Debra Baschal
"Hey Joel!" Rafe called as he exited the elevator and saw the former bomb squad captain walking down the hall. "How's the ticket sales for Joseph going?"
Grinning, Joel flipped open the binder he was carrying, "Fantastic, Rafe. Six of the eight performances are sold out and the other two are 90% booked. The Mayor, the Commissioner and the Chief are even talking about adding more shows."
"Who'd of thought that 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat', put on by a bunch of cops, would be such a big sell?" Rafe wondered.
"I've seen a lot of the names on the reservations list, and most of them are female. Of course, quite a few of them bought their tickets since it was announced that our favorite Detective would be playing Joseph."
Brown grinned as he overheard them as they entered the bullpen. "I think it's the thought of him running around in that little white skirt thing. 'Sides, half the women in the building think he's adorable."
"Not to mention the fact the man can sing," Rafe added. "When's the dress rehearsal?"
"It's at 7 tonight, Brother Zebulon," Blair grinned as he and Jim passed them coming back from the break room. Focusing on Brown and Joel, he nodded to each of them in turn, "Brother Ruben, Father Jacob."
They all laughed.
"I still don't see how you guys talked Angie Feris into being the Narrator?" Joel shook his head. "She has got to be one busy woman."
Jim shook his head. "Nope, she was planning to take some time off anyway and jumped at the chance."
"Especially when she found out it'd go around to all the schools in the area. It is going to be a very busy 2 weeks, my friends," Blair informed them. They all nodded in agreement.
"I still can't believe all the cops who tried out for parts." Brown shook his head in surprise.
"Or that 2 of the players would have to be ordered to participate," Simon's deep voice informed them, glaring slightly at Jim and Blair.
"Aw... Come on, Simon. You didn't really have to push Jim too hard once he found out he could wear his white socks. Right, Big Guy?" Blair gently nudged Jim in the ribs, ignoring the second glare Simon sent his way for not calling him Captain or Sir.
"That's Pharaoh Big Guy to you, 'Little Joe'." Jim grinned ruffling his friend's curls.
Blushing, Blair pulled his hair out of his face. "Are you guys sure I can't get away with jeans and a tee-shirt? At least some socks?" He looked pleadingly at the others.
Putting his hand on Blair's shoulder, Simon leaned down till his head was just over the shorter man's shoulder. "No. You can't. 'Sides, since the women of Cascade found out about your outfit, the tickets have been selling like wildfire."
Blair blushed further. "This is, like, soo embarrassing."
"Come on, Hairboy. Weren't you in any plays in high school? What about teaching?" Brown asked.
Blair shook his head. "Nah, Man. I graduated at 16. Plus, we were never in one place long enough. 'Sides, teaching was one thing, acting is something totally different."
"Relax Kid. You'll be fine," Simon assured him, then shrugged. "And if you're not, there's about 6 months of backlog to input." He chuckled as he headed for his office.
"Thanks a lot," Blair mumbled as everyone went about his or her business. Following Jim over to his desk, Blair glanced over at Simon's office, then asked, "How did they get Simon to try out?"
Jim grinned as he got to work, "The same way they got us to... he was ordered."
"He is pretty good as Judah in that Calypso number," Blair commented.
"Yea, but I think Darryl playing Benjamin was the kicker. It'll give the two of them the chance to spend more time together," Jim added.
"Yea... Who've thought that Megan and Rafe could do the Apache Dance number so well?" Blair wondered, remembering rehearsals.
"True. I think Cassie as Mrs. Pontifer was perfect casting. She's always been a little warm for your form," Jim teased
"Very funny man," Blair groaned slightly.
"That's 'Mr. Pharaoh Man' to you, Joe," Jim grinned.
The performances of 'Joseph' all went, not only smoothly, but received standing ovations to sell out crowds. Even the extra shows that were added, raising over $200,000 to be split between the Cascade Disability Fund and the Widows and Orphans Fund.
The requests of the Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia PDs for their Cascade counterparts to give performances in their cities were refused, with an offer to lend the costumes and sets if the other P.D.s wanted to put it on themselves.
Everyone in the cast and crew ended up having a wonderful time, as did their families and friends. However, Joseph, The Pharaoh and Brother Judah all decided to 'retire' from the stage... Joseph and the Pharaoh after almost being mobbed by several different hordes of female fans. Brother Judah after being greeted by 'Hey Jude' one too many times at the station.
In the end, the Cascade PD's production of 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat' was deemed a rousing and complete success by all... even as thoughts were being given towards the next year's benefit.
Fini
Comments: dbascha@hotmail.com
Author's note:
If anyone wants to try to add to this they are more than welcome to do so. Something from the performance maybe?
The idea for this came to me while I was watching the video with Donny Osmond (Sigh... that tell you about how old I am). I could just see Blair as Joseph. And the Pharaoh's song was just silly enough with all the white socks and blue suede shoes... The image was just something I had to pass on.
Debra