Queenie gathered her palette, a handful of different-sized brushes, and a small wooden stool. She arranged her brushes from small to large along the floor. She signaled to Curt and Tan. As they drew themselves back, the entire orchestra broke into a peppy, happy jingle.
“What a wonderful evening we’ve had together. Would you all agree?” she asked the crowd. They clapped and whistled in agreement. “I’d like to capture the feeling of joy in one of my favorite mediums - oil paints.” She threw a hand in the air, and two branches lowered her canvas. They remained in place to serve as its easel. Queenie picked up her palette and a wide paintbrush. She stepped up onto the small wooden stool. She streaked sapphire blue across the top of the canvas. Her animated brush strokes were in concert with the melody played by the orchestra. Reloading her brush from her palette with a dazzling amethyst pink, she blended down from the edge of the blue to the center of the canvas. She hopped from the stool and reloaded a yellow ochre, adding a thin line that stretched the width of the entire painting. A final dab to her palette with the wide brush picked up a flashy tangerine that she used to thicken and extend the yellow line.
Queenie spun around and flashed a sparkling smile to the audience. Her root skirt swirled out in the spin, and the ends of the roots wrapped around the handles of multiple paintbrushes. They all dipped into different colors on the palette. Queenie loaded her paintbrush with a bright emerald green. All of the brushes then went to work together. Strokes and taps, featherings and splatters, all hidden from the audience as Queenie stood in front of her work and added the final details. She grabbed the canvas by the side and walked it around until the back was facing the audience. “I feel incredibly happy about how this one turned out,” she said as she walked to the edge of the stage. “Before I reveal it, I’d like to invite all of our talented participants from tonight’s show back up on stage.”
Chickie perked up. “That’s me!”
Oakly set her down and scooted her toward the aisle. “Get on up there, little bird.”
Chickie quickly ran down the aisle and took the stairs up. Lester entered from stage left and stood next to a very excited Chickie. Curt released from his tie and pulled MGB onto the stage. The six coyotes from The Rowdy Howlers, followed by the six porcupines from Porcupine Pyramid Power, entered single file from stage left. Bevan walked onto stage, brushing frosting off his tail. Stinkerbell and Eureaky sauntered in, their spurs jangling as they repeatedly tipped their hats to the crowd.
Queenie leaned out from the line and said, “Let’s take hold of a hand, paw, wing, or branch as we take a bow together.” The entire row linked up and took a slow, graceful bow. The audience broke out in joyous celebration. Queenie’s painting then spun around on its easel, and the dome cast a radiant spotlight onto it. The audience got their first view of Queenie’s artwork, and their jubilation grew into ecstasy. The large painting encapsulated the entire evening. A warm sunset surrounded the Emotional Theater stage. The performers had been painted exactly as they were lined up at that very moment. The entire audience was included in the work.
The crowd started to realize that they could pick themselves out in the art. Rory’s face lit up with a smile. He threw his arm over the shoulder of Muso so he could replicate the exact pose described to him of their portrait. Down the row, Mysha signed to the squirrel, “Look! That’s us! We’re so cute!” Rows and rows of patrons leaned from their chairs to identify themselves in the painting.
“Can you please give one more round of applause for this talented ensemble?” Queenie asked. “They managed to stir all of our emotions tonight!” The audience clapped energetically. “Now, look to your left and look to your right and give a round of applause to yourselves and your neighbors for being the fabulously emotional beings that you all are. Let’s make some new friends tonight!”
An entire family of crows flew to Oakly. They landed on several of his branches and introduced themselves one by one. Lester could see the flurry of activity from the stage. He bent down to Chickie and asked, “What do you call a flock of birds who stick together?”
“I don't know, J. What do you call a flock of birds who stick together?”
“Ready for it?” he asked with a smile.
“I’m ready,” she snickered.
“Vel-crows!” he answered.
“BAWK!” blasted through the entire theater. Chickie could see the crows interacting with Oakly. After recovering from her laughter, she said, “I can’t wait to tell Oakly that joke!”
Beanard jumped off his chair. He ran down the center aisle, up the mahogany stairs, and straight to MGB. “You are amazing and talented and beautifully expressive! I want you to know that I am so sorry for bullying you. I’ll never treat you or anyone else like that ever again!”
“I’m so proud of you for acknowledging your behavior and making a change for a better you,” MGB said as the two beans embraced. Curt wrapped his branches around them and joined in the moment.
Hootdini climbed to the top of his chair and looked out at the audience to locate the Bald Eagle. He spotted the eagle sitting in a center seat and launched from his chair with open wings. He flapped with all his might and rose above the crowd. He tilted his wings and circled down to the eagle. “Hi there. I’m Hootdini,” he began. “There wasn’t much time for introductions during our last encounter.”
“Hello there, Hootdini. I’m Earl. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Hootdini dove in for a feathery hug. “Oh, Earl, thank you so much for helping me fly. I wouldn’t have made it without you!”
“You’re certainly welcome, chap. It looks like you’re getting the hang of things now. With more practice, you’ll get more speed and control. Soon you’ll be soaring like an eagle,” Earl chuckled.
The audience buzzed with pleasantries and introductions. Queenie’s voice brought everyone’s attention back to the stage. “What a beautiful night. Thank you all for coming out for the show, and let’s continue to be good to each other!” With that, the cast waved to the audience as Curt slowly met Tan to close the show. The crowd, still brimming with merriment, gave their final claps, hoots, roars and whistles. They left their seats and filed out along the stone pathway. Tiny, jumping goldfish and a shower of bright magenta petals provided the final enchanting touches to an emotional evening.
