The Velvet Underground is a gritty real life drama laced with comedic undertones set in an upper market brothel.
The story begins as each girl arrives for the night. Boots, the Texan good girl gone wrong is late once again.... Sugar, the mother of the group is none too pleased. Rules are rules, and Boots knows this one all too well.
After the opening number all the girls head for Sid, who is at the front desk finishing up with the bookings for the night to come. As the girls all see what's what for the evening, Mary, the owner greets them all with a beaming smile.
The phone rings, she disappears back into her office.
The girls all go about their business, grabbing keys and heading for rooms. Chantelle tries to butter up Sid to send any stray business in her direction, but he's having none of that and sends her on her way.
As Asia passes the office, Mary calls her in.... All is not well.
A week prior to this call, Mary decided to take on Asia and release her from her binding contract from The Far East Brothel.
Asia's life there was not an easy one, and far from what we would call normal. Her path was set early in life by the mistakes of her parents. Mistakes that would set her mind on one thing, and one thing only.... Revenge. Revenge for her previous employer, or imprisioner. Revenge for the person who inevitably made her parents take their lives out of shame.
This was Asia's secret, and one she hoped to keep.... But truth has a way of seeping out.
Mary now has to face the ramifications of Asia's actions, but has no idea of the ultimatum Johnny, The Far East Brothel's owner is about to lay on her...... A dilemma lay ahead. One that will plunge The Velvet Underground into all sorts of turmoil...... Choices will have to be made.
Wrapped around this plot is a myriad of subplots which twist and turn, forming the complexities of life.
Angel, is left dealing with her drug infested, separated husband. A good man at heart, but blurred from all the narcotics of so many years.... There are only two thing that is important in their situation. Their children, and not letting them repeat their mistakes.
Sugar, is left to deal with her own immortality as she realizes that the years are getting thin for her in this once flourishing business. She loves what she does with all her heart though, and choosing something other than this will be devastating.... Sometimes situations are solved though without you even realizing.
Boots, struggles with her growing alchohol problem and destruction of yet another relationship. This though is an ongoing symbolization of what she did to her parents, but mainly her farther. She really wants to be loved, but just won't allow it.... Forgiveness is all she needs though. Not from her father, for that was always there.... Forgiveness from herself, for herself.
Chantelle?.... Well, she's just Chantelle, which is enough for most men that interact with her. She is the goddess of The Velvet Underground, but this sometimes comes at a price. Herman finds this out as he falls into infatuation and seeks more. Chantelle is now left to deal with this rather tricky situation. Never a good thing though when you are dealing with a good man like Herman.
And then there is Sid, who normally is in control of everything and has the lowdown on all the inside info.... Accept this time. Mary is keeping her current situation very close to her chest as she knows how volatile Sid can be, and also knows that Johnny is no two bit thug who can be easily dealt with.
In the end though, it's all part of life at The Velvet Underground..... Something Mary would like a little less of though, I assure you.
The oldest worker at TVU. She has been there since the beginning, and is very well respected amongst the girls. She is in her fifties, but has had serious work done. There is not much which hasn't been enhanced. She is clued into everything and can spot a problem coming a mile away. She works by the rules, and loves to make sure everyone else does as well. She is the co-worker, the friend, the mother figure, all rolled into one. Most of all, she loves what she does. Mary, TVU's owner trusts her implicitly.
She is in her mid twenties, and is sweet and too trusting in general. Although she does what she does, she has a real innocence about her. Her nature has been taken advantage of many times over, but it never seems to dull the light that comes from within. She has balls when it's needed though, especially where who two kids are involved. Angel use to be a drug addict, but has been clean for 6 years. She is married to Nick, but is separated.
She is in her mid to late twenties, and originally comes from The Far East Brothel. She has been at TVU for only a week, and bought her way out of TFEB with the help of Mary, TVU's owner. Asia was collateral for a loan her parents took out with TFEB's owner, Johnny, which they couldn't repay. Hence, Johnny owned her. Although she is sweet, there is a dark side to Asia, one that holds a secret, which could potentially effect everyone at TVU.
