The butterfly-hunting cameo VN wrote in for himself was in his script from the Kubrick days though the most recent editions of the screenplay in book form. In 2001, when Luca Ronconi staged it in Italian at the Teatro Piccolo (whose name has now been changed in memory of Gorgio Strehler), the plan was that I play the part on opening night, if I could get to Milan in time for at least one rehearsal.  Ronconi had the amusing idea of my playing Vivian Darkbloom as well, in drag, six-foot-five, high heels and all, but I opted out of that bit. Unfortunately my travel plans were tight. I was unable to arrive before the eve of the opening, and with an incipient leg problem that was to immobilize me for a long time. Having assisted with the Italian translation and able to memorize and take direction at sight, I was willing to wing it without rehearsal. However, I had a quick meeting with Ronconi and we decided, amid considerable media hullabaloo, that withdrawal was the better part of valor. Just as well, for everyone performed superbly and the play was an enormous success. In different circumstances it would have been fun, but the way things stood it would have been silly to take an unnecessary risk. The thing I could perhaps have done better was the forehand net-swing at an imaginary butterfly.

DN