Last Sunday, we paid another visit to directress/raconteur Erica Werner in her faux-Titian dorm room. Outside it was cold and dreary, but inside we found Ms. Werner in fine fettle, cooing merrily at her Bonsai tree. Clad in a chain-metal sheath and matching elbow-length gloves, both by Gaultier, with hair by Vidal Sassoon, Ms. Werner discoursed savvily on topic ranging from the Knights Templar to the common cold. As always, we were impressed by her smarts. But we were not where we were--that is, in the presence of genius disguised as high fashion--to engage in idle chitchat, but rather to query Ms. Werner about her latest artistic endeavour.

FIFTEEN MINUTES: Would you care to tell us a bit about your latest artistic endeavour?

MS. WERNER: I'd be delighted. I'm pleased that you're interested. That's what I'm here for: to nurture a spark of interest in people that they in turn will be able to fashion into art.

FM:But wouldn't you be worried about the competition if everyone started writing rock operas?

MW: Damn the competition!

FM: Let me ask you a related question. "Jurassic Park: The Rock Opera" was an unprecedented success, earning rave reviews from critics everywhere, and sparking a rash of suicides. Does that put an uncomfortable pressure on you?

MW Think of the Beatles. Who thought they could top Revolver?

FM: But they didn't. Sgt. Pepper's was worse.

MW: It was not, you miserable little worm.

FM: But you know it's a common phenomenon that, for example, authors of successful first books will then develop writers' block.

MW: Please do not confuse me with "authors". I am not "authors". I am simply a nice girl who grew up on a farm and likes cows.

FM: scribble scribble.

MW: However, I must admit that I was somewhat worried for a short time that I would be unable to repeat my unprecedented success, until I hit upon a concept. And when I say I hit upon a concept, I actually mean that a concept hit upon me, for it revealed itself to me in a dreamscape, and when I awoke it was a foregone conclusion.

FM: Wow! It must be really great!

MW: It is.