H y s t r y o: While in Rome it Snowed

The narrative is set in Rome in 2012 during what can be labeled as a meteorological phenomenon in the city: snowfall. It’s about an ordinary man who finds himself in the midst of an extraordinary storm, looking for an open restaurant or café in which to shelter until the disaster lets up; to be clear, in Rome only a few centimeters of snow can be considered a blizzard. The character, Mr. XY – named in tradition of Kafka’s Josef K. in The Trial, but clearer in its significance – finally sees a welcoming locale open in the distance. Once he finally reaches this place of comfort, he enters and is “greatly disappointed, however, when the mirage materialized itself into a sad and grim reality: […] a theater!” From that point forward, Mr. XY becomes an unwitting actor and playwright, while still attempting to live his ordinary life, and he struggles to come to terms with his new love-hate relationship with the dramatics arts. For lack of a better metaphor, the rolling snowball of events continues to grow and grow as it rolls through the story, until a twist of fate reveals the surprising ending.
While the first half of the book narrates the story of Mr. XY and his encounters with Mirtilla, the Lanky Lead Actor, the Talent Agent and the Entertainment Lawyer, the second part is an actual theatrical piece written by Bernard, but passed off as the creation of Mr. XY. The dramatic piece makes references back to the story itself, or the story foreshadows that which is to be presented in the play – though the former is more likely, considering the theatrical piece was written prior to the story. I am hoping the Author won’t mind me revealing that morsel of information.