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As he continues, you fight the urge to fidget. You'd done some thinking about the structure of the performance. While having the company appear in the limelight in sequence is straightforward and easy to rehearse (especially with mere days to go), is it really the vision Malodoro and His Grace had in mind when they built up the company? Would it not be more exciting to conduct a coordinated performance—with tumblers enacting heroic odes as they are delivered, and stage wizardry enlivening witty patter? 'Twould be a greater risk, but could impress His Grace and his audience far more if handled properly.

As Timshel yammers on, it is clear no one else in the company is going to counter his vision. You draw a breath.