we have to do is to remove the scenes that deal with strangers.’
‘In other words, we ape what Sir Edmund Tilney did.’
‘He tore the play apart. We will merely amend it.’
‘It amounts to the same thing. If the play is not performed in its entirety, then it will not take to the stage at all. No more argument,’ said Hoode as Firethorn tried to speak. ‘I’llnot be party to anything that might cause embarrassment to Lord Westfield and his bride.’ The doorbell was rung hard. ‘That will be Barnaby. I’m glad that we discussed
Sir Thomas More
before he arrived. He disliked the play.’
‘Only because he had such a minor role,’ said Nicholas.
‘Yes,’ said Firethorn, ‘the only scenes he bothered to read were those in which the clown appeared. It was ever thus. He judges the quality of a play by the number of lines he has and the number of comic jigs he’s allowed to dance.’
Moments later, Margery showed the latest arrival into the room before disappearing again. There was a flurry of greetings then Gill took a seat. He distributed a warning glance among the others.
‘I hope that you’ve not been rash enough to make any decisions without me,’ he said, ‘because I shall countermand them all.’
‘Three votes will always count against your one,’ said Firethorn.
‘I only see two sharers in the room.’
‘Nick’s opinion has more weight than anyone else’s.’
‘Even when he is nothing more than a hired man?’
‘Stop harping on that, Barnaby,’ said Hoode wearily. ‘Nick has already stopped us from taking one unsuitable offering to Denmark and he’ll do so again. Nobody knows our stock of plays better than he, and what costumes, scenery and properties are needed for each one. Since we can only carry a limited amount of baggage, such details need to be taken into account.’ Margery entered with a bottle of wine and four glasses on a tray. ‘We’ll put it to the test.’
‘You come on cue, my love,’ said Firethorn, massagingher buttock as she put the tray on the table. ‘Of the four of us, who is the best judge of a play?’
‘Nick Bracewell,’ she replied promptly.
‘And the finest actor?’
‘Do not fish for compliments, Lawrence,’ she said, pouring the wine out and handing the glasses around. ‘When you are in the same company, you do not compete. You act with each other.’
Hoode smiled his approval. ‘Well-said, Margery.’
‘Every team needs a leader,’ Firethorn commented.
‘He leads best who does not have to impose his will upon others,’ she said, handing a drink to her husband before moving away. ‘Bear that in mind, Lawrence.’
‘Heed your wife,’ Gill advised. ‘Margery spies your weakness.’
‘She spied yours at a glance,’ riposted Firethorn.
‘I did not come here to be abused.’
‘Then refrain from inviting it.’
‘I’m here to make important decisions.’
‘And so is Nick – let that be understood.’
‘It’s not only the choice of plays that must exercise us,’ said Nicholas. ‘There is the far trickier problem of selecting those who act in them. Lord Westfield has kindly volunteered to pay for our passage to Denmark but his bounty ends there. To defray expenses, we must travel with a smaller company and that will mean shedding several of our hired men.’
‘We must take musicians,’ insisted Firethorn. ‘They will expect songs and dances from us.’
Gill preened himself. ‘And especially from me,’ he boasted.
‘There’s not room for everyone,’ said Hoode solemnly.
‘Alas, no,’ agreed Nicholas. ‘Instead of musicians, we must have actors who can play an instrument. Their other skills should also be taken into account before we come to a decision.’
‘Other skills?’ said Firethorn.
‘Oswald Megson once worked as a carpenter. He will be sorely needed to make new scenery or repair anything that gets damaged. Harold Stoddard was apprenticed to a tailor. He must be both actor and tireman. As for
‘In other words, we ape what Sir Edmund Tilney did.’
‘He tore the play apart. We will merely amend it.’
‘It amounts to the same thing. If the play is not performed in its entirety, then it will not take to the stage at all. No more argument,’ said Hoode as Firethorn tried to speak. ‘I’llnot be party to anything that might cause embarrassment to Lord Westfield and his bride.’ The doorbell was rung hard. ‘That will be Barnaby. I’m glad that we discussed
Sir Thomas More
before he arrived. He disliked the play.’
‘Only because he had such a minor role,’ said Nicholas.
‘Yes,’ said Firethorn, ‘the only scenes he bothered to read were those in which the clown appeared. It was ever thus. He judges the quality of a play by the number of lines he has and the number of comic jigs he’s allowed to dance.’
Moments later, Margery showed the latest arrival into the room before disappearing again. There was a flurry of greetings then Gill took a seat. He distributed a warning glance among the others.
‘I hope that you’ve not been rash enough to make any decisions without me,’ he said, ‘because I shall countermand them all.’
‘Three votes will always count against your one,’ said Firethorn.
‘I only see two sharers in the room.’
‘Nick’s opinion has more weight than anyone else’s.’
‘Even when he is nothing more than a hired man?’
‘Stop harping on that, Barnaby,’ said Hoode wearily. ‘Nick has already stopped us from taking one unsuitable offering to Denmark and he’ll do so again. Nobody knows our stock of plays better than he, and what costumes, scenery and properties are needed for each one. Since we can only carry a limited amount of baggage, such details need to be taken into account.’ Margery entered with a bottle of wine and four glasses on a tray. ‘We’ll put it to the test.’
‘You come on cue, my love,’ said Firethorn, massagingher buttock as she put the tray on the table. ‘Of the four of us, who is the best judge of a play?’
‘Nick Bracewell,’ she replied promptly.
‘And the finest actor?’
‘Do not fish for compliments, Lawrence,’ she said, pouring the wine out and handing the glasses around. ‘When you are in the same company, you do not compete. You act with each other.’
Hoode smiled his approval. ‘Well-said, Margery.’
‘Every team needs a leader,’ Firethorn commented.
‘He leads best who does not have to impose his will upon others,’ she said, handing a drink to her husband before moving away. ‘Bear that in mind, Lawrence.’
‘Heed your wife,’ Gill advised. ‘Margery spies your weakness.’
‘She spied yours at a glance,’ riposted Firethorn.
‘I did not come here to be abused.’
‘Then refrain from inviting it.’
‘I’m here to make important decisions.’
‘And so is Nick – let that be understood.’
‘It’s not only the choice of plays that must exercise us,’ said Nicholas. ‘There is the far trickier problem of selecting those who act in them. Lord Westfield has kindly volunteered to pay for our passage to Denmark but his bounty ends there. To defray expenses, we must travel with a smaller company and that will mean shedding several of our hired men.’
‘We must take musicians,’ insisted Firethorn. ‘They will expect songs and dances from us.’
Gill preened himself. ‘And especially from me,’ he boasted.
‘There’s not room for everyone,’ said Hoode solemnly.
‘Alas, no,’ agreed Nicholas. ‘Instead of musicians, we must have actors who can play an instrument. Their other skills should also be taken into account before we come to a decision.’
‘Other skills?’ said Firethorn.
‘Oswald Megson once worked as a carpenter. He will be sorely needed to make new scenery or repair anything that gets damaged. Harold Stoddard was apprenticed to a tailor. He must be both actor and tireman. As for
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