By Walt Dulaney

[123 years ago Frank Stockton published a short story that grabbed the nation's fancy. It told of a barbaric King who built an arena with two fateful doors. Accused criminals opened one to become either dinner for a ravenous tiger or husband to an eager bride. This November the Alliance for Drama Education will cautiously unleash CLAWS - my re-minting of The Lady or the Tiger? as play, cartoon, outtake and opera to be performed by T-Shirt Theatre for 5,000 students and - hopefully - YOU!]

So what provokes a slow-poke playwright?

For each of the last 15 years I've spent a minimum of four weeks uncorking Stockton's tale in week-long Gett!ng Dramat!c residencies. Altho' his florid writing can deck 'em, the kids never fail to connect with his premise nor to squawk over the fact that the story ends just before the hero opens his door. They're positive I must be holding something back.

It took me all this time to discover they were right. I was withholding pivotal information. Whatayouknow, the tiger can talk! Once I realized this, he told me where Stockton's outtakes were stored (in a seldom used lobe of my noggin), and where the cartoon storyboard hid.

Intrigued by my enthusiasm, pal MJ revisited FS's text and roared back to report that this astounding story was ripped from police blotter accounts of "you'll-never-get-away-from-me" domestic violence. The Princess seriously considers having a tiger's claws rip lover-boy to pieces - rather than guiding him to safe harbor in another's arms. Zowie, that's occasion to alert teens to the jeopardy of possessive passion …and let our cast go mega- melodramatic!

So, after 100-plus rides on the tiger's tale, I've finally painted my own stripes. Auwww, go on, grab those tins of orange and black paint and write Friday, November 18, 7:30 pm, Farrington HS Auditorium, CLAWS! on the refrigerator door. Trade a $5 bill for entrance, then fasten your seat belt … we're in for a bumpy ride!