 The
Slow Drag
A jazz musical by Carson Kreitzer
Freedom Theatre, London 14 February, 1997. Transferred to the Whitehall
Theatre, London 5 November, 1997
SYNOPSIS
The Slow Drag is the unique story of Johnny Christmas, a
jazz musician, his wife June Wedding, a sultry and sexy torch singer
and their best friend Chester Kent, a singer, dancer and pianist.
Johnny harbours a dark secret. He had been born a woman and in order
to play the music he loves, Johnny has to pass himself off as a man.
This is a charade he keeps up for the duration of his life and shares
with no one but June, not even to his and June's three sons. It's a charade
that ultimately kills Johnny, who dies of a bleeding ulcer. Because of
JOhnny's deception, he is unable to seek medical attention.
When Johnny sees June singing one night, he knows that she is the woman
for him. He courts her, asks her to marry him, and finally reveals his
secret to her. Johnny desperately loves June, but June also serves to
deflect attention from Johnny's masquerade. June becomes pregnant from
men she picks up in bars and bears three sons for Johnny. However, Johnny's
deception has its limits and the pressure on himself and June finally
takes its toll, Johnny cracks, destroying himself and his marriage to
June.
Meanwhile, Chester, like Johnny, is also leading a double life. As a
half-caste, he has found that many doors are shut to him - no one wants
to be reminded that the white race is not quite so pure. If Chester denies
his heritage and passes himself off as a playboy with a deep tan, he
can play music in "White Only"
establishments. If not, he's out of work.
Inspired by the real-life story of jazz musician Billy Tiptonm who upon
his death in 1989 was discovered to have been a woman, unbeknownst to
his wives and three adopted sons. The Slow Drag is a fascinating
story of three individuals who lived and lied for their music. |
