Who: Kurt Wagner and OPEN to anybody's reactions NPCs: Various guests at the Charity Gala When: May 28 (pre-play!) Where: Exhibit Hall (the dome beside the ship) What: Kurt puts on a show! Rating: PG
The only thing that Kurt was disappointed with was how he hadn't been billed on the program as 'The Amazing Nightcrawler', like he wanted. An oversight, to be sure, and something he should've mentioned to Pepper via email before, but Kurt had forgotten in the excitement of preparing. Everything else was perfect, the stadium, the stage, the lights, the music cues... really, Kurt couldn't have asked for anything more.
Except... he was nervous.
What if people didn't show? Only a short while ago, Eric Clapton played a set during lunch. While Kurt skipped his meal, he couldn't help but to sneak off to watch the living legend play from the back of the Hollywood Deli. He'd practiced his routine already once this morning and felt as ready as he was ever going to be.
Eric Clapton! That was going to be a hard act to follow! Nobody would know who 'Kurt Wagner' was. The program mentioned the title of his act, Redemption but didn't explain what it would consist of, did it? Posters had been made and placed in front of the entrance of the Exhibit Hall, but since most of the action happened at the ship, what if people hadn't seen them? Would people even bother walking over to the Exhibit Hall, when there was so much to do on the ship? What if people decided to skip his performance to play shuffleboard or take an after meal nap? Kurt left Clapton's act a little bit before it ended to prepare, so he hadn't heard the announcement made, telling guests to make sure they didn't miss the aerial act coming next.
It wasn't until Kurt peeked through the curtains five minutes before his act and saw people pooling in and taking their seats. Fears dispelled, Kurt returned to his position backstage to wait for his cue with a new found giddiness. Relieved that he wasn't going to perform before an empty house, Kurt could now focus on what he needed to do.
Up to this point, Kurt had kept practically invisible onboard. Even when he attended the lunchtime concert, he'd been discreet. Part of the surprise in his act was his unique appearance, often mistaken as part of a costume, but always seemed to thrill.
The house lights went down and laser lights pierced the darkness, making patterns through the air. Kurt was introduced, not only as an X-Man, but as a long-time performer at the Munich Circus.
"Here to entertain you, I present Kurt Wagner, the Amazing Nightcrawler!"
That was his cue. BAMF! Kurt teleported onstage with a flash, accompanied with smokey brimstone. The Hall's ventilation system helped to draw away most of the smell, so the audience wouldn't be too uncomfortable. However, it was all seen as part of the show, leaving people who didn't know Kurt very well to wonder, "How did he do that?"
Dressed in a body suit that perfectly matched the hue of his furry blue skin, Kurt choose to accentuate his devilish appearance as he had always done in the circus. As the music played over loudspeakers and lights that set the mood, through pantomime and contortion Kurt acted out the role of a tormented soul in Hell. At first, he moved across the floor like a gymnast in time with the music, but soon made his way to the pole, where he exhibited his upper body strength, utilizing his prehensile tail in ways that made the unsuspecting members of the audience wonder how a costume could support that much weight.
As the character's story unfolded on stage, the tormented soul was given a chance for redemption, a glimmer of hope symbolized by a muted white light shining down from above. From the light above, a pair of long, silk scarves unfurled; Kurt took to them, performing an aerial act that wowed the spectators. (Sort of like this act with the red lights against black, but a lot of elements from this act, except less prison motif and include tail action throughout!) The white light became brighter, the tone of the music became more hopeful. It looked as though the devil had sprouted angel's wings as he swung over the heads of onlookers. The act ended with the silks lifting Kurt away, where he disappeared into the now blinding spotlight
The crowd burst into applause, and again Kurt teleported to stage to take his bow, beaming and basking in the recognition for his talent. This was what Kurt thrived upon, and he was so grateful to be given this opportunity to perform again.