A Double Act

Mario and I were a double act,
he was the funny man, and I was the stooge.
Our success was moderate but our conceit was huge.
We kidded ourselves that we were playing for fun,
that we weren't courting fame or adulation
yet secretly wished that our names were displayed
in big letters on the theatre's marquee.

We hoped that one day we could leave behind
the depressing experience of working in a factory
and find an occupation that was more congenial
to two creative people with burgeoning talent.
In the meantime we provided plenty of amusement
for an audience eager for laughter and enjoyment.

Our sketches were just a part of a variety show
that toured the provinces performing to audiences
who showed appreciation for being entertained
We had to work hard to please the crowd because
if our efforts fell below their expectation
they'd shower us with catcalls instead of applause.

Although amateurs we behaved like professionals;
indeed each player was an admirable histrion
who, despite drawbacks and unexpected hitches,
still declared that the show must go on.
It was good until it lasted but then came the end;
we ran out of ideas and new jokes were needed.

We were much too busy on the assembly line
to think about new scripts and silly slapstick.
It was a wrench to stop the partnership
but it seemed inevitable that we had to part.
Besides, alternative comedy had arrived;
audiences changed and we were superseded.
 

© Luigi Pagano 2020