One Night a Week
by Denis King, Richard Harris, Mary Stewart-David

Name: One Night a Week
Brand: Denis King
SKU: 9780573699078

One Night a Week Book Cover — One Night a Week Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

120 mins Interior Set

Synopsis

Following the success of his play Stepping Out , Richard Harris has combined the talents of lyricist Mary Stewart-David and composer Denis King to create a heart-warming, toe-tapping musical chronicling several months in the life of a beginners tap dancing class set in the gym of an old YMCA community center in Suburbia, USA.

Led by Tina, the ex-professional dancer who runs the class, accompanied by the acerbic pianist Mrs. Fraser, we follow the lives, loves and laughs of a group of women (and one man), each of whom comes from a different background and has his or her own reason for joining.

The students, who range from hopeless to competent, strive to master the basics of tap, but the steps and routines are just the background for the real focus of the play: the relationships and interactions of these ten very different people.

By their final performance, not only have the class members developed some degree of skill, but they have also overcome the inhibitions, awkwardness and personality conflicts that have kept them out of sync.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Mrs. Fraser In her late 50s, a square-shaped no-nonsense Midwesterner who prides herself on her pessimism. She wears a wool coat, knit hat and clumpy shoes, and can usually be seen gnawing on some kind of fresh fruit.	female	50s	In her late 50s, a square-shaped no-nonsense Midwesterner who prides herself on her pessimism. She wears a wool coat, knit hat and clumpy shoes, and can usually be seen gnawing on some kind of fresh fruit.
Shelley In her early 30s, short, blonde, and bubbly. Her bright and outrageous clothing accentuates her ample curves. She wears grubby old white sneakers and chews gum most of the time.	female	30s	In her early 30s, short, blonde, and bubbly. Her bright and outrageous clothing accentuates her ample curves. She wears grubby old white sneakers and chews gum most of the time.
Maxine A good-looking 40-something. She has dyed hair and good make-up. She wears a tight red leotard over a black turtleneck, long red legwarmers and old, soft tap shoes. There are big rocks on her fingers.	female	—	A good-looking 40-something. She has dyed hair and good make-up. She wears a tight red leotard over a black turtleneck, long red legwarmers and old, soft tap shoes. There are big rocks on her fingers.
Dorothy Small, anxious and bird-like, could be anywhere from 30 to 50. She wears black shiny tap shoes and a black leotard, and has an ace support bandage around one knee. There is a hint of white cotton underpants showing under the leotard.	female	30-50	Small, anxious and bird-like, could be anywhere from 30 to 50. She wears black shiny tap shoes and a black leotard, and has an ace support bandage around one knee. There is a hint of white cotton underpants showing under the leotard.
Lynne 19. She is eager to please, has a lovely face and is of large proportions. She never wears make-up and her skin glows healthily. She wears tights, a cardigan which matches her legwarmers, and scuffed tap shoes.	female	19	19. She is eager to please, has a lovely face and is of large proportions. She never wears make-up and her skin glows healthily. She wears tights, a cardigan which matches her legwarmers, and scuffed tap shoes.
Rose A large Black woman of Caribbean extraction, in her 40s, wearing an obvious wig, a bright pink dress over black tights and white tap shoes with mismatched shoelaces. She has large strings of beads around her neck and lots of rings on her fingers.	female	40s	A large Black woman of Caribbean extraction, in her 40s, wearing an obvious wig, a bright pink dress over black tights and white tap shoes with mismatched shoelaces. She has large strings of beads around her neck and lots of rings on her fingers.
Andy Tall, thin and in her mid-30s. She wears a long cardigan over a plain dress, and new tap shoes. She is inclined to stoop as if ashamed of her height.	female	30s	Tall, thin and in her mid-30s. She wears a long cardigan over a plain dress, and new tap shoes. She is inclined to stoop as if ashamed of her height.
Vivienne In her mid-30s, neat and proper and perfectly groomed. She wears an expensive belted trench coat and high heels, and carries a good leather bag. Her dyed red hair and make-up are immaculate. For all her primness, she dresses in a way that suggests the high-class tart.	female	30s	In her mid-30s, neat and proper and perfectly groomed. She wears an expensive belted trench coat and high heels, and carries a good leather bag. Her dyed red hair and make-up are immaculate. For all her primness, she dresses in a way that suggests the high-class tart.
Geoffrey Tall, in his mid-40s. He is the kind of man who doesn’t like being noticed, and most of the time isn’t. He wears cheap tap shoes.	male	40s	Tall, in his mid-40s. He is the kind of man who doesn’t like being noticed, and most of the time isn’t. He wears cheap tap shoes.
Tina An ex-pro dancer, attractive, in her late 30s. She wears a T-shirt, tights, leg warmers, old scuffed tap shoes and a man’s sweater tied around her shoulders.	female	30s	An ex-pro dancer, attractive, in her late 30s. She wears a T-shirt, tights, leg warmers, old scuffed tap shoes and a man’s sweater tied around her shoulders.