Read Online A Midsummer Night's Fling (Stage Kiss Series Book 1) by Beth Matthews - Free Book Online
Authors: Beth Matthews
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can get your contract signed before you see Tierney for your costume fitting. This way." The artistic director started toward the admin building. Nicola shrugged the strap of her rehearsal bag onto her shoulder and followed Isabelle up the stairs to the offices.
The interior of the admin building was painted a soft champagne color with modern light fixtures and plush leather seats in the waiting area. Framed shots from dozens of the RSF's shows graced the walls, and Nicola had to restrain an urge to linger.
"Look around if you want," Isabelle said, poised in her office door.
Not needing to be told twice, Nicola dumped her rehearsal bag into one of the guest chairs. The photos were pretty standard fare: record shots from past productions at the RSF showing comical scenes or a stunning tableau, anything that had made a good picture.
She caught a glimpse of Armina Elton's famous face and leaned nearer to that image, surprised to find herself staring at a shot of the movie star and a young Isabelle onstage together. Isabelle sat at a vanity table, staring shakily ahead as she put on lipstick. Her mother stood behind her, arms waving, a manic expression on her face.
" Gypsy ," Isabelle explained. Nicola jumped to find her standing so close. Isabelle nodded toward the frame. " Gypsy was the last show Mother did before she retired. The entire run of that show sold out. Only time that's happened in the RSF's history."
"Your parents founded the RSF together, right?"
"Yes. After Mama stopped making films she got so bored, waiting for parts to come along. And she had this huge estate. The RSF literally got its start when my parents put together a production of As You Like It in the barn with a bunch of friends. Rosalind was always Mama's favorite Shakespeare part. Here." Isabelle pulled one of the pictures off the wall and handed the frame to Nicola.
The picture showed Armina Elton and her third husband, the famous opera singer Bastian DeMarco, clasping each other in the kind of passionate embrace you only ever saw onstage. Or pirate movies. Armina was in some kind of harem girl costume as she tried to twist away. Bastian wore a long and very red cape with a matching mask as he held her close to him. "This is from the RSF's first season ever," Isabelle said. "My dad made her do The Desert Song so he could have a chance to sing. Tierney keeps bugging me to put that show in the season again." Isabelle puffed her breath out on a small hmm , then lifted the picture from Nicola's hands and stuck the photo back on the wall. "Let's get your contract signed, eh?"
Moment over , Nicola thought as Isabelle stalked into her office, taking it for granted that Nicola would follow. Shaking her head, Nicola shouldered her bag and marched after her.
Isabelle insinuated herself into her chair and placed the contract on the desk in front of Nicola. Someone knocked on Isabelle's door just as Nicola finished dotting her 'i' and adding the flourish on the 's' in 'Charles'. When Nicola glanced up, Judith O'Fallon stood in the doorway.
Nicola forced herself to smile and not fidget. "Nice to see you, Ms. O'Fallon."
"Oh, call me Judith. Were you two done? Shall I walk Nicola out?"
Please don't . But Nicola kept beaming until her cheeks hurt. Isabelle waved them off and expelled a long, wistful sigh as she stared at the mountains of paperwork stacked on her desk, ringing her round like an ambush.
In the reception room, Judith glanced at Isabelle's closed door then lowered her voice. "Did Isabelle give you any trouble?"
Nicola frowned. "No . . . "
"Oh good. Rita thinks very highly of you. She's a strong ally to have in your corner."
"The feeling's mutual."
"Yes." Judith graced this remark with a stiff, polite smile. "I only wanted you to understand: this is the big leagues. I've done shows with the RSF before, and I want to make sure we maintain a high standard of quality this season under my tenure."
"All right – "
"The RSF
The interior of the admin building was painted a soft champagne color with modern light fixtures and plush leather seats in the waiting area. Framed shots from dozens of the RSF's shows graced the walls, and Nicola had to restrain an urge to linger.
"Look around if you want," Isabelle said, poised in her office door.
Not needing to be told twice, Nicola dumped her rehearsal bag into one of the guest chairs. The photos were pretty standard fare: record shots from past productions at the RSF showing comical scenes or a stunning tableau, anything that had made a good picture.
She caught a glimpse of Armina Elton's famous face and leaned nearer to that image, surprised to find herself staring at a shot of the movie star and a young Isabelle onstage together. Isabelle sat at a vanity table, staring shakily ahead as she put on lipstick. Her mother stood behind her, arms waving, a manic expression on her face.
" Gypsy ," Isabelle explained. Nicola jumped to find her standing so close. Isabelle nodded toward the frame. " Gypsy was the last show Mother did before she retired. The entire run of that show sold out. Only time that's happened in the RSF's history."
"Your parents founded the RSF together, right?"
"Yes. After Mama stopped making films she got so bored, waiting for parts to come along. And she had this huge estate. The RSF literally got its start when my parents put together a production of As You Like It in the barn with a bunch of friends. Rosalind was always Mama's favorite Shakespeare part. Here." Isabelle pulled one of the pictures off the wall and handed the frame to Nicola.
The picture showed Armina Elton and her third husband, the famous opera singer Bastian DeMarco, clasping each other in the kind of passionate embrace you only ever saw onstage. Or pirate movies. Armina was in some kind of harem girl costume as she tried to twist away. Bastian wore a long and very red cape with a matching mask as he held her close to him. "This is from the RSF's first season ever," Isabelle said. "My dad made her do The Desert Song so he could have a chance to sing. Tierney keeps bugging me to put that show in the season again." Isabelle puffed her breath out on a small hmm , then lifted the picture from Nicola's hands and stuck the photo back on the wall. "Let's get your contract signed, eh?"
Moment over , Nicola thought as Isabelle stalked into her office, taking it for granted that Nicola would follow. Shaking her head, Nicola shouldered her bag and marched after her.
Isabelle insinuated herself into her chair and placed the contract on the desk in front of Nicola. Someone knocked on Isabelle's door just as Nicola finished dotting her 'i' and adding the flourish on the 's' in 'Charles'. When Nicola glanced up, Judith O'Fallon stood in the doorway.
Nicola forced herself to smile and not fidget. "Nice to see you, Ms. O'Fallon."
"Oh, call me Judith. Were you two done? Shall I walk Nicola out?"
Please don't . But Nicola kept beaming until her cheeks hurt. Isabelle waved them off and expelled a long, wistful sigh as she stared at the mountains of paperwork stacked on her desk, ringing her round like an ambush.
In the reception room, Judith glanced at Isabelle's closed door then lowered her voice. "Did Isabelle give you any trouble?"
Nicola frowned. "No . . . "
"Oh good. Rita thinks very highly of you. She's a strong ally to have in your corner."
"The feeling's mutual."
"Yes." Judith graced this remark with a stiff, polite smile. "I only wanted you to understand: this is the big leagues. I've done shows with the RSF before, and I want to make sure we maintain a high standard of quality this season under my tenure."
"All right – "
"The RSF
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