A Stage Girl's Sun And Moon
Aruru:
Okay, "Blackout." That's when you cut all the lights and the stage goes pitch black. Nice, I knew that one!
Aruru:
"Halation"... Oh, it's when a spotlight on an actor makes them glow. Write that one down...
Aruru:
Next is... "Sus-only"? Sus, sus...
Aruru:
Ohh, okay, it's an abbreviation of "suspension lights"!
Aruru:
Wait, which ones are the suspension lights? What does "suspension" mean, anyway?
Shizuha:
How goes the studying, Aruru-chan?
Aruru:
Ah, Shizuha-chan!
Aruru:
This book you lent me is great. I'm learning a bunch of new vocabulary words!
Shizuha:
I'm glad to hear it. I made a pot of herbal tea. Care to take a break?
Aruru:
Yay! Shizuha-chan's herbal tea!
Shizuha:
Here you are. Be careful, it's hot.
Aruru:
I'll be sure to blow on it! *phew* *phewww*
Aruru:
*phewewww* *phewwwww* Ah! That's *phewww* right! Shizuha... *phewww* ...chan!
Shizuha:
Er, y-yes?
Aruru:
Suspension lights! What does "suspension" mean?
Shizuha:
Suspension? Oh, were you reading the entry on "sus-only"?
Aruru:
Right, right!
Shizuha:
Suspension is the English word for hanging something. Those are the lights hanging over our heads on the stage.
Aruru:
Ohhh! I should write that down, too!
Shizuha:
You're really into this. May I ask why the sudden interest in stage lighting?
Aruru:
The other day when we were rehearsing the scene where I look up at the sky, it hit me just how important lighting is!
Shizuha:
Well, yes. We're creating a whole world on the stage out of the light and shadow cast by just a handful of lamps.
Aruru:
Yeah, exactly! The stage lights are our sky!
Shizuha:
Our sky?
Aruru:
Sure. They're our sun and our moon. Our stars, too!
Shizuha:
......!
Shizuha:
Your grasp of the stage is more a visceral understanding than a formal, theoretical one.
Aruru:
What do you mean?
Shizuha:
Heh, well... I think it's a perfectly valid way for a Stage Girl to be.
Aruru:
I'm still not sure I follow, but I'll take that as a compliment ♪
Aruru:
Any other advice you can give me? Something super important your experience has taught you!
Shizuha:
Hmm, what counts as good advice differs from person to person, but I suppose I would tell you...
Shizuha:
You're going to keep learning new terms and techniques as you keep growing as a Stage Girl.
Shizuha:
But I think your unique, creative sensibilities are more important than any of that.
Aruru:
My creative sensibilities! Wow, that sounds cool!
Shizuha:
Craft and technique will only serve to refine and communicate that core. So I would recommend that you not get too caught up in the details.
Shizuha:
How was that? Useful?
Aruru:
Yeah! Your words always carry a lot of weight, Shizuha-chan!
Shizuha:
Less than yours, Aruru-chan.
Aruru:
Huh?
Shizuha:
Do you mind if I study with you? It strikes me that I have a lot to learn from you.
Aruru:
Of course! though I'm pretty sure it's you who's going to be teaching me.
Shizuha:
Hmm, I wonder. Hahaha.
Feelings And Frequencies
????:
Bee-o-wee-o-wee!
Tsukasa:
Hmm?
????:
Pshwa-wa-wa-waaah!
Tsukasa:
Is that...Aruru?
Aruru:
Shwoo-woo-woo-WEOWWW!
Tsukasa:
Aruru?
Aruru:
Ah! Hey, Tsukasa-chan!
Tsukasa:
Um... Was that the transformation sequence from "New Cinderella"?
Aruru:
Yup!
Tsukasa:
I don't remember "Shwoo-woo-woo-WEOWWW!" being in the script.
Aruru:
It's a scene where the movement's synched to sound effects, so I've been supplying my own to get the timing down!
Aruru:
Meow-wow-weeow! Like that! Though, hmm... Maybe that one's more of a "Pyo-yo-yo-paaah!" sound?
Tsukasa:
I-I really couldn't say.
Aruru:
The timing's tricky. That's why I'm looking for the perfect sound effect.
Tsukasa:
The timing? Is it really so difficult a scene?
Aruru:
It's the biggest spectacle in "New Cinderella"! At least for the Fairy Godmother!
Tsukasa:
Hm? But isn't this when Cinderella does her quick-change on stage to transform?
Tsukasa:
I feel like the Fairy Godmother's climactic scene is at the end, in her big dialogue with Cinderella.
Aruru:
Right, which is exactly why, Tsukasa-chan!
Aruru:
In that last scene, the Fairy Godmother's heart TRANSFORMS.
Aruru:
So you've really got to leave an impression with the audience of what she's like pre-transformation.
Aruru:
There are a few other scenes that touch on that...
Aruru:
But I still think this one's the biggest!
Aruru:
Because she's still using her magic for other people, not herself.
Tsukasa:
I see. So you're trying to tie your performance to the play's central theme of transformation.
Aruru:
Yeah, exactly! You get it, Tsukasa-chan!
Aruru:
And the key to that is... Rrra-la-la-looo ♪
Tsukasa:
Ahaha. Then What about Trra-la-la-laaa?
Aruru:
If you were going that route, it'd be Prra-lo-lo-luuu ♪ That's a lot closer!
Tsukasa:
Ah, well. I guess I just don't speak Aruru.
Aruru:
Ooh! Question, Tsukasa-chan! Do you think you could run through this stuff with me?
Tsukasa:
Huh? I'd be happy to, but the funny sounds are going to make me laugh, so none of those.
Aruru:
Whaaat? But without them, my timing's all off.
Aruru:
Okay, but at least tell me this: Prra-lo-lo-luuu! Or Shwoo-woo-woo-WEOWWW! Which one's better!?
Aruru:
At least just tell me that! I'll pick whichever one you say!
Tsukasa:
What? No, I...
Aruru:
............
Tsukasa:
Um...
Tsukasa:
Prra-lo-lo-luuu?
Aruru:
Right!? I knew it! We're on the exact same frequency ♪
Tsukasa:
But I was just guessing.
Aruru:
Going with your gut is perfect! The feel of it's the whole point!
Aruru:
The Fairy Godmother brings Cinderella so much happiness... Ahhh, she's so inspiring!
Aruru:
What was I up to? Practicing my Fairy Godmother, of course! You know how she transforms animals into all sorts of things?
Aruru:
So I was going around casting magic on all the animals here on campus, so they'll help out anyone in trouble!
Aruru:
It's just practice, but who knows? Maybe they'll actually transform into people! Next, I'm gonna transform YOU!