The Life
a musical in 2 acts: Music by Cy Coleman: Lyrics by Ira Gasman: Book by David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman: Based on an original idea by Ira Gasman
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York - April 26, 1997 (465 perfs)
Synopsis
The Life depicts the pulsating life on the Times Square streets in the 1980s-where everything had a price, especially sex -the garish topless bars, the transvestite joints, the hookers who worked the sidewalks at the bidding of their pimps.Story
Jojo, an opportunistic, conniving, white hustler in the thick of the action, has a bare-knuckled plan for feeding his ambition. But among these unsavory characters there are appealing people who have been caught in the web of these sordid surroundings. Sonja, a veteran hooker who has seen better days, befriends Queen who is on the street because her man, Fleetwood, a displaced Vietnam veteran, needs her support. She has saved her money and on this day plans to get away with Fleetwood and leave the life for good.
Returning to her hotel room, Queen discovers that Fleetwood has spent half of her savings to pay off his drug debts and feed his habit .
Fleetwood has an unrealistic dream of attaining power, money anda piece of the action. Jojo tells him he'll never amount to anything as a pimp as long as he's romantically involved with the woman he's selling. Jojo takes him to the Port Authority where they find Mary, just off the bus from Minnesota, a girl with the mien of an angel but, as we eventually find out, she's no angel. Jojo grabs at her suitcase so that Fleetwood can rescue it and become her hero.
The demi-monde hangs out at a bar owned by Lacy, who has seen it all but has a certain affection for his clientele. In the company of her sister whores, Sonja bemoans the wear and tear of her life . When Fleetwoocl and Mary arrive, Memphis, the "biggest businessman on the block" comments on the professionalism of his trade and soon zeroes in on the newcomer .
Reluctantly, Queen takes Mary to the room she shares with Fleetwood and tries to persuade her to go back home. Later, as prostitutes eye potential customers, a gospel group parades by. The girls defiantly stand up for themselves, while the pimps complain about the harassment of the cops.
Jojo cajoles Mary into taking a turn as a go-go dancer. A smashing success, she celebrates her good fortune in Easy Money with Fleetwood and Jojo, who has her in mind for his "mentor" Lou, a gaudy Los Angeles producer of "motion pictures" of the triple X genre, who's looking for fresh corn-fed talent.
Once again in jail, Queen reflects on her attachment to Fleetwood; while, enticed by Mary, Jojo and Fleetwood spend the night with her in a threesome. As Fleetwood turns his attentions toward Mary, Memphis makes his move to put "Queen in his deck." Queen discovers what's been going on between Fleetwood and Mary and decides she's finally had enough. As everyone parties at The Hookers' Ball, Lou makes off with Mary, while Queen, shunning Fleetwood, attaches herself to Memphis.
Over a game of Three-Card Monte, Jojo and the pimps discuss their "silent partner". In Memphis's spacious apartment, Queen thanks him for getting her out of jail and for the beautiful dress he gave her to wear to the Hookers' Ball; but Memphis makes it very clear that the dress was a $6,000 loan that she must repay with her earnings. He warns Queen that she better not leave town "cause you'll be coming back real soon for a funeral - Fleetwood's; followed shortly by your own."
Queen tells Sonja that she must find Fleetwood and warn him about Memphis's threat. She asks Jojo to tell Fleetwood to meet her the next morning at Lacy's. Meanwhile Mary, with Lou, toasts her acceptance of his offer of a movie career.
The next morning Jojo doublecrosses Queen and comes to Lacy's With Memphis, who brutally flogs the terrified woman. When Fleetwood arrives, Queen reminds him of what they once had together. When Fleetwood returns to his hotel, he finds Mary leaving for Los Angeles.
Near the Lincoln Tunnel, Memphis's henchman, Snickers, pushes Queen to get "plenty of action tonight. Memphis is depending on it." She, Sonja and other girls share their hopes for the future.
Later, near the Hudson River in a spot once special to Queen and Fleetwood,
Sonja hands Queen a bus ticket and a suitcase in a desperate attempt to
get her away from Memphis. Fleetwood unexpectedly appears and tries to
talk Queen into making a new start, but Queen bitterly rejects him. Jojo
guides Memphis onto the scene. Fleetwood pulls a gun on Memphis, but Jojo
knocks the gun loose as Memphis mortally stabs Fleetwood; Queen seizes
the fallen gun and shoots Memphis. Sonja decides to take the rap for killing
Memphis, claiming self defense; she and Queen say good-bye, then Queen
departs for the bus, which will carry her to freedom, as Sonja surrenders
to the police.
- A.E. Hotchner
Musical Numbers
Act One
- Check It Out! - The Company
- Use What You Got - Jojo and The Company
- A Lovely Day to Be out of Jail Queen, Sonja
- Oh Daddy Queen, - Fleetwood
- A Piece of the Action - Fleetwood
- The Oldest Profession - Sonja
- Don't Take Much - Memphis
- Hey, Daddy - Go Home - Fleetwood, Queen, Mary
- You Can't Get to Heaven Queen, Sonja, Street Evangelists
- My Body - Frenchie, Chichi, Tracey, Carmen, Sonja, Queen, April
- Why Don't They Leave Us Alone - Oddjob, Bobby, Silky, Slick, Snickers, Jojo, April, Carmen,Chichi, Frenchie, Queen, Sonja, Tracy
- Easy Money - Mary, Jojo, Fleetwood
- He's No Good - Queen
- I'm Leaving You - Queen
- The Hookers' Ball - Lacy and The Company
Act Two
- Step Right Up - Silky,Slick, Oddjob, Bobby
- Mr. Greed - Jojo, Bobby, Enrique, Oddjob, Slick
- My Way or the Highway Memphis, Queen
- People Magazine - Lou, Mary
- We Had a Dream - Queen
- "Someday" is for Suckers - Sonja, Frenchie, April, Shatellia, Carmen, Tracy, Chichi
- My Friend - Queen, Sonja
- We Gotta Go Fleetwood, Queen
Place: 42nd Street • Time: Then