eyes of the ostlers, servingmen and tavern wenches as they honed their art in the open air. The company approached
A Trick To Catch A Chaste Lady
with some caution. Its previous performance had been disastrous and their superstitious natures made them uneasy about the piece. Another cause for discomfort was the fact that one of the main roles – that of Bedlam, the clown – was being played by someone who had no real acquaintance either with the play or with the people acting in it. Giddy Mussett was an affable companionbut that did not mean he would be a worthy substitute for Barnaby Gill. When word of Mussett’s illiteracy spread, the company became even more restive.
It was Nicholas Bracewell who helped to restore their confidence. Not only did he show Mussett where to stand and when to move in each scene, he repeated the clown’s lines over and over again until Mussett had committed them to memory. The others were amazed at the speed with which their new colleague was mastering the basic elements of his role. What he lacked was Gill’s familiarity with the part and his ability to invest each line with a comic slant. His jig, however, was equal to that of his predecessor and his facial contortions made the onlookers break into spontaneous laughter. Gill was less than amused. Still outraged at the proposition that he should be carried around in a wheelbarrow, he had retired to his room to sulk. He was now watching the rehearsal through the window with a mixture of sadness and pique, dejected because he was unable to take part and nettled that his role had been given to a man whom he loathed so much. Each laugh that Mussett gained was like a dagger through Gill’s heart.
When the company paused for refreshment, Lawrence Firethorn sought the opinion of the two people he trusted most, Edmund Hoode and his book holder.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘How do you judge him?’
‘Giddy has done well,’ said Hoode. ‘He has a better memory than any of us. Whether it will stand up to the hazards of performance is another matter. I’d have preferred a week at least in which to rehearse him.’
‘We do not have a week, Edmund.’
‘Nor do we need it,’ said Nicholas. ‘Give me time to work with him privily and I’ll have him ready for the good citizens of Maidstone.’
‘What of
Cupid’s Folly
, Nick?’ asked Firethorn.
‘We’ll look at that as well.’
‘The clown holds the whip hand over all of us in that play,’ noted Hoode. ‘Would it not be sensible to choose a drama that puts less weight on him? There is so much for Giddy to learn.’
‘That will not disturb him.’
‘No,’ added Firethorn. ‘When I told him about his other role, he could not wait to play Rigormortis.’
‘There are other reasons to choose the play,’ said Nicholas. ‘This yard will be an ideal place in which to stage it and the piece is a favourite of the mayor’s. He would not dare to miss it. Where he leads, many others will follow.’
Hoode was worried. ‘I still feel that we ask too much too soon of Giddy.’
‘Someone must take the role of Rigormortis.’
‘Not if we select another play.’
‘We have the costumes and scenery for
Cupid’s Folly
.’
‘And for
Vincentio’s Revenge
.’
‘This is no town for tragedy, Edmund,’ said Firethorn. ‘Let’s brighten their day with happy laughter. There’ll be rustics in the audience, brought in from miles around. The soaring verse of
Vincentio’s Revenge
will be wasted on them. We’ll play it later in the tour to more discerning spectators.’
‘I agree,’ said Nicholas. ‘
Cupid’s Folly
, it shall be.’
Hoode pursed his lips in doubt. ‘I hope that it does not prove
our
folly.’
‘You saw this morning how quickly Giddy can learn.’
‘Yes, but I’d feel safer if Barnaby were able to help. He has delighted an audience as Rigormortis well above thirty times. He should be the one to instruct Giddy in the way that the part should be
A Trick To Catch A Chaste Lady
with some caution. Its previous performance had been disastrous and their superstitious natures made them uneasy about the piece. Another cause for discomfort was the fact that one of the main roles – that of Bedlam, the clown – was being played by someone who had no real acquaintance either with the play or with the people acting in it. Giddy Mussett was an affable companionbut that did not mean he would be a worthy substitute for Barnaby Gill. When word of Mussett’s illiteracy spread, the company became even more restive.
It was Nicholas Bracewell who helped to restore their confidence. Not only did he show Mussett where to stand and when to move in each scene, he repeated the clown’s lines over and over again until Mussett had committed them to memory. The others were amazed at the speed with which their new colleague was mastering the basic elements of his role. What he lacked was Gill’s familiarity with the part and his ability to invest each line with a comic slant. His jig, however, was equal to that of his predecessor and his facial contortions made the onlookers break into spontaneous laughter. Gill was less than amused. Still outraged at the proposition that he should be carried around in a wheelbarrow, he had retired to his room to sulk. He was now watching the rehearsal through the window with a mixture of sadness and pique, dejected because he was unable to take part and nettled that his role had been given to a man whom he loathed so much. Each laugh that Mussett gained was like a dagger through Gill’s heart.
When the company paused for refreshment, Lawrence Firethorn sought the opinion of the two people he trusted most, Edmund Hoode and his book holder.
‘Well?’ he asked. ‘How do you judge him?’
‘Giddy has done well,’ said Hoode. ‘He has a better memory than any of us. Whether it will stand up to the hazards of performance is another matter. I’d have preferred a week at least in which to rehearse him.’
‘We do not have a week, Edmund.’
‘Nor do we need it,’ said Nicholas. ‘Give me time to work with him privily and I’ll have him ready for the good citizens of Maidstone.’
‘What of
Cupid’s Folly
, Nick?’ asked Firethorn.
‘We’ll look at that as well.’
‘The clown holds the whip hand over all of us in that play,’ noted Hoode. ‘Would it not be sensible to choose a drama that puts less weight on him? There is so much for Giddy to learn.’
‘That will not disturb him.’
‘No,’ added Firethorn. ‘When I told him about his other role, he could not wait to play Rigormortis.’
‘There are other reasons to choose the play,’ said Nicholas. ‘This yard will be an ideal place in which to stage it and the piece is a favourite of the mayor’s. He would not dare to miss it. Where he leads, many others will follow.’
Hoode was worried. ‘I still feel that we ask too much too soon of Giddy.’
‘Someone must take the role of Rigormortis.’
‘Not if we select another play.’
‘We have the costumes and scenery for
Cupid’s Folly
.’
‘And for
Vincentio’s Revenge
.’
‘This is no town for tragedy, Edmund,’ said Firethorn. ‘Let’s brighten their day with happy laughter. There’ll be rustics in the audience, brought in from miles around. The soaring verse of
Vincentio’s Revenge
will be wasted on them. We’ll play it later in the tour to more discerning spectators.’
‘I agree,’ said Nicholas. ‘
Cupid’s Folly
, it shall be.’
Hoode pursed his lips in doubt. ‘I hope that it does not prove
our
folly.’
‘You saw this morning how quickly Giddy can learn.’
‘Yes, but I’d feel safer if Barnaby were able to help. He has delighted an audience as Rigormortis well above thirty times. He should be the one to instruct Giddy in the way that the part should be
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