Jack Hitt

And now any small mistake just takes on these... You know, it's just any instigation for laughter is just enough for this audience. And now the old people have given it up. Everyone has quit being nice. Now there is just this kind of frightening roar that comes from the audience every time there's a mistake.

And now any small mistake just takes on these... You know, it's just any instigation for laughter is just enough for this audience. And now the old people have given it up. Everyone has quit being nice. Now there is just this kind of frightening roar that comes from the audience every time there's a mistake.

Yeah, this is a fiasco. And what's really interesting about a fiasco is that once it starts to tumble down, the audience wants to push it further along.

Yeah, this is a fiasco. And what's really interesting about a fiasco is that once it starts to tumble down, the audience wants to push it further along.

Oh, it would have been a grave disappointment had there not been just one more mistake after another, one more embarrassment after another. Now the reason they're there is to chronicle these embarrassments. This is why I have remembered this play for 25 years. ¶¶ Towards Act 3, the director had decided that she wanted to break down the fourth wall.

Oh, it would have been a grave disappointment had there not been just one more mistake after another, one more embarrassment after another. Now the reason they're there is to chronicle these embarrassments. This is why I have remembered this play for 25 years. ¶¶ Towards Act 3, the director had decided that she wanted to break down the fourth wall.

You know, this was cutting-edge theater as far as she was concerned.

You know, this was cutting-edge theater as far as she was concerned.

That's right. And interact with the audience and break down that wall. So the idea being that you would get more in touch with the dramatic sense and the reality of what was happening. Right. Anyway, so in this particular scene, what was going to happen was that the Indians were going to throw rope ladders down from the balcony and climb down these rope ladders into the audience.

That's right. And interact with the audience and break down that wall. So the idea being that you would get more in touch with the dramatic sense and the reality of what was happening. Right. Anyway, so in this particular scene, what was going to happen was that the Indians were going to throw rope ladders down from the balcony and climb down these rope ladders into the audience.

and move among the audience and frighten us. Anyway, I knew about this scene because my friend David, who I went to high school with, was in it. And so when David was climbing over the top of this balcony to climb down the rope, he lost his footing. and fell to the floor from the balcony, a distance of about 15 to 20 feet. A good fall. That's horrible. Yeah.

and move among the audience and frighten us. Anyway, I knew about this scene because my friend David, who I went to high school with, was in it. And so when David was climbing over the top of this balcony to climb down the rope, he lost his footing. and fell to the floor from the balcony, a distance of about 15 to 20 feet. A good fall. That's horrible. Yeah.

And he landed on both of his feet and sprained both of his ankles and, of course, curled into a fetal position and began to cry. Right. He was really, really hurt. Now, to appreciate the horrible moment that I'm now describing, also understand that it's a Friday night. We are in a college town, and there is a volunteer fire and ambulance department.

And he landed on both of his feet and sprained both of his ankles and, of course, curled into a fetal position and began to cry. Right. He was really, really hurt. Now, to appreciate the horrible moment that I'm now describing, also understand that it's a Friday night. We are in a college town, and there is a volunteer fire and ambulance department.

And in order to summon the rescuers from wherever they are, an alarm is sounded that can be heard for five miles. That alarm is located right over this theater. So the alarm goes off. Okay? This is an air raid siren. It is so loud, you can put your fingers in your ear and it's still hurting your ears. We're right under it. It can be heard for five miles.

And in order to summon the rescuers from wherever they are, an alarm is sounded that can be heard for five miles. That alarm is located right over this theater. So the alarm goes off. Okay? This is an air raid siren. It is so loud, you can put your fingers in your ear and it's still hurting your ears. We're right under it. It can be heard for five miles.

And then, of course, three minutes later, busting through the door of the theater are these 15 firemen. who are in boots, hats. They got hoses. They don't know what it is. All they know is that they've been sent out on a call. Right. And to sort of add to the chaos, the director, of course, has sort of flogged the actors that the show must go on. No matter what. No matter what.

And then, of course, three minutes later, busting through the door of the theater are these 15 firemen. who are in boots, hats. They got hoses. They don't know what it is. All they know is that they've been sent out on a call. Right. And to sort of add to the chaos, the director, of course, has sort of flogged the actors that the show must go on. No matter what. No matter what.

So while all of this is happening and several people are attending to David and other people have just now decided that since the firemen are here, he's going to be fine, they can start laughing. And now the audience has just completely lost control. People are standing up in their seats and shouting for more. They want blood.

So while all of this is happening and several people are attending to David and other people have just now decided that since the firemen are here, he's going to be fine, they can start laughing. And now the audience has just completely lost control. People are standing up in their seats and shouting for more. They want blood.