The Greatest Showman - #950: Dreamy

"What's wrong? What's wrong? Oh my god, the young master laughed. Jesus Christ, now I finally understand why everyone calls him the young master! I can't take it!"

"What are they talking about? Did you hear what the young master just said? Why is everyone laughing so much? I can't even stop shaking my fingers! I don't care, I need to go, I need to go!"

"How long has it been? How long? This is torture! Why is the young master still standing at the door? Shouldn't he be leaving by now? Why is he just standing there? Why is he testing me like this?"

At that moment, the entrance of the Almeida Theater became a battleground between reason and emotion. Should they stick with their own team or leave the queue for a chance at a close encounter with Renly? It was one of the most agonizing dilemmas, especially when seeing Renly casually chatting with others.

Finally, someone couldn't take it any longer.

Rebecca Burke left her group and hurriedly approached, catching a snippet of Renly's conversation. "...no, I never thought I was a genius, or I wouldn't have needed to come practice so early," Renly said, flashing a light smile that seemed to twinkle in his eyes.

"Master, master, did you really come here this early to practice?" Rebecca couldn't contain her excitement and immediately asked.

At this point, around thirty to forty people had gathered at the entrance of the Almeida Theater, though many more still stood in line from afar, eager to catch a glimpse. What was remarkable, though, was the perfect arrangement of these thirty or forty fans—forming a neat fan shape around Renly, making the scene both orderly and striking.

"Yeah," Renly responded, turning to her with a slight nod. Rebecca felt a sudden jolt in her chest. His eyes sparkled, and that soft smile made her heart race. "But I've been delayed longer than expected, and I need to head to the theater for rehearsal now. Sorry."

His words sent a wave of disappointment through the crowd, and Rebecca's head swirled in confusion. Why hadn't she come earlier? Why hadn't she been decisive? She silently berated herself and screamed inside.

"Master, Master, may I take a photo with you?" Rebecca couldn't hold back her pleading eyes.

"Of course, no problem," Renly replied so effortlessly that the crowd was taken aback. Even Rebecca paused in disbelief before he added, "But just this one. I'm in a hurry, sorry." He flashed a playful smirk, his eyes twinkling with mischievousness, a fleeting hint of triumph that Rebecca could barely catch.

Before she could fully process what was happening, she was standing next to Renly.

Renly placed a gentle hand on her waist and bent slightly to match her height, but his touch was respectful, not intimate. The warmth from his palm sent her heart into overdrive, making her feel lightheaded, as though her blood was racing beneath her skin.

Rebecca didn't even know how Renly left after that. The only sound in her ears was a continuous buzzing that wouldn't stop. She tried to suppress her excitement, but it was impossible. With a loud scream, she spun in circles, overwhelmed with joy.

After finally returning to her place in the queue, she noticed that the crowd around her had not erupted into chaos. Her spot was still secure. As she caught her breath, her friends around her began to whistle, calling out to her. "Hey girl, how about sharing a picture of you and the young master in the Facebook group? You're the only one who got close!"

Rebecca nodded vigorously, but before she could say a word, tears welled up in her eyes.

The buzz of excitement around her gradually faded as Renly stepped into the theater. His mood had shifted from exhilaration to focus. He knew that the support of his fans was both motivating and pressuring. On stage, every performance was laid bare for the audience to judge, and there was no room for error.

There were no camera tricks, no director's edits, and no lighting or sound effects to smooth things over. Everything depended on the script and the actors' performances. The stakes were high.

And for Renly, the challenge was even greater. He was about to play Jean Valjean in a six-hour epic production of Les Miserables. A role that would demand every ounce of his skill and energy. As he thought about it, his blood began to boil with excitement.

The anticipation of the audience added pressure, but it also fueled his determination.

As Renly walked through the empty theater, he was completely alone, allowing him to measure the space. His steps echoed in the quiet hall as he explored every corner, moving from the first floor to the upper levels. He even ventured into the audience seats, testing how the acoustics and sightlines changed from different angles.

For the past week, Renly had been arriving early every day, repeating this process. Some might think it was a simple routine, but those in the know understood the importance of becoming familiar with every detail of the stage.

In the world of theater, adapting to the stage wasn't just about learning the movements. It was about understanding the stage's surface, the lighting, the acoustics, and the spatial dynamics. The wooden floors, creaky boards, and loose planks might not be visible to the audience, but they were critical for the actors' performances.

Renly had his own unique way of adapting. He preferred to view the stage from all angles, as the different perspectives provided him with valuable insights. Unlike film, where the audience's experience is dictated by the director's camera, theater required an actor to engage with the entire space and respond to the different viewpoints from each section of the audience.

With that in mind, Renly spent his morning walking through the entire theater before returning to the stage for his warm-up.

By the time the rest of the cast arrived, the theater manager, Emma Fielding, had also made her appearance. She had been following the progress of the Les Miserables production closely, but this was her first chance to witness a rehearsal in person.

Her challenge was enormous. The six-hour production was a bold, risky endeavor, and she needed to know if the cast and crew could live up to the growing expectations. As the first previews began, the question remained: would they be able to meet the hype surrounding the production?