I starred in a semi-professional theatrical production early this year and it had an interesting format. We talked directly to the audience instead of out to the cosmos through the invisible “fourth wall” between actor and audience.

One of the neat things about this format was that we could ad lib during the times we interacted with the audience. One character called BINGO numbers. Another made wise cracks. My opportunity came at the beginning of the show. I was supposed to be a former circus performer as a young girl. Since we all hawked tickets for our production to generate a respectable audience, I knew when friends of mine were going to be there.

So this one night I said, “Billy Young, is that you? I haven’t seen you in almost 30 years. You know the Mass is in English now.”

Finally I asked, “Are you still trying to convince people to invest in your stock trading system? The one that nearly got you suspended from parochial school in the twelfth grade?”

He hasn’t spoken to me since. I tell you, what I do for my art!