The Broadway Show

Hank was worn out with time capsule shows so we were doing our first Broadway show. The surprising thing about the show was that none of us knew any Broadway songs. Hank had suggestions, but none of us were familiar with them. The songs they were pulling out of the air were songs I had never heard of. Casper was given “All That Jazz” from Chicago, Alton was given “Whatever Lola Wants” from Damned Yankee’s, Sammy did a number from Gypsy, I was given a duet, “16 going on 17” from the Sound of Music with Peter. Rodger chose to do a duet “Bosom Buddies” from Mame with Sammy. Everyone knew about their conflicts behind the curtains and it was a humorous thought. Rodger was having a problem with an opening and just decided to do the Mame Overture. “An overture?” I was stunned. How do you perform an overture?
Alton and I peeked out the curtain to watch Rodger/Elxa parade around the stage and shaking hands with audience members as the overture played. People were tipping him left and right. We looked at each other in disbelief! He actually performed an overture!
Rodger felt sorry for me having to do a number with Peter, Oe’s boyfriend-hot bartender with no talent, so he had a pretty blue lacy dress for me to wear, a blonde wig with blue ribbons. I am giggling remembering how proud Rodger was with my out-fit. He really took this stuff so seriously. Knowing that Peter was a little stiff on stage Oe had arranged for a giant swing on the stage. Peter was to swing me while we sang out duet. At one point I would stand on the swing and eventually fall into his arms. Very nicely choreographed with one problem- I never rehearsed with heels. When I jumped on the swing I had to catch my balance and used Peter as my anchor. I was falling backwards and grabbed onto Peter’s hair all the while lipping my song. Terror was in my face as I saw the pain in Peter’s. I tried to balance myself, but kept wobbling .It wasn’t until I saw the blood dripping down Peter’s face that I realized the pain he must be going through, but he was a real trooper. I fell forward and pressed into Peter, when he spun me around and we landed on our marks the audience roared with laughter.
Peter stood there with the blood still pouring out and the front of my pretty dress was all blood stained. We looked like the ending of a horror movie as the sweet sound of innocence played from the speakers.
Another hit under my belt and an angry Oe. He felt I made a fool out of Peter. Peter loved being in a hit number. “ I was beginning to think I was sucky, but they liked me tonight.” Peter said to me in the dressing room. “You stole the show.” I said as I offered him a rag for the blood and washed the hair I had pulled from his scalp.
After the show Hank informed Rodger that he was going to Florida and wasn’t going to be able to see the next week’s show. He had a list of songs he wanted us to perform and he had added a plot to the show. “I want the songs to tell a story.”He also wanted to introduce the Feather Men, the male counterpart of the Featherette’s. There was also the Cruiser’s and the Cruisette’s.
The story went like this…Rodger’s Feather man cheated on her with Casper, the Cruisette. Casper’s boyfriend a Cruiser finds out and challenges the Feather men to a dance off. Sammy enters at the end dressed as a boy singing a girls song. He came up with this idea on his own-no drugs and it made no sense, but we tried to understand. The next night we were all to meet at the bar for a rehearsal. We had never rehearsed at the bar. Oe had to let us in and we went over the songs. There were so many of us! Besides, Alton, Roger and me; there was Casper, Sammy, Dominick, Peter, Paul, Marty, Scott and Clint- and we all had solo’s. Oe was furious! He was not having it! “The show will be a hour long!” Oe screamed, we all agreed. “But Hank chose these songs.” Alton offered. “Then he should have been here to see it.” Oe reasoned. Rodger offered to cut one of his songs. He felt awkward singing the song “Maybe”- “It’s a screaming black woman.” Sammy offered to give up his number. “ No one is going to laugh.” Sammy reasoned. “Do whatever you have to do to make it work.” Oe said. “But Hank wants it a certain way.” “I am in charge” Oe reminded us all.
Till Tomorrow, Be kind