The rehearsal that day was an absolute disaster. There wasn't a single person properly in charge of the auditorium. Performers scrambled chaotically between the stage and backstage, dragging out their entrances and exits. The gala, originally scheduled to last an hour and a half, had started at two in the afternoon. By five o'clock—quitting time—it was still nowhere near finished. Only half of the performers waiting backstage had even taken the stage.
Working overtime was no big deal. In this day and age, people were happy to do so, seeing it as a selfless contribution to the motherland. However, when dinnertime arrived and there was still no food to be had, *that* was a major problem.
