‘I have to be honest, Oliver, we butted heads over his plans, to begin with. He wanted to totally modernise it, but I wasn’t having any of it.’
‘You stood your ground – good for you.’
Someone Bridie didn’t know passed sandwiches and hot coffees to her and Oliver.
Oliver said, ‘So, are you ready to start the auditions?’
‘This is crazy, isn’t it?’ said Bridie. She had not expected it all to get done in one day and then to start holding auditions for a play. ‘Wait – how can I hold auditions when I don’t even know what production I’m going to stage?’
‘Would you like a suggestion?’
Bridie knew exactly what Oliver was about to say. ‘The school production?’
‘Yes.’
Bridie frowned. What if she wanted to be in the production? Wasn’t that the idea, that she invited a producer from London so she could make her comeback? She said, ‘But what about the adults here who might want roles in it too?’
‘There are adult roles in the play. You’re the producer – you call the shots.’
‘I’m the producer,’ Bridie repeated, finding it hard to believe. ‘You’re right, I do call the shots.’ Her smile faded. ‘What do I do now?’
‘Here. I brought the play with me, just in case.’ Oliver handed her the manuscript. Bridie thumbed through to the title. ‘This is perfect.’
‘Isn’t it?’
Bridie said, ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
‘Let’s get this show on the road, as they say.’
‘Hear, hear!’ Reggie said.
They both turned in their seat to look at him sitting behind them. ‘Isn’t this just marvellous?’ he said, looking around the theatre auditorium.
Bridie thought the theatre now looked just like it did in the photos she’d found in the Reggie’s shoebox. ‘Reggie, does it take you back, seeing it looking like this, just as it was years ago?’
‘No.’
‘Oh.’ Bridie exchanged a glance with Oliver. It wasn’t what he’d expected to hear either.
Reggie leaned forward in his seat. ‘It’s better!’ he chuckled.
Bridie grinned. ‘You had me there.’ She looked at him. ‘I hope you’ll be in my show.’
‘I haven’t acted for years, Bridie.’
‘I know, but will you give a try?’
‘I’ll audition. How’s about that?’
‘And if I pick you …?’
‘Then I shall be honoured to tread the boards in The Little Theatre by the Sea once more.’
Bridie managed to give him an awkward hug across the seats.
‘So, who is going to be your director?’ Reggie asked.
Bridie looked at the manuscript, her gaze then settling on Oliver. ‘I think someone who has experience.’
