8 Actor by Parnell Hall

Author:Parnell Hall
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: General Fiction
ISBN: 9781936441006
Publisher: Parnell Hall
Published: 2010-09-29T04:00:00+00:00

21.

IT WAS STILL ON THE front page. But the headline today was NO LEADS IN PLAYHOUSE MURDER

I wouldn’t want you to think me hardhearted, but I’d had enough with Goobie Wheatly’s death. I didn’t read the front-page story. I turned to the back for the review.

It’s hard to explain. If you’ve ever been an actor, you’ll understand, but if not, I don’t know if I can really get across how I felt.

The thing is, dreams die hard. And they come in all shapes and sizes. They’re not all winning the Academy Award. For instance, one of my dreams has always been becoming a successful enough actor to get on the Johnny Carson show, so I could ask him if he really did a Carnac joke I once heard attributed to him but could never quite believe he’d actually done on the air. Carnac, if you’ll recall, is the bit where Johnny wears a turban and is the sage, seer and soothsayer who divines the answers to questions in sealed envelopes. The answer to this particular Carnac was “Cock Robin.” The question was, “What’s in my mouth, Batman?”

With Johnny retiring, that dream had to die. But others would live on. And one of my dreams has always been to be reviewed by the New York Times.

All right, so this wasn’t the Times, it was just some crummy little local paper.

But still.

Anyway, I have to admit, as I turned the pages I was excited. Like a kid on Christmas morning. Wondering, could it be, was it really there?

It was there, all right.

I couldn’t miss it.

STAR SHINES ON PLAYHOUSE STAGE was the headline.

Underneath was a picture of Avery Allington, in full costume, striking a hopelessly theatrical pose. The picture was captioned, “TV star Avery Allington as Major Sergius Saranoff in Arms and the Man.”

The reviewer, one Harvey Frank according to his byline, began by alluding to the murder, which I guess was unavoidable.

“Wresting triumph out of tragedy,” the review began, “the playhouse has mounted a superb production of George Bernard Shaw’s Arms and the Man.” It continued:

The tragic death and apparent murder of stage manager Goobie Wheatly could not diminish the opening-night audience’s enjoyment of this delightful farce. The packed house of what one would assume were largely curiosity seekers—if the intermission conversation is any guide—saw no extracurricular theatrics develop. Instead, they were treated to one of the most delightful evenings this reviewer has seen in a long time, a thoroughly enjoyable production of Arms and the Man.

Every aspect of the production shines, from the sets and lighting of designer Joe Warden to the authentic period costumes of Mary Anne. The play is performed by a first-rate ensemble acting troupe under the skillful direction of Herbert Drake.

Leading the way is Avery Allington, star of the late, lamented ABC-TV series “Sink or Swim.” Mr. Allington plays Sergius Saranoff, a part which allows him to demonstrate his considerable talent and versatility. In the play, Major Saranoff, a dashing young military officer, is engaged to Raina Petkoff, a beautiful young Bulgarian woman, fetchingly portrayed by attractive young Margie Miller.

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