A small piece of green paper



Six Degrees of Separation is a play, and film written by John Guare about the conjecture that we  are all linked by five intermediaries. Six Degrees of Separation is standard theatre fare. Most people have seen it once but probably don’ t go out of their way to see it twice. I recall the play introduced me to Kandinsky‘s paintings. 


  One afternoon, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, not far from the Sea Bus terminal, per chance my ophthalmologist  mentioned he was visiting London for a short holiday. Since I attended the English equivalent of high school in Chiswick, West London, I mentioned some not so well known visiting destinations. One  being Hampton Court in South West London, where I was born. 

The Dr became interested and made notes on a yellow note pad, adding that he often visited London as his daughter lived there. Since he was clearly not writing a prescription, I relaxed and mused as to what would entice a Canadian girl to live in London. An actress, a gothic cathedral researcher or a druid fan? The Dr. quickly solved my puzzle. His daughter was an actress appearing at the Old Vic in a play called Six Degrees of Separation. I knew of the theatre and once or twice visited it with an older cousin. I must have been about twelve and recall it was there, I was first addressed as ‘Sir’ by the usher. A memorial event for any twelve year old, signifying the then welcoming marching of time. In recent years, there have been other age milestones not welcomed, including these eye appointments. The Dr. wrote something more on a small piece of green paper and handed it to me, saying he wanted me back in four months.

I exited through the large waiting room: I saw no one I knew. There used to be   paintings of mountains and war canoes hanging on the light green walls  plus one Tony Onley  work.  In recent   months, these have been replaced by enlarged  psychedelic photographs of the  eye, somewhat  Kandinsky-like.   

Later that day I Googled the production. In the cast were Anthony Head and the Dr’s daughter, Sarah Goldberg. Anthony Head was the name on which I froze; since I had gone to school in Chiswick with his older brother, Murray Head. Murray was a year older than me. In those days everyone was at least one year older. Now of course everyone tends to be younger than me On leaving school Murray went on to short term fame as a singer and actor, I went on to university to study electrical engineering. I see that he is singing in France these days and we both are not famous but linked by a small piece of green paper.

      ©  John Joyce  8 Dec 2021


     


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