So here's the story Morning Glory,

I have taken you back in time to 1933...NYC...straight to the secret Back Room of a Speakeasy.

There's been a horrible murder...The lens of time has been scratched and battered, so we can only see parts of the whole picture, but what we can see is two women having a clandestine rendezvous. I will let you in on their identities, and the details will unfold by and by. The dark beauty is Katelan Foisey who plays the part of Lucrezia, a Barber's wife who lives next door to the Speakeasy, ...and the red haired dame is me...Kat Mon Dieu, in the role of "Hope Dare" a showgirl at the Speakeasy owned by my boss, Frank. Lucrezia and my boss were having an affair and unfortunately her husband caught wind of it and is accused of murdering Frank.

We are two of the "Dolls" in Cynthia Von Buhler's multifaceted Speakeasy Dollhouse; an immersive play that is based on the true story of Cynthia's grandfather (Frank) and the events surrounding his murder. All the characters are based on actual historical persons. Lucrezia was Franks neighbor and probable lover. Hope Dare (AKA Rose Rickert) was a red-haired showgirl and numbers runner for Dutch Schultz; who in turn was a violent gangster and Frank's rival in the bootlegging business. Inside one of the finest hidden hooch mills in NYC, you've caught us in various states of distress and undress...after all, Lucrezia lost her love and I lost my steady line of work. I have to go work for Dutch now, but trust me...Lucrezia has to give Dutch more than I'd be willing to dole out. I'm just here to offer her some comfort...you gotta believe me...and don't rat us out to Dutch.

It kinda starts out like this...

Lucrezia has heard of the brutal murder of her lover, Frank. She attempts to compose herself before her meeting with the wealthy and powerful Dutch Schultz, to ask him for help. She doesn't know where her husband is...he's been missing since the shooting. She's worried that she cannot support her family without her husband.

Lucrezia awaits Dutch nervously, wondering how bad it's going to be...but looking like a million dollar baby. Maybe he'll go easy on her when he sees what a dish she is.

Preparing to greet the unpredictable mobster, Lucrezia practices her elegant gestures.

....and does the Charlston.

She hopes Dutch will be in a good mood. She hears a noise...the creak of a door and the sounds of the Speakeasy getting louder for a moment. She turns to see...

Hope Dare, the showgirl...doing the Charlston.

But...where is Dutch? He told her to meet him here...

It seems that rascal Schultzy told them both to meet him.

"Don't worry Honey. Dutch is a real swell guy if you play along. It's all business dealings anyway. He offered me a job dancing at his place, now Frankie's gone. A girl's gotta pay the bills...anyway, it's just talk, ya know?"

Lucrezia is relieved to have someone else there, but she is not so sure Hope knows exactly the business transaction Dutch has in mind for them.

The audience is enthralled as the story unfolds...hey...wait, isn't that...no, it couldn't possibly be John the Barber, Lucrezias husband? Is he spying on us? And why is he in that funny disguise? And what is he doing passing time with Anna, Franks cousin's wife? Could they be in cahoots in this whole murder mystery? I'll need a sawbuck from both of them to keep this under my pin curls!

Lucrezia confides her deepest, darkest fears to Hope. She senses something kind and maternal in the brassy showgirl, and relates the whole complicated story of her affair with her neighbor, Frank.

Hope is a good listener, and sympatique to her female woes. Hope tells Lucrezia of her own complicated love situations: She's engaged to be married to Dixie Davis, Dutch's personal lawyer...but she has developed quite a soft spot in her heart for a big goon by the name of Lulu Rosenkrantz, who happens to be Dutch's bodyguard.

Lucrezia is overwhelmed by all this talk of men and love. She tries to hide her tears as she realizes how desperate she is to be done with this sordid business with the Dutchman...and how much she misses Frank. She wonders what the hell happened to her husband and why he would just run out on her and their 4 children. Hope has an idea, but she keeps mum...for now.

"Put in a good word with Dutch for me, will ya Hope? I'm afraid of what he'll do to me! I've heard bad things...that he's a monster. I've heard he's put the kibosh on people just for sneezing and interruptin' his train of thought!"

"Tell me you'll sweet talk him for me...I'll do anything!"

"Anything?"

"Anything..."

"Ok listen here Kiddo. Do exactly what I tell ya to do an Dutch will be as meek as a pussycat with a bellyful of milk...."

