PEARL’S LUSTER FADES

My Dear Southern Belle,

Let me begin by saying that I will never apologize for the extent of the Dunbar family fortune. While it has served my family well for generations, it has meant diddlysquat for me over the years. True, I was raised with the luxuries that only European royalty are accustomed, but will I always be seen as that kind of person? I say no.

I was sent to Peck's because I wanted to be there. There, I admit it. I was there at my own fruition. I wanted to be common. I wanted to be dirty. I wanted to be you. I wanted to be judged by the quality of my existence and not by the quantity of cash in my Prada clutch.

It was there that I found a love of the Theatre. I studied. I toiled. I breathed the Theatre. I worked my fingers to the bone. But my father, Taylor Bigalow Dunbar VI, did not believe in me. He was convinced that I had no talent and decided he needed to "buy" my talent. I admit that he used his influence to get me good notices in the beginning. That's right, IN THE BEGINNING!!!!!

It is he that was responsible for my good reviews in those early plays: "Vicky! The Life & Times of Vicky Carr", "Mertz! The True Story of Vivian Vance" and "Our Town".

Ratso Rizzo was to be my shinning moment in the Theatre.

While I do respect Midge for the courage it took to properly convey the inner struggle of Antigone (in the buff) I do not, and will not, succumb to losing out to you.

I do not respect you as an actress, but I do respect you as a friend. As a friend you are truly a dear. As an actress you, to put it mildly, you stink. The only reason you were chosen to "play" Nurse Ratched was because your mother, Miss Scarlett Lee Deveraux, and Belinda Therese were having a secret lustful affair.

Let's face it, we Peck girls have never gotten anything on our own. We use every mean and deceitful trick we can to get what we want. Even Midge Celestine Peck has had her share of secrets.

As for the Dunbar mole, I will only say that I never expected you to bring up a physical deformity. You of all people. Remember, I've kept your "secret" for all these years. Don't make me reveal what I know.

I say, let's call a truce to this insidious ranting about our theatrical lives. I think you are just jealous. As you are very well aware, I have continued to be a Mistress of the Boards. I am, in fact, in rehearsals as we speak to replace Miss Charlotte Rae as Kim in the internationally renowned production of the Cameron Mackintosh extravaganza, Miss Saigon. We open a week from Tuesday in Eau Clair, Wisconsin in the newly refurbished Eau Clair Civic Center and Bingo Hall. How's that for success?

I am not angry. I am not hurt. I just want the respect that I deserve.

Why hasn't Midge responded to any of this? Is she too busy trying to recapture the glory that a naked Antigone once gave her? Or, is she hiding something about Miss Pat Peck?

Eagerly anticipating a response,
Pearl S. Dunbar… of the Boston Dunbars, soon to be a STAR