0:10

Hello, this is Natasha and

0:12

I'm back with another Katy story.

0:15

This time it's all about a

0:17

witch playing another witch. Katy's

0:23

town had a theatre, a grand

0:25

old building with steps and

0:28

white pillars. A

0:30

long time ago it had been a musical hall featuring

0:33

jolly songs and chorus girls.

0:36

In Katy's time when she was little she

0:38

used to go to pantomimes there. The

0:41

tradition was that men would dress up as

0:43

women and girls would play the part of

0:45

boys. All the

0:47

children used to shout... Behind

0:50

you! When

0:52

the villain Long John Silver was

0:54

creeping up on young Jim Hawkins.

0:58

So Katy had fond memories

1:00

of the theatre and

1:02

she was sad when it closed its doors

1:04

two years ago. It seemed

1:06

people didn't want to go to the theatre

1:08

anymore. They were too

1:10

busy at home playing Nintendo

1:13

or watching Pix flicks. So

1:16

she was really pleased when Isis saw her at

1:18

the school break time and told her... Guess

1:21

what? The

1:23

theatre's reopening. Oh

1:26

that's great! What are they putting on?

1:30

Well that's the thing said

1:32

Isis excitedly. It's

1:34

a musical about a schoolgirl

1:36

who's secretly a witch. Isn't

1:39

that amazing? I suppose you're

1:41

going to say her name is Katy. No

1:44

but she's in love with a boy

1:47

called Paul. Who

1:49

says coincidences don't happen? That's

1:51

not a coincidence because I'm not in

1:54

love with Paul. We're

1:56

just good friends. Well

1:59

seriously... He insisted Isis,

2:02

you should audition for it. Then

2:05

we can come and watch you on stage. Me

2:08

singing and dancing. You've got

2:10

to be kidding, replied Katie.

2:14

You've got a great voice, said

2:16

Isis, and you've always been a

2:18

natural at dancing. I'm so

2:20

envious. If I had

2:23

a quarter of your talent, I would apply like that.

2:26

She said and she snapped her fingers as if

2:28

she was doing a magic spell. But

2:31

of course she wasn't, because Isis

2:33

did not have any magical powers.

2:36

But Katie did. And

2:39

people who are good at magic are

2:41

often artistic by nature. Music

2:45

flowed through her like magic. Isis,

2:48

by contrast, was not at

2:50

all musical. When

2:52

she was little, her mother made her do

2:55

violin lessons. And she

2:57

was so adorable that her

2:59

teacher begged her to

3:01

put down her instrument and never play

3:04

again. Then her mother sent

3:06

her to ballet classes. She

3:08

loved dressing up in pink ballet clothes and

3:10

shoes. But when it

3:13

came to dancing, she had two left

3:15

feet and she stepped on the other

3:17

kids toes. So

3:19

as it turned out, even

3:21

though Isis wanted to be perfect

3:23

at everything in life, she

3:26

just couldn't be. Because

3:29

nobody can. I

3:32

would just love to be on stage, she

3:35

said dreamily, with the spotlight

3:37

on me. I

3:39

would open my mouth and all

3:41

these pretty notes would fly out

3:43

and fill the theatre. And

3:46

everyone would adore me. And

3:49

when I finished my sing, they would

3:51

stand up and applaud and

3:53

throw flowers on the stage. Katie

3:57

Could see that her friend really wished.

4:00

The could send. Us

4:02

how you Watch said katie.

4:05

I'll find a musical magic

4:07

spell for years and if

4:09

it works, you can do

4:11

the audition. I'll do it

4:14

if you do to said Isis. It

4:16

will be more said if we are

4:18

in the place together. So

4:21

Casey Ugly. Heat. The

4:23

coal for auditions was the following

4:26

Saturday morning. About

4:28

twenty girls were waiting outside the say

4:30

to door in the cold. Katie.

4:33

And Isis recognize some of them from

4:35

school. I don't

4:38

know why you're here. Said.

4:40

Samantha to Isis. Because

4:42

can sing monsoon and you can.

4:46

And I smiled with

4:48

her perfectly pearly cheese.

4:51

Quietly. Confident. He

4:54

see case he purpose of music

4:56

spell on her. She

4:58

used the grand piano in the

5:00

music room at Isis. his hands

5:02

Katie set their own his head

5:05

and played a weird and wonderful

5:07

she. Listens

5:13

to the moon

5:15

moons. It's. Been

5:18

great He played some moves and those

5:20

to access to things them. She

5:23

did and hit them physically. But

5:26

when the saints door opens and they

5:28

were let in size. I

5:31

started to feel politicized

5:33

and her stomach. Katie,

5:35

I'm scared. She. Said. I

5:37

don't want to do this anymore. It's

5:39

go home. Oh

5:41

don't be such a wimp. Is.

