It may look easy, but there was a definite art to running auditions efficiently, keeping things moving along and making sure the director stuck to the schedule. Sam had obviously staggered the auditions well so that there weren’t too many actors waiting at any one time. That was important, especially in a small space like Halfpenny Lane.
‘It’s still possible to make a complete mess of it,’ she said to him. ‘I did it once and it was a nightmare. The director was the most awful flirt and went way over time with all the women. I didn’t have the nerve to cut him short and it got completely out of control. Bodies were piling up until it was standing room only. I felt so awful for everyone.’
‘Ah, you’re too nice, that’s your problem.’
Sive’s gaze drifted to the green room door as it opened. ‘Anyway, I’d better let you get on.’
‘Okay.’ Sam hesitated for a moment. ‘But are you doing anything on Saturday evening? I’ve been training in my replacement and he’s taking over as assistant stage manager for the evening show. I thought maybe we could do something together.’ He looked at her hopefully.
‘I’m meeting up with some friends from the Gaiety,’ Sive said with a regretful grimace. ‘But I’ll see you on Sunday for dinner?’
‘Yeah, I’ll be there. And maybe you could help me with my lines, if that’s not too cheeky to ask?’
‘Not at all. I’d love to.’
‘Great! I really want to be off book for the table read. We could run through our scenes together.’
‘Well, I’m very happy to help you with your lines. But I haven’t been cast yet, remember.’
‘No, but you will be,’ he said, walking backwards towards the green room. ‘Or my name’s not Ebenezer Scrooge!’
Sive laughed as he turned away, feeling more upbeat than she had for weeks. Even if she wasn’t cast as Belle, they’d be in the play together one way or another and it was going to be a lot of fun.
3
Sive spentSunday morning catching up on all the household chores and admin she’d let slide while she was filming. She washed and ironed clothes, answered emails and worked on the theatre’s social media, then spent a happy couple of hours in the warm fug of the kitchen, listening to actor interviews on the Backstage podcast while she did some batch cooking for the freezer.
Aoife had spent the night at Jonathan’s but came home mid-morning while he went to play five-a-side with some of his workmates. She busied herself printing out agendas and compiling budgets and financial reports for the afternoon meeting of the theatre board, while Sive began making bread for dinner later.
Halfpenny Lane was very much a family affair, and the board meeting would take place at the dining room table. Even though Jonathan, their fourth director, wasn’t a blood relative, he was their great-aunt Detta’s godson and now Aoife’s boyfriend, so he was as good as. Detta had left the theatre to the four of them and Jonathan had still wanted to be involved after the three sisters had bought out his share. They were glad to havehim. While their natural inclination was to focus more on the artistic direction of the theatre, they welcomed Jonathan’s more practical perspective, bringing a commercial mindset that the sisters lacked – although they were learning fast, and Mimi in particular was proving to have a good head for business.
Mimi joined them after lunch and Jonathan arrived as they were setting up the table in the dining room for the meeting. Cool outside air clung to his skin and his cheeks glowed with good health.
‘Good match?’ Aoife asked him.
‘Great.’ He grinned. ‘We thrashed them.’
‘My hero!’ Aoife sighed dramatically, clutching her hands to her heart.
Mimi and Sive went to the kitchen to give them a moment alone together while they made coffee.
‘Right, let’s get started.’ Jonathan rubbed his hands together when they were all settled around the table. He ran his eyes over the printed agenda. ‘A Christmas Carolis completely cast now?’ He glanced around at the sisters, who nodded.
Aoife handed him a cast list she’d printed out and he ran his eyes down it. ‘Little Fan will be played by Andrea Long? Really?’ He knew that Mimi had found it very trying working with Andrea inPrivate Livesand had been looking forward to getting shot of her.
Mimi sighed, nodding. ‘We could hardly bar her from auditioning. And Alan picked her, so what could we do? The woman’s a pill, but she’s good.’
‘And I’m playing Belle,’ Sive told him. She’d got the call from her agent the day after her audition.
‘Congratulations.’ Jonathan smiled at her. ‘Sam will be pleased.’ He frowned slightly and cleared his throat. ‘About Sam…’
‘Yes?’ Aoife prompted.
‘He didn’t … I mean, you haven’t given him this part as a favour, have you?’
Sive gasped. ‘No! Of course not.’
‘That’s not the sort of operation we run,’ Mimi said. ‘But even if it was, it’s not our decision to make. We put him up for it, but it’s the director’s call and Alan was obviously pleased with what he saw. Sam got the part fair and square.’
