Topic: Pirates of Penzance - An Evening Out

Lola Granger

Date: 2011-02-19 22:23 EST
"Oh, no " the whole thing" Really?" Lola clapped a hand over her mouth to hide the giggles that wanted to escape at Caro's story. She'd taken the back seat of Jon's borrowed Bentley, and so she was leaning forward to listen while Caro talked in the passenger seat and Ollie drove. Ollie was looking particularly dashing in his tux and she smiled happily at her brother while he too laughed. He was so serious so much of the time that it was wonderful to see him laugh.

Outside the streets passed by. They were on their way to the theater for the eight o"clock show of the Pirates of Penzance, and Lola was crossing her fingers every time Ollie and Caro weren't looking that Cally had been able to get free and get the ticket to be there as well. It would be such a wonderful surprise! And " she couldn't wait to see Ollie's face when he saw Cally. It was even better that it had worked out this way, too, because now Caro was able to come with them as well.

"Oh " oh, look at the line to get in!" They had to drive a little way past the theater to find parking, and Lola's head turned to see the line " midway through the run and it looked like it was still a popular show. She started looking for a distinctive shine of red hair in the crowd.

Caroline Granger

Date: 2011-02-20 07:38 EST
"Totally," Caroline laughed back to Lola, enjoying her cousin's giggles at the ever-so-slightly embellished story she'd been telling of a particularly memorable incident involving her mother's prized antique pearls, Uncle Hubert's first pair of bifocals, and a large strawberry trifle..."All of it. I think I cracked a rib trying not to laugh!"

She looked over at Ollie, tilting her head curiously. "You know, I could have driven," she pointed out quietly, grinning as Lola exclaimed over the queue around the block past which they were motoring. "Humph would've let us take the Merc, too." She patted Ollie's arm gently.

It wasn't just Lola who was looking for that splash of red hair. Caroline had had to be brought in on the attempt to get Cally and Ollie in the same space, dressed in their best, since she knew the magic words to get Hubert and Humphrey to part with cash on demand, and they'd needed it to get Cally a ticket for the box in which Ollie already had them planted. And if all went well, Caro and Lola could quite easily wile away the performance ignoring all the stuttered attempts at civilised conversation coming from the other two.

"Hey, look," she pointed as they drew up in the car/carriage park. "Real pirates!"

OH Granger

Date: 2011-02-20 13:58 EST
"Caroline, dear. This is a Bentley. It is the best car money can buy, or so Jon tells me. And driving is a man's job," he added with the tiniest hint of teasing in his voice. "Your job tonight is to pretend to be a proper lady and allow me to escort you in a manner befitting a woman of your station." He glanced into the rear view mirror, winking at his sister. "Both of you," he said in his best patrician voice.

He pulled the car smoothly into a spot and got out quickly, rushing around to open Lola's door and help her from the car and then running nearly flat-out to get to Caro's door before she climbed out on her own. Smoothing down his tux's jacket and glancing at his shoes to make sure they hadn't been scuffed in his mad dashing around, he offered his arm to his sister and his cousin and said, "I think I'm going to be the envy of every man here tonight. They will all be drooling over my dates." He grinned and then ushered them towards the theatre.

Truth be told, however, he was more than a little disappointed that it was Caroline on his arm tonight and not Cally. But, then again, things were so very ...strained....between them right now that perhaps it was a blessing Caroline had come along anyway. At least this way he could relax and enjoy the show and not worry about pointless inanities pouring out of his mouth because he was so nervous.

"When we walk into the lobby, I want you both to pay particular attention to the walls," he said. "They were painted by a famous artist." He found himself chuckling, unable to call himself - even in an off-hand manner - a famous artist without laughing. Though perhaps with the publicity of this show and the show tomorrow night, he would begin to make a name for himself.

Cally

Date: 2011-02-20 19:27 EST
Surprises came in a package of eight - like hot dogs - for the red-head. It started with trying to purchase a particular ticket which Cally went to a lot of trouble to find information about. To Cally's delight there was an empty seat in the private box - That saved on a lot of time and planning. Cally hit the ticket office after work only to be disappointed - someone else had purchased the ticket beforehand. Her plan to surprise the Grangers, minus Lola, was failing! The ticket - Cally found out later in the day - had been purchased for her by some unknown source and Lola was the one who presented it. Everything was ready for the opera and the surprise guest. The ravishing dress that Lola made - A L/O just for the red-head - was flattering and the red-hair professionally styled.

All dolled up Cally - the smart apple she was - arrived early. Early enough to be inside and found hints of amusement in her wait. After floods of people arrived Cally moved to fascinate over the mural of open water. Captivating work that made her nostalgic - whoever painted it was talented beyond measure. The slow progression pulled Cally toward the appointed seating area - wishing to arrive after everyone else had settled into their seats.

The red-head was still in doubt about being there - whatever Ollie's problem with her both Lola and Caro denied. Cally didn't want him getting the insane notion during the play she was - again - giving him the so-called stink-eye or judging him. She could sit between Caro and Lola - where it was safe and Ollie wouldn't have to be troubled by her being there.

Lola Granger

Date: 2011-02-21 19:23 EST
Lola had marveled at Ollie's paintings in the lobby, enchanted by the murals that seemed almost to breathe the salt air. It had taken breaking down and sharing a secret with Caro to make sure that Cally had the last remaining ticket in their private box. All in all, she rather thought that it had been worth it, and covered up her increasing excitement with, well - increasing excitement!

