‘Elizaveta not wanting a rival for all the leading parts?’
‘Exactly. So, anyway, last night at rehearsal the argument between Ritchie and Elizaveta is batting to and fro, kind of over Davina’s head, and finally Ritchie loses his temper and says, “Oh, come on, forget all your bloody airs and graces. My mother knew you before you managed to trick Freddie Dalrymple into marrying you – when you were plain Elizabeth Jones, serving behind the counter of the fish and chip shop right here in Smalting!”
‘Well, that did it! That really caught the nerve. So there’s a lot more from Elizaveta about having never been so insulted in her life. And then she says that, under the circumstances, she can no longer continue in this production of The Devil’s Disciple – and she walks out!’
‘Flouncing, I dare say.’
‘Very much so, Jude. Flouncing, slamming doors, completely throwing her toys out of the pram. So suddenly we’re without a Mrs Dudgeon.’
‘But surely there are lots of people in SADOS who can play it? Amateur dramatic societies may have problems recruiting young men, but there’s always a glut of mature women.’
‘I know, but the trouble is they’re all on Elizaveta Dalrymple’s side.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The older members of the society are mostly founder members or people who joined in the first few years. They’re fiercely loyal to the memory of Freddie Dalrymple. Some of them, I gather, are more ambivalent about Elizaveta. She aced them out of too many good parts for them to support her too much. But once it became known that Ritchie Good had insulted the sainted Freddie …’
‘And how did they know this?’
‘From Elizaveta, of course. She must have spent the whole day yesterday on the phone to the mature women in the society. And she’s persuaded all of them to boycott this production of The Devil’s Disciple.’
‘Ah, has she?’
‘Yes. Davina also spent most of yesterday ringing round every woman in the society who was vaguely the right age – and that became more elastic as she got desperate – but Elizaveta had got to every one of them first. The boycott was unbroken.
‘And it’s not just Mrs Dudgeon she’s worried about. Elizaveta’s got supporters throughout the society. I mean, Olly Pinto for one. He’s playing Christy and he’s great mates with Elizaveta. I haven’t heard whether he’s walked out too, but it wouldn’t surprise me.’
‘But you’re not about to go, are you, Storm?’
‘Oh, good heavens, no. Judith’s the best part I’ve ever been offered. No way I’m going to give that up. Anyway, I’ve always found Elizaveta Dalrymple a bit of a pain. No, I’ll see it through.’
‘And Ritchie will, presumably?’
‘You bet. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t think what’s happened is a personal triumph.’
‘One rival ego removed?’
‘Oh, I wouldn’t say that. Ritchie hasn’t really got a very big ego. When you get to know him, he’s actually quite shy. He just has an accurate assessment of his own talents.’
Oh dear, thought Jude. Storm’s defensive words might well indicate that Ritchie Good was the next man she was about to throw herself at. And if she did, there was no question that it would end in tears.
‘Well,’ said Jude, ‘exciting times we live in.’
‘Yes.’ There was a silence. ‘So, obviously, there’s only one question I have to ask you.’
‘What?’ came the puzzled reply.
‘Davina asked me if I would.’
‘Er?’
‘Jude, will you step into the breach and play the part of Mrs Dudgeon?’
NINE
‘You’re absolutely mad,’ said Carole. ‘What on earth do you want to get involved with that lot for?’
‘They’re harmless.’
That was greeted by a customized Carole Seddon ‘Huh.’
‘And they’re stuck for someone to play Mrs Dudgeon. It’s not going to take much time out of my life.’
‘Not “much time”? Rehearsals three days a week? That sounds like quite a big commitment to me. You wouldn’t catch me doing it. I couldn’t afford the time.’
For a moment Jude was tempted to ask what her neighbour couldn’t afford the time from. Although Carole always carried an air of extreme busyness, it was sometimes hard to know what she actually did all day … apart from keeping High Tor antiseptically clean, completing the Times crossword and taking Gulliver for long walks on Fethering Beach.
But Jude didn’t give voice to her thoughts. The look of distaste on Carole’s face suggested that her neighbour’s involvement in The Devil’s Disciple had brought back atavistic fears of ‘showing off’ and traumatic memories of being The Ox in the School Nativity Play.
‘I just thought I could help them out,’ said Jude.
Another ‘Huh. Well, I still think you’re out of your senses. It’s one thing lending them your chaise longue. Lending yourself is something else entirely.’
Suspicion appeared in the pale-blue eyes behind the rimless glasses. ‘And you’re not joining them because of that man?’
‘Which man?’ asked Jude, though she knew who Carole meant.
‘That smooth talker who you met for a drink last week.’
Jude grinned. ‘I can assure you my taking the part has nothing to do with Ritchie Good. If I’m doing it for anyone other than myself, then I’d say it was Storm Lavelle – she’s the one who asked me. In fact, thinking about it, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ritchie Good is rather annoyed by my arrival in the company.’
‘Oh?’
‘Because when we met I did prove rather resistant to his charms. He’s not used to women reacting like that to him, and I don’t think he likes it very much.’
‘Huh.’
‘Though actually, Carole, there is another reason why I want to be involved in this production.’
‘Oh really? What’s that?’
‘Hester Winstone. I’m still rather worried about her … particularly since meeting her husband. I’d quite like to keep an eye on Hester.’
‘Well, rather you than me, Jude.’ Carole positively snorted. ‘The day I get involved in amateur dramatics you have my full permission to have me sectioned.’
So it was that Jude took over the part of Mrs Dudgeon in the SADOS’ production of The Devil’s Disciple. She had an early evening healing session booked on the Thursday, so didn’t attend her first rehearsal till the Sunday. Sensitive to atmosphere, she could feel the definite air of triumph emanating from Ritchie Good. He was pleased to have seen off Elizaveta Dalrymple.
Nor was he the only one who seemed relieved by the old woman’s absence. Davina Vere Smith, despite her reputation as a ‘close chum’ of Elizaveta, was relaxed and apparently had given up any pretence that she was in charge of the production. She meekly took on board Ritchie’s notes and suggestions, even when they applied to performances other than his own. The actor was yet again doing a play on exactly the terms he desired.
Davina accepted all that, but what did annoy her was the regular list of absentees from every rehearsal. Two were involved in a Charity Marathon and one had shingles.
Olly Pinto, self-appointed toady to Elizaveta Dalrymple, did not leave the production, as Storm had suggested he might. But all the time there was something chippy about him, especially in relation to Ritchie Good. He grimaced a lot behind Ritchie’s back, and muttered words of dissent at a level that was not quite audible.
Olly also talked a lot about Elizaveta and Freddie Dalrymple. He had been fortunate enough to meet the blessed Freddie just before he died, and reminiscences of the two of them were constantly on his lips. Elizaveta Dalrymple may have walked out of the production, but Olly Pinto ensured that no one in the Devil’s Disciple company was allowed to forget her.