Once intermission hits, Nick looks over to Ben. "You doing okay?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Intermission, probably to the relief of many people.

Doreen hmms at her companions. "Either of you need a potty break?" Both squirrels shake their heads no. "Okay then. Then let's do some good. For the kids." She glances left, glances right, then scoots from her seat. With squirrelly speed she bounds up to the stage, climbs up, and sticks her head behind the curtain. Not commenting on the mics being on a bit longer than they expected. Instead she puts on her best reassuring smile, rosey cheeks buck teeth and all. "Hey, theater people! I know, this is probably starting to feel confusing and chaotic and crazy wreck... But it -is- entertaining. Maybe not in the way initially intended, but it is. You're doing your best to work with what you have, keep it up! Go all out! Give them a show they won't forget regardless of how they feel about it. And remember, it's For The Kids! " That's become the mantra of the night it seems.

Having done her best to be support and encouragement to this theatrical disaster she slinks back out, hops down from the stage, and scurries off to find her seat again.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm iss sitting there, in a zenlike state, almost able to trancend this. Its all a draem. This is not happening. Its not real. Its all a dream. "Huh"He looks at nick, "Oh uh...yeah, its...a uh...unique...uh..artistic experience for...the kids...you know?" His voice is relatively faint. This is not happening. It is happening...and he cant clobber it. He looks down, they seem like such big strong hands and yet he cant legally strangle the producers.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
Nick gives a slow nod to Ben's response. "Ok." He replies, voice betraying a bit of uncertainty to the response. "...How about I get the first two rounds of drinks after?"

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
So, during the performance, what does Caleb find in his rental suit? Why, a pair of stylish sunglasses!

"Well, whaddya know... Life savers!"

He puts them on, and gets comfortable in his chair, but not before telling Nick, "Wake me up when it's over, could you? Thanks a million!"

And nobody can see him dozing...

Ben Grimm has posed:
Curtain Call sonds again. A quarter of the audience has left but it has been replaced by randos sneaking into the palce seeking to see what has now gone viral. The audience simmers down and begins to mutter to themselves, though it is alsgithly different crowd, more supportive, less high society. There is a fog machine and a dream squence with the Ben actor as human, "Wait...everything is fine...I'm...me again...." then he wakes...and time passes, the years pass, hippies and eighties and nienties. One villian after another gets clobbered as the highly catchy Ben actor wearing Ben Rock hands rockem sockem vilains in a dream montage of time passing, creates the most ear worm part of the thing, and you almost think its coming back....

When sddenly a giant twinkie comes on set. It begins to talk of Hostess and the need to have good desert and Ben just facepalms. He made them keep that crap out of teh book for a reason. No one on the team talks about it. No one does.

He is thinkingabout those drinks Nick promised...yeah, free booze, its just a laugh, just a dream, the play was right...soemthing snaps in Ben's head and he is in almost a fugue state..should he get up on the play and act with them? They owuld just think its part of the act...he almost does...almost...

And then the play take a literal left turn at the Capital of New Mexico with a talking guy in a furry Rabbit costume...for...reasons? And Ben is getting intoa direct and blatant rip off of the Whose on First line from other better knowncommedians and...WHAT. THE. HELL? He is literally grinding his teeth and almost throw shis popcorn at sonic speed at the folks at this point but just seeths...he cant evens ay that this is for the kids any more.....what IS this?

Doreen Green has posed:
A giant twinkie. A giant twinkie.

"What the --" Doreen pulls her copy of the book (well of course she has one, plus it went to a good cause!) out of her jacket. Flips through several pages. "I don't remember there being any iterations of snack foods. Not quite what I meant about going all out..."

Emma Frost has posed:
Sitting up in the stands, Emma Frost ponders, "I'm wondering if whomever wrote this was having an acid trip of sorts. It has that sort of edge to it. No.. An acid trip would involve someone disengaged from the circumstances. This has the rigor of someone truly desperate behind it. Pressure to get something out regardless of quality and rushed. I'm wondering.." An idle glance is sent in the vague direction of the blonde that is in the front seats that she passes judgement on, however unlikely it is.

But, it would make a great deal of sense.. And also explain the quality control (or lack thereof). How are they going to do the Mole Man here? People wearing rolling balls with their feet showing?

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    The second act has a lot of flaws that just can't be addressed. You cannot really change a script. There are limitations to what Olivia can do and they keep her trapped for most of it. She cannot make it not suck, but she can make it suck so, so bad that it is funny. Even surreal. She gets Doom to just completely give in to pure Camp. He keeps showing up for scenes he isn't supposed to be in and monologues.

    Olivia insists that Johnny bring those social media girls of his onstage no matter if it makes sense or not. They are in half the scenes now. This script is pure insanity, and there is no ending. Literally. No. Ending. The finale is a dance number with her and Reed. There is just a note under it that suggests 'have the others beat up Doom or something' at the end.

    "Good lord..." notes Doom's actor. "I thought it was going to be Galactus again."

    Big breath. Big Breath. "Okay, so here's the deal. While Reed and I are dancing..." Whatever is being cooked up, at least the mic isn't hot for that part. Someone may hear some laughter from time to time from just off stage right. This is one for the ages.

