10. Sean
SEAN
T hree million dollars over budget, our new Pyrobatics Treasure Hunt show finally received safety approval from our stage manager and opened two nights ago. Unfortunately, Emily couldn’t fit it into my schedule until tonight. It’ll be more enjoyable having Lowri with me anyway.
Hmm. That’s an unexpected thought.
If Lowri weren’t here, another pretty face would be with me.
I’ve never had trouble attracting a desirable companion who’s thrilled to enjoy a show with me.
Lowri isn’t one of those random women though.
We have more in common than my typical hookups.
She’s Cassie’s best friend, and we shared a long weekend together about five months ago.
So, it shouldn’t surprise me that I’m especially looking forward to spending time with her tonight.
That’s all it is. No worries, there’s not a chance either one of us will fall for each other. That’s not who we are.
With that reassurance, I guide Lowri down the theater steps to our row.
“Wow. These are the best seats in the house,” she says.
“They are.”
“Then why are there empty seats all around us?”
“When the theater first opened, my father permanently reserved this row of ten seats and the row behind us. He insisted on seats centered in front of the stage and at eye-level with the performers.”
“Why not the front-row seats?”
“He preferred these to the front row because he couldn’t stand staring up at the stage all night to watch a show.
He said it killed his neck, and he was happy to leave those ‘horrid seats,’ as he called them, for others willing to pay extra for the painful experience.
He also made sure there was a walkway and low guardrail in front of these seats.
Dad didn’t want anyone blocking his view. ”
“Your Dad was not only practical, but he also knew what he was doing.”
“He did. He taught me a lot.”
“You still didn’t explain why the other seats in this row and the one behind us are empty. Didn’t anyone want them?”
“We usually give our unused seats to ultra-VIPs. I asked Emily to make sure we had these rows to ourselves tonight. I don’t want strangers eavesdropping on us. It would be fodder for social media tomorrow.”
“That would be a problem. You said the show is called Pyrobatics Treasure Hunt . What are pyrobatics ?”
“It’s a combination of the latest technology for pyrotechnics, which is effectively indoor fireworks, combined with death-defying acrobatics and music that tell a story.”
“Acrobats always amaze me, and I could watch fireworks every night. The story must relate to a treasure hunt, right?”
“It does. The characters face various challenges while searching for treasure. As you’ll see, the plot has a comedic element to keep it lighthearted and appropriate for audiences of all ages.”
“How fun. I can’t wait for it to start.”
A server delivers our drinks as the lights dim. Perfect timing.
Enveloped in darkness, a deep voice booms from the speakers, “Welcome to the Grand Athena’s Pyrobatics Treasure Hunt .
The fireworks on stage are real and dangerous.
Therefore, you must remain seated throughout the performance for your safety and that of those around you.
Enjoy as the performers risk their lives battling obstacles while searching for lost treasure.
In the end, one of you may hold the key to their dreams.”
The curtain rises, and the voice fades, replaced by the rumbling thump, thump, thump of music synced to the footsteps of scantily clad performers running onto the stage.
We watch as dancers grasp silks and soar into the air while acrobats build human structures and hurl themselves through rings of fire in their search for treasure that’s hidden deep in a forest.
Sparklers and steam randomly pop up, causing the performers to jump, tumble, and dance around the pyrotechnic obstacles. When a performer slips from one of the silks and limps to the back of the stage, Lowri asks softly, “Is that part of the show?”
“Not sure. I’m told they have built-in missteps to show the difficulty of fortune hunting. But that guy’s limp looks real,” I whisper.
The show continues as performers walk on steamy hot coals, cross river rapids, and build human pyramids to climb over a stone ledge to reach the forest of fortune.
Not having seen a dress rehearsal, I was holding my breath that the show would meet my high expectations.
Thankfully, it has so far. The sets and props are impressive, and the scene changes are extremely smooth, which is expected.
The acrobats and fireworks are spectacular—the best I’ve seen. Hopefully, Dad would be proud.
As the music grows louder and ominous, a tired and bedraggled bunch of treasure-hunting adventurers traipse through a dense forest carrying bags of tools.
They finally reach a windowless cabin with a padlocked steel door and unsuccessfully attempt to break it down.
Losing hope, one of the performers shouts, “If only we had dynamite, we could blow open the door.”
Suddenly, a spotlight shines on a woman holding a microphone. She’s standing next to a man in the front row. He yells, “I have explosives,” holding up red sticks marked DYNAMITE in giant letters.
The audience laughs in unison.
Leaning toward Lowri, I whisper, “This is where the audience member saves the day.”
“That’s what the announcer meant when he said one of us may be the key to their dreams. Is that guy part of the show?”
“No, they talk with the person sitting in a specific seat in the front row before the show starts and clue them in on their role. It’s usually a VIP who wants a chance to be in the spotlight.”
We watch as the woman ushers the audience member onto the stage.
“He doesn’t look like a VIP. He’s a little disheveled. His tie’s so loose, the knot is hitting him mid-chest.”
“You’d be surprised how much the VIPs let their hair down when they’re here. Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” He chuckles.
“I’m counting on it.”
“Touché.”
“But do you think he’s been drinking a little too much?”
“He’s walking fine. It shouldn’t be an issue.”
Once on stage, the man hands the sticks of dynamite to one of the performers who connects a fuse and sets the sticks in front of the cabin door.
Everyone scurries to hide behind trees, while the guy from the audience drags the long fuse with him as he walks toward a huge tree in the middle of the stage.
There must be hidden stairs on the back side because his head is gradually rising higher and higher until he reaches a platform wedged at the base of the three main branches.
The platform sits ten or fifteen feet above the stage.
Standing on the platform, he grasps the smaller, leaf-covered branches that form a fence around the platform to steady himself.
We see him reach forward, pulling back on an oversized lever built into one of the branches. Within seconds, an explosion of fireworks rocks the theater and smoke fills the stage.
The music soars louder and turns from ominous to jubilant as the smoke clears, revealing gold coins pouring from the cabin.
The treasure hunters fill bags with their riches and, hearing the clop-clop of horses’ hooves and gunshots, one shouts, “Someone’s coming.
Quick. Hide in the trees.” They grasp dangling vines that raise them to the treetops as the curtain drops.
We join the rest of the audience in a standing ovation. I’m expecting a curtain call for the performers to take a bow. It never happens. Instead, a couple of minutes later, the lights turn on, signaling it’s time for the audience to leave.
Before we have time to plan our exit, one of Athena’s security team catches my eye as he approaches.
In a quiet voice, he says, “Mr. Cartwright, could you accompany me backstage? There’s been an accident.”
“It looked like one of the performers twisted his ankle. How can I help? Wouldn’t it be better to call the doctor?”
“Umm, this accident is on the serious side. The stage manager insisted that we notify you,” he says.
“I see. Give me a second.”
Turning to Lowri, I say, “They need me backstage. Someone has been hurt.”
“Oh, it must be the guy who fell from the vine,” she says.
“That’s my assumption. You can wait for me in your suite or my apartment. This shouldn’t take long.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d love to come with you to see what happens backstage at one of these major productions.”
“Okay. Let’s find out what happened, and then I’ll show you around.”