| GIVE A MAN A MASK a new musical by Richard Isen inspired by quotations from the writings of Oscar Wilde York Theatre Stagd Reading, NY City, October 18th, 2010 @ 7 PM |
| One foggy night in San Francisco, Gregory, a 50-year old gay, semi-retired, psychology consultant with a life long passion for the romantic and glamorous leading ladies of Hollywood's golden age, has a near-death experience and is intruded upon by a mysterious figure, The Lady. But who is this apparition that has seemingly walked out of the silver screen? An inner guide from the Jungian collective unconscious? A living thought form as described by the Tibetan Buddhists? Or a musical hallucination resulting from a small stroke or an undiagnosed nervous breakdown? Reluctantly guided by his unlikely muse, Gregory is pushed out of his safe, solitary reality and into a turbulent, dangerous relationship with a young and very beautiful male escort named "Chance," that unexpectedly leads him to a deeper understanding of what it means to love. |
| The show is cast for 3 actors
Gregory- 50 year old, still handsome although he would argue he isn't, charming, funny in a self-deprecating way, loves the golden age of Hollywood, wanted to be a set designer but gave it up easily for an easier career as an organizational psychologist. baritone Chance- mid 20s, very beautiful, but not terribly expensive male escort who probably doesn't charge enough. Doesn't know his own worth and doesn't care too much about his beauty except as a means for survival and attention. His growing self esteem flashes out an unexpected moments. tenor The Lady- an iconic, glamorous film star who wears a turban and is a man in drag- also plays the Hindu waiter, the Tibetan spiritual master, the doctor. tenor/high tenor |