Three Women and a Piano Tuner

Helen Cooper

• Publisher: Nick Hern Books
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9781854598141
• eBook ISBN:
  9781780016108
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

An offbeat, lyrical drama about how our hopes and dreams can be thwarted by the choices we make - and by the ones we don't make.

Ella's got a project. After ten years she has completed her piano concerto, and now she needs the help of Liz and Beth to get it performed. But first they've got some history to negotiate, and some old scores to settle.

Helen Cooper's play Three Women and a Piano Tuner was first staged at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester, in 2004, transferring to Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2005.

ACT TWO

Lights fade up.

We hear an orchestra playing part of the second movement of ELLA’s piano concerto, as the space is being transformed into a rehearsal studio with a piano, chairs and music stands.

During this transformation, LIZ is changing into a fabulous dress. When it is time for her solo, LIZ sits down behind the piano and plays with great passion.

ELLA enters and sits down on one of the wooden chairs. She listens to LIZ with concentration.

After a while, BETH comes in wearing a summer suit. She tiptoes across the room so as not to disturb the concentration, which she, of course, does.

BETH signs to ELLA that she has the leaflets. ELLA shuts her up with a glance.

BETH finds a chair and sits down. She rummages through her bag.

ELLA gives her another furious glance.

BETH stops rummaging and sits now quite still, pretending to listen to LIZ’s playing but her mind is obviously on the leaflets she can’t find.

ELLA is totally focused on LIZ.

LIZ plays magnificently.

When LIZ comes to the end of the second movement, there is a complete silence for a while, then BETH starts to clap.

BETH

Brilliant! That’s brilliant!

ELLA gives her another furious look, which shuts her up.

BETH returns to rummaging through her bag.

ELLA walks over to LIZ.

ELLA

(hesitant)

Yeah . . . that’s . . . yeah . . .

ELLA looks at the score and turns to a particular page and studies it.

LIZ

You don’t like it.

ELLA

No, no, I do. It’s just that . . .

BETH

I think it’s brilliant.

ELLA looks at BETH.

ELLA

Beth . . . please . . .

BETH goes back to her rummaging.

ELLA turns back to the score.

ELLA

Here . . . the way you . . .

LIZ

Yeah, I know, but the top E flat – listen . . . (she plays it)

Where’s Harold?

BETH

He’ll be here soon.

ELLA and LIZ look at BETH. Then ELLA turns back to the score.

ELLA

It’s the tempo.

BETH

I like the tempo.

ELLA desperately tries to ignore BETH.

LIZ

She likes the tempo.

ELLA

(studying the score)

And here . . . the shading . . . Remember: flapping, soaring, flapping, soaring with neck outstretched and legs trailing. This here . . . should be . . . delicate, so . . . think of . . . the nuances of a sigh . . . and here . . . the phrasing . . . you seem to shout. No-one likes to be shouted at. Why don’t you speak? Or better still, whisper . . .

Pause.

LIZ

This is my interpretation.

ELLA

It’s not what I have written.

Pause.

BETH

I’ve found them.

Neither of the other two react.

BETH

The leaflets, look, I’ve found them.

ELLA

Not now, Beth please, not now.

BETH sits there quietly.

BETH

Now you’re dreaming, Beth, now you’re dreaming.

Pause.

LIZ

(to BETH)

She doesn’t like the way I play it.

All three sit in silence for a while. Quite separate.

BETH

I was studying the score yesterday and I was amazed. It all came flooding back. Don’t forget that before we were eighteen we had already practised more than 15,000 hours. Last night I counted them. Two hours a day between the age of six and twelve, and five hours a day between twelve and eighteen.

ELLA and LIZ look at her.

BETH

15,000 hours before eighteen.

They all think about that for a moment.

BETH

(to LIZ)

You must have done over 50,000 hours by now . . . at least.

They all think about that.

BETH

(to LIZ)

You’ve won.

LIZ

Won what?

BETH

The crown.

LIZ

Have I?

BETH

You’re wearing it!

LIZ radiates as she is wearing her imaginary crown.

BETH

It suits you.

BETH and ELLA look at LIZ.

LIZ

(to ELLA)

Bitter, are you?

ELLA doesn’t speak.

BETH

William always says: ‘Every choice has its future.’

ELLA

William sa...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Dedication
• Original Production
• Characters
• Act One
• Act Two
• About the Author
• Copyright and Performing Rights Information