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RATTLING THE CAGE by Mojave Millier by Mojave Millier As I rushed breathlessly but the front door, my watch confirmed that I would have been late for my interview even if I hadn't answered the phone five minutes ago. It wasn't that I'd overslept -1 hadn't, or that the appoint ment wasn't important- it was. I'd spent three weeks try ing to get it. So why was I late? More importantly, why am I usually late? Beats me. My earliest memories of the affliction date back to grammar school - being dragged along like a sack of potatoes by my sprinting brother to the school bus that usually waited for us - the driver opening and closing his door to show his impatience. As I did this morning, I invariably end up with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, driving madly along, trying to invent a plausible excuse for being late, while being tortured by visions of the important man checking his watch with growing irritation, wondering why he ever agreed to give me an interview in the first place. Naturally, since winter was imminent, every munici pality I passed through had set that one day aside to repair all their potholes, and I waited interminable hours to be flagged through each lineup, always manned by someone who malignantly favored traffic coming in the opposite direction. As I- flung myself out of the car at journey's end, I caught the hem of my skirt in the car door, ripping out an eight inch section^ About to give in to tears, I had a sudden flash of inspiration - Aha - finally an opportunity to use the emergency safety pin I carry in my coin purse, which always manages to open up and prick my fingers when I'm blindly searching for quarters at toll booths. Street fight look But, of course, it wasn't there. I ruefully remembered throwing it out (with a-curse) the last time it pricked me. So, I would face the eminent gentleman, not only late and breathless, but looking like I'd been in a street fight. As it turned out, all my concerns were irrelevant.-\You must have just missed him,\ the receptionist said tartly, in spite of my profuse apologies and carefully framed excuse about potholes. \He called your office and they didn't know where you were, so he figured you'd forgotten the appointment and went to get his hair cut. He's been trying to find the time for two weeks,\ she said pointedly. \Why don't you call him for another appointment, dear?,\ in a tone that implied \fat chance.\ She obviously was a virtuous \on- timer,\ and didn't understand the agonies a \late-aholic\ suffers. So there goes my principal story, I sighed with the sure sense of one who knows when she has been fairly sent enced. There comes that moment in life, I said piously to myself for the 799th time that experience forces change, and walked out resolving to stamp out this hideous char acter flaw at once. An opportunity was at hand. I had a luncrieon date with an old friend in New Jersey, and if I left right now, I would easily make it at the appointed hour. I winced as I thought of the time I had left her waiting half an hour in the biting cold on the corner of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street (after that she waited inside restaurants, and more recently, at home.) And then of course, I remembered with a pang, the day in the midst of family turmoil, when I actually forgot a luncheon date. The drive down was calm and peaceful. Why had it taken me so long to discover the joys of being an \on- timer?'' I even allowed myself a moment of virtuous feel- Chappaqua Journal Serving the Town of New Castle EDITH HAHN, Publisher and Editor Published weekly by Harrison Communications, Inc. Chappaqua Journal is a member of the Cross Westchester Weeklies Group MAILING ADDRESS: Box 77, Chappaqua, N.Y., 10514 OFFICE: 36 King Street TELEPHONE: 238-4484 If no answer, call 273-8801 ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION $10.00 Member, Cross Westchester Weeklies Groups Chappaqua Journal-Harrison Independent North Castle News-Pleasantville'Post ing as I thought of her pleasure in my reform. She wouldn't have to make half-hearted excuses about reheated food, and I wouldn't have to make lame excuses about traffic or potholes. I rang her doorbell, anticipating her surprised, deligh ted face. As I waited I heard an upstairs window being opened a crack. \Just leave the mail in the screen door,\ she called down. ' 'Leave what? \ I called back perplexed. The window was flung open, and still in bathrobe and curlers, she looked at me in shocked disbelief for a full minute as I sadly realized the truth. I had changed the rules of the game. Finally, she laughed. \I thought you were the mailman. It never even occurred to me that it could be you. You've never been less than an hour late. I figured I still had time for a bath before starting lunch!\ Presenting 'Promises..., 'Friday Chappaqua Drama Group having a good season; subscriptions doubled by Doug Learner The curtain will rise for the Chappaqua Drama Group's first musical production of the year, Promises, Promises, on Friday, Nov. 21. On the same day, the cast of The Water Engine, a scene- stealer the Group performed in late October, will drive up to Jamestown, New York r to take part in the New York State Community Theater Festival. It is the first time a Drama Group production has been invited to a drama competition. The Group is on its way to its 26th successful season as \a leader in the region for community theater; amateur theatre put on for the people of the region,\ according to Group President Neil dePasquale. In fact, this may turn out to be the most' successful season the group has had. Already, The Water Engine has been invited to the state competition, and the season's subscription base is at 950, double last year's. \The musicals,\ this year Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat joins Promises, Promises on the bill of fare, \are what get us off the ground,\ said former President Mary Chesnut, who's husband Chuck is the director of The Water Engine. They are gala productions, often two months in preparation. The group is also performing two major plays, Pinter's Betrayal and Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, in addition to three scene-stealers: Cold Storage, Vanities, and the Water Engine, which has been completed. Scene stealers The scene-stealers are small scale productions, usually staged with a minimal set in a smaller theater: the CDG uses the Horace Greeley High School Auditorium for its major plays and musicals, and the library auditorium for the scene-stealers. \They are a chance for everyone to try it. In theory, to give the little guy a chance,\ said Mrs. Chesnut about the scene-stealers that usually wind up with half their cast and crew first timers. \They are our chance to play around and do original things.\ All Group productions have open casting: anyone can try out, and all are directed by professionals. This season, Mr. dePasquale said, 15 directors from Westchester County, Fairfield County and New York City applied for the seven positions. \That is the reason we get such professional results, and they don't even earn a fee for small productions. It is usually just for the prestige.\ The only directors who earn a fee from the CDG do the musicals and major plays. Each production is usually two months in the making, and the director works three or four nights a week during that period. 'Technicians sought The group has no problem attracting directors and actors, but technical help, set builders, lighting help, are more difficult to attract.' 'We have trouble lining up technical assistance,\ said Mr. dePasquale.. \We are swamped with actors when we have auditions - and we have some very fine actors in the area, but we're always looking for. technical help.'' ' 'Set designers are hard to find,'' said Mrs. Chesnut, \they all want to be paid.\ And in the future they may be. \A good one really helps you create a set, nof just give you a drawing. The problem with a drawing is that there are no instructions that say bolt A goes into nut B. A good set designer tells you how to make it, not just what it should look like.\ The Group has an annual operating budget of approximately $32,000. For the first time, this year, the Group has received a grant of $500 from the Council of Arts in Westchester. That grant, along with the increased season subscription sales, should make the financial going a little less rough. \We're noting the economic pinch alone with everyone else,\ she said. Money is also raised through advertising in each show program. Wrong phone call The Group's productions attract audiences from as far away as Somers and New York City. They also attract people from those areas, and from all walks of like, to take part in the productions, workshops and acting classes. Please turn to Page 20 The Christmas Gift that lasts all year Give a subscription to the Chappaqua Journal Please enter a gift subscription for Name Enclosed is $10. MAIL WITH CHECK Chappaqua Journal P.O. Box 77 Chappaqua, N.Y. 10514 A Gift from
