CHAPTER TWO
It all began with a meeting of four elderly persons
Distinguished man about town and theatrical agent, Stanley Hervy held the meeting, in his West End office
Stanley, who enjoyed life when things were happening, had a call from Roger Morrison (Roger Morrison? Oh That Roger Morrison. The Professor.t) He wanted to resurrect his play the only one he ever wrote that was produced in the distant past.
The four people were all involved in a play back in the seventies. Roger Morrison was the writer. It was his onLy stage play and he didn’t want to die without seeing it once more.
He had called Stanley who had got in touch with the women who had played the leads in the original production. Maxine Fletcher and Jessica Sherwood – both well known actresses and rivals in the business. The idea inspired their qed in the seventies.
Maxine and Jessica kissed each other on both cheeks.
“You look lovely daling” said Maxine “Hoooks?”
“Dull history books. Queens was my only venture ilnto Show Bjusiness. What do you say?
”
“Bt what about all those wonderful be play produce again. It is my oldy playw do you do it? T must cost you a fortune”
“And you look…” Jessica seemed lost for words”
“Old?”
“Nono Just like you do on TV”
“You mean, that nation’s favourite grandma?”
Maxine gave Jessica a steely smile and turnedi to face Roger.
“Nice to see you again Roger. We’ve left it far too long.”
Stanley got everyone seated comfortably and asked Roger to elucidate
“Its about my play – The Two Queens”
“The one you wrote specially for me,” said Jessica,”My darling PHlip bought the copyright”
“Yes this is what Im about to suggest. I’m an old man. Not too long to live. And there is one thing Id liek to see before I go”
“And that is?” asked Maxne
“i ‘ want to see the play again”
At this point Stanley felt he had to say something#
“What are you saying. You are going to finance another production?”
“Er no” Roger looked a little shamefaced “I dont have the dosh”
“Jessica then?”
“Darling you know I haven’t got a penny. That is the reason I want to dispose of the copyright of Queens”
“You are asking someone to buy it?” asked Maxine.
“That is what they are saying Darling/”said Stanley
Roger seemed almost in tears
“ I want to see you two girls repeat your wonderful performances.”
. That made maxine laugh.
“Darling, surely we’re a bit a long in the tooth for that”
` “What do y ou mean long in the tooth snapped Jessica – who was still dying her hair and looking for work.
“Sorry Jess. I mean I am too old” replied Maxine, who had made herself some late in life notoriety as Grandma in “Generations” a popular and long lasting Soap Opera.
Jessica had not been so lucky. When young she had married into the aristocracy. Her son, who was also an actor, had happily run through the entire family fortune. He spent it in various ways, at the gaming tables, foolish speculations and most of all a long string of mistresses, all of whom had been promised marriage and all of whom had looked forward to being Lady Creighton eventhough there wa a Lady Creighton already in residence and four l ittle4 Creightons waiting in the wings. Jay’s promise to divorce his wife and marry them was a chronic disease with h im. He couldent help it and it cost the family dear. Jessica was sas broke as she could be, but somehow managed to cope with life. She had a poweerful spirit that just could put up with life as it came along. The Mske do and mend spirit peculiar to Show business people but even more e to a little girl from the slums of the Hull fish dock. She had risen far and was ready to rise again if there was an opportunity.
“My dear old friend” said Maxine with undisguised hostility, “all I mean darling, is that you cannot go on being the Virgin Queen for ever”
“Humph, well darling, surely it is better than just to sink into old age.Youi turned into a character bag forty years ago.”
“Well darling, its just that I find it inelegant to appear as mutton dressed as lamb”
Stan brok in.
“Grow up you two. If we are going to do this thing, we must do it properly. The play will need an update”
Roger protested
“How can you update Mary Queen of Scots and Elizabeth the First. They are historical characters”
“Stylistically Roger, it will probably seem a little antiquated. We need a fresh eye to look at it.”
Jessica intervened with something constructive to say.
“I have a young friend whose special talent is adapting and directing old fashioned plays”
“Hardly old fashion” said Roger
“Who is this genius?”asked Maxine
Jessica coloured slightly as she said his name.
“Edmond du Bois, but he prefers to be known as E.DWood”
“Why does he work under an alias. Is he a criminal?”
“No he thinks it brings him nearer to the real people”
“Sounds like an upper class Twit” said Maxine, “One of your teenage boyfriends?”
“Sounds good” said Roger eagerly. “Shall we do it at the Olympic?”
Stan had to hold back a groan, hiding his face and his reactions under the guise of a cough.
“The Olympic is a little busy” he said improvising madly “ they are about to present a new Harry potter play”
“Then where?”
Stan spoke carefully. Although he was able to be acidly truthful when speaking to people he admired, he was always kind to those he rated less than friends.
“For everybody’s sake I think we should start slowly” he said to Roger “I know a few fringe theatres that often need something to run at this time of year.”
“FRINGE!!” chorused the others.
“You night just as well suggest doing it in an underground carpark” said Maxine
“That may not be as much of a joke as you think Maxie” said Stan.
“You are ridiculous sometimes” she replied
“No, he’s right Dame Max” said Jessica, “How did you get that Dameship? Wasnt it for services to fringe theatres?”
“Well yes, but I never think the fringe had any real resonance for me”
“Come on Maxie, You don’t have to be in the play, but it would be really good if you financed it”
“That is a brilliant idea”said Jessica with malice “It is time you showed a little more enthusiasm about the world of the young starving actors who happily work without money just for the sake of practising their art. I suppose a middle class, drama school graduate and Equity member would not bother herself with such things”
“I give them loads of money”
“Actually, Maxie, Jessie is right. It would be good if you were to be seen actually producing a fringe play,” said Stan.”Great publicity for y ou”
“Publicity is everything isn’t it?” said Jess,” That’s what you always say”.
Stanley organised another meeting. This time with Maxine, Roger and Edmond De Bois.
They found h im a nice polite young man. He was dressed in a neat well cut suit, spoke in perfect RP accent and generally persuaded them easily that he would be the perfect jman for the job. He was ambitious and anxious to make his mark in the business.
“He seems all right” said Maxine as they left the office.
“All right Of course he’s all right” said Roger. “He was wearing ab MCC tie”
“In that case, there is no more to be said” laughed Maxine.
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