I make no secret of my contempt for the twenty-something headcases who have been allowed to inflate average abilities into grandiose fantasies about their
talents. I have to admit, however, that if you haven't seen them carry on when the fantasy bubble bursts, then you haven't seen Shakespeare the way it
was meant to be played. Seriously, if you think "foaming at the mouth" and "until her head spun around like in the exorcist" are figures of
speech, well… just check out this little lady.
There is no shortage of these gals in entertainment. My experience was only with the would-be actresses until I started working with a music producer, and
whew, baby! They have it worse-or better, depending on your taste for such things. Week before last saw the spectacularly self-destructive exit of one such
drama queen, and it was some damn good dinner...
Best button pushing on record?
A little known Alan Mencken musical called WEIRD ROMANCE. And yes, theatre trivia buffs, that's the guy from
Disney's Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin. The show
consists of two companion one-acts, which I hesitate to call "ScFi" although it usually gets that label. If you consider The Twilight Zone science
fiction, then this is too.
(Um, spoiler alert for anyone who wants to experience this remarkable show cold the first time, it is impossible for me to discuss it without giving away
major plot twists.)
Act 1 there is a weird romance indeed for a very sympathetic character, a homeless woman experiencing a glorious Cinderella story, and this love story ends…
badly.
Act...