by Ann Bryant
Cara wasn’t at lunch, thank goodness, and I know it was horrible of me but I hoped her voice would take ages to come back so I’d get the best possible chance to impress Miss Pritchard, just in case someone had to drop out at the last minute, and then I’d be first choice to step in and take the part. I bolted down my fishcakes then raced over to the theatre, only to find I was first to arrive. When Miss Pritchard came into the auditorium a few minutes later to find me learning my lines, she blinked in big surprise.
“That’s what I like to see!” Then she started explaining the storyline and showed me where I’d be standing on the stage for the first section we were going to rehearse.
“Yes, I know,” I said.
She paused mid-sentence but then carried on as though I hadn’t spoken. “And Jo will appear from just over here…”
“Yes, I know.”
“What do you mean, you know?” She sounded a bit exasperated.
“I’ve seen you rehearsing this bit.”
As soon as I’d spoken I wished I could shove the words straight back in my great big mouth. Now I’d given it away that I’d sat in on more than one rehearsal. The look on Miss Pritchard’s face said she didn’t like what she was hearing but she was prepared to let it go. “And I know you’re only reading the lines but it’ll help the others if you try to speak in character,” she carried on, “so do keep in mind that your character is slower and older than anyone else in the household. Only…” Miss Pritchard looked as though she’d just remembered something. “…don’t overdo it.”
I wished she hadn’t said those last three words because she was obviously thinking back to when I’d done my terrible audition and I’d really been hoping she might have forgotten about that. It was tempting to quickly remind her that I’d not realized the theatre was amplified and everything, but the new sensible mature Georgie just nodded and kept quiet.
It was while Miss Pritchard was explaining to me about another scene that everyone started drifting into the theatre. She was pointing to a particular speech of Amy’s on the script. “Don’t wait for Alice to finish what she’s saying, Georgie. You need to interrupt her about here…”
“Yes, I know.”
Now she really was exasperated. “Georgie, are you sure you’re actually taking in what I’m saying?”
“Yes, every word,” I assured her, nodding my head vigorously. Then I quickly changed it to a simple “Yes,” in case she thought I was being cheeky.
“Right.” She nodded then strode off the stage and told everyone to get into their places for Act One, Scene Three.
“What are you doing here?” one of the Year Nines asked me, which made me feel like the lowest form of pond life.
“Standing in for Alice Dunbar,” I said, desperately trying to find my place on the script.
“Alice is here, though.”
“Yes, but Cara’s ill so Alice is reading her part and I’m—”
“Georgie, one thing you’ll have to learn is that there isn’t time to chatter during rehearsals,” came Miss Pritchard’s no-nonsense voice.
“But—”
“Top left wing, Georgie!” she interrupted, pointing to where I had to go.
“Yes, I know.”
Whoops. Now she looked completely stressed out, and we’d not even started.
My first speech was the longest and also the one that I knew best. Hannah the housekeeper was supposed to be giving Jo a bit of a talking-to, not exactly telling her off, but speaking sternly to make the point that Jo hadn’t been pulling her weight. All I had to do was make my entrance at the right moment, remember the words and say them slowly with an old voice, but not too slowly and not too old. I felt myself tensing up as the cue got nearer and I rolled my shoulders and neck around to make myself relax. A couple of the Year Nines exchanged a look when I did that but I tried to ignore them and walked on with my script by my side and my eyes on Camilla Tomkinson, who was playing the part of Jo.
It was weird but as I spoke the lines to her I saw how the expression in her eyes changed from mild surprise to a kind of frustration and embarrassment, and I felt as though I really was talking to Jo, because it was exactly how I knew Jo would have reacted, and that spurred me on to do my own part even better. I almost got through the whole speech without a slip, but could have kicked myself when I forgot the last few words and had to look at the script.
“Well done!” said Miss Pritchard, but I didn’t know if she was talking to me or to Camilla.
