Page 52 of Beyond the Darkness
Hudson laughed and squeezed his thigh.“Maybe they’ll be useful after all then.”He sipped his drink.“Shit.When I signed on for this play, I had no idea that most of the drama would take place off stage.”
“Let’s hope that’s the last of it.”
“Now, that is optimistic.”
Chapter Nineteen
The Empire Theatre
The following Monday, the production ofDarkest Bluemoved from the rehearsal rooms at the Blyham Concert Hall to the other side of the river and The Empire Theatre.Originally, they were due to have one full day to run the show on the main stage before it opened, but as the first night had been pushed back to Friday, they had the luxury of having four days to work on stage.
Hudson had been reading Luke’s book about the history of the old theatre.Built in the 1920s, its original art deco style had been restored to the most glorious condition.In the last hundred years, the theatre had hosted some of the most highly regarded productions and actors in history—all of the Shakespeare greats as well as current hits of the day likeCat On a Hot Tin Roof,Cabaret,Oklahoma!, West Side StoryandMy Night with Reg.Luke’s book was filled with stories of the great actors who had trodden the boards there, as well as the backstage troubles and scandals.The Empire had a colourful history, including rumours of at least five different ghosts that were said to haunt the old building, from the trap room beneath the stage, to the dressing rooms and auditorium.There was one in particular, believed to be the spirit of a former usher, murdered by her jealous lover after an affair with a leading man, who was frequently seen in the backstage corridors.
Hudson prickled with excitement when he walked into the theatre at nine o’clock that morning.
After the events of last Monday, the rest of the week had been relatively calm and had allowed him to focus on the play.Robbie Wiseman had been charged with breaching his stalking order.He’d been given one hundred hours of unpaid work and, in addition to the stalking order, he’d been excluded from entering Blyham city for the duration of the play’s run.The investigation continued into whether he was responsible for sending the malicious mail to Hudson, but since his arrest, there had been no further packages.However, he was out of the frame for Julian’s murder, having a firm alibi for that night.
The security cameras in Hudson’s apartment had produced perfect, clear images of two of the men who had tried to attack him and Luke.Despite this, there had been no arrests or further update from the police since they had reported it.Luke had told him that the images hadn’t even been made public on the Blyham police social media pages and websites.Despite the evidence, it seemed as though the case had been filed with no further action taken.Luke was pressing his editor to see if the paper could publish the photos and stories without the cops’ permission.
Though he’d been shaken badly afterwards, Hudson had done his best to overcome the experience and get on with the job he had to do.
As he went through the stage door, Manuella and Sal arrived just behind him.Manuella had a huge smile on her face.The kind of smile that said she was getting great sex.Hudson had suspected his Spanish co-stars were getting close as Sal had settled into the production.It looked like they had sealed the deal over the weekend.He tried not to let the detail that she’d been getting close to Julian just before colour his opinion.
“Good morning,” he said.
“Buenos días.”Manuella beamed.She was glammed to the max with flawless, stage-ready make-up.She wore her dark hair up, and a strappy, printed summer dress which revealed lots of leg, arm and cleavage.There were lashings of gold chains around her delicate neck and multiple bangles piled up on both wrists.“This is so exciting.I can’t wait to see the set.”
“Me neither,” he admitted.They had rehearsed with a rudimentary set so far.This would be the first time they saw the full construction and got to wear their proper costumes.
After his initial nerves last week, Sal had relaxed considerably.He had the same post-fuck glow as Manuella and looked handsome and confident in a light, open-necked shirt, linen shorts and leather loafers with no socks.The image of casual summer.“Hi,” he said with a wide smile, fixing Hudson with his dazzling eyes.“I am word perfect on both of my roles now.”
“That’s good to hear.”Hudson couldn’t blame Manuella for wanting him—the man even set his own pulse quickening.“Shall we go see what this is all about?”
A theatre assistant led them through the backstage area.She was about to take them to their dressing rooms when Hudson asked if they could go straight to the stage.He’d waited long enough for this moment.Didn’t want to put it off any longer.
It was always exciting, walking into a new theatre.Wherever he was in the world, the feeling was always the same.Soaking in the atmosphere.Even the musty smell of old wood was a pleasure.There was the excitement of what was to come, the potential for greatness in each new performance, merged with the history and prestige of what had taken place before.
“God, I love this,” he said.
He heard familiar voices ahead.Andie was shouting, and Rav sounded like he was attempting to talk her down.
“Always arguing,” Manuella remarked.“They should sleep together and get it over with.It will be better for everyone.”
Hudson suppressed a laugh.Manuella hadn’t picked up on Andie being a big old lesbian.Rav would be the last person she’d want to go to bed with.
They walked onto the stage from the left.
The first scene of the play took place in a hotel bar in 1974 in Barcelona.Hudson raised an instant smile at the set design and décor.The production team had nailed it, with sickening shades of brown, yellow and orange.If the furniture was not from that period, then they’d done a first-rate job at replicating it.The cushions scattered about the lounge area were an assault to the eyes.
“What are you shouting about?”he asked.
Andie and Rav stood by the bar.Her hair was wild, as though she’d been tearing her hands through it.
“This motherfucker,” she shrieked, gesturing all around her.
“I think it looks great,” Hudson said.
“It’s too much,” she cried.
