{"id":1282,"date":"2018-06-20T18:13:27","date_gmt":"2018-06-20T22:13:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.summerofjim.com\/?p=1282"},"modified":"2019-03-03T12:52:17","modified_gmt":"2019-03-03T16:52:17","slug":"roar-of-the-greasepaint-smell-of-the-crowd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/?p=1282","title":{"rendered":"Roar of the Greasepaint, Smell of the Crowd"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the Spring of 1967 I took part in Hamden Hall Country Day School\u2019s production of George Bernard Shaw\u2019s \u201cAndrocles and the Lion\u201d.  I was the Lion. In spite of the prominence of the name in the title, the role of the Lion in the play is actually a bit part.  Thankfully my lines and action were to gruff, growl, roar & hop about the stage and a brief dance with Androcles. I was on stage for the introductory scene, and then in the concluding scene. That\u2019s it.  I was recruited for the part by my English Teacher, Mr. Fowler Osborn who served as the play\u2019s Director. Key for me was no memorization.  Mr. Osborn allowed me to improvise my \u201clines\u201d.  Improvisation<\/i><\/em>\u2026 this is important, as you will see in the story I am about to relate.<\/p>\n

A couple of months ago I was in Woodbury\u2019s IGA, LaBonne\u2019s, to pick-up 2 bagels, cream cheese & a fresh tomato for Sandy\u2019s and my traditional Wednesday morning repast.  LaBonne\u2019s is wonderfully local.  There is a fully stocked Stop & Shop\u2026 and even more<\/i><\/em> stocked ShopRite both just 12 minutes away in Southbury.  Not only do these markets have greater product selectivity, but they are also cheaper!  Still there is a draw to our <\/i><\/em>LaBonne\u2019s.  You get to know the people who work there, and you get to mingle with like minded neighbors who prefer to stay local.  Even if you don\u2019t know all the names and faces of the other shoppers, there is something reassuring in seeing folks that \u201clive down the street.\u201d<\/p>\n

And on this one Wednesday, as I am waiting on line at the register, a man tapped me on the shoulder and introduces himself to me, \u201cExcuse me, I hope you don\u2019t mind me for being bold, but you have an interesting look<\/i><\/em>.  I am the Artistic Director for Woodbury\u2019s Main Street Players and we are mounting a new production and I have a part for you\u2026 If you are interested<\/i><\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are interested<\/i><\/em>.  It\u2019s only been 51 years since my last theatrical appearance\u2026  But the title of the play certainly captured my interest. I was to be cast in the role of General Fitz John Porter in the play \u201cThe Court-Martial of General George B. McClellan.\u201d<\/p>\n

McClellan holds a fascinating place in U.S. Military History.  A graduate of West Point\u2019s famous Class of 1846\u2026 famous because the class produced 22 generals that fought in the Civil War.  McClellan graduated second in a class of 59 Cadets (West Point\u2019s largest class to that point), and his classmates included Confederate Generals Thomas \u201cStonewall\u201d Jackson, A.P. Hill & George Pickett.  After the Federal defeat at the First Battle of Bull Run, Lincoln called on McClellan to take on command of the newly created Army of the Potomac.  McClellan feuded constantly with the General-in-Chief, Winfield Scott\u2026 and engineered Scott\u2019s removal from overall command.  McClellan then was appointed to be General-in-Chief, in addition to being in Command of the Army of the Potomac.  After the crushing failure of his Peninsular Campaign when Robert E. Lee out fought him before Richmond, Lincoln removed him from Command of all Federal Armies, although McClellan retained Command of the Army of the Potomac.<\/p>\n

After securing Richmond, Lee moved to strike directly into the North, took the Army of Virginia into Maryland looking for bases of re-supply and to bring pressure on Washington, DC.  Providence played into McClellan\u2019s hands when two Union soldiers discovered a mislaid copy of Lee’s detailed battle plans (Special Order 191) wrapped around three cigars.  Armed with this valuable intelligence, the Army of Potomac pivoted to meet the Confederate movements.  One of the Civil War\u2019s historic engagements, the Battle of Antietam, ensued on September 17, 1862.  It was the bloodiest day in United States history with a combined 22,717 dead, wounded or missing. Union forces held the field, and Lee retreated back across the Potomac to Virginia. McClellan made no attempt to move the Army of the Potomac in pursuit of the weakened Lee.<\/p>\n

Lincoln was at wit\u2019s end with McClellan feeling that an opportunity to deal a decisive knock-out blow against the main Confederate battle army had been missed.  Lincoln took the occasion to visit McClellan\u2019s Headquarters at Antietam.  At the meeting President Lincoln sacked McClellan.  McClellan would never command an army in the field again.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Lincoln<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong> meets with McClellan at Antietam. Gen\u2019l Fitz John Porter, on far right<\/i><\/b><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cCourt-Martial of General George B. McClellan\u201d is a counter-factual account of the aftermath of Antietam.  The play is set in a military courtroom, and traces the building discord between Lincoln and McClellan thru a series of flashback vignettes, culminating in charges of gross insubordination being brought against McClellan.<\/p>\n

My part as General Fitz John Porter takes place in the flash back scene of the Lincoln\/McClellan Antietam meeting. Porter served under McClellan in the Army of the Potomac and participated in the Peninsula Campaign, the Second Battle of Bull Run and the Maryland Campaign.  A prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of the disgraced McClellan, Porter was indeed court-martialed and found guilty of disobedience and misconduct for actions during Bull Run and dismissed from the army on January 21, 1863. In 1878 a special commission under General John Schofield exonerated Porter.<\/p>\n

Porter\u2019s one line in the scene given just prior to Lincoln\u2019s arrival is: \u201cGeneral, my I offer you a cigar?\u201d<\/p>\n

During our first full rehearsal I decided to add a small embellishment and delivered the line as follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cGeneral McClellan, may I offer you a cigar?  And General McClellan this is not just any <\/i><\/em>cigar!  It\u2019s one of three cigars found by Corporal Mitchell and First Sergeant Bloss of the 27th<\/sup> Indiana Volunteers with the Lee\u2019s Orders for the campaign! I can already attest to the excellence of the cigars!   I took the liberty of trying one!  Exceptional leaf tobacco used in the wrapper\u2026 sourced from the Connecticut Valley I\u2019d wager.  Other elements were probably from Cuba judging by the nearly intoxicating scent, flavor and the dazzling lift of smoke that gently floated in the September air.  Excellent length, a superb smoke that can be savored for 30 minutes or more.  And what better way to savor a fine cigar than to celebrate your brilliant victory over that Rebel scoundrel! Think of it like Coach Red Auerbach lighting up a good sized stogie when he knew the Boston Celtics had the game \u2018in the bag.\u2019 Everyone in the Arena knew what was what.  The fans, the opposing players, and in particular the opposing coach!  Even with time remaining on the clock, the outcome was settled!  Game over!  When Auerbach lit up that cigar and he was smooshing the opposing coach\u2019s nose in shit!  So Sir, enjoy the smoke!  Game over, Bobby Lee!\u201d<\/p>\n

After the rehearsal the Artistic Director advised me that they would be going in a different direction for scene.  I was thanked for my efforts and enthusiasm, I was relieved of my sword\u2026 but I was allowed to keep my cap.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the Spring of 1967 I took part in Hamden Hall Country Day School\u2019s production of George Bernard Shaw\u2019s \u201cAndrocles and the Lion\u201d.  I was the Lion. In spite of the prominence of the name in the title, the role … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-life"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1282","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1282"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1282\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3692,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1282\/revisions\/3692"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1282"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1282"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/summerofjim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1282"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}