Whatever Happened to Auntie Jane? (AEG spoilers)

Dave Tallman · 12 Nov 2008, 19:03 · from 2008-November.txt.gz

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From: davetallman at msn.com (Dave Tallman)
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:03:52 -0700
Subject: (urth) Whatever Happened to Auntie Jane? (AEG spoilers)
Message-ID: <1bf4dd40811121103h7be7c45dx2b0f298730521f00 at mail.gmail.com>

It's interesting to try to connect the love triangles in Cassie's plays with
her real life.

In "The Red Spot," Brad Kingsley (Bruce Sandoz) is married to Jane Simmons
(Alexis Cabana). In "Dating the Volcano God," Reverend Brownlee (Brian
Keene-- note the B.K. initial match and the first-name match with Brian
Pickens) is married to Jane Brownlea (Norma Peiper and later Tabbi Merce).
Mariah Browlea (Cassie Casey) dates sailor Mr. Sharpy (Gil Corby aka Gideon
Chase) and the Volcano God (Vince Palma).

Cassie supplants both Janes. Bruce Sandoz is attracted to Cassie, and his
character may be also. She certainly steals the applause from Alexis in her
last performance, effectively becoming the lead: "By this time you'd be Jane
Simmons" (p. 54). Aunt Jane Brownlea is in love with the Volcano God ("And
how I love his boiling lava..." p. 138), but since Cassie plays the leading
lady she clearly supplants her in this relationship.

There is a cat-image connection among some of the leading men. Bruce Sandoz
is "like a famished lion" (p. 52). Vince Palma "pounced" and steers Cassie
like a "cruel tomcat might steer a captive mouse" (p. 63). He has a
"be-ringed paw" (p. 64), and a "tomcat smile" (p. 285) and he dances with a
"breathtaking series of leaps" (p. 286). Bill Reis is compared to a
"friendly tiger" (p. 77), and dating him is like playing footsie with a
tiger to find out how he bites their necks (p. 72). Norma calls him an
"alpha male," a term frequently used of lions (p. 177).

We can definitely connect Reis to the Volcano God, given the parallel
between the play's title and the chapter title "Dating Wallace Rosenquist"
p. 115. The Volcano God is Reis as he is now: powerful and dangerous. The
Volcano God who comes to Cassie's aid after Reis dies (pp. 285-287) may be a
manifestation of his spirit. Reverend Brownlee is Reis as he used to be: a
missionary is an ambassador of sorts. Another Brian (Brian Pickens) was
killed by the cultist assassin, who really wants to kill Bill Reis (p. 250).
Norma's role is taken over by Tabbi (a cat-like name).

Sharon Bench knows Rian Reis well enough to comment on his being "too brave"
(p.26). She has talked to former wife of Bill Reis and expects Cassie may
have chance to talk with her, even before Reis appears on the scene ("...you
won't brace them with it" p. 25). So the ex Mrs. Reis may well be somebody
Cassie knows. Bill's wife picked the name "Rian" (p. 277). Rian and Norma
are both Gaelic names.

Given all these connections, there's a possibility that Norma Peiper is the
ex-wife of Bill Reis and the mother of Rian Reis. This gives more of a
motive for her murder by the ATF than just showing Cassie they are serious,
and more of a motive for Reis to avenge her death in person.
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