Maxine in Italia

(Maxine at the Admiral Theater in Chicago)

Maxine has now returned to Italy, to Calabria, where there has been growing interest in the news from Chicago concerning Felix Culpa. The legend of Felix and Maxine grew larger when the Sybarites saw Bishop Bassanni come home in a coffin. They knew it was their vindication, and somehow St. Sybian had intervened. The grave of Mia, Felix’s other wife and Maxine’s daughter, has become a secret destination of pilgrims. (I am sworn to secrecy about the name on the grave, until Maxine releases me.)


(Maxine in latest photo from Italy)


She has now become, she says laughingly, a high-priestess of sorts.
In other words, people line up to go to bed with her! She is managing the Bergamot orange presses, and making a variety of balms and perfumes from the essence of that bitter fruit.

She is planning a retrospective concert of Felix Culpa’s Music, culminating in a performance of “Malocchio del Amore”, that large-scale, dramatic ode to the licentiousness at the heart of St. Sybian’s teachings, which set in motion so many unfortunate events. As only scraps of papers exist along with the fading memories of some of the performers, she has asked me to come to Calabria, to help recreate the composition. It is very tempting as I miss Maxine greatly and would love to see the places she has told me about. I am also intrigued by her plans for a grand finale. All Maxine will say is that she knows where “Bastardi Bassanni “ is buried.