5:44

Claimed case he he begged me to

5:46

do this and if we run away

5:48

now Samantha will never let us forget

5:50

Hits. It's

5:52

no use. As

5:55

I can't. Sing. Cried.

5:58

Isis. The Case:

6:00

He cuts her fans on

6:02

the forehead and said a

6:04

calming spell. To

6:07

now. She. Asked. He.

6:12

Hits pay for it. As

6:14

we go. Had to sing a jazzy

6:16

number. Because. It was that

6:18

sort of musical. Like

6:21

called out a voice. Katie.

6:24

Took a deep breath and walked onto

6:26

the stage. She looked

6:28

down and the audience three judges

6:31

in the third row. One.

6:33

Man and she women may

6:35

help. Notepad: Name.

6:39

asked one of the women in. Case

6:42

He said katie. The

6:45

music began to say. She

6:47

drew a deep breath and sang. And

6:50

then she did a little dogs. And ended

6:53

with a little bow. Not.

6:58

Cold. Out the woman. Case,

7:00

He walked off. And

7:02

Isis walked onto the stage smiling

7:04

her pretty a smile at the

7:07

director and the cast and crew.

7:11

Kind of her name.

7:18

Of Mass. In the air.

7:20

Count on it. we make at

7:22

home. Than that. Come

7:25

from. Me

7:33

not to lose of mob

7:35

Glad. you madly in the

7:38

sars thing you know what

7:40

else do i shall pack

7:42

pack of about of say

7:44

you have a placebo me

7:47

i will change the rest

7:49

assured leave magic so he

7:51

don't mess with me see

7:53

your so is mine is

7:56

your third modify the oh

7:58

my boy I

8:01

will break you, I will make you. I'm

8:06

a witch. Thank

8:15

you dear. Now, would

8:17

you mind showing us how you can

8:20

dance, said the woman. So

8:23

Isis did some moves that she had learnt

8:25

in ballet class. And

8:28

because she had received Katy's

8:30

musical skills and a touch

8:32

of confidence, she performed

8:34

them perfectly. No

8:37

two left feet this time. Thank

8:39

you very much dear. We'll let

8:42

you know. Next.

8:47

Isis smiled again and Katy

8:50

thought she really did have star quality.

8:53

They liked you better than anyone, she

8:55

said to her friend. Oh

8:58

no, they were just being polite. You

9:00

were the best. Like

9:02

I said, this party is made

9:05

for you, replied Isis. She

9:08

fought for a bit and then she added,

9:11

By the way, I didn't know that the woman

9:13

needing the audition was going to be my aunt.

9:16

Imagine my shock when I looked into the

9:18

footlights and saw her sitting so serious and

9:20

taking notes on everyone. Ah,

9:25

said Katy. Now it

9:27

all makes sense. That

9:30

afternoon, the director, who was her

9:33

aunt, Called Isis

9:35

to offer her the lead role

9:37

of the singing witch. Samantha

9:40

and Katy also received parts in

9:42

the chorus line. As

9:45

it turns out, when Katy read the

9:47

script, the witch in the play was not

9:49

at all like her. The theatrical

9:52

witch was a decidedly bad

9:54

witch. If you

9:56

could imagine Samantha with magical

9:58

powers, that would be it. her. The

10:01

rehearsal soon began,

10:04

three evenings a week. Each

10:06

time Katie always boosted Isis by playing

10:09

the magical tune on the grand piano

10:12

and everyone, even Samantha, had to agree

10:14

that her singing voice and dance moves

10:16

were spot on. Six

10:19

weeks later it was the

10:21

opening night. Katie

10:23

met Isis as usual at her house

10:26

and played the magical music on her

10:29

piano. But this time

10:31

Isis stood stiffly. She

10:34

didn't look well. It's

10:37

no use, she said. I

10:40

can't do this. I've

10:42

got stage fright, it's so

10:44

bad and I can't feel

10:47

the spell. All I can hear

10:49

is a throbbing sound in my ears like

10:51

swans beating their wings.

10:54

So have to call the theatre and tell them I'm

10:57

sorry I can't go on. Nonsense,

11:00

said Katie. Isis

11:02

replied. You could

11:04

easily fill my shoes. You

11:06

could even do real magic spells and everyone

11:08

would think it was part of the show.

