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SONGS & SCENES

SCENE 2C

SPLIT STAGE LEFT – EMMA’S BEDROOM

Following the song, they hear on the radio that NICK has beaten the LEGEND!

Elated and excited they celebrate and sing short reprise of ‘Little Red Dress’


‘LITTLE RED DRESS’

(SHORT REPRISE)  

END ACT II

SCENE 4C

The intro to ‘Play The Game’ starts immediately following ‘Victory Is Sweet’.

Each cast member, in appropriate groups, take curtain calls during this extended intro!

Following he curtain calls, the winner is presented with a large ornate Trophy!

The first verse of ‘Play the Game’ begins!


‘PLAY THE GAME’

SCENE 4B


Whoever wins sings the penultimate song…

‘VICTORY IS SWEET’

SCENE 4A

CENTRE COURT FINALS DAY


THE FINALE

Opens at the start of the match-deciding tiebreak in the final set,

to a reprised instrumental version of TIE BREAKER.

The players on stage are about to play a real, live tiebreak

(average length about 10 min).

The cast is prepared, rehearsed and ready for one of two possible endings …

Either Nick wins, or Ben wins!

A TV or Radio commentator is heard, above the music,

announcing that the match has reached the Tie Breaker in the final set …


COMMENTATOR

“... Well ladies and gentlemen … who’d have predicted such a closely contested match?

It’s been a gladiator battle out there … both players giving their all ...

...and more it would seem!

The fifth and final set!

2 sets all… 6 games all!

It’s their last chance… their last play… their last gasp…

And it’s gonna be decided by the mother of all deciders…

THE TIE BREAKER ...”


VOCAL GROUP 1

TIEBREAKER, TIEBREAKER, TOO CLOSE TO CALL

TIEBREAKER, TIEBREAKER, COUNT EVERY BALL

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL COME OUT ON TOP

WHICH PLAYER WILL WIN, AND WHICH PLAYER WILL FLOP


WE’VE COME TO THE END OF THE FIFTH AND LAST SET,

WILL THIS FINAL MATCH BE THEIR FINAL REGRET,

IT’S NOW A TIE BREAKER, IT’S SIX GAMES ALL,

THEIR FINAL MATCH POINT - THEIR FINAL MATCH BALL?


They play the Tie Breaker.

‘Tie breaker’ sung intermittently between points.

SCENE 3C

CLUBHOUSE

SMYTHE & BEN enter, discussing BEN’s forthcoming tournament final against NICK.

“...Now remember BEN, do whatever it takes … cheat him and beat him!...”

BEN now sees his FATHER for what he really is!

HE stands up to HIM and challenges his FATHER’S unscrupulousness!

DANNY & NICK enter.

DANNY & NICK; BEN & SMYTHE sing...


‘INTO THE ZONE’ 

SCENE 3B

CLUBHOUSE

A romantic scene in which DANNY tells MOLLY that he has always loved her.

HE wants to marry and take care of HER.

HE also wants to become NICK’S full time coach and manager on the Pro circuit.

MOLLY finally admits to DANNY that NICK is his son!

DANNY and MOLLY sing the romantic duet -


‘I’LL LOVE YOU ONCE AGAIN’

SCENE 3A

CLUBHOUSE

Scene portraying EMMA and NICK getting back together again, and their new found maturity!

Also portrays Ben’s improved attitude & character, and his growing rebellion towards his FATHER and his FATHER’S underhandedness. 

Also establishes BEN’S new friendship WITH and admiration for NICK!

Having always secretly fancied each other, BEN and LAURA get together! 

The FOUR FRIENDS sing...


‘FORGIVE AND FORGET’

SCENE 2D

SPLIT STAGE RIGHT - CHANGING ROOMS AFTER MATCH

NICK experiences his first taste of fame when he is mobbed by ‘Tennis Groupies’ on his way

back to the changing rooms with his opponent, in whom no one seems interested.

The atmosphere is eased by the arrival of DANNY, come to congratulate his protégé.

Sensing the awkwardness, he becomes nervous and makes an excuse to leave.

