Wilmington, NC 10 - Much Ado About Murder by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter Page A
Authors: Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
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our party when we arrived. We sat at the front near the window and outside there was a steady stream of partiers. Watching all the many bare legs passing by, I asked everyone, “When did dresses get so short? Guess my attention has been focused on diapers and baby bottles for the past year and I haven’t noticed the latest trend.” I turned to Jon, “Should I buy one of those stretchy dresses that barely cover my crouch?”
Jon grinned at me. “Absolutely! But you can’t wear it outside our house!”
Glancing out the window, I saw a pair of sequined shorts pass by. “And what about those short shorts? What do you think, Aunt Ruby?”
To my amazement she broke into laughter. “Guess you’ve never heard of ‘hot pants’. In my day that’s what we wore, short shorts called hot pants. With little white ankle boots.”
Binkie beamed at her. “Now that I’d like to see.”
She laughed again and smacked at his hand.
“What in the world happened back there?” Melanie asked everyone.
When the curtain came down, the director stepped out and apologized for the interruption. He asked for our patience during a brief intermission while things got sorted out backstage. In about five minutes, the curtain opened again on the haystack scene. Apparently the correct prop knife had been located backstage, and the scene progressed as it was supposed to. Curly and Jud struggled with the prop knife and Jud played at being accidently stabbed. His death was declared an accident, and Curly and Laurie left on their honeymoon. The show closed to applause from a slightly puzzled audience.
Dalton, whom Binkie had invited to join us, offered an explanation, “It’s always hectic backstage before the dress rehearsal. Somehow, the prop knife was mistakenly replaced with a real knife.”
“So you think it was an accident?” I asked, wondering if Thomas who was playing Jud had any enemies.
“Of course, it was an accident. Who would want to hurt Thomas? Everyone likes him.”
The waiter came to take our orders. “Sorry for the delay,” he apologized. “Things are really busy tonight. The new play had their dress rehearsal. We always get a crowd when something is going on at Thalian Hall.”
And then he added excitedly. “Word is someone almost got killed at the theater tonight. Don’t know the details yet.”
So the rumors had begun.
Cam spoke up. “We’ve all had earlier dinners so how about we order a variety of plates from the Tapas menu. And this dinner’s on me.”
When protests began, he merely said, “I insist.”
“I love the Thai chicken,” Melanie said. “Good idea, darling.”
Ray said, “In that case, the wine’s on me.” And he turned to the waiter and ordered two bottles of chardonnay from the wine menu.
I told everyone at the table, “It’s wonderful to be able to drink wine again.”
The restaurant was indeed crowded. “Good thing we called ahead,” Jon said.
With its brick walls and Twenties-style paintings, Circa 1922 was one of the most popular downtown restaurants.
I whispered to Jon, “This is where we had our first official date. Remember?”
“How could I forget?” His smile lit up his face.
Dalton was saying to Scarlett, “Accidents on stage are not all that uncommon, don’t you agree?”
“I haven’t personally experienced any accidents, but just think of what happened with ‘Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.’ There were four accidents during preview performances. So yes, Dalton, I agree, accidents do happen in the theater. There’s so much going on at once, everyone is hyped up, it’s a wonder there aren’t more.”
“My experience, as well,” Dalton said.
“Dalton, we’re so glad you accepted our offer on the house,” I said. “I know it must be hard for you to give it up.”
“Yes,” Jon echoed. “Your house will make a splendid home for our family. I can’t wait to get to work on the changes we want to make.”
Dalton laughed. “There’s plenty
Jon grinned at me. “Absolutely! But you can’t wear it outside our house!”
Glancing out the window, I saw a pair of sequined shorts pass by. “And what about those short shorts? What do you think, Aunt Ruby?”
To my amazement she broke into laughter. “Guess you’ve never heard of ‘hot pants’. In my day that’s what we wore, short shorts called hot pants. With little white ankle boots.”
Binkie beamed at her. “Now that I’d like to see.”
She laughed again and smacked at his hand.
“What in the world happened back there?” Melanie asked everyone.
When the curtain came down, the director stepped out and apologized for the interruption. He asked for our patience during a brief intermission while things got sorted out backstage. In about five minutes, the curtain opened again on the haystack scene. Apparently the correct prop knife had been located backstage, and the scene progressed as it was supposed to. Curly and Jud struggled with the prop knife and Jud played at being accidently stabbed. His death was declared an accident, and Curly and Laurie left on their honeymoon. The show closed to applause from a slightly puzzled audience.
Dalton, whom Binkie had invited to join us, offered an explanation, “It’s always hectic backstage before the dress rehearsal. Somehow, the prop knife was mistakenly replaced with a real knife.”
“So you think it was an accident?” I asked, wondering if Thomas who was playing Jud had any enemies.
“Of course, it was an accident. Who would want to hurt Thomas? Everyone likes him.”
The waiter came to take our orders. “Sorry for the delay,” he apologized. “Things are really busy tonight. The new play had their dress rehearsal. We always get a crowd when something is going on at Thalian Hall.”
And then he added excitedly. “Word is someone almost got killed at the theater tonight. Don’t know the details yet.”
So the rumors had begun.
Cam spoke up. “We’ve all had earlier dinners so how about we order a variety of plates from the Tapas menu. And this dinner’s on me.”
When protests began, he merely said, “I insist.”
“I love the Thai chicken,” Melanie said. “Good idea, darling.”
Ray said, “In that case, the wine’s on me.” And he turned to the waiter and ordered two bottles of chardonnay from the wine menu.
I told everyone at the table, “It’s wonderful to be able to drink wine again.”
The restaurant was indeed crowded. “Good thing we called ahead,” Jon said.
With its brick walls and Twenties-style paintings, Circa 1922 was one of the most popular downtown restaurants.
I whispered to Jon, “This is where we had our first official date. Remember?”
“How could I forget?” His smile lit up his face.
Dalton was saying to Scarlett, “Accidents on stage are not all that uncommon, don’t you agree?”
“I haven’t personally experienced any accidents, but just think of what happened with ‘Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.’ There were four accidents during preview performances. So yes, Dalton, I agree, accidents do happen in the theater. There’s so much going on at once, everyone is hyped up, it’s a wonder there aren’t more.”
“My experience, as well,” Dalton said.
“Dalton, we’re so glad you accepted our offer on the house,” I said. “I know it must be hard for you to give it up.”
“Yes,” Jon echoed. “Your house will make a splendid home for our family. I can’t wait to get to work on the changes we want to make.”
Dalton laughed. “There’s plenty
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