11:11

This is not going

11:13

to happen, said Katie firmly, because

11:15

you are going to get over this stage

11:18

fright. Well in that case, said

11:20

Isis, I need some more magic than

11:22

usual because the normal

11:24

dose isn't working. Now

11:27

Katie knew some spells for

11:30

making normal magic twice or

11:32

even three times more powerful,

11:36

but she was reluctant to use

11:38

it because such powerful doses of

11:40

magic could be dangerous. Once

11:43

her great aunt Chloe used the

11:46

booster spell, then boarded her

11:48

broomstick to take her to Clapham Common

11:51

and it flew her all the way to South

11:53

Africa. But as

11:55

Isis was in such a state

11:57

of stage fright, Katie.

12:00

Turbo Dispel. Ice.

12:02

Still bag so more magic.

12:05

And. Against her better judgment. Case,

12:08

he made it even Simba. Isis

12:11

now brimming with confidence,

12:13

smiles a fake smile.

12:16

Already. Like had broadway

12:18

star. When

12:20

they arrived at the theater. They.

12:23

Found everyone in a panic. Even

12:27

the ice cream sellers was suffering

12:29

from first night nurse. The.

12:32

Show was a say that. The

12:34

parents and that it's his have

12:37

to local schools had come to

12:39

see the performance. It seemed like

12:41

an eon until the curse and

12:43

cool. At last

12:45

the music struck up. And

12:48

the curtain rose to reveal the

12:50

chorus. Supposedly. Kids

12:53

at school milling around and

12:55

chassis. Ktm Samantha.

12:58

Had a couple of lines to say and

13:00

even got some big laugh. About

13:03

ten minutes into the play, I

13:05

had her first big number. She

13:09

frank out as a cloud of

13:11

through those and began to dance

13:13

and sing. them That can be

13:16

asked. Count on it, We make

13:18

a path to the Magic in

13:21

the ass. Count on it if

13:23

you dare. Theater Magic in the

13:25

Sky was using. Was

13:28

I read like you lose a

13:30

lot love you madly in ah

13:33

there you know or I'll do

13:35

a cell put a towel on

13:37

years he has such a balmy

13:40

I was saying you rest assured

13:42

least mathematical beast within. It's tricky

13:45

because she lets move weighed him

13:47

and case you'd ever seen her

13:49

the note seem to slow out

13:52

of her mouth with ease and

13:54

had dance moves with superbly fluids

13:56

and sprint. Even invented

13:59

news and the. spots. The

14:01

boy playing call was having trouble keeping up

14:03

with her. Then, with one

14:06

enormous jump, worthy of

14:08

the Russian ballerina and a Pavlova,

14:11

she flew into the air. Only

14:14

she didn't calm down. She

14:16

carried on flying and screaming

14:19

all the way into the seats

14:21

on the upper circle, thirty

14:23

feet above the stage. The

14:26

audience, thinking it was all some

14:29

stage trick, burst into

14:31

applause, which drowned out poor

14:34

Isis's screams. Until

14:46

did they know that it wasn't

14:48

stage magic, it was real

14:51

magic. The director ordered

14:53

the safety curtain down and ran up

14:55

the stairs to the circle. There,

14:58

she found a shocked but

15:00

unharmed Isis. That

15:03

was some leap, she said. I

15:07

want to go home, stammered

15:10

Isis. I'm sorry, I

15:13

can't go on. The

15:16

show was cancelled that evening, and

15:19

the theatre had to refund all the

15:21

tickets. What a

15:23

disaster! It seemed

15:25

like the curtain had fallen for

15:27

the very last time. But

15:30

Isis's giant leap had an

15:32

unexpected benefit. When

15:34

word got around, the story was

15:37

in the local newspapers. And

15:39

the next day, it was national.

15:42

And then, an international news item.

15:44

The rest of

15:46

the season was totally sold out.

15:49

The show returned by popular

15:52

demand. But Isis had

15:54

had enough in the spotlight of stardom. She

15:57

persuaded her aunt to give the lead part

15:59

to Katie. Katie

16:01

reluctantly agreed, and

16:04

every night, just to keep the audience

16:06

happy, she performed some

16:08

impossible magic tricks, like

16:10

jumping up in the air and disappearing, and

16:13

then suddenly reappearing again,

16:15

or pulling a

16:17

bunny rabbit out of her

16:20

witch's hat, or making the audience

16:22

laugh when it really wasn't that funny.

16:25

And after the show, everyone

16:27

said Katie could have been a

16:30

star, but she didn't quite

16:32

like being in the spotlight all the

16:34

time, really, she was quite a private

16:36

shy witch, and a star

16:39

in her own way. And

16:46

that was the story of Katie

16:49

and the Magic Theatre. And

16:51

if you'd like to hear more Katie stories, please

16:54

leave a comment on one of your

16:56

favourite podcasts apps. For now,

16:59

from me Natasha, bye bye!