The Wild Card by Renée

Author:Renée
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Cuba Press Ltd

17

‘Thirty-five is a very attractive age.’

They took three curtain calls, which was pretty good for a Porohiwi first night.

‘Sorry, sorry, sorry,’ Rissa hissed to the cast the moment the lights went down.

Then Hester walked out and everyone in the auditorium stood up and went crazy. Ruby knew what they were thinking. Here was this woman, little dot of a thing, born in Porohiwi, one of their own, who’d shown the theatrical world how to direct Shakespeare and was now leading the way with Oscar Wilde.

Ruby agreed with them. The Porohiwi Players were very lucky to have Hester. Fanatical, quick-tempered, funny, hugely talented, red frizzy hair and all. It was Hester’s iron determination that had made the transformation from an interior of an upper-class London flat to an outdoor garden scene, work.

‘If they have to see it happen they might as well have something good to look at,’ she’d said.

So three drama students had dressed as upper-class passers-by and two had dressed as maid and garden boy, and they’d silently posed and pointed at Bradley, Bax and three other drama students as they lugged the heavy tubs of ferns, bushes, roses and smaller pots of violets to the various spots marked with a tiny X. The audience watched, entranced. It was like a choreographed dance. It wasn’t the first time one of Hester’s scene changes had got a clap but the crew were very pleased. The first time they’d rehearsed it they’d taken forty-five minutes. Now it took five, and it was a pleasure to watch.

As soon as Hester finished her speech and the cast started leaving the stage Reilly walked over to Bax, who looked at him like he was a stranger.

‘I’m off,’ said Bax to Hester, ignoring Reilly. ‘See you tomorrow.’

He pressed his lips together to hold back either words he was determined not to say or tears he was resolutely not going to let fall. I’d like to murder that little prick, Ruby thought. As if reading her mind, Sam, looking neither to left or right, stalked off to the dressing room. He’d done well as Algernon, though, entering the stage on cue if a little flushed, and Rissa had been word perfect. Terror and shame, Ruby supposed. Works for some.

‘Bax,’ said Reilly. ‘We need to talk. I’ll just do a quick change. You want to have a drink?’

‘Rather swim naked in sick,’ said Bax. He looked tired. ‘You were fabulous,’ he said to Ruby. ‘Kate would have been so pleased.’ And he hugged her. Bax was good to hug. Big arms and a broad chest and he did it like he meant it.

‘Ring me,’ said Ruby, patting his back.

He nodded, but she knew he wouldn’t. ‘Love to stay but Mum’s not so well. Told her I’d look in.’ Then he left.

‘Fuck that idiot Sam,’ said Reilly. ‘I’m only looking for Mr Right. Is that a crime?’

‘No you’re not,’ said Ruby. ‘You’re looking for Mr Perfect. No such thing.’

Reilly looked at her as though she’d hit him.

‘Did you know,’ he said, ‘about Bax?’

‘Had a suspicion.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.