In Kathryn Simmonds short story Letter from the Understudy a slightly anonymous actor tries to make something of himself to the best of his abilities. He experiences himself “living in the shadows”, as he describes it, but resolutely tries to burst out from backstage and soak up the spotlight shining down on the platform. But not everything comes so easy. The main character Gavin struggles to cement himself as the starting actor for the role of Romeo until he, blinded by fever, jumps the gun and takes matters into his own hands which results in quite dramatic consequences.
The story is composed in the form of a letter written by the protagonist, Gavin, to his former theatrical director Malcolm. In the letter Gavin is explaining a certain event that shaped his career for a long time and still until the date the letter was written. [Læs mere…]


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