You watch breathlessly as the first act of The Prince's Wedding unfolds. The prince and his betrothed each wend their way through a tangle of wedding preparations until they're finally in the same scene, meeting in the beautiful garden at twilight. The pretty lanterns onstage illuminate the faux trees and the real (though wooden rather than stone) bench. How can that go wrong?
For a while, the play proceeds more or less as you imagined. Perhaps there are one or two flaws in the production that now appear glaringly obvious to you from the wings. There are a few minor misfortunes to mar your pleasure, as more than a few actors seem to have trouble with their costumes, and you see the stagehands mouthing oaths as they tug at uncooperative stage machinery. But nothing seems badly amiss.
As the play proceeds into its second act, the prince and Alisse are sharing a stolen moment in the garden, unaware that his former lover, Rean, is watching from behind a tree. In a moment Rean will step out with the fatal dagger, striking straight for her faithless lover's heart. Alisse will take the blow meant for the Prince, mortally wounding her.
As you watch, Viola shifts on the bench, then darts a glance at you in the wings, a glance suddenly full of meaning. You see exactly what she means. Her flowing gauze skirts are caught on a nail on the faux-stone wooden bench, and she's stuck to the bench. If she tries to stand up, her skirts will rip off. If she doesn't stand up when Rean appears, she can't stop Rean from stabbing the prince. If she stands up and takes the bench with her, it will be hilarious in what's supposed to be a tragic scene.
You look around for Nichol, but he's nowhere to be seen. You've got to think fast.