“Not at all,” Burke replied, looking straight into the camera as he responded to P. K.’s question about their exhausting shooting schedule and whether it was taking a toll on the quality of the production. “Our director, Mr. Dean Lawrence, won’t let us get by with anything less than our best performance.”

“I heard about the full-dress rehearsals you do the night before shooting every scene. Someone told me it’s not unusual for Mr. Lawrence to run the scene several dozen times. Isn’t that hard on the actors, especially when you’re not going to shoot the scene until the next day?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t heard anybody complaining.”

“Tell me about the next day. Do you rehearse again, before you actually shoot the scene?”

“Oh, definitely. We rehearse for as many times as it takes to get it right. Then we shoot.”

“But most directors don’t make you go through the scene that many times, do they?”

“I wouldn’t know about that. This is the first feature film I’ve ever been in. But I firmly believe that Mr. Lawrence is a genius. You should see him when he puts on my costume and does my part for me. It’s a great learning experience.”

“He puts on your costume and demonstrates your part?”

“Yes, if I can’t seem to find my motivation. He does a darn good imitation of my voice, too.”

“Do you think he does this because you’re a novice? I mean, because you’re not a veteran movie actor?”

Burke shook his head. “Oh, I don’t think so. He does it for other actors, too.”

“How about the actresses?”

“Well, Lynne doesn’t really need any help like that. She gets everything right the first time.”

“Just let me clarify that, Burke.” P. K. turned to face his camera. “Burke is referring to Lynne Larchmont, who plays the female lead in Crisis in Cherrywood.” P. K. got back in interviewer posture. “You say your director, Dean Lawrence, occasionally puts on the costumes and demonstrates the parts for his actors. Is that right?”

“That’s right. It’s very helpful.”

P. K. gave a little laugh and winked at the camera. “But of course Mr. Lawrence doesn’t do this for the women’s parts.”

“Sure he does. And he looks pretty darn convincing in drag.” There was a stunned silence. It was obvious that P. K. wasn’t about to risk a comment after the bombshell Burke had just dropped. But Burke plunged right ahead into even deeper water. “I was just kidding, you know. But Mr. Lawrence can do great voices. He’s got Erica’s down pat. If he put on her costume and sat down in a dark bar, I bet seven or eight guys would come over and try to hit on him.”