"Ode to Maloney!"

Posted on Dec 12, 2006 at 2 p.m. by Beverly

Show: A Christmas Carol

"Ode to Maloney!" and the Humorous Happenings of a 10-show week:

Results of 3rd week of performances: 1 stomach flu (Jonas), 1 rolled ankle sprain (Jordan), and elevator trouble (see below). But this entry is titled, "Ode to Maloney!" so here it is...

Tracey Maloney is one funny gal. And that's what she is, a 'GAL'. Not just a girl, not just a pal, a 'gal'. Here's some examples of Maloney humor in the dressing room:

-After doing a show, I went and took a yoga class before the second show of the day. As I walked into the dressing room, Tracey looks at me and says, "You went to yoga?" -"Yeah." -"God, you're so good," she responds complimentarily. -"Well, actually I bought an unlimited month so I'm just trying to get my money's worth." Tracey pauses and says brightly, "God, you're so cheap!"

-Because Christmas Carol is selling out so much, they've added shows. 10 shows this week. And as Murphy's Law will have it, the cast and crew, being tired, are starting to get a little loopy and weird things inevitably start to happen. For example, the freight elevator got stuck...just wouldn't open it's doors 10 minutes before curtain time. Inside were 3 of our dressers and wig people and all the costumes for the 2nd half of the first Act. They're not happy in there and we're "holding" (not starting the show) until we can figure out what to do. Tracey looks up from doing her make up and says, "We should pass them some magazines to read...(people start collecting magazines)...we should give them a special magazine just for them, like..'Elevator Weekly'."

-My back has been hurting lately, so I've been wearing these Icy Hot patches to ease the pain. So while I'm in the dressing room, having Laura (who's already dressed in costume) help me adhere the patch to my lower back, Tracey looks over and quips, "Hmm, Beverly bending over in her thong and bra, and a woman in Victorian clothing rubbing her back...it's like a Dickens-ian porno."

Sadly, we have to say goodbye to Tracey for now, her last show with Christmas Carol was Sunday the 17th...she's been called into rehearsals for "Glass Menagerie" so she's "on to bigger and better things".

(That's a line from Christmas Carol...Mr. Queeze says it.)

Here's a little sweet thing about Tracey that will also be missed: before the top of the show and before the top of Act II, her new husband of 4 months, Kris -who's also in the cast- always waits outside our dressing room. When Tracey emerges, he gives her a quiet kiss for 'good luck' and they walk up together to the stage. It's actually a very touching sight.