Cultural Writing. As Ashley tells it..."An over-the-hill entertainer, and his somewhat younger pal, Buddy (The World's Greatest Piano Player), find themselves in a small town on the Midwest circuit playing at The Perfect Lives Lounge. They become friends with the son and daughter of the local Sheriff, and the four hatch a plan to do something that if they are caught, it will be a crime, but if they are not caught it will be art. They've set themselves a kind of metaphysical challenge." This book includes the complete libretto, in seven episodes, followed by thirty-eight pages of Robert Ashley talking about his ideas and the making of the opera. "He's opera's James Joyce...no other new music theater so rewards effort by getting under your skin and molding your consciousness"-The New York Times.
