THE LOVE GAME
by Shirley Friedman

A Musical in Three Acts

With thirteen main characters and thirteen musical numbers, this show seems set for flopdom, but unlucky thirteen aside, it takes one back to the 1960's, and Hillbrow, South Africa, as it was then, bustling with coffee bars, folk singers, hippie-types, and life.

Opening with the catchy "Men I Meet on My Phone" (see my Songs Page), it sets the scene for life in what used to be the hippiest, hep-est suburb in Johannesburg......Hillbrow, and introduces the main character, Julie.....a disillusioned divorcee of 29, and her cookie friend (which denoted 'with it' in the 60's), Toni, who was only 19, and an unwilling virgin. Before you know it, they're off to The Red Light, a typical coffee bar of the time, with a musical number that firmly sets the scene. There other characters are introduced, like Robbie, the owner, and Duggie, the folk singer, nevermind the strange Eddie who carries the stench of dagga/pot/hemp/marijuana with him. Despite the excitement and fun, what comes across in this Act is just how lonely life in bustling Hillbrow could be.

At The Red Light Julie also meets Joan, a friend of Toni's, who has (in Joan's words) been kicked out of her home into the exciting world of hippies, drugs, booze and sex. Concerned for the young girl, Julie takes her into her home for a while, and through her, meets Joe, seemingly mature, understanding and sympathetic, and falls head over heels in love with him. This introduces romantic numbers, like "Joe", "As Foolish As Me" , "Everybody Seems To Be in Love", and "Hold Me". However, it also eventually introduces Julie to the seamy side of Joe's life - Mrs. Cooper, Joe's mother, and her tipsy boyfriend, Georgie, and uncovers a situation about Joe which Julie finds hard to accept.

Comes New Year's Eve, and a party at Julie's flat, and Joe seems to be slipping somewhat into the grimier side of his life....drinking too much, and behaving altogether in an unacceptable way. The party makes its way to The Red Light to see the New Year in, and Joe suddenly becomes even more out of control. Julie cannot understand what is happening, and after a rather mysterious comment from Joe, waits all night in agony at her flat for him to come to her. This introduces a unique musical number "Forget This Love" for three or four voices, all sung by Julie.

Toni and Joan are now concerned at the way Joe is treating their friend Julie, and try to persuade her that he isn't worth her love and concern. But when she hears that he was involved in an accident, she hurries to his side, ready to forgive and forget. How this situation is resolved is the climax of this frothy, bubbly, yet sometimes thought-provoking musical play.

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For the manuscript and music, you can contact me at : shikey1@aol.com