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Chapter 28
Talent Contest
On an ordinary Saturday night the Noble Coliseum stages “OpenMike Night”, an amateur variety show, with song, dance, music, and other acts. However, once every quarter the show distinguishes itself by doing something special. This time it’s a talent contest. It’s a little tongue in cheek, because “talent” is not a prerequisite to take part! Everybody is welcome. The amateur nature of the event is maintained, the judges are good natured, and the prizes are distressingly trivial! The performers and the guests come along to enjoy themselves, and the Noble Coliseum makes a little bit of extra money to help it function.
The “pay what you can afford” approach works well. Even the poorest people in town will add a penny or two to the collection box. There are some wealthy benefactors who put several sovereigns in the box every Saturday. Mr Rafone and AuntSylvie are the co-conspirators, ably assisted by a collection of volunteers young and old. Tonight, there are six judges, Hayley and FullyCharged are sitting in the middle of the front row, flanked by two adults on either side. The school orchestra is here too, with special guests Karen Hall and James Powell, two of the musicians from the Garrison. Wearing their bright scarlet tunics Karen and James outclass CandiCrush who naturally is wearing civvies on a Saturday night. She introduces them to Mr Rafone.
“Welcome to the Noble Coliseum,” he says, “I’m so glad you could join the team this evening. This is Sylvie and I’m Mike. You might have seen us around before? Sylvie, better known as AuntSylvie is the boss here.”
“Delighted to meet you,” she says, “please call me Sylvie. Though many of the kids just call me Auntie. The older residents call me all sorts of things!”
“Almost everybody calls me Mr Rafone because I’m a school teacher. But on a Saturday I’m OpenMike, and the young ones are allowed to call me Mike!”
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