The Greatest Showman #989 - Big Name Feast

The thunderous applause continued, echoing throughout the entire Almeida Theater, the sound swirling and amplifying in the air.

Edith clapped enthusiastically, and before she realized it, she had stood up. She was swept away by the excitement, her emotions carried on a wave of pure joy. After a moment of stunned realization, she recognized that her exuberance had likely caught George's attention. In a rush, she composed herself, tamping down her enthusiasm with caution.

It was then that she truly understood Arthur's words, "You'll like it." A simple phrase, yet it carried so much more weight.

Hidden behind the curtain of the box, Edith cast a secretive glance.

Next door, Richard de Ville had his hands raised high, placed them on his chest, and clapped with abandon, his body trembling in joy and disbelief. Every fiber of his being seemed to radiate delight. Meanwhile, George, standing next to him, was more reserved—his posture stiff, shoulders tense—but he dutifully joined in the applause.

"Pfft," Edith couldn't help but laugh quietly, savoring the schadenfreude of the scene. This alone made the adventure worth every penny of the ticket price.

Last time, Arthur had witnessed Elf's gaffe; today, Edith had the pleasure of witnessing George's compromise. It seemed that the scales were balanced.

"Matthew, do you think Richard will try to meet Renly?" Edith leaned slightly toward Matthew, her voice a whisper amid the ongoing applause. The noise from the theater showed no signs of dying down, despite the hoarseness of the applause; the sound was still unmistakably present in the air.

Matthew turned his head, catching the impatient gleam in Edith's smile. He didn't try to hide his amusement. With a restrained nod, he responded with certainty, "Yes."

Edith smiled in agreement. "I think so too." She wasn't planning on leaving just yet. The show had only just begun, and missing out now would be a shame. Even if it meant taking a bit of a risk, she was willing to stay and see how things unfolded.

Her gaze wandered to the other side of the theater. The performance had been electrifying, and she was completely immersed. During the intermission, she had discreetly hidden from George to avoid drawing attention. She had not had the chance to properly observe the guests present—until now.

"Jesus Christ, is that Princess Madeleine Gustaf? And the one next to her... why does that face seem familiar?" Edith's surprise was palpable. She had expected some nobility to be present, but this caught her off guard.

Madeleine Gustaf, the youngest princess of the Swedish royal family, third in line to the throne, was indeed a familiar figure in London society. Around ten years ago, Madeleine had come to London to study English. Her romantic life, too, had made waves, with a scandal involving her partner's infidelity, which had become a favorite topic for the paparazzi.

Madeleine's presence in Andre Hamilton's box was unexpected. On one hand, her royal stature explained the attention, but on the other hand, the West End didn't quite align with her usual circles. Still, considering the friendship between Andre and Madeleine, it wasn't as surprising as it might have seemed at first.

"Chris O'Neal," Matthew replied succinctly. "Wall Street."

The noise around them made it difficult for an elaborate explanation, so Matthew simply offered the key piece of information. Edith's eyes widened in recognition, her understanding quickly following. "I've heard rumors."

Chris O'Neal was a rising star on Wall Street—an upstart, his family background unremarkable compared to the old money aristocracy. He was, in essence, a nouveau riche. But his mother had climbed the social ladder in New York's Upper East Side and had made a name for herself as a socialite. The pairing of Madeleine and Chris had made waves last year. Edith had heard the gossip in New York, but it was only now that she saw them together in person.

"Even Madeleine Gustaf shows up. What's next, will William and Kate make an appearance?" Edith raised an eyebrow playfully, referring to Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Matthew replied with a touch of humor, "Princess Beatrice was here yesterday."

Princess Beatrice, granddaughter of the Queen of England, eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, and seventh in line to the throne, had always maintained a humble and approachable demeanor. She had worked as a personal shopping consultant at a department store a few years ago and was now studying art at university. In 2009, she had made her film debut in The Victoria, the first member of the British royal family to appear in a film. Beatrice had long aspired to find work in the fashion and media industries of New York.

Beatrice's presence not only signaled the growing popularity of Les Miserables among the aristocracy, but also hinted at Renly's opportunity to break into royal circles as an actor.

"I really wish it happened today," Edith sighed wistfully. If Princess Beatrice and George Hall met at the Almeida Theatre and Renly were invited, it would be the real event of the year. "Wait, is that Maggie Smith and Ian McKellen?"

"In Eaton's box," Matthew said casually, "Helen Mirren has an appointment the day after tomorrow, along with Peter O'Toole and Patrick Stewart."

Edith's shock quickly faded, and she nodded with a smile, realizing the West End would be buzzing for some time. "George and Elizabeth are going to be so tormented by all of this. God, I'm glad I didn't miss this. I'm starting to think these nobles are a bit... cute."

Amid the continued applause, their conversation was drowned out. The actors returned for their curtain calls, and the audience showed no signs of letting go, even after sixteen minutes of applause, until Renly was the last to take his bow. The six-hour performance left an indelible mark on everyone present.

Later

Edith stayed behind, still hiding in the box, watching closely as Richard's impatience mounted. He couldn't wait any longer to meet Renly.

At first, George had tried to dissuade him, but Richard was determined. He wanted to leave the box and head backstage to express his admiration to Renly in person. Now George was in a panic. Emma Fiding and Matthew Dunlop stepped in to calm Richard down, then led Renly over.

Renly didn't refuse but came over politely, still in his costume, no time to change.

The two engaged in a lively conversation about the show. Richard, a true aficionado, contributed valuable insights that showed a deep understanding and sophisticated taste. Edith could hear every word clearly from the next box. Though she couldn't see George's face, she could feel his growing discomfort. His silence spoke volumes about his frustration. The contrast was so unfamiliar and amusing that Edith had to bite her lip to stifle a laugh.

Just as she was wondering when George would intervene and end the awkwardness, Renly's farewell broke the silence.

"Renly!" George's voice was tight, his anger barely contained. "The Lord obviously has strong opinions about the play. Why not continue the conversation? Or we could meet again tomorrow for lunch?"

"Sorry, but there's another performance tomorrow. I can't accept the Lord's invitation. However, Sir Maggie Smith and Sir Ian McKellen are in the next box, and I must go say hello."

Both Maggie and Ian had been knighted by the Queen, and they were esteemed members of the nobility.

"Of course, of course," Richard replied quickly, ignoring George's discomfort. "I understand that the stage is paramount to an actor. I'll be back tomorrow and the day after."

With a brief exchange, Renly left.

As Edith reflected on the scene, she was startled when the box door suddenly opened. Renly's voice followed. "The mice in the theater are getting bolder and louder." With that, he closed the door behind him and walked away.

Edith rolled her eyes and gritted her teeth. That damn guy.

Once the door was shut, Renly turned to Matthew, who was behind him. "Don't worry, I've got this." He smirked slightly, signaling toward George's box. "What do you think? I did well, didn't I?"

Matthew nodded, "Very well."

Renly chuckled and gave Matthew a playful pat on the shoulder. "Please, guide that furious gentleman out of the theater. I don't think George will take kindly to Edith's words if he discovers them."