Calamity Joe

The Cast

Z. The Cancer Y. The Mother X. The Brother W. The Old Man V. The Boy U. The Nine-fingered Girl T. The Lily First as a spot on the mother’s neck but soon spread to the kitchen. It’s survived by the living room. A good story when the old man feels like telling it: “She could peel fruit in her pocket.” More beautiful than sleep. Just now, he’s sleeping us off. Wanted to be Dr. Williams but wasn’t. Can wheel himself to the liquor store in one song. The doctor, the bank, & the bookie need two songs each. A word, then a shape, then somehow a ship at full sail, trawling the sun. Ahoy! Delivers world history almost entirely from memory. The rest she makes up. She could use a dress with pockets. Like all gardens; the less said the better. The Cast (in order of disappearance) 13 S–D. The Cops, Doctors, Nurses, Firemen, Watchmen, Waitresses, Postmen, Masons, Bird Watchers, The Mayor, Townsfolk, Drifters, Hop Heads, Thieves, Thomas Edison & The Landlord C. The Animals B. The Light A. Calamity Joe Disappearfirstasawind,butthelandlord is not in the wind: & then an earthquake, but the landlord is not in the earthquake: & then a fire & the landlord comes, a still small voice. They all burn away. Roles originated by drifters who came to resentit.Laterreplacedbytherealthings, humid of eye & unbelievably yielding. Dedicatesherperformancetothevigorous rubbing of two darknesses together. There he goes. 14 •Calamity Joe• Thispageintentionallyleftblank. ...