Chapter 10 #2
“I’m really not sure where people got that idea,” Jonah said. “The first time we met was for the photo shoot for The Wooden Horse’s new program. Obviously, I knew of Dexter—I’d listened to him on the original-cast recording of the songs—but I didn’t know
him personally. There was certainly no animosity from my side.”
“Well, there wouldn’t be from your side, would there?” Jay’s smile faltered slightly. “Because you got the role Dexter originated.”
“There was no animosity on my side either,” Dexter said, somewhat sternly. “People think there was this big competition between
the two of us, but that wasn’t the case. I auditioned for Tick, Tick . . . Boom! and got the role, so that’s what I did. There were never any plans for me to play Achilles on the West End.”
“It’s good to clear that up, especially as you now seem so close. I think everyone who considers themselves a theatre fan
has seen the photos of you outside of the Persephone. It’s lovely to see cast members bond in such a way. Do you think you
will be friends for life now?”
“Friends?” Dexter gave a laugh. “Sure, friends for life, right, Jonah?” He looked at him, his hazel eyes warm, something brewing there beneath them, but for what reason
Jonah didn’t know. The podcast wasn’t filmed, his fond glances were for no audience.
“Sure, friends,” Jonah said, with a smile back at him.
Jay cocked her head as she took in their interaction. “So, I’ve had some listener questions, if you’re okay to go through
them?”
“Sure!” Dexter beamed. “Throw them at us.”
“What is your favorite song to perform?”
“Oh, well, as Patroclus this week, ‘The Melody of Achilles and Patroclus.’ It’s a gorgeous song and captures the characters
beautifully. As Hector, it has to be ‘Answer Me.’ It’s his big number after all.”
“I like ‘The Song of the Dead,’” Jonah said. “I remember hearing it for the first time and it made me cry, and I wasn’t sure
how I could perform it without bawling my eyes out each night. Luckily, it’s an emotional number, so it doesn’t matter if
I get teary singing it.”
“‘Answer Me’ is my favorite,” Jay said, which didn’t surprise Jonah at all. “Next up, have you ever had any major mishaps
onstage?”
Dexter nodded earnestly. “Back when we took The Wooden Horse on tour, I had a major wardrobe malfunction during the song at the end of the first act. Everyone saw my arse, and I had
to pretend everything was okay.”
Jonah gave a genuine laugh. “The audience certainly got their money’s worth for that performance.
” Dexter offered him a smile in return. “I wouldn’t say I’ve had any major mishaps.
I once called Bastien by his name rather than Patroclus and the way he looked at me made me want to laugh, but it was during a really serious scene, so it was hard to keep going without cracking a smile. We managed it somehow.”
“Last question,” Jay said, looking at the laptop screen in front of her. “I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing you this week,
Dexter, but word is you two have the most amazing chemistry onstage. Is it easy to turn off that intense relationship once
you leave the stage?”
Dexter sucked in a breath and clasped his hands together in his lap as he spoke. “Hearing we have a good chemistry is honestly
the highest compliment. It shows we are doing our job as actors in showing the love between those characters. I can only speak
for myself here, but I get caught up in the show, you feel these intense emotions and portray them all while singing these
outstanding songs to each other. It’s really strange to then walk off the stage and just be yourself again. It takes a while
for me to wind down.”
“You certainly become close when acting out those scenes,” Jonah said. “Even after only a few days you establish a bond, which
is necessary to make sure you’re doing your characters justice. I think, now I’ve played Achilles for a while, I can leave
him behind when the costume comes off and the audience leaves. But, yeah, the bonds you create with your theatre family go
beyond costumes and makeup. I wouldn’t want to turn off those relationships.”
“That was a very diplomatic answer from you both.” Jay laughed. “But, seriously, I’m gutted I didn’t get to see you as Patroclus
this week, Dexter. I’m so excited to see you as Hector. And the other new cast members too.”
Jay wrapped up the podcast with more niceties before a string of sponsors spilled from her lips, leaving Jonah and Dexter
to sit there silently while she reeled off the business names. When she finally finished, she stopped recording and smiled
at them both, but her eyes settled on Dexter, and Jonah couldn’t help but feel slightly snubbed by her.
“Thank you both for coming in so early today,” she said, cheeks flushing as she let her eyes wander across Dexter’s face.
“I know it’s a double show day for you.”
“Well, for Jonah, at least,” Dexter said as he smiled sweetly back at her before turning his attention to Jonah. “Though, I hope you don’t mind me saying, you’ve looked exhausted this week. Aren’t you due some time off? It might help with some slipups you’ve been making.”
If Jonah’s look could kill, Dexter would be six feet underground. He didn’t understand the man’s motivation; had Colbie not
explicitly told them they needed to put on a show? How was putting him down in front of a podcast host going to help?
“Thanks for that,” Jonah said, trying his hardest not to let the smile on his face falter. “Good to know you think I look
like shit.”
“I didn’t say you looked like shit.”
“You might as well have done.”
Dexter’s smile widened, and before Jonah could register what was happening, Dexter reached over to him and ruffled Jonah’s
curls between his fingers like he was fussing over a dog. “Jonah isn’t good at taking criticism. Are you, sweetheart?”
Jonah wanted to pluck the sickening “sweetheart” from his lips and set fire to each syllable. He could feel Jay watching them,
breathing in every moment of their interaction, affectionate hair mussing, sweethearts, and all.
Jonah scrunched his nose and maintained his forced smile. “Oh, I don’t mind. At least I can get those high notes easily, unlike
you, Dex.”
Dexter made a fond-sounding hum from the back of his throat. “High notes aren’t everything though, are they?”
“No, but Olivier Awards are.”
Jay cleared her throat, and they turned their heads to look at her. “So,” she said, clapping her hands together. “If it’s
okay, I will just get a couple of photos of you both for the podcast announcement then get this thing edited.” She wanted
them to leave. Dexter nodded and wrapped his arm around Jonah’s shoulder, his cologne so strong it took Jonah’s breath away
as he pressed himself against his side. Jay took a couple of photos of them both, their smiles as real as they could be, reminding
Jonah the role of liking Dexter wasn’t one he could play with ease.