"Really - a famous artist' Could I get an autograph, do you think?" She laughed up at Ollie with the tease and used her free hand to tuck her wrap a little tighter around her shoulders. Another quick scan of brown eyes failed to turn up any gleam of red hair - until she snuck in a look over her shoulder and barely stopped herself from beaming and waving.

Instead she was sure to release Ollie's arm as they entered the box so that she could rush to the front of the box. She caught Caro's arm on the way, pulling her forward in the rush to peer over the edge of the rail at the crowd below and the stage all ready for the performance. This also, incidentally, put Caro and Lola in position to claim two seats next to each other - with no convenient gaps for Cally to squeeze into!

"Oh, I can't wait for this, it will - oh! Oh, do you see what she's wearing down there" She should never wear that shade of yellow, it's all wrong for her. And there, do you see that hat?" She was giggling again, hand pressed to her mouth to try to stifle it. "I'm terrible, oh, that's so mean, but - did you see?"

Cally

Date: 2011-02-22 19:48 EST
When entering the box Cally stopped at Ollie's side - finding Lola and Caro at the railing. The red-head laughed at hearing Lola's comments on the raiment of those below. "Wow, Ollie! Ya got yaself some smokin hot dates tonight." Cally flashed Lola and Caro. The red-head looked to Ollie and grinned. "Ya lookin pretty studly yaself." Cally sent a wink at him and a lighthearted elbowing.

Cally lowered the shawl from her shoulders - allowing it to hang from her arms - the red-head joined Lola and Caro. Cally found that her seat arrangement was were she feared - that empty seat next to her own could only mean that it was Ollie's.

Caroline Granger

Date: 2011-02-22 20:12 EST
Caroline was almost scandalised by Lola's enthusiastic truth-saying on the garb of the other theatre-goers, muffling her guffaw of laughter behind her palm as she grinned at her cousin. She had no problem with being steered to a seat, either - she'd caught on pretty fast to the point of the evening from Lola's point of view, and was right there with her.

Hearing Cally's entrance, she grinned, leaning back to offer that smile over to the redhead. A wolf-whistle escaped her lips as she looked her friend over. "Looking fabulous, darling," she teased cheerfully, thumping down onto her seat to thumb through the programme with a small snicker.

"Oh, hey, look, Lala ....see that one?" She pointed to the picture of one of the main performers for the evening. "She owns this whole place, you know. I bet she'd model for you if you asked. Hear tell she's always happy to help."

She very carefully did not let her gaze lift to see how Ollie was reacting to the surprise. She didn't want to intrude on his doe-eyed staring at the vision of loveliness that was Callie tonight.

OH Granger

Date: 2011-02-22 20:31 EST
Ollie had sat down as soon as the mostly good-natured cattiness had begun. He was well acquainted with the bizarre need that women had to try and one up each other and found it very amusing. And men were supposed to be the ultra-competitive ones, hmmm' He snorted and thumbed through the programme, feeling a little thrill of excitement to find his name listed in the production credits. He wondered if Kay would find it weird if he framed the page and stuck it on the wall of the loft.

The sound of Cally's voice, however, drew him out of his mental back slapping and he glanced up, stunned to find her standing next to him. He hopped up out of his seat as if he were a jack-in-the-box and his spring had been sprung. A once-twice-thrice look at the stunning dress the beautiful redhead was wearing and he could feel his heart beating in triple time and a slow burn creeping up his neck into his cheeks.

The elbow she sent to his ribs would have knocked him completely off his feet had his shoes not suddenly been filled with cement. His mouth was suddenly dry - probably because his jaw was hanging open and his tongue wagging in the breeze - and he had to swallow a few times before he could squeak out in a strangled voice, "Cally! You're...uh...you're here. Um....You look....Uh....You're so....Um....Here!" He reached out, his hand moving with its own accord to grasp lightly at her wrist. "Please let me help you to your seat."

He manoeuvred around behind Cally, gently taking her elbow and using the opportunity to shoot his colluding sister and cousin the dirtiest, meanest stink eye he could summon up. Oh, he was on to them all right, and there would soon be hell to pay - probably in the form of half-coherent ranting mixed with a lot of harrumphing. But for the moment, he had to calm his heart and find his voice and his manners.

Cally

Date: 2011-02-23 19:28 EST
The red-head perked a fiery brow at the small-talk dished between Caro and Lola - Caro's short greeting made Cally think that something was up. Cally watched the two Granger women which left her to be completely open to Ollie's sudden pop-up act. He startled Cally into a near heart attack but she was pleased that one person was surprised by her appearance - even if Ollie was gawking and blushing like a boy surprised by a kiss from a school crush. It wasn't what the red-head was expecting - more of him throwing a fit of anger that she was there. Cally listened to his stammering - waiting for him to make a little sense. "Surprise." Teased.

Distracted by the frenzied Ollie the red-head regarded his eager touch with caress to his hand and moved to her seat. "That is very courteous o ya." Cally removed her shawl and once settled into her seat it was placed across her lap with her programme on top. Cally's eyes tilted just so - enough to look up to Ollie and smile that candy-sweet smile at him. "All that fleetin around is goin to make people think ya are fawnin over me, Ollie. Ya gunna make them jealous." Another tease and wink.