Thank You for Ten: Short Fiction About a Little Theater Page 11

  *

  "Anybody else talk to that goofy reporter from the Bugle a few days ago?" asked George Alistair to the actors resting in the green room during the intermission for dress rehearsal.

  "I did," offered Jeannette Gold, as she reclined in the derelict chair only she seemed to want to sit in. She plugged away at a small electronic game as she spoke. "I tried to make myself sound interesting. Did you talk to him?" She congratulated herself out loud for scoring a touchdown.

  "Yeah, I said a few things," George told her from across the room. "I basically say the same thing every time I do this show. Or any show. Try to put a positive spin on things. I keep any complaints in house."

  "You're not unhappy with our little show, are you George?" asked Dr. Gruber who had entered the green room just as George was making his point.

  "Not at all," George said. "I love it. Just had some bumps to smooth out." George leaned closer to Dr. Gruber's ear. "Director's a bit of an ego, gets under my skin a bit, but not the worst I've had, by far."

  "He's an acquired taste," Gruber whispered back. "Jake's actually starting to feel better, and I would have asked him to stay on and direct it. But since it was in our building, I figured, their director should stay."

  "Probably," George said. "I didn't say anything negative to the reporter don't worry."

  "Public relations aren't my first talent," Gruber said with a smile. "But I like to think I've learned in my years on the board how to make things look good. Hell I told that reporter that Strindberg and I had some big publicity campaign, when really all we did was send an announcement to each theater's mailing list.”

  Gruber winked at him, slapped him on the shoulder and moved on into the green room to talk to a few of the actors.