Forty years ago, Gordon Richiusa (called Gordie, by his friends and family back then) and Mark Gottlieb shared a love of the ocean and pooled their creative talents to create the essence of this remarkably timely story.  

 

Mark Gottlieb and Gordon Richiusa were high school sailing and diving buddies who had, like many people who love the ocean, a kind of reverence for the sea's inhabitants, especially cetaceans (dolphins and whales). Gordon had an idea for a story and told it to Mark, who was composing scores, that many believed expressed an emotional maturity beyond his years.

 

The story engaged Mark at a level that he'd not known before and the two decided to pursue writing a play. While trying to speculate about the "mind of the dolphin" they were also both learning and searching. During one research adventure, they met the Academy Award winning actor Burgess Meredeth, Dr. John Lilly (a dolphin research icon) and Jean-Michel Cousteau (one of Jacques Cousteau's sons). In an attempt to engage Dr. Lilly, and stop him from leaving the lecture that he'd just been a part of, Gordon stepped up to him and asked, "Dr. Lilly, won't cultural translation be even more difficult than language translation?" 

 

Instead of remaing and giving a long hoped for answer, Dr. Lilly said curtly:

"Yes. Yes it will."

 

The assistant opera conductor at California State University, Northridge  knew Mark's work and expressed interest in a performance at the university.  Fine-tuning and rewrites began, but Gordon, (probably fearful of such a success at a young age) walked out during one of those meetings, angerly tossing the script onto the directors desk.  

 

For four decades, as a "meat and potatoes writer" (as he called himself) Gordon would answer the question,"What is the best thing you ever wrote?" with the sullen response, "The Liquid Sphere." For, he had lost track of Mark Gottlieb.

 

Two years ago, Mark Gottlieb found his old friend Gordon Richiusa on Facebook and told Gordon that he had kept ALL of the handwritten music sheets, lyrics, dialogue, and notes from the musical director! Remember, in those days there were no computers. Everything was STILL ON SHEETS OF PAPER!

 

Both men feel as if they'd been given a second chance at completing their most "significant, creative and beautiful" work, but realize that four decades has also made the completion of this play, even more important. Please, listen to some of the music. Read the synopsis and outline, and then help them cross the finish line that all young people begin when they search for their own meaning and cross, usually when they are too old to enjoy the outcome. The play, in a way, represents ALL people's search for meaning in their lives. 

 

"For my part, I could not have written this story today and I was not able to fully appreciate this play 40 years ago. What we now have, has both the innocence and boldness of youth and the fine-tuned craftmanship of decades of writing and life experience. One big difference now is that we both appreciate the female characters much more than we did originally. I can honestly say, as I have been quipping for four decades, The Liquid Sphere is the best thing I have ever written. Then, two years ago, my father, a Pearl Harbor Survivor, died. Four days prior to his death he came to me and made me promise, among other things, that I would get this play produced. After creating Heroes' Hearts, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, we're now ready to fulfill this part of my father's directions."  --Gordon Richiusa

 

"What I’ve discovered about our work is that after 40 years the magic of our youth is still evident.  When Gordon and I began this project it was purely for the love of the subject. For us it was always about the ocean, exploring and the moments that brought us in touch with the life in the sea. The only logical next step was to imagine what that life thought of us. How would a dolphin explain us?  The Liquid Sphere was our attempt in that imagining. As we work on it now every emotion from that period is reawakened. Our childlike enthusiasm is just as alive now as it was when we originally began. What’s wonderful about this now is how that spirit is transferred to those who’ve shared the story and the music with us. They are taken to that place as well."--Mark Gottlieb