Opening Night

30 Opening Night It's opening night. We've been working for months on end. Finally, we're presenting our school play! Everyone is nervous. Will it go well? Will the audience appreciate the play? Will the actors remember all their lines? Mr. Brooker, the school's drama teacher and the play director, doesn't have a single line in the play. But he has a crucial role in making sure everything goes smoothly. The director guides the cast as they practise their roles. But he does a lot more than that. He supports them every step of the way. That's probably why Mr. Brooker is one of the most respected teachers in the school. This year, the drama club decided to put on a modern-day version of Shakespeare's tragedy Julius Caesar. It's about a king who is murdered by his own generals in an uprising, and the rebels who are all subsequently defeated by the loyal followers of the king. It's an exciting play, but it's always difficult to present Shakespeare.

At 7: 00 p. m. , the auditorium begins to fill with people. Family, friends and students settle into their seats. Mr. Brooker sits nervously in his chair, glancing at the stage crew from time to time. The stage director-the person in charge of everything on the stage-is carefully checking the entrances and exits, making sure that the actors can get to the stage on time. The person responsible for designing and building all the equipment on the stage, the set designer, is making some final adjustments. The lights dim, the curtain rises and the play begins. As the action unfolds, Mr. Brooker is more relaxed. The actors know their lines perfectly and deliver them convincingly. Everything goes according to plan. By the end, Mr. Brooker is so much into the play that he forgets he is the director! With the final line delivered, the play comes to an end. The auditorium explodes with applause! People jump to their feet, cheering! The actors come back on stage, each wearing a big, bright smile. They pull their director, Mr. Brooker, onto the stage. Together, they take a deep bow. They are all so proud!