THE STAGE CREW SAYS HE MISSED A SHOW

 

 

Why would he miss doing the show?  Does he have  a cold?   Maybe on of his  legs hurts...those three successive  cartwheels could be wearing him out?  Maybe he had an agent or  a manager here to discuss another job in the winter? If  I had seen the opening number of the show that the stage crew said he missed  I could phone him and ask if he's feeling okay....Or call him.  And ask what he's thinking about doing this winter.  Since we're friends he might like to talk about his plans.  I wonder if he knows how to reach me in New York. I could write down the numbers and give them to one of the stage managers in case there's some sort of emergency....  that's what I should do,  yes--that's what I'll do....maybe I'll see what Mom says....    

ON STAGE IN SPOLETO

FRANKEE  WAS WEARING A FAVORITE BLUE OUTFIT THAT USUALLY BROUGHT HER COMPLIMENTS.  BUT THE BIGWIGS IN CHARGE OF THE FESTIVAL SEEMED TO BE AVOIDING HER.

 

They were seated here and there in the empty theater.

 Menotti reset his watch. Barber sorted  festival pamphlets, while the famous Benjamin Britten was studying a piece of sheet music, talking out loud to himself. 

 FRANKEE WAS  SWEATING. It was a hot afternoon  and everyone was standing too close to her. She kept wishing she'd borrowed her husbands double-breasted jackets --it would hide what she was wearing.    

Suddenly, out of the blue, somebody said "Cut the damn introduction--it's redundant." Menotti nodded. Britten vociferrously agreed. 

FRANKEE AT THE EDGE OF THE STAGE, A POWERFUL GIRL-WOMAN SAID "YOU INVITED ME  HERE.  I CREATED WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO CREATE ABOUT THE WRITER AS THE WAR BEGAN --YOU'LL HEAR AND SEE HIM.  I WILL NOT CUT ANYTHING. 

THE PRE- REORDED MUSIC FILLED THEATER AS FRANKEE, IN HER "ACTRESS TONE OF VOICE," INTRODUCED AN IMAGINARY  FAMILY.  

       "MY MOTHER--" (a spotlight fades up. as if encircling her).  "MY FATHER--" (spotlight comes on).  "MY UNCLE--" (another spot comes on).  "MY AUNT --(another spotlight) 

The music has sounds of street car horns honking as welll as cars. Frankee enacts in childlike dance movments  that includes  somersalts, childish  turns, and cartwheels. The vision of those circles on the floor becomes a real reality.   

The light that encircles each member of the writer's family  remains on, and the family is always there as writer  James Agee words as danced (mimed) by  Frankee as he recalls the summer of 1915.  

NATHAN OGELSBY

"Who the hell is this Nathan Ogelsby guy who keeps phoning you, Frankee?  Ogelsby told me called  you three time today because he loves your voice."

"He wants to invest in the team Mark."

 "Frankee, he told me that when he aked you to marry him, you said yes! "   

"Mark, he's a very nice guy with a ton of money."

"You said Yes?   Are you sleeping with him Frankee ?"

"My goodness, of course not.  He paid the rent once when we couldn't pay the rent."  

"FRANKIE, YOU are  MARRIED!" 

" Nate said his lawyers could dissolve the marriage. MARK. They'll open  "Haunted Moments" at the Longacre  Theater -- the Bijou theater is too small."

"'Haunted Moments' -- your choreography to sound effects ? You're referring to the new work that you said was going to make us 'big names' in the dance world?" 

"I didn't promise --I just said there might be a part  for his ex wife."

"Frankee, how long have you known his guy?"

"He gave me a ring after I danced  False Lady on Trudy Goth's showcase.  I gave it to MOM. She says its quite tiny, but it's a genuine diamond.  1/2 carat.  He gave me a much bigger diamond in a pink velvet box that I keep in my underwear drawer.  I'll wear it when I meet his family. 

retured from gatlinburg