Thespian mice discovered in Goodman Theatre’s rafters

In a major scientific discovery, Dr. Vince Shlomi from SW Labs has verified that a high-intellect species of mice has been discovered in the rafters of Goodman Theatre in Chicago’s Loop. 

“It was the weirdest thing,” said Anna Clifford, Goodman stage manager and Starbucks barista.  “We’d come in for rehearsals, and things would be moved around.  The lighting would be adjusted, or the scripts would be chewed on.  I just figured it was someone from the cast of Mary Poppins.” 

The discovery occurred a week into the run of Goodman’s present production, Come Back, Little Shicksa.  On a routine check of the lighting, set designer and taxi driver Radhakant Baijpai, noticed that a Shakespeare book of plays was tucked between the rafter beams.  “I bent down to pick up the book,” said Rhada “and it started to move – so  I grabbed the book, and there underneath was five or 6 of those critters, all moving their arms wildly and emoting!” 

So as to avoid calling in health inspectors, the Goodman box office placed PETA-approved traps amongst the rafters, along with copies of  the American classic  about the downfall of a washed-up Avon lady – Dearth of a Saleswoman – as bait. The theatre-loving mice were soon caught and  trucked off to SW Labs, which is where they discovered that the mice responded more to Shakespeare than to slices of cheese. 

When Goodman artistic-director and Elvis-impersonator Robert Falls was asked for a comment regarding the theatre mice, he just offered a terse “It’s all much ado about nothing”.