Simon Lockley, Scarborough u3a
North East Region
The Right Opening
An hour had gone by and he was none the wiser as to what they wanted from him. Adrian Somerset had been invited to their flat to discuss a role that he was ‘just perfect for’. Judging from the state of the place, Jenny and James Louth were not making a fortune from their career as theatrical agents. However, they had hinted that the role in question would be very well-paid, and that if he helped them out he would be at the top of their list for all upcoming theatre roles. Adrian desperately needed that elusive ‘opening’ that all actors crave. The one chance to break through into the big time. He doubted very much if this pair had the right connections, but with sufficient money maybe he could find an agent who did.
James finally broke the ice. ‘How would you feel about an acting role that may not be strictly legal but could earn you £25,000 for half an hour’s work?’ he ventured.
Adrian was silent for a moment. ‘Look he said finally’. ‘I need a rough idea of what your plan is, and what character I need to play’. ‘I’m not going to go running off to the police. I need the money too much.’ ‘Do you know how hard it is to break into the big time?’ ‘Money talks, and if I could make the right connections I could be on stage at the West End.’ ‘One chance, one opening’ ‘It’s not too much to ask’.
James and Jenny looked at each other, and then seemed to make up their minds.
It was Jenny who spoke first. ‘All right. But remember, if you do go to the Police we will deny everything, and you will have thrown away that chance for nothing.’
‘I’m sure he won’t’ soothed James. ‘Particularly now he realises how much money he could earn. ‘Now, Adrian’. ‘Do you know how much people invest in West End performances?’
‘Not really’ admitted Adrian. ‘You’re talking about so-called ‘Angels’ aren’t you?’
‘Exactly’ said Jenny. ‘And we need you to find us a big investor’. ‘Someone relatively new, so that they won’t know any of us’. ‘Can you ask around?’.
‘I can try’ replied Adrian. ‘And what’s this acting role you’ve got for me, or was that just an excuse to get me here?’
‘Not at all’ interjected James hurriedly. ‘Your acting role will be crucial’. ‘You will be playing the part of a highly successful Broadway Producer who is going to give our play credibility.’ ‘That’s vital, since the play doesn’t actually exist!’
One week later, Adrian came up with the goods. A Monsieur Henri, an ‘Angel’ who had previously invested millions in Paris productions, now wanted to spread his wings and invest in some West End productions. Better still, M. Henri apparently had decided to visit London in two weeks time to follow up this latest ambition.
It was exactly two weeks to the day when Adrian entered the impressive office complex. By then he had researched his role in considerable detail and was confident that he knew what was required of him. Even so, with so much money at stake, it took all Adrian’s acting skills to remain in character as a confident, brash Broadway Producer.
Adrian made his way to the reception desk with a swagger indicating a confidence that he didn’t feel. The receptionist looked up with an engaging smile. ‘Mr Wymans?’ she intoned. ‘Please follow me’. She led the way through to an expensive office and announced him with a formality that added to the up-market ambience.
‘Gentlemen’ ‘This is Mr Jerome Wymans’. ‘Mr Wymans, this is Monsieur Henri, plus Paul Richards and Susan Palmer. They are the playwrights Monsieur Henri wanted you to meet. With that she smoothly turned and walked back out to her post at the reception desk, leaving Adrian centre stage.
Three pairs of eyes swivelled in his direction. Adrian studied M. Henri and was surprised to see that the man in front of him was somewhat older in appearance than he had anticipated.
The other two pairs of eyes belonged to the man and woman whom he now knew very well following two weeks of clandestine meetings. James was about to speak when Monsieur Henry took the floor. ‘Mr Wymans’ he began. ‘Good of you to make the trip from New York’. ‘Good to have a fellow investor’s opinion and your reputation is impeccable’. ‘These two young writers are as yet unknown’ he waved a hand dismissively in their direction ‘yet still have the nerve to ask me for £800,000 to launch their play in the West End’. ‘You must have studied the script’. ‘Do you think it will get past the opening night?’ He spoke almost perfect English, although with the unmistakeable accent of someone born in France.
Adrian had never missed a cue in his career, and he didn’t hesitate. ‘Well, Monsieur Henri’. ‘I shouldn’t sound too enthusiastic until I fix a price with you should I?’ he drawled with a cynical chuckle. ‘Or my enthusiasm could prove expensive.’
M. Henri laughed at the man’s bluntness. ‘OK. Let’s agree terms upfront.’ ‘ Say I do decide to back this production in the West End.’ ‘If I do, then you get the rights to produce it on Broadway for my original stake of £400,000 plus 10% of any net profit you make in the States.’ ‘Not unreasonable, as by then it will be tried and trusted.’
Adrian glanced at the two playwrights for a split second before replying, and caught the almost imperceptible nod from Jenny.
‘Sounds acceptable Monsieur Henri’ he replied in the same drawl. ‘And to answer your earlier question, I have no doubt that this play has got legs.’ ‘Maybe not ‘The Mousetrap’, but my intuition tells me it will run for a long time.’
‘Then I shall bow to your intuition Mr Wymans’ responded M Henri. ‘I’ve only read the first 2 pages myself’.’ My skills lie in making money, not reviewing drama’. ‘That’s why I needed you here.’
‘But we actually need £800,000 to launch on the West End’ broke in James.
‘Indeed you do’ agreed M. Henry with a smile. ‘Every penny of it I should say, looking at West End theatre costs. The smile disappeared as he added in a harder tone. ‘However, I have no intention in taking all the risk myself.’ ‘I am prepared to put up £400,000 on the basis of My Wymans’ recommendation’. ‘The other £400,000 you will need to fund yourselves’.
‘But we don’t have that sort of money’ protested Jenny.
‘I am sure that’s not the case’ retorted M. Henri. ‘I assume that you live here in London?’
‘Yes’ ‘We have a small flat here’ admitted James.
M. Henri beamed. ‘Excellent.’ ‘With London prices you will have no difficulty in raising £400,000 against the value of the flat then.’ ‘I will give you two weeks to raise the money and deposit it in this account in Paris’. He passed over a slip of paper to them before continuing. ‘Once the money has been received I will add my contribution’. ‘Right – I think this meeting is over’. ‘Thank you again for your help Mr Wyman’.
Seeing that there was no point in arguing, Jenny and James merely nodded their agreement before departing. After all, their £400,000 investment would be doubled and withdrawn long before Monsieur Henri discovered that he had invested in a West End production that didn’t exist. Plus they intended to make Adrian settle for a mere £2,000 leaving them a handsome profit. He wouldn’t be happy, but he could hardly complain to anyone.
As soon as they had gone ‘Monsieur Henri’ gave his son a broad smile and spoke in a broad Lancashire accent: ‘You know Adrian, you’re really not a bad actor at all.’ ‘That was quite a convincing performance.’
Adrian smiled. ‘Thanks Dad’. ‘You weren’t too bad yourself.’ ‘Maybe a bit heavy on the French accent at times, and did you really need to make yourself look ninety?’ ‘Now let’s get out of here. I only rented this place until 2pm, and, now I will have money behind me, I’ve got people to meet to discuss just the right opening for me’. ‘It looks as if Jenny and James have finally done my career some good…!’