TUESDAY, 21 MARCH, 2000, PHILADELPHIA

My chum Patrick and I were given scripts last night and asked to come up with the musical arrangements to Azuka Theatre Collective’s upcoming performance of “Metamorphosis” by Stephen Berkoff, based on Kafka — duh. Strings. I think we’re both hearing strings. Lotsa screechy, scrabbly violin stuff. Patrick brilliantly suggested “that frantic, fucked up violin part at the beginning of ‘Desperate Living’ where Mink Stole and Griselda the maid are fleeing the house where they just killed the husband.” I am in awe of the boy. I’ve also got some Paganini stuff and some very bug-like Bartók in mind, but I hereby poll my darling readers for any other suggestions you might have about some effective insecty music you could name. Plinking and pizzicato is good. Quick and deranged is delicious. Email me if you have a piece in mind that seems à propos.