Read Online Murder in the Second Row by Bev Robitai - Free Book Online

really
easy.’
    Adam
demonstrated the technique to a couple more of the novice actors
before calling a halt. ‘That’s it for today. For Tuesday’s
rehearsal, please arrive on time as we have photographer Bruce
Fitzpatrick coming to take some promo shots of you. I know we don’t
have your final costumes yet but that doesn’t matter. Clara-Jane
will have enough items that look right so we can get the pictures
we want. It shouldn’t take more than half an hour, then we’ll be
right into Act three so be ready. Thanks everyone, see you
Tuesday.’
    The cast left
the theatre, chattering and laughing.
    The
construction crew moved from the workshop area onto the stage to
put in a couple more hours of hard work.
     
    ‘Right, if you
could gather yourselves round Mrs Boynton please,’ called Adam.
‘Nadine’s holding the syringe, Ginevra has the knife, Raymond has
the glass bottle.’
    ‘And no larking
about with those props!’ boomed Simone. ‘I have my cane and I’m not
afraid to use it!’
    ‘It’s all
right, Simone, nobody’s killing you… yet. Hold that pose please,
while I check with Bruce.’
    Adam conferred
with the photographer, a tall gangly figure with wispy ginger hair.
Bruce eyed the group and nodded at Adam’s suggestion.
    ‘Excuse me
while I just tweak a few things,’ said Bruce to the statue-like
actors, stepping forward to rearrange the folds of Mrs Boynton’s
dress. He stepped back, then reached in and moved Ginevra’s arm a
fraction higher before assessing the tableau again. ‘Tamara, could
you move a little to your left please.’
    She shuffled
sideways, her face expressionless; Phil moving quickly to give her
more space.
    ‘Thank you,
I’ll just take a couple of shots of that.’ Bruce held up an
off-camera flash and fired the shutter twice. ‘OK, can you all look
at the floor… and then back to the camera…now.’ He fired again.
‘Good, that’s even better.’ He moved closer to the group. ‘Look up
to the roof, and back to the camera…now.’ They blinked at the
bright flash for a few moments. ‘Right, this time look at each
other as the characters you’re playing – ready? Go.’ He fired off
several more shots, the actors registering varying emotions as
called for in the script.
    ‘Does that give
you what you need, Adam?’
    ‘That should be
perfect, thank you, Bruce. Now, if you have time could we quickly
do the individual shots for the programme out in the Green
Room?’
    The cast
gathered out back, chatting idly while the photographer set up a
backdrop and a couple of lights.
    ‘Did you know
that there’s an Icelandic webpage for Agatha Christie?’ said
Phil.
    ‘Darling, how
do you come up with such useless information?’ Pippa asked her
husband, shaking her head.
    ‘I Googled her
when I got bored with marking the latest set of drivel masquerading
as class assignments. She was an amazing woman – wrote nearly 70
novels as well as her plays and short stories. Somehow Dauðinn á
Prestssetrinu sounds much more exotic than Murder at the Vicarage,
doesn’t it?’
    ‘Spare us the
lesson, Mr Jessop – we’re not at school now,’ muttered Tamara.
    ‘I have always
wondered why she gave away her villains so easily,’ said Simone.
‘Haven’t you noticed that they always have a curved mouth or a
queer smile?’
    ‘Well gosh, I
hadn’t noticed that,’ sneered Tamara, then spun around to face
Stewart with a malicious glint in her eye. ‘Hey, show us what a
queer smile looks like, Stewie.’
    Stewart
recoiled as if she’d struck him.
    Bruce
straightened up from his tripod and looked at her sharply.
    Tamara turned
on her heel and went over to Adam, smiling at him shyly. ‘Adam,
would it be all right if I leave rehearsal half an hour early next
Saturday, that’s the 16th? I’ve got a very good friend’s 21st party
to go to and it’s a bit of a drive out of town.’
    ‘As long as you
don’t make a habit of it, Tamara. You know that full attendance