and writing the moves and music down on a pad balanced on his knee. He looked up and smiled at Bonny. ‘You all right?’
‘I’m sitting here unable to believe what’s happening,’ she admitted.
He gazed at her with affection. He would enjoy this new challenge, especially as Bonny was part of it. They were like-minded souls, whose world was the theatre. How fortunate he was to have found her, he mused.
‘We work well together, Bonny, and you have no idea how happy that makes me. We are going to have so much fun, but once we start rehearsals in the morning, you’ll believe it’s all happening, you’ll be so tired!’ And he returned to his work. He was directing all the numbers that they were dancing and had been given carte blanche by Peter Collins.
‘I love your style, Rob,’ Collins had said. ‘I want you to bring that to your part of the show. I’ve hired excellent dancers for the chorus, who will be thrilled to work with you. I have only one favour to ask.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘One of our backers has a girlfriend and he insists that she is in the chorus. She’s not a bad dancer, but nothing special. However, I desperately need his money, so I had to agree, I’m sorry.’
Rob was not pleased. ‘What if she can’t cut the mustard?’
‘Then, old man, you’ll have to work with her and make sure she does.’
There was a steeliness in Collins’ voice and Rob knew he had no option but to agree.
‘Right, let’s hope she isn’t useless or I’ll work her until her feet bleed, then perhaps she won’t be quite so keen on the idea!’ And the subject was closed.
On their arrival in London, Rob took Bonny by taxi to her digs. She liked the Greggs at once and was delighted with her bedroom, which was small but filled with light from the window. It was reasonably close to the theatre, and once she was settled, Rob walked her to the Adelphi to look at the theatre and talk to Peter Collins.
He put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, tellingher about the city and the shows that were currently being performed in the West End, adding to her excitement.
The show was already in rehearsal when they arrived, and the three of them sat in the stalls and watched the early attempts of the opening numbers. The chorus were being put through their steps by Collins’ musical director, who halted the rehearsal to come over and meet Rob.
Dan Mansfield was an up-and-coming young man in the theatre and he greeted Rob with enthusiasm. ‘Mr Andrews, it’s a great pleasure to meet you. I’m one of your most ardent admirers and I look forward to working with you.’ The two shook hands.
‘When did you start rehearsing?’ Rob asked.
‘Only yesterday, so everything and everyone is pretty raw at the moment, but we’ll get there.’
‘I’m sure you will. Please, don’t let me disturb you.’
They watched as he instructed the chorus line in their opening number and suddenly Rob saw a familiar face and guessed which dancer was the girlfriend of one of the backers.
Bonny recognized her at the same time. ‘That’s Lily Stevens!’ she said with surprise.
Rob closed his eyes in despair. He had fired Lily at the end of the show in Southampton for tripping up Bonny and causing her to sprain her ankle. The girl had heartily denied it, of course, and there had been an angry scene as Lily had left Rob’s office – and the show. Now, here she was, and Rob was stuck with her – like it or not. The only saving grace was that Lily was good enough for the chorus with a bit of hard work, but in his bones Rob knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with that – and that would be his problem. One that he would keep from Bonny. He didn’t want anything to interfere with her performance. Besides, it was his concern, not hers.
The following morning Rob began his rehearsals. The chorus stood before him, waiting eagerly for his instructions, knowing his reputation. He quickly laid out the scene to which they
‘I’m sitting here unable to believe what’s happening,’ she admitted.
He gazed at her with affection. He would enjoy this new challenge, especially as Bonny was part of it. They were like-minded souls, whose world was the theatre. How fortunate he was to have found her, he mused.
‘We work well together, Bonny, and you have no idea how happy that makes me. We are going to have so much fun, but once we start rehearsals in the morning, you’ll believe it’s all happening, you’ll be so tired!’ And he returned to his work. He was directing all the numbers that they were dancing and had been given carte blanche by Peter Collins.
‘I love your style, Rob,’ Collins had said. ‘I want you to bring that to your part of the show. I’ve hired excellent dancers for the chorus, who will be thrilled to work with you. I have only one favour to ask.’
‘And what’s that?’
‘One of our backers has a girlfriend and he insists that she is in the chorus. She’s not a bad dancer, but nothing special. However, I desperately need his money, so I had to agree, I’m sorry.’
Rob was not pleased. ‘What if she can’t cut the mustard?’
‘Then, old man, you’ll have to work with her and make sure she does.’
There was a steeliness in Collins’ voice and Rob knew he had no option but to agree.
‘Right, let’s hope she isn’t useless or I’ll work her until her feet bleed, then perhaps she won’t be quite so keen on the idea!’ And the subject was closed.
On their arrival in London, Rob took Bonny by taxi to her digs. She liked the Greggs at once and was delighted with her bedroom, which was small but filled with light from the window. It was reasonably close to the theatre, and once she was settled, Rob walked her to the Adelphi to look at the theatre and talk to Peter Collins.
He put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, tellingher about the city and the shows that were currently being performed in the West End, adding to her excitement.
The show was already in rehearsal when they arrived, and the three of them sat in the stalls and watched the early attempts of the opening numbers. The chorus were being put through their steps by Collins’ musical director, who halted the rehearsal to come over and meet Rob.
Dan Mansfield was an up-and-coming young man in the theatre and he greeted Rob with enthusiasm. ‘Mr Andrews, it’s a great pleasure to meet you. I’m one of your most ardent admirers and I look forward to working with you.’ The two shook hands.
‘When did you start rehearsing?’ Rob asked.
‘Only yesterday, so everything and everyone is pretty raw at the moment, but we’ll get there.’
‘I’m sure you will. Please, don’t let me disturb you.’
They watched as he instructed the chorus line in their opening number and suddenly Rob saw a familiar face and guessed which dancer was the girlfriend of one of the backers.
Bonny recognized her at the same time. ‘That’s Lily Stevens!’ she said with surprise.
Rob closed his eyes in despair. He had fired Lily at the end of the show in Southampton for tripping up Bonny and causing her to sprain her ankle. The girl had heartily denied it, of course, and there had been an angry scene as Lily had left Rob’s office – and the show. Now, here she was, and Rob was stuck with her – like it or not. The only saving grace was that Lily was good enough for the chorus with a bit of hard work, but in his bones Rob knew she wouldn’t be satisfied with that – and that would be his problem. One that he would keep from Bonny. He didn’t want anything to interfere with her performance. Besides, it was his concern, not hers.
The following morning Rob began his rehearsals. The chorus stood before him, waiting eagerly for his instructions, knowing his reputation. He quickly laid out the scene to which they
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