On With The Motley
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
The
performance was long over.
The
theater was quiet.
Why she
had stayed behind escaped her. Just seemed like a good idea.
Having
cleansed her face one last time, Sam carefully applied some underline and
reached for her lipsticks.
Bronze
or the red?
What the
hell, the red.
She drew
on her cigarette as if it were her last. The smoke swirled in front of and
above her as she gazed in the mirror squinting though the glare of the
Not too
bad even though I say so myself.
The
performance had gone well.
The
first half of the evening – Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana – the usual
coupling with Pagliacci, had been OK but somehow not up to the usual standard
but so what, the audience just waits for the Intermezzo and Turiddu’s aria “O
Lola ch’hai di latti” anyway.
Pagliacci
had gone well though and she felt she had sung above herself – even got a
standing ovation and a few ‘Bravos’ … !!
Well pleased.
“Only
one more performance and the season will be over”
As usual
Caught
up in her thoughts and her indulgent smoke, Sam did not hear the quiet sound of
the closing stage door.
The
lights went out. The sudden darkness startled her.
Surely
the crew knew that she was still there. They had come to say goodbye and asked
if she was OK. “Leave you to your thoughts then.”
She felt
cold.
It
seemed like ages before she stood up and felt her way out of the dressing room
– a pocket sized room which really did not deserve even being called a dressing
room. Coming from out of the mirror lights, it was pitch black in the hall.
“Hello …
anyone there?”
No
response.
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About the Book
‘On With The Motley’ is a unique novel that will entice and appeal to adult readers. Set in the intriguing world of international opera, the story-line is one of many dualities - factual, yet fiction; earthy yet refined; the characters real yet filled with fantasy; each chapter gripping yet the suspense goes through to the last page.
Sam, a talented and aspiring young singer is caught up in the web that drives many a career; balanced by her family upbringing; independent and yet influenced by those around her, she strives to make her mark and satisfy her own desires. The action moves from Chicagoland through
“Gripping and intriguing … … you will be constantly twisted and turned, emotions will switch from character to character and when it is finished … … of course!”
About the Author
Just as in the novel, Author John Milligan is a person of ‘dualities’. Once introduced by a leading politician in his homeland of
He is a published poet, broadcaster and author; madly keen on sport especially when it comes to Rugby and American Football; loves cooking, good food and wine - “Jan and I just love to get into the kitchen and concoct something!”; and of course, travelling. John with a passion for Public Radio and his wife Janice, an educator and fiber arts crafter live on the beautiful south eastern coastal North Carolinas.