Gerrit Verstraete

The Broadway Players Gerrit Verstraete

The Broadway Players is a daringly crafted long poem using contemporary techniques of intuitive wordplay, metaphor, and narrative, constructed as a series of interactions between the principal character Cerulean and a group of protagonists known as the Broadway Players, who challenge anyone they encounter. They level a series of eight charges against Cerulean to which he replies with revealing determination. The interactions of charges and rebuttal end with a poignant requiem for the living as Cerulean reflects on his quest. Scenes are written as reflections of an emerging and fading youth of the poet, the realities and fantasies of growing old, and a day reckoning. The long poem ends with Curtains of resolve and dreams of homecoming. The Broadway Players exit stage left. The long poem comprises 3003 lines written in 100 tableaux.