Page 237 of The Silent Appeal

Gerda in The Hollow (I know she’s a fictional character, but if she didn’t exist then I wouldn’t have a part in the play).

That the audience didn’t notice all the things that went wrong last night, onstage and off.

Things I’m not grateful for:

Nicky-Rose not telling me something important, because staying silent can be as bad as lying.

This feeling that Father Josh’s murder is somehow connected to the play.

This other feeling that Fran knew Father Josh was dead but carried on acting. Did she go to meet him at the interval and find his body? Of course, she can’t tell anyone, because they’ll wonder why she was meeting him.

Knowing I’ll have to tell someone everything I know, because like I said above, staying silent can be as bad as lying.

But speaking out can get you into a whole lot of trouble too.

To: The Fairway Players mailing list

From: Kevin MacDonald

Date: June 6, 2025

Subject: First night

Dear all,

It’s with a heavy heart that I write this email—one that should celebrate the first night of our play. However, for those of you who haven’t heard, the body of the Reverend Joshua Harries was discovered in the lane after the show. Father Josh was a great friend to the group and someone most of us knew to one extent or another. Needless to say, I’ve communicated the group’s deepest condolences to Elizabeth and the children.

I was close enough to him to feel confident he would have wanted our show to go on, so if you’re wondering whether the next two performances of The Hollow are canceled, the answer is no.

I’m not a fan of giving notes on play night performances. However, we should have a quick discussion before tonight’s curtain-up regarding exactly why and how the starter pistol was in the pocket of Amelia’s costume and not on the table backstage behind the trellis. It was only thanks to Joel’s quick thinking and his knowledge of exactly where two blocks of wood could be found that we had a gunshot at all.

Thanks also to the actors onstage who covered for the delay while the wood was being readied.

Well, it’s not the happy revelation I was hoping for—but here it is: last night the NADA judge was in the front row. She was also the person who discovered Father Josh’s body, which was extremely unfortunate for us. I very much hope that doesn’t cloud her opinion of our production. The usual critic from the Lockwood Gazette was there, too, but he always leaves before the end. Look out for the review online and let me know if I should read it—or not. We did our best, team. Let’s go out there tonight and do it again (ideally without the glitches).

Kevin MacDonald, Committee cochair and director

Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on June 6, 2025:

10:59 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Did I sound upbeat or depressed?

11:00 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Depressed. Where’s Nicky-Rose?

11:00 a.m. Kevin wrote:

No idea.

11:02 a.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

She must’ve left when the play started, didn’t show up at home, and Mum says ALL her things are gone.

11:02 a.m. Kevin wrote:

Everything?