THE
UNDERSTUDY
The
Old World Theater was running a production of Hamlet. The Old
World Theater was known through out the state for it's fine
Shakespearean productions.
Tony
Franklin was the director of the play. He was unset this
evening. It was ten minutes till the curtains went up and Johnson
Synblood the star performer was nowhere to be found.
Franklin
was not only upset that Synblood had not shown up. He was
worried also. He had never known in all the plays over the years he
worked with Synblood of him ever being late. He wondered if something
had happen to him.
He
could not imagine anything short of death stopping Synblood from
being there. Franklin could imagine a gang of kidnappers holding
Synblood captive. Franklin figured that only that would keep Synblood
away.
Ben
Freekson who worked as Synblood's understudy
was
getting ready to take synblood's place. To said that Freekson
was thrilled would be a gross understatement. Never in the six
month run of this production of Halmet had missed a single
performance. He even worked the daytime shows that usually featured
the understudies. Many people believed that Freekson resented Synblood
for never giving him the chance to play the lead role of Hamlet. It
was very lucky for Freekson that Synblood did not show up for the
last performance of the play. It was his very last chance to play the
leading role. A role any actor would kill for as the saying goes.
The
curtains went up on time with Freekson playing the role of
Hamlet. Many people felt that Freekson did a good job in the role.
But no one thought he was as good an actor as Synblood in the role.
Many ticket holders asked for a refund because they were disappointed
that Synblood was not performing.
After
the play a cast party was thrown by the backer of the play and
the entire cast and crew was there. That is everyone except for
Synblood and Sam Porter who worked as the prop man for the play.
As
Franklin was downing his second drink Sam called him over to
look at something. At first Sam tried to pretend that he did not hear
him. But Franklin realized that Sam was upset. Though that was not
really unusual.
"What
is it Sam? Is there something missing again?" Sam took
pride in keeping a close eye on all the props. Sometimes the
crew would hide props from him to tease him.
"Look
at this Tony." Sam said as he pointed to the skull used
in the 'Alas, poor Yorick' scene of the play. "Well what about it?" Franklin could not understand
why six months after the show started that Sam would be
pointing out the prop skull to him. Franklin wanted to go on to his
third drink.
"It's
not our prop skull. In fact it's a real one."
"A
real one?" Franklin took a closer look at it.
Franklin
was not sure what a real skull would look like. He was pretty sure
what a bullet hole would look like. There seem to be one in the head
of the skull over the left eye.
A
few days later the police matched the dental x-rays of the
skull to the dental x-ray charts of Johnson Synblood.
His
headless body was found buried in the cellar of Ben Freekson's
home. Synblood who had never missed a performance was there after
all.
THE
END
Copyright
2015 By Teel.
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