“Was my voice too slow?” I whispered to Camilla, when I’d finished my part of the scene and we were both in the wings together.
“No, it was good,” was all she said before she had to go back onstage for her next appearance. I sneaked round the side to slip back into the auditorium, which is what you’re supposed to do when you’re not needed for a while.
Miss Pritchard was concentrating on the action on the stage when I sat down with all the other waiting people, so she didn’t say anything to me. In fact, I don’t even think she noticed me. I just had to hope that she thought I’d done okay. Then I got on with learning the lines for my next scene, even though I knew I wouldn’t be on for ages. At least Camilla had said I was good, and that made me feel brilliant. I went into a bit of a daydream, going back over our scene together and remembering that look in her eyes. It was funny how my own acting had improved just because of the way Camilla had acted. I think professional actors call it “feeding off” each other. I mean, if you’re trying to make your role as realistic as possible but the person opposite you sounds wooden, you’ve got a much tougher job on your hands. That’s what it was like at primary. But it was different here. There were lots of great actors here.
My eyes were glued to the stage when Alice Dunbar made her entrance. I noticed her knuckles were white from holding the script so tightly but she said Amy’s lines completely fluently and without a single mistake, exactly as I’d imagined she would. It was Camilla who had to say the next lines and she was supposed to be very upbeat and a little bit wild, but she didn’t do it quite as well as usual and Miss Pritchard had to remind her about clasping her hands together on certain words. Camilla nodded and pursed her lips, then did the speech again. It was a bit better, but not much, and I could tell from the look on Camilla’s face that she wasn’t happy with her performance.
For the next hour Alice was onstage more than she was off, and had lots and lots to say. I don’t think she made a single slip because she was mainly reading, but it sounded so completely different from the way Cara does the role that I didn’t get the same feeling of being in the middle of the world of the four sisters. I don’t think Miss Pritchard did either because she kept on stopping the action and making people try things again.
It was when Alice was doing a scene with Savannah Shaw, who is playing Beth, that Miss Pritchard started correcting the way Alice was saying her lines. “Try and commit those last two sentences to memory, then say them as though you’re an exuberant eleven-year-old with not a care in the world, Alice. Maybe you could make your voice a touch harsher – not so smooth. Can you try that?”
Alice did as she was told and it instantly sounded much better.
“Lovely!” said Miss Pritchard. “Stick to that way of talking, all right?”
But it didn’t work. In no time at all the reading voice was back and Miss Pritchard had to repeat what she’d just said. “I know it’s hard when you’re only reading from the script, Alice, but as you get to know the part, and you don’t have to worry about following the words all the time, I’m sure you’ll be able to relax into acting the role a bit.”
Immediately big alarm bells started to ring. The way Miss Pritchard was talking made it sound like Alice was taking over the role. And I wasn’t the only one to wonder what was going on. Camilla was suddenly talking urgently to Miss Pritchard, with Savannah not far behind.
“But Alice is only standing in for Cara while she’s lost her voice, isn’t she?”
“Car
a should be back soon, shouldn’t she?”
There was a pause, and I made my hands into fists and pressed my thumbs against my mouth waiting for what Miss Pritchard would say, and stopping anything I might regret later from escaping from my mouth.
“I’m sure Cara will be fine soon, but as a precaution I’ve suggested to Alice that she tries to learn Amy’s part so she can understudy if necessary.” Miss Pritchard smiled round at everyone and you could tell she was trying to convince people that her idea was a good one, even though it was obvious from all the glum faces that no one was very impressed. “We’re very lucky that Alice is such a quick learner, is all I can say!”
I pressed my thumbs against my lips even harder, because I was bursting to tell Miss Pritchard that if she wanted an exuberant eleven-year-old, there was one sitting over here who already knew just about all the lines.
