The Dark Stage

The Dark Stage

On Thursday, Leo and Mari led the final _____, the last full practice before Friday's school play. As Mari switched on the stage lamps, they flashed and went dark. A metal chair had crushed an extension _____ until the wires inside touched, so the safety switch had cut the power. Without them, the actors could not practise their evening scene.

Leo reached towards the plug, but their teacher, Mrs Cole, told everyone to step away. She blocked the entrance and called Mr Evans, the site manager trained to isolate electrical supplies. He turned off the stage circuit at the distribution board, locked it off and warned them not to handle the damaged lead. Then he rang the school's _____, whose job was to install and repair electrical wiring.

After testing that the circuit was dead, the electrician removed the faulty lead and fitted a new one of the correct rating. He ran it beside the wall under a strong cable protector, safely beyond the chair legs. Mr Evans restored the power. The lamps shone steadily, and with half an hour left, the cast completed the rehearsal.