Precarious Global Incandescence

Professor Argyle Giles Yardley teaches at Brentley College for Women in Val de Ries, Vermont. He accepts playwright-director Sally Venture's invitation to appear in Precarious Global Incandescence, a serious play. Rehearsals go badly; the play becomes a musical, and he's asked to play showgirl, Grandilee. He agrees only because he's determined to win the hands, feet and all the rest of young Sally. Professor Yardley suddenly finds himself with characters like wardrobe mistress, Fishbone Mary, eleven-year-old tap dancer, Weesily Sam, and property master-actor, Kimberly Cain. "Call me Cain because I'm Able." He is confronted by major crises caused by the mounting of an amateur theatrical production and the fact that he's getting older. He counteracts this with magical powers of Glenyiddish Scotch Whisky. As one reader put it, "Precarious Global Incandescence is a roller coaster ride and a jolly good show."