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 regime.”
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 regime” … For some reason, that’s one of our jokes: Who can say “ancien regime” 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 – 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 .
I am totally taking of a picture of myself and sending it to you this weekend.
I didn’t miss my entrance. But I was a little panicked. . .
And by the way, I LOVE that you posted about this! So funny! And what is that dame doing hanging all over that poor man with her boobs in his face??
She epitomizes the decadence of the ancien regime!
Like: lady, learn boundaries, please!!
Actually, it’s a little known fact that one of the signers of the declaration of independence, William Whipple of New Hampshire, signed the document in drag. This painting depicts that special moment of our nation’s history.
Thank you and God Bless the USA.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
“to your left is the vertiable WATERING HOLE of the entire region …”
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