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[A STUDIO IN THE ANSONIA] Marco: Why so remote, Dr. Repertoire? I think you’d be at the side of your protégé, lending him moral support. Dr. Repertoire: Cass, at the moment, is where I can lend support... but only the immoral kind. Marco: The men’s, shall we say, room? Dr. Repertoire: Being violently ill to his deliciously flat tummy. Marco: It’s good luck before an audition. He’ll be all right once it starts. Dr. Repertoire: Cass got lucky too late. The audition is over. Marco: Over? Who read with Cass? Dr. Repertoire: Naturally enough, your understudy. Marco: What? Booted from Bogota already? Dr. Repertoire: I refer to your new and unattached understudy, Steve Carrington. Marco, as you know, I have lived in the Opera World as a Carmelite nun lives in her faith. Once in a great while I experience that moment of Revelation for which all true believers wait and pray. You were one — Gwyneth Jones another, Malfitano, David Daniels — there are others, three or four. Steve Carrington will be among them. He was ... well, the only word is 'demented.' In time he'll be what you are. Marco: Demented. And me, mild situational depression. [Cass appears] Dr. Repertoire: Feeling better, my dear? Cass: Like I got hold of some bad GHB. Now what? Dr. Repertoire: Maybe our next move should be to Santa Fe Opera. Cass: Tell me this. Do they have auditions for Santa Fe? Dr. Repertoire: That's all Santa Fe is, auditions. [They leave. Marco storms into the rehearsal room] Marco: That little... falsettist shows up for an audition when everyone knew I’d be here... and gives a performance! Out of nowhere — gives a performance!!! Will: You’ve been talking to that venomous troll, Dr. Repertoire... Marco: ...in this case, apparently as trustworthy as parterre box. This didn’t just happen — a demented performance! Will: I’m sick and tired of these come scritto outbursts! Marco: Come scritto! That word again! I don’t even know what it means... Will: It’s about time you found out. I love you.You’re a beautiful and intelligent man and a great singer with Matthew Epstein as a cheerleader. You have every reason for happiness. Marco: It’s obvious you’re not a countertenor. Will: Come on, I’ll buy you a drink. Marco: I admit I may have seen better days, but I am still am not something that comes free with a drink, like one of those little umbrella thingies. Will: If this were an obscure verismo work, no one would ever believe it. Only some voiceless camp diva could lure in an audience. Marco: Bill... where are you going? To find Steve? Will: Brava, Mara Zampieri. |