"Our first guest, or guests of the night are the lead actors in the latest Shanachie play. Hounds of Baskervilles. Welcome, Jonathan Granger and Kruger Allen!"
The crowd erupts in applause as the men come on stage...
Ever the gentleman, Jonathan gestures for Kruger to take the lead on stage.
Kruger didn't have a real fashion sense, good thing there were outfit coordinators attached to the show to dress him an a nice dark suit. He played the you go first game with Jon, before grinning and taking the lead. "Age before beauty I suppose." The cheering crowd had pulled the performer out of him and he was raising his arms to air hug them all before taking a seat and looking at Race. Out with the grin. "So this is what it's like to be in a television set."
Jon was impeccably dressed as always, today in a blue designer suit. He followed Kruger onto the stage, offering a smile and a friendly wave to the crowd before joining Kruger on the couch.
"Not to different from the stage. Have the wings, a fourth wall audience...of course there's the several thousand watching around town. Now, I was there on opening night. And as a man who enjoyed the tales of Sherlock, you guys did a great job. I haven't see many other productions, was this your first time working together?" Motions between the two of them.
"Not the first time, no. We did The Philadelphia Story together a few months ago, but we didn't really play off each other too much like we did in this," Jon jumped in, looking to Kruger for his take on it.
Kruger looked at Jonathan,and nodded agreement. "Not the first time no, but perhaps this is the first time we've... well I've been cast in a major role." He leaned over to Race, and spoke softly directly into the mic. "Do me a favor, take it easy on Jonathan tonight, he's exhausted from carrying me for the last two weeks."
Jon overheard the stage whisper from Kruger and chuckled in amusement. "Hardly. He doesn't give himself enough credit. Aris did a splendid job as Watson, and I'm sure we'll be seeing much more him in the future."
"Maybe next time we'll see him as Sherlock." little grin as he looks around Kruger at Jonathan. "First time as lead roles, how many productions have you performed now? Either together or separately?" Gesturing with the mug.
"Wait, I get to strip too? I love the theater!" Kruger gave a quick wink to the camera. "That should sell tickets too. Though I think most of the ladies in the audience would prefer to see you... am I right?" He holds up his palms to the audience. All over women begin to cheer and wolf whistle.
"This is my third production, I was in The Taming of the Shrew, I played Baptista. That was a fun show, especially backstage. I was nervous, thought I might forget my lines or worse, start to ad lib. Don't let me get started Race, I just won't shut up." He let out that winning smile once more.
"Um, I think perhaps this is where I plead the fifth," Jon replied. He had played the lead as Christian Grey in some alternate Earth's version of the movies, but he'd mostly done it for the money. "Not giving yourself enough credit there again, Kruger," Jon remarked. "Besides my wife would kill me." He smirked. He paused to let Kruger jump in before answering the question for himself. "I've been with the Shanachie since the beginning, so I've kind of lost count."
A massive 'Awwwwww' comes from the female members of the crowd at the prospect of Jon not taking clothes off. "Any plans to make the jump to the big screen?" Looking at them both on this one. "You've, each, had solid performances from what I've seen."
Jon gestured for Kruger to go first on that one once again. He tended to be somewhat modest and didn't want to seem like he was bragging, though he'd had plenty of experience on the big screen.
"I don't think I can really say for sure, I haven't had any offers. I suppose I'd need to go in for a screen test. That would be terrifying." He shook his head, and bit his lower lip. "No, I am not planning that right away. I still have a lot to learn."
"I'd be terrified to. Knowing my luck, go in for a role in a superhero movie. Wind up auditioning for an Adult film!" Some light laughter comes from the crowd on that one.
"I've done a few films," Jon replied, once again not wanting to brag. "But these days I am trying to focus on the theater." Someone from the audience shouts out, "I love you, Christian!" And Jon practically turned a little scarlet. "Yes, well..." He cleared his throat.
Race stares at the woman in the audience then leans closer to the actors. "I think the audience wants more information on that one...that wouldn't be...Christian...Grey would it? Jonathan?" Making the You Naughty Boy face and tone.
"Um, actually, it is. It's done very well, or so they tell me," he replied. And he made a hell of a lot of money from that venture. There was a lot more to that story, but this wasn't the time or the place. "The real talent in those films was Aimee Malone, who played Anastasia. She was amazing."
"Jonathan has been a real inspiration to so many." His grin turned sly but he gave an amiable wink to Jonathan, he just wanted to see how red he could get the man to turn on camera. They might actually re-do his make-up during commercial break.
There was a cheer from the crowd and Jon waved a dismissive hand. "I'm not so sure about that, but I do try to help the other actors out when I can."
Snarfs...whatevers in his mug and starts laughing. Probably for all the wrong reasons.
Crowd erupts in laughter.
Jon did happen to win an Oscar on an alternate Earth in 2014, but that wasn't for his role as Christian Grey and he wasn't about to brag about it.
Kruger is suddenly innocent eyed as he looks at Race. "I know I've had tons of questions for him. He's managed to help me bring out the character rather than just an aspect of myself. I've been fortunate to be associated with him and everyone down at the Shanachie."
"Mataya deserves all the credit for that. She's the lifeblood of the Shanachie. Without her, there wouldn't be a theater," Jon pointed out.
Excuse him as he's wiping his chin and some of his desk. "I remember shortly after the theater opened, I was in charge of a lumber company among other ventures. Actually met with her I believe, about supplying props and setting material rather than strictly magic. I'm glad to see it come so far." A little divulgence on his brief interlude. "As with anything, theater is a lot of teamwork, can't have one person carrying the show. Right? Help each other?"
"Yes, exactly!" Jon agreed with a smile. "It's not about any one person. It's a team effort. All for one and one for all," he said, or something like that.
"Perhaps we should talk Mataya into doing The Three Musketeers sometime," he added with a grin to Kruger. "You can play Porthos," he teased.
"Hell, I might audition for that production. Always felt I'd make a good Aramis.." strokes his chin thoughtfully while looking at Kruger. "I can see it...."
"I knew it, I just knew this talk with Race would come down to wood." He barely got the joke out when Jon mentioned playing Porthos and his head swung that way. "That would be awesome! Shall we ply her with gifts and affection, I give really good affection."
Crowd starts whistling wildly.
Race leans on his desk. "Well, there went the family friendly rating..." Shaking his head with a laugh.
"That would make me Athos, I suppose." Jon laughed at Kruger's remark. "We can try!" he said, chuckling at Race. That rating went out the window as soon as they mentioned Christian Grey.
"I thought I was only supposed to censor myself on the radio." He looked back and forth between Jon and Race accusingly. "You're setting me up for something, aren't you."
Sips from his mug innocently, but is looking away from Kruger.
Thankfully, Jon wasn't embellishing on that role or what he had taken away from it, but his wife wasn't complaining. Jon looked shocked by Kruger's accusation. "I am innocent! Just ask my wife." He flashed a grin that was anything but.
"It's his show," Jon said, jerking a thumb at the guilty party - Race!
"That's our show everybody! Be sure to attend the last showing of Hounds of Baskervilles, tomorrow night! Valentines Day! There's drama, damsels in distress, plot twists, and no one sings! Thank you and good night!" Tosses his cards into the air and turns to move up and around the desk to shake hands with both actors.
