The Cat Who Went Bananas

PROLOGUE

THE CAT WHO WENT BANANAS

LILIAN JACKSON BRAUN, 2005

Break a leg, Fran, honey!'

'Break a leg, Alden!'

'Break a leg, Derek, old boy!'

It was opening night of the new play in Pickax City (400 miles north of everywhere), and the actors were receiving the traditional bonhomie from well-wishers. The theatre club was doing Oscar Wilde's comedy of absurd upper-class manners: The Importance of Being Earnest.

Fran Brodie, interior designer, was playing Gwendolen. The male lead was being done by Alden Wade, a new man in town. Larry Lanspeak, owner of the department store, was perfect as the butler. And the unbearably haughty Lady Bracknell was being portrayed by Derek Cuttlebrink. It was not unusual for the role to be played by a male actor in drag; the difference here was that Derek, maitre d' at an upscale restaurant, was six foot eight. Carol Lanspeak was directing. Jim Qwilleran would review the play.