Page 21 of A Village Theatre Murder

‘I say we do it,’ said Hector, next in line. ‘It’s a huge opportunity, that the judges for the regional competition will be there. They don’t go to everything, you know. And I don’t think it would be too difficult to recast. Personally, I know all of the lines. Every character.’ Hector shrugged in what Julia thought he must think was a modest manner.

‘All the lines for all the players? That’s helpful, I’ll bear it in mind, thank you. Gina?’

‘It’s hard to say, isn’t it? I mean, it seems a pity not to, after all our hard work, but it might be awful after’ – she gave Oscar a quick involuntary glance, blushed and finished – ‘what happened.’

‘I don’t know what to think,’ said Guy, flustered. ‘It seems a bit…cold. But I suppose I’d do it if that’s what everyone thinks is best.’

‘I still don’t like it,’ Nicky said, with uncharacteristic brevity.

‘Even at a different venue?’ asked Roger.

‘Well, that would be better, I suppose.’

‘But in any case, we’ve lost our lead actor,’ said Guy.

‘There will be a new lead! The showmustgo on!’ said Hector, determinedly, speaking out of turn. ‘It’s what Graham would have wanted.’

There was a thoughtful silence as the group pondered his statement. It was a bold claim, Julia felt. Who was to say what Graham would have wanted? He’d have wanted not to be dead,that’s for sure. Would he have wanted the South Cotswolds Players to be back on stage the same month, doing the same play in which he’d been killed? Hard to say.

Julia had a brainwave. ‘Why don’t we ask Jane how she feels about it? We’ll take our lead from her.’

‘That’s a very good idea, Julia,’ Roger said. ‘We will ask Jane whether she would want the play to go on in a different iteration and venue.’

‘I’ve got an idea!’ said Hector, eagerly. ‘We could dedicate the performances to Graham! That would be amagnificentgesture, wouldn’t it?’

Roger winced slightly at the word ‘magnificent’, but said, ‘I’ll propose it to Jane when I speak to her. Now, we haven’t heard from you, Oscar? What do you think?’

‘I don’t know if I could…’

‘I completely understand.’

‘I couldn’t bear to have a gun. Even to see a gun after what I…’

‘Heavens, no. A rubber knife, it’ll be, Oscar. If we go ahead.’

‘Right. But even so, I don’t know…’

‘Would it help to swap roles with someone else? Maybe something a little less taxing would…’

‘Speaking of roles, a thought,’ said Hector, who really was full of ideas today. ‘Time is so short. Perhaps we should decide now who is going to be recast, so that we…they…can learn our…their…lines. Those of us who have them. If Jane says we should go ahead, we’ll be a bit prepared.’

‘Yes, I’ve been working on the new cast sheet.’ Roger pulled a piece of paper from his pocket. It was the bill from the show, with a few notes in his spidery writing. He dipped his hand into his inside pocket to produce a pair of reading glasses and a smart silver pen. ‘I hadn’t factored in a change for Oscar – so silly of me – so let me just…’

All eyes were on the director as he scratched his head,looked to the ceiling for inspiration, bent his head to write, scribbled something out. Sighed.

‘Right,’ he said, putting the pen back in his pocket. ‘There we have it. So, Oscar swaps with Dylan. Dylan, can you manage the Upright Husband?’

‘Gosh,’ said Dylan. ‘Goodness. Thank you. I’ll do my best.’

‘Big shoes to fill, young man. I know you won’t let us down. And Oscar, you can take Dylan’s role as Interfering Neighbour. No guns involved; in fact, no weapons of any kind. All right?’

Oscar nodded, ‘No guns, no guns.’

‘Guy is the understudy for the lead, so he will step into the breach and take Graham’s role of the Charming Good-for-Nothing.’

This came as quite a surprise, given Guy’s freeze on the first night. Guy clearly thought so too, because he looked up in astonishment, or perhaps terror.

‘I just wanted to mention…’ Hector said. Roger looked up from his notes. ‘That I know all the lines. I have the memory for it.’ He tapped his head. ‘All in here.’

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