AllFreeNovel
Share Us
LIFE AFTER GRADUATION
‘She’s beautiful, and therefore to be wooed; She is woman, and therefore to be won.’ Every time Heath said his line with just a hint of determination as if he was accepting the challenge, he delivered it with a glance in my direction—just off stage—when he should be glancing at his leading lady, Margaret. I felt the eyes in the audience searching for me at the side of the stage where I had just taken my exit. I heard the titters and saw the smiles and nudges as though they had been waiting for that line. I felt myself blush which was just ridiculous, I’ve known Heath since I was six. I knew every fibre of his being and he knew all there was to know of me; he’s more myself than I am! Not to mention Shakespeare would probably be spinning in his grave, but then again, he was a guy so maybe not.
If I were the director, I’d haul Heath’s handsome butt into the green room and tell him to pull his head in, but our director encourages him! I suspect it was because the hashtag campaign that started about our romance was attracting an audience, and it was all about bums-on-seat. It didn’t help thatEntertainment Weeklymight have mentioned we were living together in one of their trivia-gossip columns. So much for Heath’s character—the Earl of Suffolk—and his co-star Margaret getting steamy!
God, I love the Globe Theatre – it was so exciting and authentic, so Shakespeare! It was Heath’s favourite venue… he’d perform here forever if he could, but our theatre company did the rounds. Well, actually it’s Heath’s theatre company – he was a permanent player with a contract. I had to audition for every play, but I scored roles most of the time. I strictly forbade Heath from putting in a good word for me; I wanted to get the roles on my own. He promised me that he didn’t say a word and lectured me about underestimating my talent, but yeah, not sure on that one.
I saw my best friend and fellow actor, Nelly Dean, approaching. There were not a lot of female roles in Henry VI’s tale, but we both managed to nab one. We’d been in the same plays about half a dozen times since graduating. I loved it when that happened. She was playing the Countess of Auvergne.
‘Oh Romeo,’ she whispered, as she sidled up to me off stage and gave me a nudge.
I grinned. ‘Shut up, and wrong play.’
‘Nuh, you wait … I bet they’ll be casting you and Heath inRomeo and Julietnext. I’m prepared to put myOthelloprogram signed by Daniel Craig on that one.’
My mouth dropped open. Nelly loved that program. Nelly loved Daniel Craig. She flew to New York for the weekend to see that play and saw it twice.
I put out my hand to shake and offered my stake. ‘My program forThe Audience.’
‘No! Signed by Helen Mirren?’ Her eyes were huge.
I nodded. ‘The Queen herself,’ I said, recalling Dame Helen in the role at the Gielgud Theatre. She’s my idol, well one of them, and there were a few. We shook.
Nelly turned away from the stage. ‘When are you on?’
‘Not for another fifteen,’ I said, and we moved away to talk.
‘Any news?’ she asked.
‘Nope. But Heath’s been confirmed, he’s off to Oxford after this for a short season,’ I said.
We were both hoping to confirm our season would be continuing with this play and we would not be finishing up here in London. It was not the first time we’d performedHenry VIand I’d played Joan de Pucelle, or you might know her as Joan of Arc – yep, that’s me … leader of men, maker of war, saving the country every night for a three-week season on stage, plus six matinees! Not to mention a bit of after-hours rehearsal and role play with Heath … he liked to get my armour off. Speaking of which, it was so uncomfortable. I adjusted it trying to find a better fit.
‘I’d love to play Joan of Arc, you lucky bitch,’ Nelly said, helping me.
My mouth dropped open. ‘Why didn’t you audition then?’
She shrugged. ‘I don’t think the world is ready for a black Joan yet.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous,’ I said. ‘You’re fantastic, Joan should be so lucky. Besides, she was a 19-year-old French girl and I’m a 25-year-old English chick … anything’s possible. At least you’ve got a saucy role, I’m an armour-plated maiden who says she’s knocked up to avoid burning at the stake!’
‘Yeah, well we’ve all used that excuse,’ she said, and we both laughed. Nelly continued: ‘You know what I’d kill for … a regular TV role.’
I groaned. ‘Me too. Heath wants to spend his life on the stage. He’s already identified the awards he intends to win; the plays he wants to be in; the lead roles he wants to get before he hits thirty. He loves the adrenaline of knowing it is live and he can’t stuff up,’ I said, with a glance at him on the stage.
‘Seriously? No film ambitions at all?’
I shook my head. ‘Nup,’ I continued. ‘Call me shallow but I want to be a star and an actor. I want to be recognised and make huge money and have people doing my hair and make-up, and a director letting me do a scene three times if I forget the lines or if I’m not happy with it.’
Nelly grinned. ‘Me too. I’m not a theatre tragic like Heath; I want to direct. At least you’ve done some screen stuff,Wyldegirl.’
Ah,Wyldegirl.
‘I loved being theWyldegirl,’ I said, reminiscing.
We stopped to listen to where they were up to on stage and then continued talking.
‘I tease Heath that he can stay on stage and I’ll go make the big money in film and keep us in the lifestyle we liked to imagine. He’s not impressed,’ I said, and shrugged.