“Georgie…” Her eyes clamped onto me. “You seem to have learned quite a bit of the role of Hannah already, which is great, and I’d like you to act as understudy for Alice.” An extra note of firmness came into her voice. “It’s tough being an understudy because of course it’s very likely that you won’t actually get to be in the play, so it takes a very special person to be prepared for the hard work of learning all the lines when you might not get a chance to perform them. You’ve obviously got much less to learn than Alice has, Georgie, but still it’s good of you to take on the responsibility.” She clapped her hands together, then turned it into a kind of satisfied rub, as if to say, Good, now that we all know where we are, let’s get on.
At the end of the rehearsal I went out just behind Camilla and Savannah and I could hear what they were saying even though they were only speaking quietly.
“It’s no good with Alice doing Cara’s part, is it?”
“I know. And she doesn’t even like doing it. She told me. I feel quite sorry for her actually.”
“Trouble is…” Camilla was speaking so softly I could only just hear her. “…I don’t think she’ll be able to say the lines properly, even when she’s learned them.”
Savannah nodded and I could see her face as she turned to Camilla, looking as though she was apologizing about something. I knew they didn’t like saying mean things about Alice. They were nice girls. “She still sounds like Hannah the housekeeper, doesn’t she?”
There was a pause, then Camilla’s voice went a bit louder. “Yes, but Georgie’s good, isn’t she?”
“I know! I was quite surprised.”
“Me too. Shall we go to Beech House and see how Cara is?”
“Yeah, come on.”
I broke into a run after they’d gone because I suddenly felt like telling Mia all about the conversation I’d just heard and how I’d got on at the rehearsal. I knew she’d be proud of me. So would Grace, the wonder sportswoman, if she could see the speed I was covering the ground right now! It was only because I wanted to get on with perfecting my lines once I’d seen Mia. Inside Hazeldean I flew up to the practice rooms. Mia wasn’t there, so I tried the dorm and came across Grace getting changed.
“Georgie, you’ve been running!” She was grinning at me but then she suddenly turned deadly serious. “Is everything okay? You look terrible.”
“Well thanks for that!” I said. “Everything’s fine and I haven’t had a heart attack yet so you can relax.”
“Oh sorry, Georgie!” she giggled. “It’s just that I’m not used to seeing you all puffed out.” She pointed to my desk where there was a big note propped up. “Mia left that for you about five minutes ago.”
“Oh, she’s in the art block with Jess and Katy and Naomi,” I said, reading the note quickly. “They’re all painting the backdrop for the second act.”
Grace nodded. “I know. Jess tried to get me doing it too, but I’ve just been in the gym and now I’ve got a netball match.”
“See you later then, Grace. Good luck!”
At first I thought I might go and help with the painting, but I guessed they’d be packing up since it was practically time for supper, so I decided to go back to the theatre and feel the magic of that lovely big stage again. I was just outside the front entrance when Mia came rushing up.
“Hey, Georgie! We’ve been painting one of the sets for the play. Did you get my note?” She didn’t let me reply, just carried on gabbling. “It’s supposed to be the living-room wall with the window in the middle, and the art teacher’s done the view through the window of next-door’s garden. You’re going to love it. It’s stunning!” She suddenly clasped my hands. “Oh sorry, I should have asked, was it good being Hannah? How did it go?”
“Brilliant! In fact it was so good that I was just going back to have another go on the stage!”
We both laughed and Mia said she wanted to come and hear me saying some of Hannah’s lines and I realized a bit guiltily that I hadn’t heard her playing piano for ages. “After prep can I hear your pieces, Mia?”
She nodded happily. “You can tell me if they’ve improved since the last time you heard them, okay?”
On the way to the theatre I told her what I’d heard Savannah and Camilla saying after the rehearsal. Mia listened with a serious look on her face and then said, “Maybe Cara’ll be better soon. My mum lost her voice in the half-term holiday but it only lasted a few days. Then it was good as new again.”
