On and On Off-Broadway

The guys had just settled themselves onto the loft floor. The fire in the fireplace was turned to “high” - and the heat was turned off. There was something to discuss. And the conversation began immediately.

“I can’t believe it, Taylor. “That was really fast. And that really lousy play too….”

“Well somebody must have liked Romeo and Julian, Brian,” Justin pointed out logically. “A couple of off-Broadway guys heard about it and came in for the last week-end here. Both of them have theaters available and they want to book it in – and like – as soon as possible Malcolm is in New York right now – checking them out – and maybe some other possibilities too – but it’s like – a done deal. Malcolm – and your pal Hix – are probably heading to the Big Apple…..”

“Well when Hix gets there, JT,” Brian laughed. “The Big Apple will have one big worm in it. But I can’t figure out how the New York folks even heard about this tiny Pittsburgh production….”

“I don’t know either, Bri,” Justin replied. “Not for sure. But maybe Wendell alerted them. Or maybe Robert or Rickshaw did. They all knew about it from Malcolm - and I know that everybody - except maybe Wendell - had actually read the script before Malcolm put it on here. And they all encouraged him to do it too – and they have connections in the New York theater so….”

“So Rickshaw will also be helping Malcolm out with his negotiations, JT,” Brian guessed. “That will be good. Malcolm isn’t used to dealing with those city slickers….”

“Yeah,” Justin had to laugh. “They are showing him the ropes and making sure he doesn’t get suckered. Dave and Wendell will check on things too. I alerted them all…. If they weren’t there to help, I probably would have gone along with Malcolm myself – he’s so trusting - he’ll need help….

“Lucky you have agents everywhere, JT. But like – do you know what goes on in New York theater?” Brian laughed too. “So you could help? Do you even know more than Malcolm? At least he works pretty much full-time on stage stuff….”

“Well I think I could spot a con-job if there was one, Kinney,” Justin assumed. “I’m pretty good with con-jobs …..”

“You won’t get any argument from me there. Babe,” Brian laughed. “Not on that point anyway. You are indeed an expert on con-jobs. But at least Malcolm was smart enough not to take Hix with him. Hix could fix just about anything - to go the wrong way. Malcolm will be a lot better off without Hix there….”

“Actually, Brian,” Justin told him carefully, “Hix is there – in case they need to make any changes in the show….”

“Well I think they need to make a lot of changes in the show, Sunshine,” Brian kept laughing. “I don’t know if it could even be saved - no matter how many changes – but if Hix did the changes, then I’m sure…. How come you didn’t tell me Hix was in New York too ….?”

“Cause I never mention Hix’ name to you, Brian,” Justin confessed, “unless it’s absolutely necessary. Mentioning Hix to you like – brings out the worst in you….”

“You don’t need to mention Hix to bring out the worst in me,” Brian gibed. “You can do that all on your own pretty easily….”

“Like now maybe?” Justin gibed back - moving provocatively closer to Brian in the process.

“Yep,” Brian told him – as he offered absolutely no resistance. “That’s exactly what I meant….”

“But I didn’t do it all on my own this time,” Justin reminded him. “I like- did mention Hix’ name – or I at least responded to you mentioning his name….”

Regardless of the part that Hix’ name may have played in the onset of the pause here in the discussion, Brian made no further argument – either about Hix or about Justin’s pin-point logic.

“Well I wonder what’s going on with Malcolm up in New York, Kiddo.” Brian wondered - when the discussion finally resumed. “He’s been up there two days already. I wonder why we haven’t heard from him….”

“Actually we have heard from him, Bri,” Justin informed him. “I’ve talked to him a couple of times on the phone….”

“Well technically though, Baby,” Brian practiced some pin-point logic of his own, “’We’ haven’t heard from him at all. Since like I guess - ‘you’ heard from him - but you aren’t all of ‘we’ and I - who am at least a small part of ‘we’ I hope - haven’t heard from him at all.”

“Well, everybody likes both the theaters,” Justin enlightened the other part of “we.” “They each seat about 100 and they’re both nice venues. One of the producers would like to have some background piano music added if they take his offer – and Malcolm thinks that might be a good idea – and Wendell would like to write some original stuff for the play….”

