The "Ho" Show!

"The Oldest Profession," by Paula Vogel, has had some rewrites since I was last in it.

B J and I played Vera and Mae, respectively, in this show in 2002. In 2004, it was on Broadway, where it acquired some songs and dances.

At Sam Bass, we are not going to do that. We understand that's a Broadway thing.

But, we are doing the show. It's not completely cast, yet, and there will be more auditions next Monday, to fill the rôles of Mae and Lillian. As it stands right now, B J Machalicek is playing Edna, Ben Irene Frederick is playing Vera, and I'm Ursula.

What a joy, to be on stage with those two amazingly talented women! Ben Irene was Aunt Abby when I was Aunt Martha in "Arsenic and Old Lace," and B J played Kate in "All My Sons," when I directed it last year. Both of them are brilliant, and I shall have to stay on my toes to keep up!

We affectionately referred to the play as "The Ho Show," when we did it six years ago. Now, however, as the Palace is doing "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," we shall have to call it "The Old Ho Show."

It is, in fact, about old whores. Whores who have been in The Life for more than 50 years. They are, to put it bluntly, getting up there. They are "old school." Their clients are dying off, the rent is going up, and life is getting progressively harder. One by one, they die, until only one is left. The play, which is funny through most of its scenes, ends on a very poignant note.

The show runs from May 23rd to June 7th.