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Tweak says, "MONKEY!"

Susan Abbot (up_staging) wrote in toujoursliberer,
@ 2008-08-29 21:03:00

Entry tags:

harry_fisher, nell_abbot, plot, susan_abbot

Subject: Wherein our heroine returns to her old home after a prolonged absence.
Where: The Bridge Theatre
Who: Susan Abbot
Warnings: None as yet.
Open to: Anyone at the theatre.

A few days after arriving back in London, after a first night of a show and a visit to some of the more interesting sights of the city, it occurred to Susan that it might be an idea to see how her family were while she was here, to see how her father and her little, baby brother were and if the theatre was doing well. They should be so pleased to hear from her, now that she was such a success.

It took another day or so before she could arrange the time to wander so far from where her company were currently based and to remember exactly where the theatre was and how to get to it. When she got there she was surprised to see how little the building had changed in the time she was away. The man she saw standing outside she didn't recognise but maybe they were a new actor hired to work there. In the back of her mind, she hoped not as he wasn't the best looking of people and looked rather like a ruffian if she was perfectly honest. Still, she supposed that it couldn't be helped.

"Excuse me, sir." She swayed up to him and gave her best innocent smile, "Might I ask if Mr Abbot is in today?" It would be a nice surprise for her father, she thought.

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social_climber
2008-09-04 01:26 pm UTC (link)

Harry, meanwhile, gave a nod to Will, still loitering at the door, and dismissed him back to the foyer. There was no need for him to be there, listening in, when the door was left unguarded.

He turned his head back to their guest, in time to hear her invitation and then Nell's excited reply. Well, there could be no harm in it, really. "Well..." He said, as if uncertain. "I suppose Nell could go. After all, I suppose it would not hurt for him to watch a performance of other actors. Depending on your own rehearsals and other commitments, Nell." He paused, glancing to Miss Abbot then, "I hope that doesn't trouble you over much? Nell is rather busy, as you can not doubt imagine."

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up_staging
2008-09-04 02:18 pm UTC (link)

"Oh no, no," Susan replied with a dismissive wave of hand, "perfectly understandable. I could hardly ask anyone to miss out on a rehearsal or somesuch, they're vital to any actor, after all." She turned and smiled at Nell, reassured to hear that he was taking his profession seriously. She was also more than a little pleased to hear how excited he was at her offer, it seemed she'd made the right choice with it.

"And yourself, Mister Fisher?" He looked a bit more of the usual audience fare of the theatre they were currently playing in than her brother. "We have a few evening performances commissioned in the next month. I'm sure an extra ticket or two could be found if you fancied an outing." She was certain that they could if she asked, seeing as she was the leading lady of the performance showing on those evenings. Something occurred to her at that point and she perked up, "Would I be able to come and see Nell perform one day soon?" Preferably before her own rehearsals ate up all her free time.

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ex_little_st99
2008-09-08 05:07 pm UTC (link)

Naturally their work at the theatre had to come first. Nell couldn't go losing clients because he was excited his sister was back in London, but he could at least try to build a kinship between them before she left again with that travelling company of hers.

"Please Harry, you must come as well." He said imploringly, although stopped short when Susan mentioned coming to see one of their own performances. The last thing he wanted was for his sister to discover what sort of entertainment really went on here. "Oh, we just finished a run of Romeo and Juliet, and we haven't even decided on the next play. You know how rehearsals are, they go on for months. You might have gone by the time we're ready to show it."

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social_climber
2008-09-09 03:49 am UTC (link)

Harry had been quite happy to lean back and let the siblings talk- there was, after all, no harm in it and he was almost sure he was a distraction in their conversation- until of course, it was turned around to him, and the mention of Nell's own performances were made. He didn't sit bolt-upright, but let Nell answer, calmly enough too, with a hint of embarrassment, almost as if he was not good enough yet to be watched by his sister, an accomplished actress herself.

"I would be delighted to go." He told Susan with a smile, leaning forward now, "As would Nell and no doubt anyone else given the offer. Perhaps your play would offer us some inspiration as to our next production?"

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up_staging
2008-09-09 01:18 pm UTC (link)

It was a little odd, how both Harry and Nell had almost jumped a bit when she'd mentioned coming here to watch a play, but perhaps they simply weren't used to having people like herself seeing their productions. Never mind though, she was quite pleased that the pair had agreed to come to one of her shows. It would just have to do for now.

"Ah, such timing, it's a shame. I'm sure my brother made a superb Romeo," she replied with a little sigh, "Drury Lane aren't showing either, as I'm sure you're aware." It was part of the reason that her own company had chosen to come back to London at this particular time, they'd never be able to compete and grab the audiences they desired otherwise. "We'll be showing one of Southerne's. The Mother in Fashion, if you've heard of it?" Not a very new play but it made a change from Shakespeare and she was in the title role so she couldn't complain. It was also a role that she knew back to front and so could take a little time off occasionally, much like she was doing now. "But perhaps it might work out quite well; Southerne had quite the repertoire, perhaps you'll be able to find something you like in there."

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	ex_little_st99 2008-09-10 04:10 am UTC (link)
	“It was Juliet, actually.” Nell mumbled, glancing away from Susan. He was beginning to feel quite embarrassed by her questions and assumptions. “That all sounds wonderful though, doesn’t it? I’m sure you could help us pick out a play, and that we’ll all be inspired by your performance.” (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

social_climber
2008-09-10 02:50 pm UTC (link)

"Superb never the less." Harry said with the flash of a smile in Nell's direction, before his eyes moved back to Susan. "Southerne?" He says with some interest. "I've heard of him, but as busy as I am I don't often get to read much new material. But I am sure your own production will open our eyes to new possibilities." He smiled gently at her, but not with the same pride and warmth, "What playhouse are your company using? I imagine you've booked one up for the remainder of the season?"

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up_staging
2008-09-11 12:36 pm UTC (link)

Nell's correction didn't even make Susan blink, "Well, you've certainly got the looks for it, little brother. And the hair." She leaned over and ruffled the mentioned feature, noticing (a little petulantly) that it was slightly finer than her own. "I'll have to give you a book of his works. My patrons keep gifting me with copies so I'm sure I could donate one to the theatre where I first started acting." Some of the books were quite old and tatty, if she recalled correctly, one of those would do quite nicely. She sat and turned back to Harry when he questioned her, waving with an almost dismissive gesture when she replied. "Oh, we'll be at the Bow Street Theatre until that mess in Paris has cleared up. We were due to go over there but unfortunately our sponsor was arrested." She shrugged, "Until then the King George's Players shall just have to remain at home." At least London wasn't entirely boring.

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