text: [Themes: gender choice]
  
  > go downwards
  You are at the base of a very plain spiral stairway. The curving steps to the apron are to the North and the audience to the West.
  
  > go to the west
  From the front row of the audience you can see the stage apron clearly to the North. You can move along the aisles in other directions.
  
  > Go east
  You are at the base of a very plain spiral stairway. The curving steps to the apron are to the North and the audience to the West.
  
  > Go north
  This is the apron (the extension of the stage in front of the curtain line). The main stage is North. You see the audience to the South and curving steps at either end of the apron starting off East and West before turning Southward.
  
  > Go north
  This is the center of the stage, closest to the audience, where all actors hope to take their big bows some day.
  
  > Go north
  The center of the vast open stage area is strangely silent. It almost seems you can hear faint echoes of past performers. There is an elevator built into the stage floor. Luckily it is in the "UP" position now.
  
  > Go east
  You find yourself in the library. The shelves are mostly empty now. The stage elevator is in a small alcove to the West and a short passage is to the South.
  There is a very thin music book ( on the east shelf )
  
  > take the book
  You pick up the music book.
  
  > read it
  "4...SHOW ME THE WAY TO GO HOME"
  
  > go to the south
  Looking around, you see that the room is bare. You see the Library North
  There are sliding elevator doors on the East wall
  There is a locked door on the West wall.
  
  > examine the doors
  The old doors allow easy access to the next room.
  
  > look at the door
  Judging from the label, I'd say it goes to the orchestra pit.
  
  > read the door
  "TO ORCHESTRA PIT"
  
  > go west
  Ignoring everything that you learned as a two year old, you impulsively turn W and walk right into the closed door.
  
  Looking around, you see that the room is bare. You see the Library North
  There are sliding elevator doors on the East wall
  There is a locked door on the West wall.
  
  > Go east
  This is NOT the Enterprise. You'll have to open these doors yourself.
  
  > open the doors
  I forgot to tell you, whenever the curtain is unbalanced, it overloads the motor and blows all kinds of fuses and makes these doors stick. I'm afraid you won't be able to budge them while anything is sitting on the counterweight.
  
  You can't open the doors.
  
  > check your inventory
  You're carrying:
  dim bulb (Providing light)
  long hotdog
  stage makeup
  sharp knife
  music book
  roller skate
  old lamp
  plaster pluto
  You're wearing:
  pocket pager ( on your belt )
  
  > Go north
  You find yourself in the library. The shelves are mostly empty now. The stage elevator is in a small alcove to the West and a short passage is to the South.
  
  > Go up
  The center of the vast open stage area is strangely silent. It almost seems you can hear faint echoes of past performers. There is an elevator built into the stage floor. Luckily it is in the "UP" position now.
  
  > Go southwest
  Near the right proscenium arch you see the tracks that guide the counterweight for the main stage curtain and a faint glimmer of light to the West.
  There is the curtain counterweight
  There is that famous old oaken bucket
  
  > take the bucket
  You pick up the oaken bucket.
  
  > Go northeast
  The center of the vast open stage area is strangely silent. It almost seems you can hear faint echoes of past performers. There is an elevator built into the stage floor. Luckily it is in the "UP" position now.
  
  > go east
  You find yourself in the library. The shelves are mostly empty now. The stage elevator is in a small alcove to the West and a short passage is to the South.
  
  > go to the south
  Looking around, you see that the room is bare. You see the Library North
  There are sliding elevator doors on the East wall
  There is a locked door on the West wall.
  
  > open the doors
  You manage to pry the doors open, breaking only one fingernail in the process.
  
  > Go east
  As you walk through, the doors slide closed behind you.
  
  You find yourself at the bottom of an elevator shaft. You can see light coming through the gap between the doors to the West. Looking up you can barely see light filtering through another set of open doors two floors above.
  The frayed elevator cable hangs just out of your reach.
  A packrat has emerged from a crack in the wall
  
  > trade PLUTO to the packrat
  The packrat chuckles to himself, "What a dip stick, giving me the PLUTO! You'll be sorry." He stuffs the PLUTO into a pocket in his checkered vest then darts toward the wall, leaving a small object for you.
  
  You find yourself at the bottom of an elevator shaft. You can see light coming through the gap between the doors to the West. Looking up you can barely see light filtering through another set of open doors two floors above.
  A battered bugle is lying there.
  The frayed elevator cable hangs just out of your reach.
  
  > Trade KNIFE to packrat
  The packrat chuckles to himself, "What a dip stick, giving me the KNIFE! You'll be sorry." He stuffs the KNIFE into a pocket in his checkered vest then darts toward the wall, leaving a small object for you.
  
  You find yourself at the bottom of an elevator shaft. You can see light coming through the gap between the doors to the West. Looking up you can barely see light filtering through another set of open doors two floors above.
  A battered bugle is lying there.
  The frayed elevator cable hangs just out of your reach.
  
  > Trade book to packrat
  The packrat carefully inspects the BOOK that you offer, then somehow stuffs it into a tiny crack in the wall. He darts toward the wall himself, pausing only long enough to throw a small object back to you, then vanishes.
  
  You find yourself at the bottom of an elevator shaft. You can see light coming through the gap between the doors to the West. Looking up you can barely see light filtering through another set of open doors two floors above.
  A battered bugle is lying there.
  The frayed elevator cable hangs just out of your reach.
  
  > take the BUGLE
  You pick up the battered bugle.
  
  > play the BUGLE
  You wet your lips, throw back your head and blow for all you're worth. A shower of cockroaches and spider webs flies out the bell along with a stream of notes that would make Sousa gasp.
  
  > climb the cable
  You dance and leap on your toes, but are unable to reach the cable. Just when you are about to give up, you recall a stunt you saw in a movie. Taking off your belt, you whip it upward in your best Indiana Jones style. Amazingly, as in the movie, the tip of the belt wraps itself three times around the frayed cable and catches securely. (Aren't you glad I saw that movie too?) Summoning all your strength, you start hand over hand up the belt and cable until you reach the doors at the top of the shaft and swing yourself over to safety.
  
  You stand next to the top of a stairway. Looking North, you see a pair of completely unmarked sliding doors standing open.