Queenie gathered her palette, a handful of different-sized brushes, and a small wooden stool. She arranged her brushes from small to large along the floor. She signaled to Curt and Tan. As they drew themselves back, the entire orchestra broke into a peppy, happy jingle.
“What a wonderful evening we’ve had together. Would you all agree?” she asked the crowd. They clapped and whistled in agreement. “I’d like to capture the feeling of joy in one of my favorite mediums - oil paints.” She threw a hand in the air, and two branches lowered her canvas. They remained in place to serve as its easel. Queenie picked up her palette and a wide paintbrush. She stepped up onto the small wooden stool. She streaked sapphire blue across the top of the canvas. Her animated brush strokes were in concert with the melody played by the orchestra. Reloading her brush from her palette with a dazzling amethyst pink, she blended down from the edge of the blue to the center of the canvas. She hopped from the stool and reloaded a yellow ochre, adding a thin line that stretched the width of the entire painting. A final dab to her palette with the wide brush picked up a flashy tangerine that she used to thicken and extend the yellow line.
Queenie spun around and flashed a sparkling smile to the audience. Her root skirt swirled out in the spin, and the ends of the roots wrapped around the handles of multiple paintbrushes. They all dipped into different colors on the palette. Queenie loaded her paintbrush with a bright emerald green. All of the brushes then went to work together. Strokes and taps, featherings and splatters, all hidden from the audience as Queenie stood in front of her work and added the final details. She grabbed the canvas by the side and walked it around until the back was facing the audience. “I feel incredibly happy about how this one turned out,” she said as she walked to the edge of the stage. “Before I reveal it, I’d like to invite all of our talented participants from tonight’s show back up on stage.”
Chickie perked up. “That’s me!”
Oakly set her down and scooted her toward the aisle. “Get on up there, little bird.”
Chickie quickly ran down the aisle and took the stairs up. Lester entered from stage left and stood next to a very excited Chickie. Curt released from his tie and pulled MGB onto the stage. The six coyotes from The Rowdy Howlers, followed by the six porcupines from Porcupine Pyramid Power, entered single file from stage left. Bevan walked onto stage, brushing frosting off his tail. Stinkerbell and Eureaky sauntered in, their spurs jangling as they repeatedly tipped their hats to the crowd.
Queenie leaned out from the line and said, “Let’s take hold of a hand, paw, wing, or branch as we take a bow together.” The entire row linked up and took a slow, graceful bow. The audience broke out in joyous celebration. Queenie’s painting then spun around on its easel, and the dome cast a radiant spotlight onto it. The audience got their first view of Queenie’s artwork, and their jubilation grew into ecstasy. The large painting encapsulated the entire evening. A warm sunset surrounded the Emotional Theater stage. The performers had been painted exactly as they were lined up at that very moment. The entire audience was included in the work.
The crowd started to realize that they could pick themselves out in the art. Rory’s face lit up with a smile. He threw his arm over the shoulder of Muso so he could replicate the exact pose described to him of their portrait. Down the row, Mysha signed to the squirrel, “Look! That’s us! We’re so cute!” Rows and rows of patrons leaned from their chairs to identify themselves in the painting.
“Can you please give one more round of applause for this talented ensemble?” Queenie asked. “They managed to stir all of our emotions tonight!” The audience clapped energetically. “Now, look to your left and look to your right and give a round of applause to yourselves and your neighbors for being the fabulously emotional beings that you all are. Let’s make some new friends tonight!”
An entire family of crows flew to Oakly. They landed on several of his branches and introduced themselves one by one. Lester could see the flurry of activity from the stage. He bent down to Chickie and asked, “What do you call a flock of birds who stick together?”
“I don't know, J. What do you call a flock of birds who stick together?”
“Ready for it?” he asked with a smile.
“I’m ready,” she snickered.
“Vel-crows!” he answered.
“BAWK!” blasted through the entire theater. Chickie could see the crows interacting with Oakly. After recovering from her laughter, she said, “I can’t wait to tell Oakly that joke!”
Beanard jumped off his chair. He ran down the center aisle, up the mahogany stairs, and straight to MGB. “You are amazing and talented and beautifully expressive! I want you to know that I am so sorry for bullying you. I’ll never treat you or anyone else like that ever again!”
“I’m so proud of you for acknowledging your behavior and making a change for a better you,” MGB said as the two beans embraced. Curt wrapped his branches around them and joined in the moment.
Hootdini climbed to the top of his chair and looked out at the audience to locate the Bald Eagle. He spotted the eagle sitting in a center seat and launched from his chair with open wings. He flapped with all his might and rose above the crowd. He tilted his wings and circled down to the eagle. “Hi there. I’m Hootdini,” he began. “There wasn’t much time for introductions during our last encounter.”
“Hello there, Hootdini. I’m Earl. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Hootdini dove in for a feathery hug. “Oh, Earl, thank you so much for helping me fly. I wouldn’t have made it without you!”
“You’re certainly welcome, chap. It looks like you’re getting the hang of things now. With more practice, you’ll get more speed and control. Soon you’ll be soaring like an eagle,” Earl chuckled.
The audience buzzed with pleasantries and introductions. Queenie’s voice brought everyone’s attention back to the stage. “What a beautiful night. Thank you all for coming out for the show, and let’s continue to be good to each other!” With that, the cast waved to the audience as Curt slowly met Tan to close the show. The crowd, still brimming with merriment, gave their final claps, hoots, roars and whistles. They left their seats and filed out along the stone pathway. Tiny, jumping goldfish and a shower of bright magenta petals provided the final enchanting touches to an emotional evening.