Howard Rosenstein (photo credit: Brian Morel)
Greywater’s Organ Grinder.
Hard Work and Obedience Will Set You Free.
by Nanette Soucy
The Bain St. Michel has been transformed into a conference room at the Hyatt. There are fancy LED footlights and black velvet backdrops and massive corporate banners and a chandelier of balloons. The only thing missing is wait staff serving drinks or dinner rolls to patrons, seated at eight foot tables draped with linens and topped with shiny centre pieces of wilted lilies.
Red Peter trundles onto the stage with a gait that’s hard to distinguish from an elderly man’s. He addresses the audience gathered in his honour with distinguished authority and a Carolina drawl. His lovely wife sits quietly in the front of the audience dolled up and dressed to the nines for the occasion. He enthusiastically imbibes an expensive vintage bottle of wine as he recounts his epic journey from the wilds to civilization, not sparing us the frathouse stories like the time he chugged a whole bottle of whiskey in a single gulp. His movements veer preternaturally towards the simian side of humanity. His tale is woven thick with poetry and buttoned with the sort of pungent boardroom humour that appeals to guys in suits. His memoir explains precisely why this corporate veteran is not just another suited hirsute captain of industry.
