THE FORTUNE CHRONICLES PART TWO a.

by Joe Bonelli (Copyright 2000 by Joseph H. Bonelli)

Fortune and Men's Eyes was a hit, regularly selling out many of the 8 performances a week. But Sal was not satisfied. So he beefed up the rape scene (no pun intended!).

The only nudity in the scene had been at the very end of the scene, but Sal began stripping on stage left and striding across the stage with only a towel over his shoulder. Rocky grabs Smitty and shoves him into the shower, upstage behind the bunk. He tears his clothes off , shoves him to the bars facing the audience and begins to simulate the act as a whistle goes off and the lights fade to black and Smitty screams.

The scene was a stunner and was NOT pornographic in any way. It was graphic but truly effective in conveying the horror of the act. It brilliantly made its point and was over. Eventually the scene was worked out to dramatic perfection, but need not be detailed any further here.

BUT, I just KNEW we would all be arrested. I said as much to Sal, who replied, "Shaddup!! If they raid us we'll run three years!!" My attitude instantly changed!!

But the authorities didn't bite. Fortune and Men's Eyes was not raided . It didn't run three years, either, but it DID run several months.

As the run settled in, I came to realize that I might lose my Queenie's understudy job. And this did happen.

I was 5'9" tall and stocky. Micheal Greer was a lanky 6'4." Several dangerous fight scenes were carefully choreographed (by Sal, and they were teriffic!!). If I were to go into the role, the fact of the 7 inches difference in height might throw things off. And this guy Bobby Redding , who was, indeed, a 6'4" strapping corn-fed blond with wildly curly hair and a personality to match,and was the original actor planned for the role. Bobby was in San Francisco and an acquaintance of Micheal Greer's. Initially he didn't want to come to L.A., ---hence Joe Bonelli being gotten back as Queenie's Understudy.

But then he decided he would like to come and they decided to audition him. They (it was a test) asked me if I would work with Bobby for his audition, and we met and I worked with him and he did fine.

The next day they called me in and fired me as Queenie's understudy and made me assistant stage manager--- in charge of the set and props and of understudy casting and rehearsals. I also wound up eventually doing sound as well and was still playing the small role of Catsolino who is dragged through screaming at one point.

So I really found my right position in the show, and I am happy to say that Robert Redding, Bobby, became not only a roommate but a dear friend for the rest of his too short life. A brilliant actor and artist, Bobby designed "Elvira." with Cassandra Petersen. and a drawing of Barbra Streisand he did when we were rooming together, became a famous poster and album cover for that singer.

After Roger Garrett left,. the role of Mona was taken over by Gary Tigerman. Gary was an talented young actor who had done small supports in several movies and television series segments. Gary had been in a Lost in Space the year before. He and his girlfriend Jan Fisher, an actress and comic, were wonderful to know and work with.

As the show's run settled in there were always interesting celebrities and happenings throughout the run.

I saw many backstage after the performance: Richard Chamberlain, Roddy McDowall, Richard Deacon, Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde, Jim Nabors, and many, many, many more.

But the biggest thrill for us was getting to meet Edward G. Robinson. He came with his wife and best friend, Sam Jaffe (who was Gunga Din and Dr. Zorba on Ben Casey) and Jaffe's wife, the co-star on Ben Casey, Bettye Ackerman. I got to shake the hand of a true legend!!! What a thrill for a young actor.

The party stayed only for the first act, though. They maintained that the reason was that Robinson, who was very deaf, couldn't follow the play , but I expect they were a little embarassed.

There was a bar across a courtyard from the theatre where we used to go after the show quite often. We were in and out all the time, anyway. The comic Rip Taylor who knew Michael Greer and Sal, used to stop by there and sit with us and just be very crazy!!! It was wild!

We basically had a good time doing the show. Everyone liked each other and we could have fun together in the way of a cast that becomes a family for the duration of the run. Faces changed as understudies moved on. Sal decided to leave the show after several months. The actor who replaced him lasted about two weeks. He was an African-American and had problems with the fact that the character of Rocky must be eventually defeated. Another African-American guy who hadn't acted much was his understudy and remained in that role for much of the rest of the run. His name was Mike Renfro and he played the role of Rocky a number of times. He was really excellent in the part. Even Sal thought Mike's natural quality was dead on.

Sal always maintained he never wanted to play Rocky!! But I am certain that he loved it!!!