per0838-firemarshall

8:38 PM

A Nervous Fire Marshall?

Bob Gallot, Fire Safety Inspector:...
Is this man just a little worried?

words by Beverly Hanly
photo by Harry Pariser

"That wasn't planned," Bob Gallot, Fire Safety Inspector said with a grin when the stage caught on fire during Panjaya Collective's performance. "Most of the time they don't go too far," he said when I asked if he was nervous about all the acts using fire in the midst of such a crowd. "It's like working at an ammunition depot. They know how far they can go -- this time I was concerned about the plywood, but it's okay."

He was calm and enjoying the show when the stilt walkers came striding in with flowing pantaloons drifting down toward the flames. He had tried to see if the Aztec dancer earlier in the evening had thick callouses on his feet, or if he was in trance when he put his bare feet in the flames.

Gallot was thoroughly enjoying the whole evening, on duty until the end. "I thought it was supposed to be over about 11," he said. "The people have been really nice all night."

"That was wild, huh?" Panjaya's snake-ringed Director, Elizabeth Moriarty crowed. "We lit the stage on fire!"

[Editors note: I happened to be present at the end of the night when the fire dances were over and producer Gosney paid the fire marshall's fee. After the check was written, Gallot hesitated a moment, then asked, "do you mind if I stick around a couple of hours? This is a fun party!]