AUSTIN — Lola Birch, famously cast as Who #3 in Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical in high school and armed with a self-diagnosed anxiety disorder, was finally about to get her big break. She drove up to the McDonald’s drive thru speaker absolutely shaking with nerves, heart pounding. She calmed herself — she knew her lines. “Hello, welcome to McDonald’s. What can I get you?” a tiny voice shouted through the speakers. Lola took a deep breath and rehearsed her lines one more time in her head before boldly ordering a #1 combo. She even improvised a little and asked for a McFlurry. She rolled her car forward, about to come face-to-face with her audience. The curtain was about to be pulled back. She whispered to herself, “It’s showtime. Let’s break our own leg.” The car rolled up to the window and Lola got herself into character: She was going to play the charming, smiley girl who only got McDonald’s every once in awhile to “treat herself.” It was almost method. A matronly woman named Martha opened the window and didn’t even glance her way as she took her card and rang her up. “How much ketchup do you want?” Martha asked. Lola panicked and thought to herself, “Fuck. How did I not consider a ketchup inquiry? I haven’t rehearsed this! How many ketchups can I ask for that’s somewhat honest but not so much so that Martha thinks I’m a little tomato slut?” She asked for eight. Seemed neutral. Martha smiled and gave her the food. Lola checked the bag: ten ketchups. Martha was so obsessed with her it was embarrassing. Lola smiled as she drove away — a flawless performance.