Page 290 - Making Instruction Work

chap 21 3/14/97 5:00 PM Page 276

276

Hoffman, Bill Valen, Carol Valen, and Paul Whitmore.”
At this point the soprano returned, the curtain came down
on the second act, and the smokers ran for the exits.
“The last act opens with the chorus singing about the title
check,” confided the veteran. “The writer has asked a number
of people to respond to several possible titles. They sing about
their choices while the writer sings about the importance of
making the title fit the intended user.”
“I’ve just become glad they don’t sing this stuff in English.”
“If you will think about it, you will see that this is a very
important part of the process. How often would you buy a
steak that was called dead cow?”
“I see your point. Who are these people?”
“These roles are ably played by Al Wilson, Carol Valen, Lex
Danson, John Pate, Skip Wolfe, Millar Farewell, Seth Leibler,
Joyce Kelly, Verne Niner, Bill Valen, Alan Steffes, and Eileen
Mager.”
“The soprano finally got a whack at it?”
“Yes. And now she’s into her big scene. She was saved for
last, y’know. Loved ones can be the hardest critics, and he did-
n’t want to take a chance on being demoralized before he fin-
ished. But she finally got to do her manuscript tryout and is
now singing her recommendations.”
“Long, isn’t it?”
“But beautifully sung.”
“Why is that lady in the red mask and black cape slashing at
the manuscript?”
“That’s the editor, played by Mary Kitzmiller. She’s the
heavy, acting out how she sliced words and punctured phrases
to ready the manuscript for publication.”
“Couldn’t he write?”
“No matter how well he writes, there are always hundreds of
changes that will make the product more readable, more liter-
ate, more interesting. Also gives editors a feeling of power.”