He tries 3 different doors… all locked!  He panics, thinking they’ve been locked in together,

only to realize he was trying the locker doors. He then attempts to make an exit… but into

the broom cupboard where he waits for 10 seconds, comes back out with a broom, sweeps up

a little, muttering words to the effect … ``I have to do everything around here´´!

The LEGEND eventually congratulates NICK!

THEY talk about the prospect of fame, fortune & sponsorships, etc!

The LEGEND warns NICK about ‘Hangers On’ and unscrupulous SPORTS AGENTS! He sings...


‘SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE‘   

SCENE 2B

SPLIT STAGE LEFT – EMMA’S BEDROOM

EMMA and LAURA are discussing EMMA and NICKS’ precarious relationship.

EMMA still loves NICK and desperately wants him back!

SHE feels guilty because she didn’t go to support NICK in the most important match of his life.

They are listening to the radio, waiting to hear the result on the local news.

EMMA pretends that she isn’t particularly interested, although secretly, she is! 

EMMA & LAURA sing...


‘STANDING IN THE WINGS‘  

SCENE 2

SPLIT STAGE RIGHT – CHANGING ROOMS  / SPLIT STAGE LEFT – EMMA’S BEDROOM


SCENE 2A

SPLIT STAGE RIGHT - CHANGING ROOMS BEFORE MATCH

NICK has drawn one of the Fab 4, (???), in the first round of the tournament!

In the Locker room, the 16 year old newcomer,

and the vastly experienced veteran prepare themselves nervously with their coaches.

NICK is hungry, ambitious and confidant, although he was a wild card entry. 

The tennis legend is apprehensive, nervous, and reflecting on his career.

The two players are about to face each other on centre court! 

They express their inner feelings in the duet...


‘SHOWDOWN TIME’

BEFORE RISE - FULL ENSEMBLE

‘TIE-BREAKER’

REPRISE

SCENE 1

MAJOR GRAND SLAM TOURNAMENT – PRACTICE COURTS


AT RISE we join the 4 legends - McENROE, BORG, CONNORS & NASTASE on the practice courts

at the start of a major Grand Slam Tournament.

NICK has been accepted into the tournament as a wild card.

HE looks on in awe as the four legends practice and demonstrate not only their shots

and expertise, but also their own idiosyncrasies and catch phrases.

These ‘catch-phrases’ evolve into a comedy song as they attempt to convince

each other that their methods and techniques are the best -


(NB: When tennis coaches reach the intermediate stage of their coaching education,

they concentrate more on the physical, mental, technical and tactical requirements of tennis.

These are known as the ‘The 4 Performance Factors’!)

(This scene will provide an opportunity to display trick shots, etc!)


‘PERFORMANCE FACTOR FOUR’

ACT II

END ACT I

SCENE 5D

CENTRE COURT FINALS DAY

The inevitable ‘Rain Stops Play’ scenario occurs!

A comic scene and song sung by ???…


‘RAIN STOPS PLAY’

SCENE 5C

EMMA and LAURA enter.

EMMA looks stunning in her new red dress!

Head’s turn towards EMMA, coy and shy.

LAURA brazenly laps up the attention!

After some dialogue, the Cast freezes except for EMMA, MOLLY, LAURA & FRANGELICA.

They sing about their relationships with their MEN...

‘AFTER ALL THIS TIME’


SEGUE


‘I'M GONNA FINISH YOU’

DANNY & SMYTHE sing about their mutual dislike, distrust and lack of respect towards each other.


SEGUE


‘AFTER ALL THIS TIME’

(FULL CAST REPRISE)


Scene 5B

DANNY reminisces and sings about his former glory days…

‘NEXT NEW KID IN TOWN’

Scene 5A

CLUBHOUSE BAR - Club Dance

(FULL CAST)

At The Club Dance, the open hostilities between BEN and NICK are still apparent.

FRANGELICA is tipsy, and blatantly flirting with DANNY, much to her husband’s annoyance.                   

