Page 48 of The Silent Appeal

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but your friend Georgia has pulled out of the play. Didn’t like playing a downtrodden character the others reject. I’ve heard Tom Hanks is the same: will only play heroes who triumph in the end.

When all’s said and done, we don’t want anyone playing a role that affects their mental health, it always comes through in their performance. So, onward and upward. Cheers, Kevin

Message exchange between Fran Elroy-Jones and Kevin MacDonald on January 29, 2025:

12:04 p.m. Fran wrote:

I feel terrible. I thought she was feeling better or I’d have talked her out of it.

12:04 p.m. Kevin wrote:

She’s volunteered for prompt, so every cloud.

12:05 p.m. Fran wrote:

I’m so sorry to have brought someone who’s let us down.

12:05 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Not a problem. Not a problem at all.

Message exchange between Kevin and Sarah-Jane MacDonald on January 29, 2025:

12:06 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Shit, damn, and fucking blast! Georgia’s pulled out of the play. We are officially Gerda-less.

12:07 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

Hardly a surprise. She was clearly unhappy and certainly wasn’t giving her all to the role. Even this early you can see the other characters developing.

12:08 p.m. Kevin wrote:

The good news is she’s volunteered to prompt. Is Nicky-Rose Gerda-material do you think?

12:10 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

She looks like Taylor Swift, so no. And if we manage to drag her to rehearsals I’d rather she lent us her professional directing experience. Don’t mention it yet. We don’t want to overwhelm her.

12:12 p.m. Kevin wrote:

I’ll see if Karen will switch parts. Recasting Doris will be somewhat easier.

12:12 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

I can ask Emma.

12:13 p.m. Kevin wrote:

We need someone convincingly stooped and shrinking.

12:13 p.m. Sarah-Jane wrote:

It’s a decent part for the right actor. Someone will do it.

12:15 p.m. Kevin wrote:

Karen’s my first choice. If not, then I’ll contact them in descending order of Gerdability.