Woman

Act I

The play is set in 1925 in the Harlem area of New York during the Prohibition Era. Speakeasies have sprouted all over the city in recent years. Men in fancy coats and women in colourful and stylish flappers, from all walks of life, fill these blind pigs and dance to Jazz all night long. It is an era of new thought and of the New Woman.

The opening scene of the play is located in Connie's Inn, a famous speakeasy of the Prohibition Era which was open to people of all colour unlike other places like Cotton Club, its main competitor. It's a busy night, people are drowning in Jazz and bootlegged booze. Caleb Dawson, the African American bartender is serving drinks to people at the bar. He's a kind old fellow whose humongous body is almost as big as his heart. Joseph Thompson, a handsome young fellow and his band of African Americans are playing Red Hot Jazz. John Smith, a thin and simple looking accountant with specs is staring at his glass of whiskey in a corner. Throughout the play, he is always pushing his specs up his nose. There is no focus of lights on him until he is mentioned in the play. He does not have an outstanding presence.

Vivian and Oliver Wood enter Connie's Inn in a blaze of glory. Both of them are extremely attractive and very well dressed in expensive materials. They are regulars here and everyone seems to know them. Oliver sees a friend and goes over to him to meet him and Vivian slithers towards the bar.

Vivian-Hellooo there Caleb. How are you?

(smilingly she purposefully and playfully drawls out her words. She is extremely fond of him)

Caleb-As good as any black man in Harlem.

Vivian-Well you are a darb you know, have a belt of brown from my side, would you? Put it on my tab.

Caleb-if I'm a darb then you're a grumpy old lady.

Vivian-Mrs. Grundy! NEVER!

(in a playful manner)

Caleb-You sure are swell. Anyway, I've been meaning to tell you something for days now. I thought you'll notice the poor lad in the corner sooner or later but you haven't even looked at him once. The lad's all goofy with ya.

(looking in John's direction)

Vivian-Another goof you say, well, let's see how quickly I can give him the heebie-geebies.

(winks at Caleb and starts to move towards John with a glass of whiskey in her hand, Caleb knowingly shakes his head and gets back to his work)

(as John notices Vivian moving towards him, his face gets scarlet and it looks like he is choking on his drink)

Vivian-You sure are a cake eater.

(laughs and sit down on the empty chair next to him)

John-Pardon me?

Vivian-No need to beat our gums. So, what do you like better? My bubs or my gams?

(in a plain tone)

Apparently, you've been staring at me for days now.

John-I-I'm sorry if I've offended you. I just wanted to-

Vivian-Vamp the vamp? Make out with the bearcat? Gain boasting rights to your friends?

(getting fired up)

John-Once again, I am extremely sorry if my behaviour has offended you in any manner, I have no intention of doing you any wrong.

(he speaks this in a very fumbly manner, while continuously lifting up his specks from his nose)