The Unused Stage

Natural light shows the creases and dust on the blackout curtains.

The backdrop seems scuffed and greasy, littered with blu-tack and spitballs. The red velvet wall of fame seems paler, shows its seams. Treading the boards is suddenly unappealing if they're chipped, worn and ridged with years of waxed dirt beneatht he polish. They sit complacently before the ranks of empty chairs.

The daylight reveals the actors to be peacocks. The magician's tricks don't stand up to the less forgiving spotlight.