First check your eyes...you look like you've been cryin'. Men don't like that...makes 'em go all funny inside and they can act all unpredictable. Dutch likes a tough cookie with a pretty face. Practice lookin' smart and sassy...like you know the game and you're an ace player"

"That's much better Chickie...chin up!"

While Lucrezia composes herself, we bring you this commercial break from our WONDERFUL sponsor Baby Tattoo!

...and the winner of the drawing contest is....THIS adorable gal! Congratulations!

"Now my dear...we still have to get you ready for Dutch. I'll pretend I am he...and you are you and when the time comes to do the do, it will be easy peasy"

"Are you sure I got what it takes? I think I got myself in over my head...but I didn't know what else to do!" Lucrezia laments.

"Well cookie...you never know with the Dutchman, but I think you got a big chance to make a good impression. You're a beauty and you ain't been around the block too many times. Maybe if you put up a little struggle, he'll feel like he bagged a wildcat...make it worth his while, ya know?"

"What kind of advice is that supposed to be? I wont be puttin' it on when I'm trying to get away. I can't help it...I don't want anyone's hands on me but Frankie's...."

"Well honey, I don't think Frankie's hands on you would feel too good at the moment. But you can think of him when you're with Dutch...it will make it easier"

"Yeah...that's what I'll do...I'll think of Frank..."

Meanwhile the audience is drawn into their drawings of the dramatic pause in events...as we all wait for Dutch Shultz to saunter onto the scene.

Me and Lucrezia have become fast friends as we bide our time in the little room at the back of the Speakeasy. Artists in the shadows sketch us for the naughty pleasures of the elite: Politicians, Mobsters, business men...who buy the drawings for their private collections.

Us women, we talk about our loves, how we got to where we are now...and where we would rather be...

I suddenly remember my big dream of being in the Ziegfeld Follies...I loosen my pin curls...and my clothing.

Lucrezia does the same...

Lucrezia and I have become aware of the shadowy Art Monkeys, stealing illicit sketches of our increasingly revealed forms...the more articles of clothing we remove, the more furiously move the artists implements, tracing our forms as we become uninhibited and familiar.

"I saw your husband watching us..." I whisper to Lucrezia

The artists capture our secrets as well as our forms...

Nothing like a good giggle juice to lighten the mood and let down our hair. I'm beginning to think that Dutch ain't even gonna show up. One HOPES!

From our sponsor Squishables...a duck-billed platypus!

I ask Lucrezia what made Frank throw caution to the wind where she was concerned? He must see a million pretty faces come through the Speakeasy every night...so you know what she does? She turns around and shows me her buttocks!

And I can definitely see what made Frankie go all goonie for her!

Yes indeedy.

So then we got naked and smoked some imported French cigarettes that Dixie got for me. It's funny how different the world appears when you look at it unencumbered by underpinnings. I just hope that when Dutch Schultz decides to show up that he drops dead from a heart attack the second he sees us naked. That would be poetic justice...ya know? "Arthur Flegenheimer: Death by Bosoms" That would be a hoot! That's why they call me Hope Dare...cuz I dare to hope for the unlikeliest things!

Back to our sponsor for the Drinking Game...where we pull skulking artists out of their seats to down some rotgut and win a prize! I think the challenge was to help us escape by placing us at any other time in history...these were the top two as chosen by audience applause.

Ancient Egypt...and....

Ancient Egypt! Well blow me over with an Ibis feather...what an intuitive audience to sense that both Lucrezia and I are re-incarnations of Egyptian Queens. Yeah. We are. Believe it.

The winner watches the other winner finish her drink.

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Suddenly we realize we are long lost sisters, separated at birth!

With this discovery we know we can get through whatever Dutch has to deal out. We got each others backs.

John the Barber remembers his home and family, and falls in love with Lucrezia all over again. He ponders his actions and decides to talk to Dutch himself...to face the music for shooting Frank. Can he intercept him before the mobster has his way with his wife?

Unfortunately no...because Schultz doesn't give a rats ass about some barber...unless there is something in it for him.

To find out how the story ends...come to the Speakeasy Dollhouse. Be part of history and solve the mystery...

The Speakeasy Dollhouse, one of New York City's most thrilling immersive theater hits, is extended through December 2013 with more frequent shows! Katelan Foisey (Lucrezia) and Kat Mon Dieu (Hope Dare) are two of the actresses in the play as well as long time friends.

.Thank you Melissa, Syd and Kate, Yao, Silent James and Esther along with my partner in crimes of passion, Katelan and Cynthia Von Buhler for being the best boss a gal could ask for!