Leo turned to see who the late arrival was, regarding me with a contradictory mixture of welcome and suspicion. I’ve been told that Leo was indifferent teacher, that he regarded his classroom as simply a venue to recount stories of borderline stalking incidents involving a middle aged Leo and long dead Broadway legends.
Leo: Have a seat young man.
Turdling: Uhh, Leo, this is my class.
Leo: Oh I had a hell of a time, you know.
Confused, I played along.
Turdling: With what exactly?
Leo: At the Richard Rodgers Theatre, just last week. (Pounding his fist on the table) Music was in the AIR! There was never such a NIGHT!
Somehow Leo had secured tickets to Hamilton and he had been regaling students with his interpretation of the title song. Age has not diminished Leo’s voice, nor his enthusiasm for musical theatre. It has however lowered the gas on his memory, and his take on the song was a discordant goulash combining a vague recollection of Hamilton lashed with dollops of Wicked and the Wizard of Oz.
Leo: (Singing) Evil Margaret Hamilton, Margaret Hamilton.
Turdling: Leo. . .
Leo: I tell ya, it’s the stuff of dreams, a must see.
The Observations of A.E. Turdling 