Read Online A Midsummer Night's Scream by Jill Churchill - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jill Churchill
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find the costumes by himself.“
“And find caterers,“ Shelley added.
“And substitutes for us,“ John Bunting gloated.
Nine
When everyone had recovered from this scene, which was far more exciting and dramatic than anything in the script, the rehearsal went on. This time it was to work out where people stood or sat, or entered or left, in each scene. A sofa was represented by three chairs in a row, taken from the workroom. Three more of them represented armchairs. The placement of the doors was marked on the floors with chalk. Imry was subdued and relatively well behaved. When Bill Denk made another snide remark to the audience, Imry didn’t even chide him.
Evelyn Chance was still sitting in the front row, and Imry kept giving her anxious glances.
Jane and Shelley took their needlepoint materials back to the workroom, after washing their hands as they’d been instructed. They left the door to the serving room open and the back door slightly ajar so they could hear when the catering truck arrived.
When they were seated in two of the remaining chairs in the workroom and had their canvases out, Shelley asked, “Do you think everyone who was threatening to walk out would have done so if Ms. Chance hadn’t stopped us?“
“Wasn’t she fabulous?“ Jane replied. “I aspire to be that outspoken one day. Yes, I think they would have. All but Imry’s replacement for Denny. Most of them are volunteers. Only Tazz and the Buntings stood to lose money. And there are probably others. I don’t think you’d trust lighting to volunteers unless they were professional electricians and theater was a hobby.“
“You’re forgetting me, Jane,“ Shelley said. “I’d have been out on the deposits to the caterers. But if he’d continued to be so obnoxious, it would have been well worth it.“
“Do you think he really learned anything about how to behave?“
“Not at all. He was just cornered and scared spitless.“
“I wonder if Ms. Chance was right that he’s the primary suspect for Denny’s death? I’d guess that’s what Mel thinks. Of course, I could be wrong about that. He never really said so,“ Jane qualified.
“Everything we know, which isn’t much, seems to point to him,“ Shelley said. “My impression of him is that he’s one of those bullies who knows deep in his heart that he’s not as smart or talented as those he’s bullying, and furthermore, thinks they won’t realize it.“
“It was unfortunate for him that he had a replacement lined up for Denny,“ Jane said. “And stupid besides. Denny was unwise, and was being a show-off by humiliating Imry in front of everyone, but the honorable thing for Imry would have been to fire Denny before choosing a successor. And Imry should have realized that Denny was right that Imry really should brush up on his grammar or hire someone to vet the script.
“On the other hand,“ Jane went on, “Imry didn’t seem to have the kind of courage it takes to actually kill someone.“
“It doesn’t always take courage, Jane. Probably the fear of continuing humiliation could be enough to push someone as insecure as Imry to do something violent in the heat of anger.“
“You might be right.“
“Was that the sound of a truck?“ Shelley asked. “It was. I’ll put your needlepoint things away for you.“
That night’s caterers were the most imaginative, Shelley later declared. Along with colorful, sturdy plastic plates, they also had provided fruits and vegetables, meats and pastas, and sauces that were fresh and unusual. Broiled kiwi fruits with a mysterious tasty glaze. Tender scallops with lime sauce. Hot fingerling potatoes crusted with salt and some spice nobody could quite identify. There was also a creamy cooled rice salad with quartered green grapes, sliced blood oranges, and Vidalia onion chunks served with the best sourdough bread Jane had ever tasted.
“This is a lot more than a mere snack,“ Tazz said, helping herself to generous
“And find caterers,“ Shelley added.
“And substitutes for us,“ John Bunting gloated.
Nine
When everyone had recovered from this scene, which was far more exciting and dramatic than anything in the script, the rehearsal went on. This time it was to work out where people stood or sat, or entered or left, in each scene. A sofa was represented by three chairs in a row, taken from the workroom. Three more of them represented armchairs. The placement of the doors was marked on the floors with chalk. Imry was subdued and relatively well behaved. When Bill Denk made another snide remark to the audience, Imry didn’t even chide him.
Evelyn Chance was still sitting in the front row, and Imry kept giving her anxious glances.
Jane and Shelley took their needlepoint materials back to the workroom, after washing their hands as they’d been instructed. They left the door to the serving room open and the back door slightly ajar so they could hear when the catering truck arrived.
When they were seated in two of the remaining chairs in the workroom and had their canvases out, Shelley asked, “Do you think everyone who was threatening to walk out would have done so if Ms. Chance hadn’t stopped us?“
“Wasn’t she fabulous?“ Jane replied. “I aspire to be that outspoken one day. Yes, I think they would have. All but Imry’s replacement for Denny. Most of them are volunteers. Only Tazz and the Buntings stood to lose money. And there are probably others. I don’t think you’d trust lighting to volunteers unless they were professional electricians and theater was a hobby.“
“You’re forgetting me, Jane,“ Shelley said. “I’d have been out on the deposits to the caterers. But if he’d continued to be so obnoxious, it would have been well worth it.“
“Do you think he really learned anything about how to behave?“
“Not at all. He was just cornered and scared spitless.“
“I wonder if Ms. Chance was right that he’s the primary suspect for Denny’s death? I’d guess that’s what Mel thinks. Of course, I could be wrong about that. He never really said so,“ Jane qualified.
“Everything we know, which isn’t much, seems to point to him,“ Shelley said. “My impression of him is that he’s one of those bullies who knows deep in his heart that he’s not as smart or talented as those he’s bullying, and furthermore, thinks they won’t realize it.“
“It was unfortunate for him that he had a replacement lined up for Denny,“ Jane said. “And stupid besides. Denny was unwise, and was being a show-off by humiliating Imry in front of everyone, but the honorable thing for Imry would have been to fire Denny before choosing a successor. And Imry should have realized that Denny was right that Imry really should brush up on his grammar or hire someone to vet the script.
“On the other hand,“ Jane went on, “Imry didn’t seem to have the kind of courage it takes to actually kill someone.“
“It doesn’t always take courage, Jane. Probably the fear of continuing humiliation could be enough to push someone as insecure as Imry to do something violent in the heat of anger.“
“You might be right.“
“Was that the sound of a truck?“ Shelley asked. “It was. I’ll put your needlepoint things away for you.“
That night’s caterers were the most imaginative, Shelley later declared. Along with colorful, sturdy plastic plates, they also had provided fruits and vegetables, meats and pastas, and sauces that were fresh and unusual. Broiled kiwi fruits with a mysterious tasty glaze. Tender scallops with lime sauce. Hot fingerling potatoes crusted with salt and some spice nobody could quite identify. There was also a creamy cooled rice salad with quartered green grapes, sliced blood oranges, and Vidalia onion chunks served with the best sourdough bread Jane had ever tasted.
“This is a lot more than a mere snack,“ Tazz said, helping herself to generous
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