The Greatest Showman #954 - Before Going on Stage

From left to right, then right to left, Renly's movements were slow and deliberate, not hurried. He paced back and forth between two o'clock and one line, adjusting his breathing gradually. At the same time, he repeated simple stretches for his hands and legs. His head slowly circled in a clockwise motion, allowing his muscles to relax.

A blankness filled his mind, devoid of thought or emotion. He didn't dwell on the performance, the lines, or the positions. All that information was already deeply imprinted in his muscle memory. Ten weeks of rehearsal—constant, repetitive practice, day after day—had etched everything into him. At most, four training sessions could be scheduled in a single day: three solo sessions and one collaborative.

With the stage imminent and the countdown ticking away, the last thing Renly needed was to reawaken his memory. Doing so would risk disrupting his rhythm and focus. What was more important now was to relax completely, clearing his mind entirely.

"God, god, god," Ezra Miller groaned, burying his face in his hands. "I can't remember a thing. I can't even recall the first scene. Hey, partner, aren't you going to help me? What's going to happen to the rivalry?"

Ezra, born in 1992, was the only American in the new Les Miserables cast. However, his professionalism was unquestionable. His mother, a modern dancer, had introduced him to the stage at age six, and he'd honed his craft on Broadway.

In this production, Ezra was playing Javert, Jean Valjean's nemesis, the stern sheriff. John Codd, in considering Renly's age and background, had chosen a young cast, eager to depict the growth and changes of the characters over six hours, highlighting the passage of time.

Renly, who had not responded immediately, let out a long sigh. Calmly, he remarked, "Then our show is completely doomed. The entire three-month run will be over after the premiere."

"Hey! Renly!" came the protest from the other actors. "Don't say that! The show hasn't even started yet. You're jinxing us!"

Renly remained unbothered, letting the protests die down before adding, "The three-minute countdown is coming, and you're still not focused? Are you sure everything's alright? Otherwise, you'll bring bad luck. It'll be a nightmare." His deadpan delivery left everyone silent, and Renly continued, "Look at Tom. Are you sure he's the youngest in our crew?"

At this point, Tom Holland, only 16 years old and born in 1996, appeared unphased, oblivious to the attention he was receiving. He was in the Les Miserables cast for his role as Enjolras. Though young, Tom's stage experience was among the top in the cast, certainly more than Renly's. Enjolras had a smaller role, appearing in Acts 3 and 4, but Tom kept his focus, preparing with the rest of the cast. His professionalism was admirable.

"Clam?" Tom asked, looking confused, his Enjolras costume—a red and gold knight's outfit—reflecting his vigor.

Charlotte Kennedy, another cast member, chuckled. "Stop messing around. I think my partner is about to explode."

"What? No! I'm fine! No! What? I'm ready!" Joe Alwyn, 21, suddenly stood up, his curly golden hair and striking good looks matching the character of Marius. Though still a student at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Joe had starred in a few experimental plays in London's outskirts before impressing John Codd with his appearance and securing the role.

Joe would be playing Marius, who, in the play, is in a relationship with Cosette—played by Charlotte Kennedy, who, born in 1992, came from a prestigious drama school in London. Charlotte's background was more formal than Renly's, and she was a professional drama major.

Seeing Joe's flustered panic, Charlotte stepped in, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Man, give Joe some space. Time's running out; we need to stay calm."

This prompted teasing from two of the younger actors, Karis Jack and Daisy Ridley, who mocked, "Oh, Cosette's worried! What's going on, Jean Valjean? Your daughter's gone soft on us?"

Joe's cheeks flushed, his shy demeanor making things worse. Meanwhile, Charlotte playfully punched the air in response, leading to a burst of laughter.

Karis and Daisy, both 20 years old, were seasoned performers. Karis had spent over a year in the West End, and Daisy had graduated from Turling Park School and had been looking for opportunities since she was 18. Karis would play Alpenne, while Daisy would play Fantine. Their roles had been hard-won, and their performances would be critical to the show.

The room's noise built up again, but Renly was unaffected. He raised his eyes and, casting a glance toward Domhnall Gleeson and Michelle Dockery in the corner, asked, "Aren't you two going to do something about this?"

Domhnall and Michelle both averted their gazes, pretending not to notice, their avoidance only adding to the lighthearted atmosphere.

At 29, Domhnall was an experienced Broadway and West End actor, nominated for a Tony Award, best known for his role as Bill Weasley in the Harry Potter series. Michelle, just turning 30, had been a seasoned West End actress before rising to fame with Downton Abbey in 2010. Together, they would play the insatiable innkeepers, the Thénardiers—yet they were also the comedic heart of the play.

Seeing the pair's nonchalance, Renly raised his voice. "Quiet! Everyone, quiet down!" The room fell silent as all eyes turned to him. "Otherwise, Ezra will forget his lines," Renly warned, his tone mocking.

"Stop, stop!" the others shouted, hands raised in a panic. "We're quiet! We'll be quiet!"

Renly shrugged with a smirk, his gesture silencing everyone. With a calm, knowing look, he said, "You guys are not quiet." The atmosphere shifted back to one of calmness, and everyone shared a knowing smile.

Tom, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chuckled, his young face lighting up. He quickly covered his mouth when he noticed the warning glances from others, but the twinkle in his eyes betrayed him.

The door opened, signaling, "Countdown to three minutes."

"Renly, aren't you going to say something?" Ezra asked. Everyone else also turned their attention to him, seeking his reassurance.

Although Renly wasn't the oldest or most experienced, his professionalism had made him the core of the cast.

Renly shrugged again. "We're ready. All we have to do now is go on stage and perform. That's it!" His tone was calm but exuded confidence, and his words helped the others straighten up and prepare for what was to come. "This play lasts six hours. Trust me, once the tension fades, it becomes numb."

His words made everyone laugh, a moment of lightness before the performance began.

The group began to leave the dressing room, heading to the stage for the debut of Act 1.

Standing backstage, ready to perform, Renly felt a burning gaze. Looking back, he saw Tom. Renly raised an eyebrow, confused.

"Nervous?" Tom asked.

Renly chuckled. "Nervous? A bit. But there's more anticipation than anything."

It was time to leave behind the aura of past achievements—the Oscar, the past three years—and return to his roots, to stand on stage and hone his craft. The last ten weeks of rehearsal had been the most joyful of his career. Now, it was time to perform.