Ficlets

To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead

The dream started, as all my dreams do, with a cabaret act. In a dimly lit room filled with faceless beatniks smoking imaginary cigarettes, a woman sat on a high stool in the middle of a small stage. She wore fishnet stockings, a tux jacket, and a bowler.

The woman, the same woman to star in every dream’s cabaret act since my untimely death, was Patti Lupone. At least, I think that’s her name. I know I recognize her face, and that’s the name I’ve stuck to it. Obviously, it’s not really her; that would be madness. This was just a dream after all.

She sang a lilting melody, not nearly bawdy enough for a real cabaret, but her eyes bore the sultry intensity of the style all the same. Her body moved with subtlety and fluidity to the undulating melody. The fishnets always distracted me.

But with a sweeping motion her arm drew my attention to the curtain behind her. My perspective floated forward as the curtain was raised to reveal the actual content of the dream, as was the usual pattern of my dreams.

Comments

To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
.:band baby:.
Posted 2 months ago

huh, interesting… I had to look up ‘beatnik’ and ‘cagaret’ but this has a nice flow to it just the same =)
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
OrangeOreos
Posted 2 months ago

I love how your writing extends my vocabulary! I didn’t know what a beatnik was, either. You capture the feeling of a dream in this really well…
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
Wyatt Aapr
Posted 2 months ago

OMG , as someone who grew up during the beatnik era I’m amazed that people never heard of them, but on the other hand that was 30 years ago. Very good story, u have my attention.
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
Mistress Elsha Hawk
Posted 2 months ago

hmm so the cabaret singer was just a ruse, a sort of opening act for the real dream? If so, then, where’s the actual content? ;)
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
THX 0477
Posted 2 months ago

Actually, this is a snippet from a larger project. I’m not sure I’ll post any more of the dream itself. Just wanted to sort of throw a bit of the writing out there for a spot quality check. Thanks for the fun comments.
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
g2 (la pianista irlandesa)
Posted 2 months ago

No! Put more, put more! You’ve got us hooked!
At least, just a teeny bit more? Pretty please?
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
atllta
Posted 2 months ago

THX – descriptive and well structured. I think a lot of people can identify having recurring dreams, and this feels like it could be an actual one, whether fictional or not. Too bad we don’t get to find out what’s behind the curtain.
To Dream in the Cabaret of the Undead
D S LaBrie
Posted 2 months ago

Good to know we can still dream, even in undeath. I like the sequel, too. Something about juxtaposing the idea of a nice vampire-like mood piece with Monte Python imagery has me hooked. Send us more!