The Mad Gasser of Mattoon

An Opera in One Act (forthcoming)
Libretto by Rebecca Morgan Frank

In the late summer of 1944, a sudden string of mania and malice swept the small town of Mattoon, Illinois. Victims reported being struck down by paralyzing, acrid gasses and seeing a mysterious prowler - a man? Or a woman perhaps? Newspapers took the initial reports and fanned the flames of hysteria. Hysteria, in fact, was the police conclusion for the entire series of events. But is there more to this story? And who was this “anesthetic prowler”?

Scene 3

Beulah: [leans down and picks up a white handkerchief]

What’s this? Carl, what’s this
handkerchief? [lifts up to her face and breathes in]
Carl, what have you done? Carl?
Where is this from? I can smell
Something sweet- where is this-
a woman’s perfume?
Oh, my lips, what is this?
My god, there’s blood,
My god, my lips are swelling-
What aren’t you telling
Me? And do you see
there’s a used lipstick
And this skeleton key?
Who has come? Is this her?
What have you done? Who’s out to get me?