“I vote against the music, JT,” Brian decided. “I like – vote against any changes at all….”

“Wait a minute, BK,” Justin came back again with more logic. “You hated the play when you saw it here – so why would you be against any changes? Especially when Hix wouldn’t be doing them…..?”

“That’s a very easy question to answer, Mr. Taylor,” Brian responded. “I’m surprised you didn’t already figure it out yourself. But you will some time soon - so I’ll tell you. “If they make any changes at all, you’ll want to see it again – and you’ll be wanting to go up to New York – and you’ll be wanting me to go too – and I don’t ever want to see Romeo - or Julian – or any combination of them like – ever again. Not that I wish Malcolm any bad luck or anything.”

“Well – nobody wishes anybody any bad luck, Bri,” Justin grinned at him, “but I haven’t like – finished all the news from Malcolm yet so….”

“I guess I’m not all that surprised,” Brian replied with obvious resignation. “What’s the really good news – that I won’t like at all?”

“Well, they came up with a great idea, Brian,” Justin continued, “A really great idea too. I’m surprised I didn’t think of it myself – but I’m sure I would have eventually. – they’re gonna open off-Broadway while Robert’s cable series is on hiatus – and he’s gonna play Romeo. He wants to get some on-stage experience. That TV series won’t last forever. And his zillions of loyal fans in New York - they’ll all come…..”

“And his other fans from all the ten continents will also converge on New York in droves, Sweetheart,” Brian mused amusedly, “taxing the ability of the big town to accommodate the wild rush of wild tourists – so we probably won’t ever be able to get tickets. Damn. In fact, the same 100 fans will probably go every night for several years – and post detailed reviews of each and every performance on the internet - for you and other frantic fans throughout the universe to read. – except that our Robert will – after a few Romeoexotic months - have to go back to Toronto to tape the next season of the TV crap – and nobody will want to see Romeo and Julian without the big-name star – you can be sure of that…”

“You didn’t let me finish yet, Brian,” Justin complained. “First of all I told Malcolm that they have to save 10 seats for every performance so that we and our Pittsburgh crowd can all see Robert as Romeo – so the good news is that we’ll be able to get in almost any time we want to – we can see it at least a couple of times….”

“’We’ will like hell get to see it a couple of times. The ‘you’ part of ‘we’ can go as many times as you want – and the ‘me’ part of us can go as often as I want - which will be exactly one time – and I won’t really want to go then – but I guess I have to – with Robert in the lead. You can take Jason with you though – if you want to - Brandon won’t go either…. But the stupid thing will close right after Robert goes back to Toronto. That’s my prediction….”

“You’d better let me finish the story before you make any predictions; Honey,” Justin warned him with a coy smile. “Robert will have to go back to Toronto at the end of September, Brian – but here’s the real bit of genius – and maybe I did have a small part in planning this. Rickshaw’s soap opera tapes in New York and Dave has arranged for the soap to fix their shooting schedule so that they can like - take over and alternate in the role of Romeo - so the play won’t have to close at all. They are as well-known as Robert – and they have probably more fans than Robbie so….”

“So you think I’m going up there two more times then, Babe?” Brian conjectured, “to see that rotten play - so I can see Shawn and Rick each play the part….”

“Well if you don’t,” Justin grinned at him, “you’ll have to risk hurting somebody’s feelings. They all like you and ….”

“Is there anything else I don’t know Mr. Taylor?” Brian asked cautiously, “Before I issue my final threat?”

“One more little thing, Bri,” Justin shared. “If those guys don’t get too tired doing the soap opera and alternating as Romeo at the same time, they might also eventually take over the Julian part - and alternate that too. I’d sure want to see each of them as Julian, Bri. Wouldn’t you…?”

“We’ll just have to see about that, JT,” Brian equivocated, “But you know what, Sweetheart? The next time we get together with Robert and Rickshaw after the damn play finally closes, I intend to put you on the spot by asking you which one of them you liked best as Romeo – so have your answer ready – because you’re not gonna talk me out of it either….”

“Talking you out of it would never enter my mind, BK,” Justin slid over closer to the guy on his left. “I definitely agree that trying to talk you out of being that vengeful wouldn’t work….”

Brian may have wondered exactly what Justin was saying by that statement – but not for very long.
 

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