The Cane Dance

Marilee has purchased/borrowed 4 different canes for this production. Each one has a unique height and personality. There's a fantastic white cane that slides in on itself, easy to unfurl and easy to pack away. Let's call the white cane Fluffy.

Now Fluffy is featured in The Cane Dance -- a gorgeous and surprising section in which Marilee wrestles with the cane, rolling it along her body, conducting with it in the air, and carrying it on her back. Fluffy becomes an extension of Marilee's body, exploring the space through different shapes and pulsing rhythms.

But Fluffy is extremely temperamental. Sometimes she refuses to slide back to the short 1 foot length, and jams half way. Marilee, Fluffy's closest confidant and care taker, has been heard shouting "Come on bitch!" to Fluffy during rehearsal, huffing and puffing to push Fluffy back down to the shorter length.

It's not Fluffy's fault that she gets stuck and won't collapse -- she's only accustomed to being used gently to guide someone down the street, and not as a dance partner.

Here's the truth about Fluffy and the other three canes -- they reside safely in our theatrical world of the play, and at the end of the night, Marilee breaks them down, and tucks them carefully into the bottom of her bag.

Marilee's Bruise -- she loves beating herself up!