The Sheila Variations

A messenger from the ancien régime

It was about 10 pm my time last night when my phone rang. It was Kate. I immediately was confused: "Wait a sec ... doesn't she have a show?" It was 8 pm where she was ... so twas a huge mystery. If she calls me at 8 pm on a MONDAY, then I am not confused because that is actors day off. But last night? I answered.

"Don't you have a show tonight??"

"Oh. Yes. I'm backstage right now, in between scenes."

She's doing a Moliere production so the picture of her, backstage, in her costume, calling me, was deliciously funny to me.

"Please tell me what you are wearing right now."

"Well, I gotta admit that I am a little bit ancien régime."

I started guffawing. Say no more, Kate, say no more.

"I am wearing a corset and a wig."

"Is it blonde?"

"No. Brunette, with long side curls."

"Do you have a decadent beauty mark??"

"No, but you know what? I really should."

She was sitting in the small kitchen/lounge backstage - dressed like that - calling me in her free time. I want a photograph of that. Also the fact that she just casually referenced "ancien régime" ... For some reason, that's one of our jokes: Who can say "ancien régime" in the most casual over-it way, and work it into a sentence. It's quite a fun game. I highly recommend it.

Her husband is in the same show - so I asked, "Where is he??"

"Oh - he's stage left, waiting to make his entrance."

I don't know why this entire scenario pleased me so much, but it did. I was still laughing when we finally hung up the phone. We blabbed on, about our lives, and this post - you know - a feverish catching up - and out of nowhere, she says, in an overtly calm yet totally panicked voice, "I have to go now."

"BYE." I shouted and hung up.

Had she misjudged how much time she had? Did she miss an entrance? Will we ever know?

I can't get the image out of my mind of my dear friend Kate dressed like this:

... talking to me on her cell phone backstage .

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