When the Lights Go Out by Chris Curran

Author:Chris Curran [Curran, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008534493
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter Thirty-Five

Nobody knew when the critic might turn up, but in the familiar room above the pub, Brad said what they were probably all thinking. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if she came tonight. I always feel really comfortable performing here. As if we’re a football team and this is our home ground.’

Their makeshift dressing room was the windowless store where the chairs were stacked when not in use. Once they’d set them out for the audience in the main room there was just enough space for them all to get changed. When Ava was in her costume, Mel helped her put on the green and blue makeup she wore for the river goddess. Mel played a small child in one scene and wore a mask for her other appearances so she didn’t need makeup.

Earlier, Ava had been relieved when she was saved from saying anything to Mel about why she’d been in Joel’s room, by other people arriving in the kitchen. Lally to say the police would call as soon as they could, Brad brandishing the letterbox he’d bought and Paddy silently making himself a sandwich. When Joel appeared, he was very quiet too and Ava managed to eat her own toast and peanut butter without meeting anyone’s eye. It was fine because people were often quiet in the hours right before a show.

Now, taking deep breaths and doing a few loosening-up exercises, she tried to clear her mind of everything that had happened today. To focus on being ready for the play.

Lally was in the main room, selling tickets, and when she popped her head around the dressing room door and said it was time to start, Brad pointed to a metal box with a lock he’d also bought in Gloucester and they all dropped in their phones. Lally put the key in her pocket and went back out.

Waiting for the lights to go down so she could make her entrance, Ava heard a rumble of chatter, as if the audience was excited about something other than the start of the play, but it calmed down when Lally announced, ‘The show is about to begin. Can I ask you to turn your phones to silent and refrain from talking,’ in the tone Brad liked to call her strict governess voice.

Then the main lights went off, the stage lights went on and Ava felt that thump of anticipation, part fear, part excitement she always had just before a show. And they were off.

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