DANNY is embarrassed by HER advances, but enjoying the fact that it frustrates SMYTHE...


?‘FRANGELICA’S SONG’?

SCENE 4

HIGH STREET SHOP

EMMA and LAURA are out and about in town discussing

EMMA’S and NICK’S ‘up and down’ relationship.

Emma is heartbroken at the prospect of losing NICK!

They enter a trendy boutique looking for a new sexy red dress for EMMA to wear at the

Tennis Club Dance on Saturday, in her attempt to win NICK back. Both sing…


‘LITTLE RED DRESS’

SCENE 3B

MOLLY and DANNY advise NICK that he needs to improve his temperament on court,

and his general attitude to life.

He must also consider his academic achievements this year!

...and there is his relationship with Emma to consider too…

...Something or someone has to go!?


Alone, NICK searches his heart, as he ponderss his options.

Towards end of Song, NICK calls EMMA to tell her that he wants a break from their relationship!


?NICK’S SOUL SEARCHING SONG?

SCENE 1B

As the opening song ends, the pre-recorded sound of a group coaching session fades in.

DANNY, the Coach, is conducting what appears to be a disorganized training session with

a group of juniors and parents. He moves from one player to another,

correcting them according to the FIVE FUNDAMENTALS:-

(Watch The Ball; Grip; Control of Racquet Head; Footwork; Balance)


Their movements evolve into a disciplined choreographed line dance;

DANNY’S keywords and instructions evolve into lyrics and melody...


`FUNDAMENTAL FIVE JIVE’

(Funky 5 Jive)´

SCENE 3A

NICK’S HOUSE

DANNY & MOLLY discuss NICK’S on court behaviour, and BEN & SMYTHE’S exploits.

MOLLY is aware of DANNY & SMYTHE’S volatile rivalry, and the fact that SMYTHE has

never forgiven DANNY for winning HER heart, over HIM, all those years ago.

(SMYTHE relishes the fact that he is now DANNY’S employer at the Tennis Club).

DANNY & MOLLY reflectively remember their youth as a couple, and as teenage tennis players...


‘GOLDEN SUMMER DAYS’

SCENE 2

County Junior Championships - On Court

NICK plays BEN in the first round.

BEN has top designer racquets and kit...

NICK uses his old wooden racquet and wears old school sports kit.

NICK is honest and fair... BEN is a blatant cheat!

DANNY, MOLLY, EMMA and LAURA support NICK from stage right...

SMYTHE & FRANGELICA (Ben’s Parents) provoke Nick from stage left -


NICK threatens BEN for his cheating. The two scuffle on court.

SMYTHE interferes.

NICK loses heart and the match slips away.

He refuses to shake BEN’S hand after the match.

DANNY attempts to pacify NICK

DANNY & SMYTHE bicker...


‘CHEAT TO WIN, DON’T CHEAT TO WIN’ 

SCENE 1C

All exit except DANNY & NICK.

DANNY brings NICK Down Centre Stage.

They discuss his forthcoming match against HIS rival - BEN.


Other Principle Characters enter intermittently.

Club members start to arrive wearing outrageously old-fashioned (1970s) tennis gear...

hair styles to match! Some stretch and warm up pretentiously,

while others practice their unorthodox, weird and wonderful techniques!


BEN’s parents, renowned snobs, MR & MRS SMYTHE enter.

SMYTHE, chastises NICK & EMMA for being on-court on seniors’ night!

NICK cheekily challenges SMYTHE to a match, but SMYTHE declines, blaming HIS ‘bad back’,

MRS SMYTHE (FRANGELICA) relentlessly teases and mocks her husband, calling him chicken, etc!

Emma sings from the umpire’s chair...


‘ALL DOWN THE LINE’

ACT I


SCENE 1A

Local Tennis Club - On Court

Full Ensemble Cast

Opening Production Song


‘TIE BREAKER’

  For an appropriate amount of time, before Rise/Overture, the pre-recorded gentle

   sound of a tennis match is piped throughout the theatre/venue bars, foyer, etc,

including polite applause, Umpire calling score, etc.