David Caruthers, the local primary school principal, was playing a very good Henry Higgins and Stephen Waddell, the local vet, was playing a more than suitable Colonel Pickering.
A man called Sean Wilkins, who was an accountant from two villages over, was playing Alfred P. Doolittle, Eliza’s father, and what he lacked in accent he made up for in enthusiasm for the role.
‘He sounds more Indian than cockney,’ Nick whispered to her.
‘I’ll help him with the accent.’ She smiled at Nick, as they came to the end of Act Two. ‘They’re easy enough once you get the hang of it.’
‘Everyone, time for an intermission. There’s lemon drizzle cake and some cheese and biscuits. We have a sturdy cheddar and a lovely blue, if you’re keen,’ Sheila called out.
Lily pushed back her chair and stood up. ‘If every rehearsal is like this, I’ll be the size of a house,’ she said to Nick as Jess moved around to the front of the table where Lily and Nick were standing.
Jess’s voice sliced across the room like a razor: ‘Lily, I was thinking, you might try to tone down the accent a bit. It’s sounding a bit forced.’
Lily gasped at the note from Jess. No one would ever say that in the first read-through on a professional run. It was nasty and uncalled for and, more than that, it was rude.
She looked down at her script, the words blurring just slightly from anger and embarrassment.
Then she heard a low growl and Jasper’s voice next to her: ‘Actually, I think Lily’s interpretation is spot on,’ he added, staring at Jess with a look that brooked no argument. ‘If you have notes, you speak to me, not directly to the other actors.’
Bernadette was in his arms, her lip snarling at Jessica, who turned and walked towards Sheila.
‘Oh God, this is going to be awful,’ she muttered to Nick as they sat with their mugs of tea. ‘She hates me.’
‘No it will be fine. She won’t do it again; Jasper popped her back into her box in no uncertain terms.’
‘I can’t imagine you going out with her. Was it serious?’ she asked him.
‘No, not really,’ he said vaguely.
‘How long did you go out for?’ she asked.
‘About six months,’ he said.
‘That’s not a short time,’ she said.
‘Well I did spend the last three trying to end it, but she was sort of… ’ His voice trailed away.
She looked at Jessica who was flirting with an uncomfortable Higgins and Pickering.
‘I get it, I think. She’s very charming.’
‘She’s also very manipulative.’ He sighed. ‘Boundaries are things on a map for her and not to be honoured in everyday life.’
‘Well she definitely hates me,’ she said. ‘She’s going to make this so awkward for everyone.’
‘No, she’ll settle down; she’s just trying to prove something right now. Ignore it, rise above it,’ he said. ‘Now come and try the cheese with me. I love cheese. Do you love cheese?’
After the tea and cake, everyone was back at their places at the table ready for Act Three.
Jasper clapped his hands and walked around the centre of the U-shaped tables. ‘Opening of Act Three. The scene unfolds in the elegant drawing room of Mrs Higgins, where the atmosphere is charged with anticipation as she prepares to welcome her esteemed guests.’
Jasper spoke passionately as he walked. ‘Eliza and Mrs Higgins are to meet, and Eliza and Freddy are to finally meet, which sets off a chain of events, so let us begin.’
Jess began the scene, reading her lines with a tinge of contempt.
When she had to interact with Lily, she stared at her across the room, as though Lily was something to be pitied.
She missed a line and she felt Nick nudge her. ‘Your line,’ he said pointing at the page.
