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Authors: Garson Kanin
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was
Calling a spade
An arrow from Cupid—
Stupid!’
“You don’t get chunks like that often.”
“No one’s putting him down,” said Larry.
“I know, but he’s nervous,” Hy explained. “A nervous man. Insecure. So when you start mentioning the gods he panics. He’d like to be those guys, but how can he be?”
“Who’s asking him to?” asked Larry.
“I’ll spell it out,” said Hy. “You do a musical, it’s bound to be a mixed grill, right? Have you ever seen one not? We’re full of straights and gay and both—present company, of course, excepted.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Jenny, laughing.
“But Fred—he’s a tormented kid. He’s minty, but he doesn’t want to be. He’s not like, you know, the great British ballet dancer—what’s his name? What’s the difference?—when he got mugged in New York and two days later all his hair fell out—remember?—and they told him that since it wasn’t physical—but mental—he needed psychotherapy and hypnotism. So he went to the great Dr. Kubie, but before they started, he said, 'Listen, Doctor, I certainly want my hair back—but I must tell you this—I’m as queer as a coot—and if you do anything to change that , I’ll kill you!’ Well, Fred’s not like that—he’d like to switch; he’s tried, can’t—so it makes him—his torture—A: a great lyric writer, and B: a nervous wreck.”
“And C,” said Larry, “a pain in the ass…I’m not interested in his sexual problems. There’re clinics for that. I’m interested in getting the best out of him—and the rest of you—and myself. So if you ever see him again, tell him. And tell him not to be such a baby.”
“I’ll tell him,” said Hy.
“So now what? Can we hear the new chorus?”
“Sure,” said Hy. “I’ll sing it. I sing fifty times better than he does anyway—but I have to let him demonstrate all the time. Never mind. Here we go.”
SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON
Company Bulletin
Monday, September 10
PRODUCTION STAFF:
Clay Botsford: Production Supervisor
Stuart Bender: Stage Manager
Phil Rosenberg: Musical Director
Henry Wadsworth: Company Manager
Buddy Rice is assisting Miss Flagg
Patti Rolph will be the Dance Captain
Until further notice, Jenny Flagg plans to rehearse on an 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. schedule.
LINGO : Please, if you can avoid it, don’t use the word “cross,” nor the words “enter” or “exit.” Thinking in these terms eventually leads to artificiality. In life, we move, walk, sit, stand, and so on, but we seldom cross. L.G.
PUNCTUALITY : Due to our full schedule, it is absolutely essential that all members of the company be absolutely punctual for all calls, rehearsals, run-throughs, fittings, etc.
PREPARATION : Mr. Gabel would greatly appreciate immediate attention to line and lyric learning. This is in our mutual interest, since much more can be gained from the rehearsals if time is not used for the private and mechanical job of committing words to memory. It is our plan to make no changes in text or lyrics after Friday night, September 14. Please let’s have any queries or notions before that time.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: HENRY WADSWORTH (Company Manager)
I write under protest and at the persuasive insistence of Miss Maghakian.
I come from Christmas Cove, Maine, where I was born on December 5, 1895. When I survived that winter, it was clear that I was indestructible. I owe my longevity to the harsh climate of my birth which fortified me against all slings and arrows—including two World Wars and 119 theatrical productions.
I began as a part-time usher at The Lyceum in Providence, Rhode Island, while attending Brown University. My father was a physician and wished me to follow in his forceps, but when I developed a syndrome of fainting with some regularity during my pre-med training, I abandoned it as unsuitable. My father was dismayed but resigned. After service in WWI, I became Assistant Manager of
Calling a spade
An arrow from Cupid—
Stupid!’
“You don’t get chunks like that often.”
“No one’s putting him down,” said Larry.
“I know, but he’s nervous,” Hy explained. “A nervous man. Insecure. So when you start mentioning the gods he panics. He’d like to be those guys, but how can he be?”
“Who’s asking him to?” asked Larry.
“I’ll spell it out,” said Hy. “You do a musical, it’s bound to be a mixed grill, right? Have you ever seen one not? We’re full of straights and gay and both—present company, of course, excepted.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Jenny, laughing.
“But Fred—he’s a tormented kid. He’s minty, but he doesn’t want to be. He’s not like, you know, the great British ballet dancer—what’s his name? What’s the difference?—when he got mugged in New York and two days later all his hair fell out—remember?—and they told him that since it wasn’t physical—but mental—he needed psychotherapy and hypnotism. So he went to the great Dr. Kubie, but before they started, he said, 'Listen, Doctor, I certainly want my hair back—but I must tell you this—I’m as queer as a coot—and if you do anything to change that , I’ll kill you!’ Well, Fred’s not like that—he’d like to switch; he’s tried, can’t—so it makes him—his torture—A: a great lyric writer, and B: a nervous wreck.”
“And C,” said Larry, “a pain in the ass…I’m not interested in his sexual problems. There’re clinics for that. I’m interested in getting the best out of him—and the rest of you—and myself. So if you ever see him again, tell him. And tell him not to be such a baby.”
“I’ll tell him,” said Hy.
“So now what? Can we hear the new chorus?”
“Sure,” said Hy. “I’ll sing it. I sing fifty times better than he does anyway—but I have to let him demonstrate all the time. Never mind. Here we go.”
SHINE ON, HARVEST MOON
Company Bulletin
Monday, September 10
PRODUCTION STAFF:
Clay Botsford: Production Supervisor
Stuart Bender: Stage Manager
Phil Rosenberg: Musical Director
Henry Wadsworth: Company Manager
Buddy Rice is assisting Miss Flagg
Patti Rolph will be the Dance Captain
Until further notice, Jenny Flagg plans to rehearse on an 11:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. schedule.
LINGO : Please, if you can avoid it, don’t use the word “cross,” nor the words “enter” or “exit.” Thinking in these terms eventually leads to artificiality. In life, we move, walk, sit, stand, and so on, but we seldom cross. L.G.
PUNCTUALITY : Due to our full schedule, it is absolutely essential that all members of the company be absolutely punctual for all calls, rehearsals, run-throughs, fittings, etc.
PREPARATION : Mr. Gabel would greatly appreciate immediate attention to line and lyric learning. This is in our mutual interest, since much more can be gained from the rehearsals if time is not used for the private and mechanical job of committing words to memory. It is our plan to make no changes in text or lyrics after Friday night, September 14. Please let’s have any queries or notions before that time.
THE COMPANY YOU KEEP: HENRY WADSWORTH (Company Manager)
I write under protest and at the persuasive insistence of Miss Maghakian.
I come from Christmas Cove, Maine, where I was born on December 5, 1895. When I survived that winter, it was clear that I was indestructible. I owe my longevity to the harsh climate of my birth which fortified me against all slings and arrows—including two World Wars and 119 theatrical productions.
I began as a part-time usher at The Lyceum in Providence, Rhode Island, while attending Brown University. My father was a physician and wished me to follow in his forceps, but when I developed a syndrome of fainting with some regularity during my pre-med training, I abandoned it as unsuitable. My father was dismayed but resigned. After service in WWI, I became Assistant Manager of
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