you step forward, the spotlight finds you. glare pitch white, your skin pales, the crowd mutters to itself whispers of disbelief, of mocking. you gaze over stage right. he is there, waiting for the role you cannot suspend the crowd’s disbelief that you are him. she brushes past him, joins you on stage. another light, harsher, makes her red lips black. the crowd finally falls silent. you take her hand, place the other slightly above her hip. the pianist starts a tune, you begin.