GARGOZO MANUSCRIPT

Photo by Amy Darling Part II Normally when I am asked to go to a play my immediate response is, “Couldn’t hear you, what was that again?”  This allows me to conjure up as many excuses as possible while the question is repeated and at the end of which I can say, “Thursday night...aw shit, that’s the night I’m having my feet removed.” Michael assured me that this play was different, so I went, and he was right.  In fact, the word “play” in the traditional sense doesn’t apply.   Rather than force a label on it, I’ll just say, “ya kinda had to be there.” Despite the show being sold out the cast nearly outnumbered the audience.  The show takes its structure from a runaway train accompanied by vignettes where permanent cast members take turns losing their grip on reality.  Sandwiched between these displays are some walk-on acts that range from disassembling a Big Mac atop a rotating umbrella, to revealing the origin of the universe.  The walk...

  Warning - contains material that may be considered sexist by some disturbed individuals who should skip to Part II where the offensive content is broader in scope. PART 1 In 30 minutes the door to the theater will open. For now, I stand on the sidewalk somewhere in Hollywood, beaten down by the summer heat and glare and semi-asphyxiated by the afternoon rush hour traffic.  As I wait there are no less than 3 emergency vehicles and 4 police cars with deafening horns and sirens, that try to battle their way through the congestion.  It seems obvious that if these first responders ever make it to their destination they will have damaged more property and killed more people than there’s any hope of saving. Soon I am joined by Michael’s friend Brad (often referred to by Michael as BE-RAD) and a woman so striking that I may have said out loud, “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus”.  I was told by my mother when I was about 10 that this phrase ori...