A Fool's Concerto
by O. Henry Players

Mar. 21, 2021
Sunday

 

To celebrate the Mollberg Piano Restoration's completed work on the O. Henry Museum 1860's square grand piano, the O. Henry Players present A Fool's Concerto teleplay, based on two O. Henry stories that feature piano, The Missing Chord and A Poor Rule.

Will Porter (O. Henry) lived in Austin from 1884 to 1897 after living two years in south Texas sheep country. This gave him the Texas settings for many story plots, especially stories with a surprise at the end, and Western characters. For example, Ileen Hinkle, whom he describes as "a fruit-stand blonde-strawberries, peaches, cherries, ... a flawless pearl gleaming pure and serene in a setting of black mud and emerald prairies" in "A Poor Rule" published in 1909.

O. Henry's valentine to courting asks: Who will win the heart of Ileen Hinkle? How will she choose among her four competing, ardent suitors for her love? According to Ileen, "If you only knew how I appreciate any one's being candid and not a flatterer! I get so tired of people telling me I'm pretty." But, when it comes to winning hearts, is it better to lie to a woman or to tell her the truth? Or, according to Shakespeare, “If music be the food of love, play on...”

 

THE O. HENRY PLAYERS

Bonnie Bogovich (video editor and "Vesey") is an active vocal artist and sound designer in the video game, educational interactive, and audio drama scene., and regularly performs with a variety of local and online operatic, choral, and musical ensembles. Happily moved to Austin from Pitsburg, PA, three years ago. Learn more about Bonnie at BlackCatBonifide.com.

Grace Coldicott ("Ileen") A Lago Vista High School senior, Grace has appeared in many productions in the area, and is an award winning One Act Play actress. She will be attending St. Edwards University in the fall, where she will be majoring in Theatre and Acting. She is also the secretary of LVHS's International Thespian Society Chapter, and is currently directing scenes from Matilda Jr. in the community's Rising Stars Program.

Aaron Fasel ("Bud Cunningham") will have lived in Austin for 40 years this year. A magician, a former elementary teacher, summer day camp owner, and podcast host of PunIntensive.com, Aaron spends his free time not having free time. Check out magiccamp.com for enrollment information.

Gary Hallock ("Rush Kinney & Mr. Harris") As a hard corpse punster, Gary has enjoyed a 35 year association with Brush Square Museums' O.Henry Museum Pun-Off World Championships. He is also a founding member of Gilbert and Sullivan Austin and has performed in numerous productions over their past 45 years.

Andrew Hallock ("Traveler") is a former Austinite now living in the Netherlands for 17 years. As a full-time vocalist he specializes in music from the 15th and 16th centuries. In addition to a full-time concert schedule, he teaches and records music. Learn more at hallockmusic.com.

Cassie Kinchen ("Narrator & Marilla Adams") has been acting since the age of 4, incluing 16 musicals with featured roles such as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, and Wendy in Peter Pan. In addition to her stage work, Cassie has also performed as a vocalist, film and television actor, and has appeared in previous O. Henry Players productions.

Travis Kinchen ("Cal Adams") is a Lake Travis Music Theatre board member and has appeared in numerous stage productions with them and Lago Vista Players. He is a member of the Hill Country Singers and has also appeared in previous O. Henry Players productions.

Jeanne Sasaki is the pianist for this production of the O. Henry Players.

Julius Young ("Jacks") was introduced to O. Henry's life when working as an Austin tour guide and singing with the Saengerrunde of Scholz Garten, the last great Austin beer garden. Julius is a classically trained singer and is currently working in both virtual and live productions.

Michael Wenzel (Script Writer & Director) has managed the J.C. Elkins O. Henry Literary Discussion Group since January of 2015 which meets monthly to discuss O. Henry stories. Michael wrote the script adaptation for "A Double-Dyed Deceiver" (and portrayed the Llano Kid) for the 2018 BSMF Annual Meeting. Michael also wrote an adaptation for "The Head-Hunter" for performance at the O. Henry Museum for Halloween 2018. Michael has mostly recently written adaptations for the O. Henry Players dramatic reading(s) on Zoom, including Mary Rose: A Centennial Reading, Seven Women, Alias Jimmy Valentine and Mr. Pim Passes By.

 

Donated to the O. Henry Museum in 1953 by Mrs. Milton Morris, the piano was built by the Horace Waters Company of New York between the years of 1860-1865. The piano was reportedly played by O. Henry’s wife Athol who gave piano lessons to children in the 1890’s.

Mollberg said the piano had not been tuned for at least 50 years! “It’s been a slumbering giant,” he said. Apparently, the piano must have been enjoyed by O. Henry and his family. As Mollberg said about its condition, “Someone played the hell out of it.”

 

 

 

 

 

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A Fool's Concerto
by from O. Henry, adapted by Michael Wenzel
O. Henry Players

Streaming March 21, 2021, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. in connection with the annual general meeting of the Brush Square Museums Foundation.

BRUSH SQUARE MUSEUMS FOUNDATION is the primary citizen group advocating for the restoration and preservation of the O. Henry Museum and Susanna Dickinson Museum. The Foundation sponsors programs highlighting their legacies in literature and Texas history.

free; register via Eventbrite HERE.