She is in her mid twenties, and is from Texas. Her nickname, Boots comes from her rarely ever taking her own cowgirl boots off. She is loud, but in a humorist way and loved by everyone. She does push Mary's buttons sometimes, especially when she is constantly chewing gum. She has a flirtatious manner which has ended many of her relationships, and also combined with the fact that she has a serious drinking problem. She does have a good heart though, and deep down wants to be better, but more than that, she just wants to be loved.
She is in her early twenties and is the glamour girl of TVU. She is amazon looking, beautifully proportioned, with cinnamon skin and hazel eyes, a combination that would make any plastic surgeon blush. For all her beauty though, she is rough and ready and can swear like a trooper. But when she walks into the showroom, she turns it on and sizzles with poise and grace. She would be the most intimidating of all the girls.... She is also gay.
She is in her late fifties and is TVU's owner. She is a very smart woman with an excellent mind for business. She loves TVU, and all the girls who work there. She will fight for the underdog, and has a big heart. She treats all her girls well, making sure they always have the best conditions. In her earlier years when she would frequent brothels, which lead her to become interested in owning one. She befriended Sugar at one of these establishments, who then guided her on what to do and where to buy.
He works the reception desk at TVU. He is in his mid to late fifties, and might come across as a little docile, but is ready to jump on anyone who crosses the wrong line at TVU. He treats all the girls like his own daughters and is always ready to lend his shoulder in times of need. He is Mary's right hand man and is trusted implicitly. He is the father figure.
He is in his thirties and is Angel's husband. For two years now they have been separated, mainly because Nick's drug habit escalated out of control, and began to effect their children. During his years of drug taking he has gained an erratic temper, which Angel has seen far too many times. There is a very gentle side to Nick though, one that longs to go back to the beginning. He loves Angel deeply, but everything has become blurred in his life from his habit.
He is in his thirties - nondescript. He is always sharply dressed in his business suit and meticulous in his appearance. He is most of the time quite a shy person, especially around Chantelle. He is by no means unattractive, but just lacks confidence, and although would relate to a film like, "Nerds," he would secretly dream of being Richard Gere, in "An Officer and a Gentlemen."
He is in his early fourties, of Asian decent and is the manager and co-owner of The Far East Brothel. He is his own man and gets exactly what he wants, and usually at any cost, but not his own. Although he may answer to people above him, the minions below far out number them. He is always slickly dressed in designer suits, which he carries off flawlessly. He is the 007 of the brothel world and is respected, feared, envied, but never underestimated... Except by fools and gunslingers, which he takes out with a grin.
He is in his fifties and is one of Sugar's regulars. He is a decent man, and their rapport has been built over many years.
He is in his thirties and is one of Angel's regulars. He is weedy, and a little bit shifty. He always tries to get more than he pays for.
Two street trade clients in their twenties. Could be Reggie and Joe. Dancers for scrim dance. Could be projected. Fire fighters behind scrim. Could be projected.
The Velvet Underground will be set with a contempary feel. Here are cut down versions of a few of the songs in their preliminary stages. All tracks are yet to have various female character voices set to them. Male vocal guides are on all tracks at the moment. As the project develops after the workshop period and readings, songs will be played live.
The Underground: Ensemble song. Think Fosse choreography.
Differently: Sung by Angel. Song is set after a fight with her drug affected husband. Sombre feel with a belting end.
Johnny: Sung by one of the girls. Sexy and sultry, set in Johnny's Jazz Club. Think smokey room with a swinging jazz section.
Herman: Sung by Chantelle. This one is all about Herman and his lack of confidence. Nice tap breakdown with ensemble end.
When We Were Kids: Sung by Nick and Angel. Common ground is reached. Projected images of their youth scroll around them.
Tall as a Redwood: Sung by Sid. Comes after being left out of the loop from Mary, which is not the norm for Sid.
