In The Kingdom Of Theatre Magic...

Once and awhile a hilarious theatre malfunction would actually happen NOT on an Opening Night but a few performances later, thankfully AFTER the critic gave glowing praise.  

Now one of the nightmares an actor dreads most is when another actor misses their cue to come on stage or a tech malfunction may keep one from GETTING there.  Suddenly the lone actor or even an entire ensemble may find themselves desperately trying to adlib for what seems like an eternity [and often is] with a full House casting all their attention upon THEM.  All just waiting, waiting, waiting...😱🎭

At the same theatre once again as the infamous "Gone With The Wind" and "The Phantom" hilarity I have recently shared, we were doing the musical "Wicked."  For those unfamiliar, "Wicked" takes place in the Land Of Oz at a time before and after Dorothy dropped in by way of tornado.  It is told from the perspective of the Wicked Witch and Glinda The Good Witch.  The musical is about their struggles with each other and The Wizard before the Wicked Witch falls from grace forever.  Somehow the huge part where the Wicked Witch was melted in the movie classic "The Wizard Of Oz, " then returns was never clear to me how this got dealt with and I was just too busy designing sets to get a further explanation.  But this minor detail has nothing to do with what I am about to share here anyway...😂🎭

There is a HUGE GRANDIOSE MOMENT when Glinda in a "bubble" high above rear center stage descends in royal style to the stage.  The scene really is/was a very beautiful feat achieved in theatre craftsmanship.  Just beautiful. 

And it would have been VERY beautiful this particular performance if things went as planned.  But they didn't you see, otherwise I would not have a hilarious event to share.😂

A few moments after Loralei starring as Glinda began descending, the bubble stopped, hanging high in the air.

Since Glinda was far beyond her entry platform she was trapped.

This situation now thrust the Ensemble Cast on the stage waiting for Glinda, into a terrible place of "what the hell do we do NOW" terror, which I can assure you is not a fun place to be.  However since this IS show business, Blake, a veteran actor began adlibbing as the tech crew desperately began trying to find what went so wrong.

With a desperate sense of very misplaced hope, the tech crew's presence way up high meant a miracle to Blake as he suddenly exclaimed to the Ensemble, "Oh look!  LOOK!  Glinda is coming!"

Only she wasn't. 

"Look!  Look!  Glinda REALLY is coming everyone!  Do you see her?"

No one responded.

Because Glinda still was not coming yet.

"Wait!  It appears Glinda is stuck in Bubble Traffic!"

BUBBLE TRAFFIC?!!  FRIGGIN BUBBLE TRAFFIC?!!🤣

By this time we in the wings lost it.  We were dying in laughter we were trying hard to suppress.  But we were not the ONLY ones, for by now the audience began losing it too.  It was the "Bubble Traffic" reference you see.

What else could poor Blake do?!!😂

"Oh my there really is a LOT of Bubble Traffic today!"

Suddenly the tech crew were able to get Glinda's Bubble to descend more.  

Then it stopped again.  

She was still high above the stage yet now in full view of the audience.

"Oh dear, I think Glinda has had a Bubble Accident by a hit and run Bubble!  This must be why she is stopped!  She's waiting for The Oz Patrol to arrive!"

Blake knew he was sounding desperate even though the audience were rolling in laughter.  He made a brief dash to the opposite wing whispering way louder than what he thought, "What the hell are they doing up there?"

They were laughing too hard to respond.

Meanwhile in the bubble up high Loralei was beginning to wonder if they would ever free her.

Cried Blake up to Glinda, "Hang on Glinda!  The Oz Patrol has been detained in Munchkinland!  Someone stole the lollipops and you know how they are about their lollipops!"

Suddenly I had an inspiration and motioned for Blake to come.  He loved my suggestion and told the Orchestra. Uh, that is when they could stop laughing.  Then he told the Ensemble.

I would not have told Blake what I did without having just learned the tech crew found the problem.

To the tune of "She'll Be Coming Around The Mountain When She Comes," the Ensemble would sing "She'll be descending down to the stage when she comes."

As Blake and the Ensemble sang this catchy tune to those words, Blake encouraged the audience to join in too which they very enthusiastically did.

And then...AND THEN...true to the magic of Theatre the Bubble began descending to rousing applause.

It was BEAUTIFUL. 

All was now well again in the Kingdom Of Theatre Magic...

...at least until the next disaster.😂🎭