Chapter 240 - 99: Top Star of the 1960s Cultural Troupe (38)
Chapter 240: Chapter 99: Top Star of the 1960s Cultural Troupe (38)
After all, stage makeup was all about heavy, vibrant colors. It turned the face into another part of the costume, a spectacle on stage. No matter how different the dancers looked, a makeup artist could magically make everyone look identical. Paired with the costumes, any sense of individuality was minimized as much as possible.
In that context, a slightly different lead dancer was like a splash of pink amid the tender green of early spring, inevitably drawing every eye.
But the makeup Xia Zhaoyun designed for them was different. She had taken a bold approach, tailoring the makeup to each girl’s profession and personality, and accentuating their best features.
Though they were all getting makeup done, the eighteen girls each presented a unique brand of elegance and nobility. Abstract phrases like "bright, soulful eyes" and "radiant, captivating glances" suddenly found their living embodiment.
The girls crowded in front of the mirrors, cupping their faces in sheer adoration. They began to playfully throw the earlier cynical comments back at each other. "Oh my god, I knew I was pretty, but I never knew I could look *this* good..."
"Tell me about it! If you all weren’t here, I’d probably be the belle of the ball..."
"Little Xia’s skills are just incredible. My eyes look a whole size bigger, my nose seems straighter, and my lips look so delicate. I look as perfect as a painting—I barely recognize myself. But it’s still me."
Each woman was now highly distinct. Once they changed into their costumes, it was no exaggeration to say they looked like a lineup for an emperor choosing his consorts. They were breathtakingly beautiful, yet each also exuded a chic, professional grace.
The sheer visual impact of them up close was enough to make the girls from the other performing groups fall over with envy.
Amid their laughter and excitement, it was suddenly Group Three’s turn.
Xia Zhaoyun, also in full costume with a camera slung around her neck, smiled and raised it. "Sisters, let’s get a picture before we go on! Loosen up those nerves and say ’cheese’ with me..."
Beaming, the girls huddled together, striking poses and sweetly yelling, "Cheese!"
The audience for the evening show was much larger than the two daytime ones; there were even people standing in the back rows. They had already sat through a dozen or so acts and were starting to feel some aesthetic fatigue. But there was only one performance left before the entire audition showcase concluded.
Everyone mustered their remaining energy to watch. Among them was a cheering section of friends and family for the girls of Group Three.
As employees of the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory, the girls had arranged for all their friends and family to sit together in one section.
The moment the announcer finished, someone led a round of thunderous applause, punctuated by loud whistles. The noise jolted the weary crowd, who, without really knowing why, began to clap vigorously as well.
The stage suddenly went black. Faint, ambient sounds began to rise—the hum of a control room, the BEEP of alerts, the CLICK of buttons—creating a busy atmosphere that instantly conjured an image in the audience’s minds.
An amber spotlight focused on the curtain and began to move slowly upward, like a rising sun. The sound of chirping birds accompanied it, bringing with it the invigorating, expansive feeling of a new morning.
A chef in a tall hat, brandishing a ladle, came spinning out from backstage. He twirled like a good-natured spinning top, turning so many times the audience lost count and could only applaud in delight.
The chef, now dizzy and disoriented, wobbled with comedic effect, drawing good-natured laughter from the crowd. Then, a nurse entered, shouldering a giant prop syringe and stomping fiercely in high heels.
As the music shifted, each performer made a unique and captivating entrance, showcasing a difficult move they had mastered. This was paired with a witty, relatable monologue, presenting the dance to the audience as a new and charming form of entertainment.
Yao Yunying’s entrance was even more spectacular. Harnessed to a wire at her waist, she descended slowly, shifting her body into a series of graceful, queenly poses.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Zhaoyang airliner..."
It seemed like each performer was doing their own thing, but Xia Zhaoyun was there on roller skates, gliding between them with a camera, filming their every move.
Once all the dancers were on stage, Xia Zhaoyun put her camera away. Instantly, the performers—who had seemed so cool and professional—broke character, laughing as they rushed forward to snatch the camera from her. The story unfolded: it was time for the national "Model Worker" selection, and each of them wanted to get their picture in the paper to show off their contributions.
To make their case, they each began to show off again, unleashing their signature moves in what looked like a dance battle, getting the audience completely fired up.
In the end, Xia Zhaoyun puffed out her chest, smiled, and took a few pictures of herself.
The others then realized she hadn’t actually been taking pictures before. She was just sizing up their moves, making sure she knew exactly how to stand out from the rest...