text: > Look around
  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
  There is a 12 foot plank
  
  > take the bucket and the plank
  You pick up the oaken bucket.
  You pick up the sturdy plank.
  
  > 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
  This seems to be a small rest area that continues to the East in the middle of the wings. The main stage is to the West. The wings extend North and South.
  There is an old soft drink machine in the corner
  
  > play the trumpet
  Carefully checking the spit valve, you put lips to mouthpiece and blow.
  
  > cut the machine with the ring
  You want to CUT the MACHINE with WHAT, pray tell?
  
  > Go east
  You squeeze between old flats (stage scenery) off-left (OFF the main stage playing area and to the actor's LEFT while facing the audience - a little theater terminology there).
  At first you hardly notice a massive chair against the wall.
  
  > go west
  This seems to be a small rest area that continues to the East in the middle of the wings. The main stage is to the West. The wings extend North and South.
  There is an old soft drink machine in the corner
  
  > go to the southwest
  This is the center of the stage, closest to the audience, where all actors hope to take their big bows some day.
  
  > Go west
  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
  
  > go west
  Looking around, you see a spiral stairway leading up, a door around behind the stairs to the West, and the stage to the East
  
  > Go west
  A thin wash of light barely penetrates the cobwebs covering a small window high on the wall. Failing to reach it, you turn your attention to the door to the South with faded gold lettering on even more faded green paint.
  It has a small, dingy transom above and dirty hand prints all
  around.
  
  > Go south
  Ignoring everything that you learned as a two year old, you impulsively turn S and walk right into the closed door.
  
  A thin wash of light barely penetrates the cobwebs covering a small window high on the wall. Failing to reach it, you turn your attention to the door to the South with faded gold lettering on even more faded green paint.
  It has a small, dingy transom above and dirty hand prints all
  around.
  
  > open the door
  After several attempts you manage to OPEN it enough to get through. You enter the little room ahead and after waiting a second for your eyes to adjust to the light, you find yourself in a small, dim office.
  
  The transom over the door admits just enough light for you to make out a small desk taking up most of the floor space.
  An old abridged dictionary sits on the desk.
  
  > read the dictionary
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: BOOK:Several. Must be read. Good for trading. SEE ALSO PAGE QUARTER:Buys merchandise. (Buy policy FIRST.) SEE ALSO DRINK, POLICY, BARBER
  
  > Continue
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: CHAIN:Holds crowbar. SEE ALSO CROWBAR, HACKSAW CHAIR:Sets off explosion. SEE ALSO POLICY GAP:Will be a fatal fall. SEE ALSO PLANK LAMP:Rub it then go to the Green Room. SEE ALSO GENIE SIGN:Needed to get a drink. SEE ALSO DRINK
  
  > read the dictionary about the drink
  The pages are falling apart as you handle them. You must wait for them to dry.
  
  > read the dictionary on the drink
  The pages are falling apart as you handle them. You must wait for them to dry.
  
  > read dictionary
  The pages are falling apart as you handle them. You must wait for them to dry.
  
  > look at the sign
  You see nothing unexpected.
  
  You don't see any sign here.
  
  > look at the dictionary
  It has seen better days. Years of coffee spills have obliterated most of the printing and completely glued the binding to the desk. The pages are soggy and YELLOW and about to fall apart. They appear to be somewhat out of order.
  
  > look at the pages
  It has seen better days. Years of coffee spills have obliterated most of the printing and completely glued the binding to the desk. The pages are soggy and YELLOW and about to fall apart. They appear to be somewhat out of order.
  
  > examine bulb
  One of the new on/off capacitor types that glows very dimly without power.
  
  > go to the west
  Ignoring everything that you learned as a two year old, you impulsively turn W and walk right into the closed door.
  
  At the South end of a hall, there are doorways to the West and the South and the top of a narrow spiral stairway.
  The door to the dressing room has no knob.
  
  > Go south
  Ignoring everything that you learned as a two year old, you impulsively turn S and walk right into the closed door.
  
  A thin wash of light barely penetrates the cobwebs covering a small window high on the wall. Failing to reach it, you turn your attention to the door to the South with faded gold lettering on even more faded green paint.
  It has a small, dingy transom above and dirty hand prints all
  around.
  
  > open the door
  After several attempts you manage to OPEN it enough to get through. You enter the little room ahead and after waiting a second for your eyes to adjust to the light, you find yourself in a small, dim office.
  
  > look up the barber in the dictionary
  Extra input found: "in..."
  
  > read the dictionary
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: APPLE:Safe to eat, like the Steak and Cookie. SEE ALSO AVACODO HOTDOG:Not for you. SEE ALSO CAT, FROG
  
  > read dictionary
  The pages are falling apart as you handle them. You must wait for them to dry.
  
  > read the dictionary
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: CHAIN:Holds crowbar. SEE ALSO CROWBAR, HACKSAW CHAIR:Sets off explosion. SEE ALSO POLICY GAP:Will be a fatal fall. SEE ALSO PLANK LAMP:Rub it then go to the Green Room. SEE ALSO GENIE SIGN:Needed to get a drink. SEE ALSO DRINK
  
  > Continue
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: CHAIN:Holds crowbar. SEE ALSO CROWBAR, HACKSAW CHAIR:Sets off explosion. SEE ALSO POLICY GAP:Will be a fatal fall. SEE ALSO PLANK LAMP:Rub it then go to the Green Room. SEE ALSO GENIE SIGN:Needed to get a drink. SEE ALSO DRINK
  
  > continue
  The pages are falling apart as you handle them. You must wait for them to dry.
  
  > read the hotdog
  You can't read the hotdog, so instead you just examine it. It seems like any other foot long hotdog you find in a deserted theater.
  
  > read the pages
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: DIAMOND:Can cut a glass object. SEE ALSO BOX, MIRROR DRINK:Not for you. SEE ALSO QUARTER, SIGN, WATER KNIFE:Cuts rope only. SEE ALSO ROPE KNOB:Will fall into view if you scare the cat. SEE ALSO CAT, DOOR OILCAN:Oil calms the stream and eats away hinges. SEE ALSO DOOR, STREAM POLICY:Insurance against a bomb blast. SEE ALSO CHAIR, QUARTER, AGENT
  
  > Continue
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: APPLE:Safe to eat, like the Steak and Cookie. SEE ALSO AVACODO HOTDOG:Not for you. SEE ALSO CAT, FROG
  
  > continue
  Having no particular word to look up, you flip pages at random till you see: COUNTERWEIGHT:Up when curtain is down. Can carry things. ROPE:Holds the chest (CABLE is in elevator shaft). SEE ALSO KNIFE
  
  > check your inventory
  You're carrying:
  dim bulb (Providing light)
  long hotdog
  stage makeup
  sharp knife
  old lamp (Providing light)
  oaken bucket
  scuba suit
  fortune cookie
  paper fortune
  sturdy plank
  valve trumpet
  You're wearing:
  solitaire ring
  
  > examine ring
  A simple yet tasteful setting - a single, faceted stone in a 4 prong base.
  
  > look in the ring
  A simple yet tasteful setting - a single, faceted stone in a 4 prong base.
  
  > look at the stone
  A simple yet tasteful setting - a single, faceted stone in a 4 prong base.