I mostly recall Bouler's immortal line after the play was over, in the dressing room (I can still see him sidling up with that deadpan expression)... "That was a real pullet surprise..."... (grooannnn)
On Jun 15, 2010, at 9:09 AM, Bouler, John wrote:
Really!? Gee, the way *I* remember it, it wasn’t a chicken, but a turkey vulture. And wasn’t it during the final casket-choosing scene in Merchant? I seem to recall James (as Bassanio) trying to stay in character as it hopped from casket to casket….huh.
Amazingly, given the tricks memory seems to play, we all seem to be on the same page on this one. Like Bob, I remember John remarking afterward that the situation had him contemplating murder most fowl. --Mark
From: winedale-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:winedale-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of robin mize Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 8:49 AM To: Pees, Robert Cc: Shakespeare at Winedale 1970-2000 alums; Eric Thomas; Bruce Meyer Subject: Re: [Winedale-l] Fwd: CampShakespeare '10
Jeff Larsen and I were on stage with said chicken before john came on, and I remember Jeff walking over to it in character, and scratching his beard wondering what to do. I thought of throwing my skirts over it, but then what??? Poor John. We really should have done something. Of course, he handled it best. When the audience laughed after he booted the chicken, he put the bare bodkin menacingly under the chin of a poor audience member in the front row; he really did seem mad, and everyone got deadly quiet.
Robin
On Tue, Jun 15, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Pees, Robert rpees@akingump.com wrote: "There is special providence in the fall of a chicken." Steve's recollection is accurate. Those of us backstage were in panic mode, but John handled the episode with aplomb. I have a dim recollection that after the performance John said that he contemplated using the antique dagger that he was carrying, but ultimately decided against it. Perhaps for the reunion programs we should have a disclaimer that "No live chickens were harmed during the staging of this production."
Bob
From: winedale-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org [mailto:winedale-l-bounces@lists.wikimedia.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Price Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 10:57 AM To: John Rando; Bruce Meyer Cc: Eric Thomas; Shakespeare at Winedale 1970-2000 alums
Subject: Re: [Winedale-l] Fwd: CampShakespeare '10
I remember our chicken well. It wandered in through stage right, futzed around on the lip of the stage, and eventually settled into the one empty chair in the front row stage left. Near panic blew through the backstage area like wildfire: "There's a live chicken out there! How can we get rid of it?" The feeling of helplessness was agonizing, and he was out there for at least a scene & a half, maybe two. In the end, our resourcefulness failed us. In a comedy, no prob. Somebody could have walked on with a broom or broadsword or something and chased him off. But in Hamlet? What would you do?
In fact, a pretty good suggestion was put forth by an audience member after the performance. The wag proposed that John could have taken the bird up at the beginning of the speech and then: "To be" (H. twists off chicken's head) "or not to be..."
Okay, '83ers, what have I inflated, conflated, or competely made up here?
Steve
From: John Rando john.rando@verizon.net To: Bruce Meyer Bruce.Meyer@UTSouthwestern.edu Cc: Eric Thomas Eric.Thomas@uth.tmc.edu; Shakespeare at Winedale 1970-2000 alums winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org Sent: Tue, June 15, 2010 8:56:29 AM Subject: Re: [Winedale-l] Fwd: CampShakespeare '10
1983 - A live chicken made an appearance in Hamlet, Act III, scene i. She made her exit roughly around the line: "there's the respect that make calamity of so long life," after Hamlet gave her the boot.
On Jun 14, 2010, at 9:48 PM, Bruce Meyer wrote:
the chicken proudly lives with Juan E. Bango - a mythical and semi-legendary Winedale figure.... juan.e.bango@gmail.com
Mike Godwin mgodwin@wikimedia.org 6/14/2010 3:01 PM >>>
On Mon, Jun 14, 2010 at 12:23 PM, Bruce Meyer < Bruce.Meyer@utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
the chicken appeared with us in 1979 in AYLI It also appeared in 1980 in CE (as did felt fruit - I remember Robin and the Jaynes sisters sewing madly) It has appeared in the reunion performances in 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2005 ("this dog, my dog..."). Rebekah has ensured that the camp program has had a rubber chicken every summer since inception (including this summer) - the chicken has an honored place in our home.
Bruce, if you have an email address for the rubber chicken, I'll add it to the alumni mailing list.
--Mike
Winedale-l mailing list Winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/winedale-l
Winedale-l mailing list Winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/winedale-l ____________________________________ IRS Circular 230 Notice Requirement: This communication is not given in the form of a covered opinion, within the meaning of Circular 230 issued by the United States Secretary of the Treasury. Thus, we are required to inform you that you cannot rely upon any tax advice contained in this communication for the purpose of avoiding United States federal tax penalties. In addition, any tax advice contained in this communication may not be used to promote, market or recommend a transaction to another party.
The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the recipient(s) named above. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by e-mail, and delete the original message.
Winedale-l mailing list Winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/winedale-l
Winedale-l mailing list Winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/winedale-l
Clayton Stromberger Outreach Coordinator UT Shakespeare at Winedale College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin www.shakespeare-winedale.org cell: 512-228-1055/ office: 512-471-4726