Don’t Throw Bouquets at Me!
Back in the early years of my career, I was lucky to be a singer/dancer in numerous musical packages. 1972 was one happy such year: I toured in a musical package of OKLAHOMA produced by Guber and Gross and starring John Davidson. It was a lot of fun and a well-directed and choreographed production mounted by John Sharpe. Towards the end of the show Curly (the leading man) and Laurie (the ingénue) tie the proverbial knot. After the marriage ceremony Laurie would throw her bridal bouquet to us chorus girls, and one of us was supposed to catch it. It was usually a different one of us each night, rarely did one of us get the bouquet two shows in the row. Of course we were supposed to be all a twitter and very eager to be the successful catcher of the coveted bundle of flowers. All of us chorus gals were supposed to be looking at Laurie awaiting the moment. Well this one night I must have been in la-la land and looking away. All of a sudden, I felt something hit me in the head real hard and I went down. I thought a sandbag had fallen from the grid! I remembered hearing that had happened to a famous actress. I thought I was a goner. Well the other girls gathered round and helped me to my feet, pressing the bouquet into me hands and trying to act excited as if I were the lucky one who had caught it. Of course they were trying hard (unsuccessfully) not to laugh, as they pretended to make a big fuss over me. Their laughter made me a bit angry.. I was so dazed, dizzy and confused I hardly knew where I was, but when I realized it was the bouquet that had clocked me I felt embarrassed. The other girls had to shepherd me off stage snickering all the while. Safe in the dressing room I nursed my pride and my wound. I was really worried I might be disciplined by the producers for not paying attention on stage, but yes, I really did have a small cut in the head. Boy that bouquet packed a mean wallop!