Stage Fright on a Summer Night - Mary Pope Osborne [4]
“I know,” said Jack. “But we can’t just steal him. That guy is his owner.”
Jack looked around. He needed to get Annie’s mind off the bear. He saw the group of older kids from the bridge. They were walking toward a round white building.
“Hey, look, the kids from the bridge!” he said. “Let’s see where they’re going.”
“What about Dan?” said Annie.
“We can figure that out later,” said Jack. “Let’s follow those kids now.”
He steered Annie toward the white building. When they got closer, Jack read the sign out front:
A PLAY AT THE GLOBE THEATER!
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Great! thought Jack. Annie loved plays. She loved acting in them at school.
A man stood at the door of the theater. He was holding a box.
“A penny to stand! A penny to stand!” he shouted.
The older kids dropped coins into the box and went inside.
“Wow, the play costs only a penny!” said Jack. “That’s cheap!”
“But we don’t have any pennies,” said Annie. “Besides, I want to go back and free the bear.”
Jack sighed.
“What will you do with him if you free him, Annie?” he asked.
“I’ll figure something out,” she said.
“Well, figure it out when the owner’s not standing there,” Jack said. “Right now, let’s learn something about this play.”
He quickly pulled out their research book. He found a picture of the Globe Theater. He wanted Annie to forget about the bear, so he read with lots of feeling:
The first theaters were built in old England. Because there was no electricity, plays were performed during the day, when it was light. Almost everyone could afford to go.
“Neat, huh?” said Jack.
Annie sighed.
Jack kept reading in a loud, dramatic voice:
Seating for the audience depended on how much was paid. The people who could afford the higher prices sat in galleries above the stage. Others stood in an area below the—
“Boy!” someone shouted.
Jack looked up.
A man hurried over to Jack and Annie. He was long-legged, with a trim beard and twinkly eyes.
“I could hear you from across the way,” the man said. “You read very well!”
Jack smiled shyly.
“No, you are simply brilliant!” the man said. “And I am in great need of a boy who is a brilliant reader!”
“Why do you need a boy who’s a brilliant reader?” Annie asked the man.
“Because I have just lost two fairies!” he said. He pointed at Jack. “You can read both!”
And you are nuts, thought Jack. “Well, bye, see you around,” he said. He nudged Annie to move along.
“Wait, wait,” she said. She turned to the man. “What do you mean, my brother can read both fairies? Read them where?”
“Two boy actors didn’t show up today to play fairies,” said the man. “But your brother reads with such expression! He can save us all!”
Jack stared. Was this guy saying what he thought he was saying?
“You mean you want Jack to be in your play?” said Annie.
“Indeed!” said the man. “There are three thousand people here today, waiting to see the play I have written! We cannot disappoint them, can we?”
“Three thousand?” said Jack.
“Yes!” said the man. “And one of them is the most important person in the world!”
“No. No way. I can’t do that,” said Jack. He had never liked being onstage. He always got stage fright.
“Wait, wait, Jack,” said Annie. She turned to the man. “You need two fairies, right?”
“Yes,” said the man.
“Well … ” Annie tilted her head. Her voice went up. “I can read, too.”
“Yes! Let Annie do it,” said Jack. “She’s a great reader. She can be both fairies!”
“Ah, but of course Annie cannot go onstage,” the man said kindly.
“Why not?” asked Annie.
The man raised his eyebrows. “Surely you know it’s against the law for girls to go on the stage,” he said. “Boys must play all the girls’ parts.”
“But that’s not fair!” said Annie.
“Indeed, ’tis not. But we cannot change the law now,” said the man. He turned to Jack. “So, Jack? Will you join our players?”
“No thanks,” said Jack. He tried to walk off, but Annie grabbed his arm.
“Wait, I think I know what Jack wants,” she said to the man. “He will only be in your play if I can be in it, too.”
“No, that’s not what I want, Annie,” Jack