I, me and The Royal We (all three being Miss Wendy) caught up with Frank J. Avella (of the New Cockpit Ensemble, no less), the playwright/director of The Bubble, which is now playing at The Bank Street Theater. I saw the play on opening night, Thursday September 29, 2005 and was thrilled to see my friends, Frank and Guenia Lemos (she plays three of the parts) gainfully employed performing indoor work with no heavy lifting. I was also pleased to see that my other friend Evan Sung (I don’t have that many) had done such a wonderful job of photographing the play. Evan Sung is either incredibly proper or obtusely inscrutable, but I have always suspected that he has a hidden prurient nature. So, all atwitter and wanting to dish, I asked Frank some questions.

From Left: Brian Townes, Wind Klaison, Marie Lazzaro,
Tom Patterson, Justin Quackenbush& Guenia Lemos

Miss Wendy: What attracted you to the Bank Street Theater? Was it the cool lights out front, the closeness to the river or the communal dressing rooms?

Frank J. Avella: ALL of the above! How can one not love the smell of the Hudson River...smells like...New Jersey--who needs napalm! Also the theater is near my favorite diner. (Manatus on Bleecker). The Village rocks!

Joe Pistone & Guenia Lemos	Marie Lazzaro, Brian Townes & Justin Quackenbush

Miss Wendy: You have nudity in your play. Please tell us about the audition process. How many actors did you look at before you found the perfect ones?

Frank J. Avella: I actually picked them off the street prior to our load in and promised each of them a free meal and a camel. I had to give Joe Pistone two camels. Actually, I have worked with six out of seven of these astonishingly gifted ensemble members before. Most of them were significant in workshopping the play prior to the run. Brian Townes and I have worked on, like, thirty-seven plays together. Next year we plan on building a brownstone together--so we'll both have a place to live.

Brian Townes, Tom Patterson & Justn Quackenbush

Miss Wendy: Did Evan insist on photographing the auditions? I always get a little confused when he talks about his artisitic process.

Frank J. Avalla: He insisted on photographing my design team in the shower. A very odd request, but we gave in and let him. Nothing like a pic of a lighting designer washing his...rubber ducky! Evan is gem to work with. Incredibly talented and without ego.

Miss Wendy: Did Guenia insist on watching?

Frank J. Avella: Guenia spent most of her time in her deluxe fully-stocked, fur-lined trailer parked outside the theater. She very rarely has time for...people. She makes an exception for Viggo Mortensen. Seriously, Guenia is an amazing actress who, this time next year, will be so in demand, the Times will have to wait in line for her! She also happens to be one of the sweetest souls on the planet!

Guenia Lemos, Brian Townes & Marie Lazzaro

Miss Wendy: Are any of the actors your cousins?

Frank J. Avella: Now, do you see any Italian names in the cast? Oh, yes, there are two. Pistone. Lazzaro. Joe is my sister and Marie is my stepdad.

Miss Wendy: Have you been married to any of your actors and if so, did the marriages take place in Vermont or Canada? Were any of these marriages to your cousins? (I am from the South and I always wonder.)

Frank J. Avella: I have never been married to any of my actors, but there are rumours that Wind and Justin were once engaged to the same heroin-addicted rock star. The one who is rumoured to have killed her husband. I don't wanna mention any names...Courtney Love!

Miss Wendy: If Guenia ever gets around to getting married, are you going to be in the wedding party? Will I get to be a bridesmaid? What do you think we will have to wear?

If Guenia is never going to get married, do you think Evan will?

Frank J. Avella: That's a lotta questions!
I hope to be invited to her wedding since I introduced her to her beau! If not, I may have to stowaway in the cake and pop out at the appropriate time with a toaster!

Guen is from Brasil so chances are her bridesmaids will consist of three cows and a few chickens. Dress will probably be Carnivale-wear or a toga. Oh, and Evan IS already married. He just smartly keeps his wife away from lunatics like us.

Miss Wendy: After watching your play, I know what you think about when you are working – SEX! But what do you think about on your day off?

Frank J. Avella: SEX. Ok, that was too easy. WHAT DAYS OFF??? I often think about meeting Jane Fonda, who I adore and I think about how lucky I am to be working with such a kick-ass bunch of Bubble-actors, designers, and the entire Bubble group. I have been so bloody blessed on this production that the only other thing I could ask is...for it to be a monster hit...and to get a trailer as big as Guenia's!

Miss Wendy: Have you invited any politicians to attend your play – Hillary Clinton, Mayor Bloomberg, Reverend Al Sharpton? Do you want me to invite them?

Frank J. Avella: Feel free. I would love for Hillary to see it. Perhaps she could join in on the antics and kiss a few of my cast members. She can bring Bill and he can get pleased by my stage manager. Rev. Al can come. He'd have a blast. And Condoleeza's invited, too!

The Bubble Cast

Miss Wendy: Would you like to play Dallas, Texas?

Frank J. Avella: I have Texans in the cast. But, no, I'll pass on Texas. Is Texas still a state? A fascist state?

Miss Wendy: What affect do you think being arrested in Dallas would have on future tickets sales?

Frank J. Avella: Okay, that question made me change my mind...let's play Dallas and get arrested! That'll be fun...no strike that...they have the death penalty there. We'd probably be executed for showing penis and talking vagina!

Miss Wendy: If you were arrested in Dallas, would you be able to post bail or would you need www.newyorkcool.com to pass a collection plate?

Frank J. Avella: Collection plate. Start it now, please...

Miss Wendy: Would the nude actors wear clothes while posing for their mug shots?

Frank J. Avella: Of course! We're very proper at the New Cockpit Ensemble! But they'd all be holding the same number: 212-868-4444...the Smarttix number for Bubble tix!

Miss Wendy to Frank: Have a marvelous run and thanks for playing! See below for schedule and ticket information:

The Bubble plays Tuesday - Saturday @ 8PM with Sunday Matinees at 3PM. There will be a special matinee Saturday, October 8th at 2PM . The Bubble plays at the Bank Street Theatre, 155 Bank Street | NYC (between Washington and West Streets), A,C,E or L to 14th And 8th Ave.

Tickets are $25 and $20. 212-868-4444 or www.smarttix.com or www.newcockpitensemble.com