Page 73 of Dancing Fools and All That Jazz
Asha turns her head and nods to us all, and we stop talking as we enter the room in silence. We move to our line of mirrors, sit on our chairs, and turn our backs on Bold as Brass.
In the green room, we had all agreed we would completely ignore the women.
‘We will not dignify their actions with a response,’ Asha had urged us. ‘They should not have the satisfaction of knowing they upset us.’
‘Besides, there’re other ways of getting even,’ Ruby had added cryptically, but I am getting into the habit of switching off the moment she speaks.
The voices of Sheila’s women slowly peter out when they are met with a barrage of silence. They soundlessly touch up their make-up and place squares of red-edgedblack netting in their hair, fixed with combs. These form short veils over one side of each face, and I have to grudgingly admit they are subtle but effective and give the minimal costumes a much-needed sophisticated, almost French, touch.
Sheila eventually breaks the quiet and looks at me through the mirrors.
‘Left the dressing room in quite a mess, didn’t we, ladies? Stuff everywhere.’ She puts her hands on her hips and exchanges grins with her group.
When we say nothing, she adds, ‘Oh dear, have all the dickie-chickies lost their voices?’
Ruby bangs her fist on the table – causing Asha and Ingrida to recoil – and swivels round in her chair to face Sheila. ‘Christ, how old are you, Sheila? Twelve?’
A couple of the Bold as Brass women snigger.
‘What did you bloody say?’ Sheila steps forward with a backward glare at the offenders in her group. One of her dancers holds up her phone to film what they no doubt hope will be a blazing row.
Ruby stands up and steps forward. She is a good six inches taller than Sheila and when she is up close, she looks down on her. Ruby speaks slowly and clearly, ‘FOR – FUCK’S – SAKE – GROW – UP.’
Sheila’s face goes crimson. Her lips appear to try to form words, but nothing comes out of her mouth.
The stand-off lasts half a minute before the large-busted member of Bold as Brass lightly taps Sheila’s shoulder and says softly, ‘Sheila, we need to go. We’re on after this dance.’ She points to the screen.
Sheila breaks eye contact with Ruby, mutters a barely audible, ‘Fucking DECKs,’ and the group mobilises, picking up bright red concertina fans and leaving for the stage without another word.
‘Good for you, Ruby,’ Cath and Bonnie slap Ruby on the back.
Ruby smiles, grabs her bag, and also heads for the door. ‘Gotta go.’
‘You’re not supposed to go out in costume,’ Asha calls but Ruby has left, and we all start to change into our rehearsal wear.
‘Where’s Fay?’ Bonnie asks.
‘She did not wait for Ruby’s exit off stage.’ Asha starts to undo her waistcoat. ‘She dashed ahead of us. Look, her coat has gone so I guess she has put it over her costume and gone out for a bit.’ Asha shrugs as she pulls on her black DECK top.
‘Well, we have a good hour or more until our next dance. There’s a break after Sheila’s group has performed,’ Cath adds.
‘Let’s go for a coffee at the theatre café. I could do with a change of scene.’ Bonnie takes off her jazz shoes and stops as Asha slumps down into one of the chairs next to her. ‘You all right, Asha? You’ve gone very pale…’
Asha gives a small nod and puts her hand up to her head. ‘I… I came over a bit dizzy.’
Ingrida crosses to her and squats to look at her. ‘You probably need something to eat and drink after the energy we expend in “Dancin’ Fool”. Come on, we will get some cake,ja?’ Ingrida passes Asha a bottle of water and we allquickly change.
I check my phone and smile to see Bruce has sent a text.
Butch, baby, I’m bringing Curtis and Divinity, from the Friends of Dorothy show. Are we are going to have some fun! See you later, you hunky cowboy, you.
I send a thumbs up emoji and quickly delete the message even though there is no chance of Vince seeing it.
‘Oh look,’ Bonnie cries, finger pointed at the screen. ‘Sheila’s group is about to start.’
The television shows the dozen women get into their places. Under the lights, the tops look shockingly see-through, leaving nothing to the imagination. I cannot quite make up my mind if they are in the worst possible taste or an inspired and quirky design. They certainly hold the eye.
Bold as Brass form a tableau in the centre of the stage with open fans, each dancer holding theirs at arm’s length at different angles.