I hoped Mia was right, and as we went into the theatre I got a sudden shock because I’d just realized something weird. Here I was, actually wishing for Cara to get better when a) I couldn’t stand the girl and b) if she did get better it would mean that I absolutely definitely wouldn’t be in the play, not even in a small role. I sighed and realized something even more shocking. I’d finally accepted that, much as I was desperate to have the part of Amy, that was never going to happen when it was only two weeks till the performances, so the next best thing would be for Cara’s voice to come back, as she’s about ten times better at acting the part than poor Alice, and I cared about the play. I wanted it to be good.
“Right, I’ll sit in the audience and you pretend to be Hannah!” said Mia, rushing up to the fifth row and sitting bang in the middle with an expectant look on her face.
“Oh, can’t I pretend to be Amy?”
Mia giggled. “You can pretend to be Prince Harry if you want! I don’t care. I’m just happy to sit here like the Queen and have my own private performance!”
So then we were both giggling because Mia doesn’t often crack jokes, which made it even funnier.
“Only you’d better hurry up,” Mia went on, looking suddenly serious, “or we’ll be late for supper.”
I did one of Amy’s sad speeches from near the end of the play when she’s just heard how ill Beth is, and when I’d finished Mia didn’t say anything, which was a bit worrying, except that when I looked carefully at her I realized she was almost in tears.
“You really are a good actress, Georgie. That was… amazing!”
“Oh thanks, Mia!” I said, breaking into a little tap routine of happiness. Then I rushed up to the auditorium and pulled her to her feet. “Come on – supper! I could eat an ox!”
Chapter Eight
At the beginning of the next rehearsal everyone was asking how Cara was, and I was full of envy. I’d love it if people were desperate for me to come back after an illness because I was such a stunning actress.
“I’ve got good news and bad news,” announced Miss Pritchard, trying to sound all light-hearted, though it was obvious from her eyes that she didn’t feel like that really. “The bad news is that poor Cara’s got laryngitis and won’t be able to be in the play…” I couldn’t help joining in with the gasp of disbelief mixed with disappointment that went up. “But the good news…” Miss Pritchard gave Alice a big smile “…is that Alice has learned all of Amy’s lines!” The smile came swivelling round to me. “And how are you getting on with Hannah’s lines, Georgie?”
I nodded a bit bleakly. “Yes, I’ve learned them all.”
No one said a word
and I actually felt sorry for Alice now because she looked so miserable. I only hoped she was going to act better than last time, then maybe we’d get some of the old atmosphere back. As I went to take my place in the wings I thought, Oh well, at least I can tell Mum and Grandma that I have actually got a part now, even if it’s not exactly the biggest one in the world.
It was true that Alice had learned every single word and she was saying them with much more expression than the last time, but still there was something not quite right, and everyone was obviously feeling it, because the play seemed so dull.
“Well I can only hope that you’re all saving yourselves for the performances,” said Miss Pritchard, looking grave. “Quite frankly this play is as flat as a pancake, and if I were sitting in the audience I would have seriously thought of going home by now.” A silence fell over all the actors. “I don’t know what’s the matter with you all.”
At the end of the rehearsal everyone trooped out and Miss Pritchard sat down on her own at her desk. I was the last to leave the theatre and I watched her staring into space tapping her pencil on her lips before I let the door close behind me. Then I stood still and felt my heart starting to bang against my ribs. If Miss Pritchard would just give me the chance to show her how I could play the part of Amy, I absolutely knew I could cheer her up. In fact I could cheer everyone up, because I’d definitely do it better than Alice. I pushed the door open and she looked up and frowned at me. “What do you want, Georgie?”
Her frown deepened and all my excitement and courage dissolved. I mustn’t be impulsive. It only got me into trouble.
“I left my…oh, it’s all right. I thought I’d left something, but…”
She suddenly fixed her eyes on me intently. “Georgie?”
“Yes?”
Then she sighed. “Shut the door as you go out, all right.”
So I left her tapping her lip with her pencil again, and crept sadly away.
