The Wicked Witch from the West

Every once in a while...every long once in a while...a person shows up in town that reactivates everyone. People hate this person on sight...before conversation, before any interaction. Simply a visceral, cellular, whole body reaction.

I know I didn't like her on sight.

You know the type. They recite their resume to you EVERY TIME they see you. "I did this and I did that and I was the best at this and I was famous for this and on and on."

EVERY TIME they see you.

Unfortunately, she was in the arts. She sang on a cruise ship for 14 years as the star, of course. She was in over 50 plays. She directed, coached, titillated or whatever all these famous people.

Oh ya, then how come everyone hates you, you bitch!

She saw me in my last play and told me she was teaching acting lessons and I could use some. Uh? How about "hello" or "nice to meet you". Then she proceeded to try to talk me into it a half a dozen times over the next 3 days. Every time I saw her, I yelled NOOOOO, before she could open her mouth. This did not stop her.

She committed a major mistake in my last play when one of the actresses ask her for some coaching during the play. (I know, the actress should be shot for asking!) No one gives direction to actors in the middle of a play unless it is coordinated with the actual director.

The actress showed up the next night, completely changed her character, without anyone knowing it, all were thrown off and baffled at what happened, the director was apoplectic about it.

That fanned the flames for these issues with this person.

And it has gotten worse with time.

She wormed her way into the executive directing group for the Broadway Review and, after 6 weeks of rehearsals, she shows up and changes EVERYTHING...comedies to drama, throws out all the previous direction and walks over all people with lead soled boots. One lady ran off stage crying and quit on the spot.

It got so bad last night that an 80 year old, sickly woman, said to me, "some one's going to kick her ass!"

Now that is bad when a half blind, totally deaf, old woman chimed in!

I am left contemplating how anyone could alienate a community so thoroughly in a few weeks.

Amazing!

I am watching her, studying, observing because I know there is something powerful, though misdirected, in her.

I don't know how long she will make it before someone "kicks her ass!"