    There are dance numbers, there is dialogue. A moment of abject confuses leaves Olivia again on stage alone as Sue. She just works with it. And then... oh yes then... the big finish.

    The lighting suddenly changes, and the music gets dramatic. Kind of dramatic. It has a kind of Latin rhythm. Don't ask questions and you'll be fine, people.

    The big finish starts with the whole Reed and Susan dance number. His throw is perfectly executed. And that's when the music suddenly changes. Dark, ominous, threatening. And then Doom races in, flanked by doom bots. A dance battle of sorts begins and just when all seems lost, and things look hopeless, a roar explodes in the theater.

    "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!"

    Then, to the complee befuddlement of all, the Thing charges into the fray, fighting Doom. He single handedly saves everyone, even getting to pull 'Susan' back up to her feet. At that point the original music returns, and she does, yes, race across the floor and leap into a perfectly executed lift by Reed. This is held appropriately, and then she is lowered into a kiss.

    The curtains mercifully fall.

    Thank god.

Casey Brinke has posed:
Casey stands up abruptly as the play comes to its conclusion. She is clapping furiously. It takes the younger higher energy crowd a moment to recognise that it's over and starts to clap and whistle along too. Casey is now a fan of theatre. Whatever -this- was, it is now what she expects all theatre productions to be. Well, musical theatre at the very least. Now she can connect with Rita on a level she didn't understand before. Rita will want to see this too for sure. She will suggest it.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm stands and claps, its an immediaate standing ovation. Not because he liked it, but because he could SEE the effort that the actors put into fixing this abomination of nature. By GOD if he has to pull in every chit he has to make Reed send the produces to the Negative Zone he wil. Oh this will be the one and only performance if he has to make every person alive sign NDAs and contract a nd....a Yancy Street kid walks up and tugs his sleve, dragging him up. What now? More remarks? He moves with hm as th e clapping is schizphremic, some clapping wildly others dead silence, picking up again and then silence, no one quite sure how to react as Ben goes upstage.

Meanwhie, copies of the script are being leaked all of the internet with public domain release with an encouragement for donations to the Yancy Street Community Center Foundation.

The internet is forever.

Michael Hannigan has posed:
As the show comes to an end, Caleb is awoken to an elbow to the gut. without missing a beat, Nick starts to applaud. He doesn't stand. But he applauds.

Doreen Green has posed:
There is applause. Probably mostly from people being polite, or just being glad it's finally over.

Doreen claps and whistles through her teeth because, for whatever wreck it was, she did enjoy it. And that finale was the sort of big finish it needed. "THAT is what I meant by go all out!"

Olivia Gaudin has posed:
    "Good god, we are going to do a curtain call?" asks Johnny's actor. "How are we supposed to do that?"

    Olivia's reply is simple, "You go out there as if you just delivered the best damn performance of your lives, and that performance is not over. We have to meet people after this!"

    It takes a bit of sorting out. First it's the Thing and Doom, then Johnny and his girls, a few others, and last Reed and Susan to step out.

    Honestly, as far as effort is concerned, Olivia and the others will be hard pressed to ever have to do more work on any opening night. All for a charity production that was not written, but mangled, and directed off a cliff by an absentee director.

    Some of the cast members look uncomfortable to get applause after that. Olivia, however, just soaks it up. The attitude infects her romantic interest and Reed and her finish it the way they ought to, with more dancing, back out of sight with a laugh.

    There is indeed no business like show business.

Doreen Green has posed:
When the actors come out on stage for their curtain call then Doreen does get to her feet and claps. If you look closely you can even see Tippy-Toe and Monkey Joe sit up on her shoulders and clap as well, even if they don't comprehend half of what's been going on. "You people rock! PUN INTENDED!" Sorry Ben, it had to be said.

Caleb Dykstra has posed:
"Uhwhat?", Caleb shakes off his torpor (more like coma) into a standing ovation...

Uhm... Not really!

He claps once... Twice... But not a third time. He takes off his sunglasses (someone must've thought the show was a tear-jerker), and looks at Nick. "Thank you so much. I had Florence Pugh in my arms, just so you know."

He looks at Ben, and he just smiles sympathetically. "Remember the things from the other day in Central Park...?", he keeps his voice as low as possible, "Better times, just saying..."

Ben Grimm has posed:
The kids come p to the mike with a pithed and exhausted Ben, bow tie askew and eyes slightly glazed. e does clap for EVERY actor. Doom himself couldnt have conceived a more torturous script but somehow they gave this thespeian aboination heart....

"We wanna thank Unca Ben for being a good sport about all this."5R
"And holy cow Olivia Guadin took this script..."

"The worst we could write..."5
"And made it not as terrible on the fly."

"We are impressed, any producers who didnt vomit and leave should hire this woman.

"The kids are in agreement.

Ben, is just...shocked. No. No way. No, they did not...

""We would also like to thank the board of the foundation for helpign get all the big hollyood types to help...but we have a special gift for Ben...to show we appreciate him being a good sport...

"Ben starts to laugh, it starts out small, and then fills the whole theater, with many in the audience laughting with him...

Tehy take out a box...is that....what...wait no way...

They throw a pie in his face.

Its a Hostess Fruit Pie.

Close Scene as Ben looks at the artist, smiling widely.