part of a play

A Music Lesson

By

William C. Wheeler

CHARACTERS

JACK A man in his mid-forties with longish hair, a touch of gray and thin wire frame spectacles that slide off his nose.

CHRIS A young woman, high school or college age: She is pretty and talented and apparently quite street smart.

The Music room

The room has three windows showing tree-tops and a second story across the street. By the window, a narrow table holds an old manual typewriter. There are two chairs near Center Stage,with music stand, a table off to ONE side, littered with papers and an unobtrusive piano. A print by a known modern artist hangs on the wall.


SCENE 1
(Jack stands Back stage a the cluttered table with a metronome ticking while Chris playsa simple Bach tune on the Viol.)
Chris

(Stops suddenly on a dissonant chord)

Jack

(Stage dir)
What?

Chris
I'm sick of this.

Jack

(Stopping the metronome)
You're doing fine.

Chris

(Propping the Viol on her knee)
I feel like nothing's happening.
(She looks at the clock an then her watch)
Maybe I should Catch the next bus.

Jack
(Giving the metronome a wind.)
If you want to cut it short, I understand.But I can't really give you a decent critique unless you play the piece through.


Chris
Music should be fun: Right? You said that.

Jack
Umm, well
Chris
Yeah, you did.
Jack
I think I said that Music...
Chris

(finishing for him)
...Should be enjoyed.
(she tucks the instrument under her chin and rudely saws the motif from "Purple Haze")

Jack

(Interrupting)
By both the...
Chris

(Pausing her music and joining to finish his sentence)
...the listeners...
Jack and chris

(Together)
...And the audience.



Jack

(buttons down the old metronome and grabs a hefty sheaf of paper,)
What do you want to play?