Event Article

In honor of the latest FC theatre production, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," we have decided to allow corporate executive Les Moore (with the he!p of his secretary) explain the premise of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical satire. Included in parentheses are translations of the big boss's "executese."

Take a memo. (Write this< down for me since I'll probably forget half of what I said).

To whom it may concern, (To anybody who wants who wants to keep receiving a paycheck from me).

Regarding: theatre production "How to Succeed in Business ... " well, pretty much the way I did it.

(Regarding: "How to Succeed in Business Without Really trying." Though I know this memo is completely unnecessary and a waste of time and money, I so much love the sound of my own voice that I just had to dictate my thoughts on the matter. Plus, I had nothing else to do.

"How to Succeed ... " is the story of J. Pierrepont Finch, a young go-getter who begins his meteoric rise up the corporate ladder on the bottom rung as a window washer. The boy uses strategic genius to launch his career and one watches with awe as he finds new ways to achieve his goals.

G.P. Finch is proof-postive of the introduction of the self-help book he is reading ("How to Succeed ... ") that states "If you have education, and intelligence and ability, so much the better. But remember that thousands have reached the top without any of these qualities." Don't I know it, heh heh.

Finch lies, cheats, and schemes his way to the top using whoever and stealing whatever he needs to propel him through the ranks. I wish I had plotted some of his schemes myself-although I do have a few of my own stories, hee hee.)

What helps Finch triumph time after time, is the understanding by the rest of World Wide Wickets of how an American corporation is run, who makes it run, and what is expected.

(Corporate America expects people to resort to despicable behavior to get ahead; therefore, it's a good thing. What is also expected is a whole lotta brown nosin' from a bunch of wannabes who know only how to make a good cup of cappuccino and where the best donut shops are. By the way, where is Thompson? I'm getting hungry.)

Adding to the fun is the exaggeratedly stereotypical ensemble of crabby VIPs, mindless overzealous yes-men, and the ever-competent, patient and dependable secretaries (including the one head-turner Hedy).

(The rest of the cast so much resembled the jokers that work under me I almost thought the writers had engaged in corporate espionage and had stolen my employees personalities for the show. Then I remembered the don't have any personalities to steal-HA!)

Oh, but then there's· Hedy. Now there's a woman who makes one long for the days before sexual harassment cases-baada-boom!

Now, about the "bumbling executive."

Though I've seen a lot of those along my path of destiny, I feel that I am an exception to the rule.

The characterizations, mixed with a good helping of inside jokes, biting commentary on the ethics of big business, musical interpretations (which include an "ode" to coffee) and the underlying story about who holds the real power in corporate America, "How to Succeed ... " promises to be as enjoyable in Fullerton as it was on Broadway.

(So it all wraps up pretty nicely and I think every one of you should try it out. If you don't-You're fired.)