"Lipstick" is a comedy-musical-stage play set in the commercial-industrial area of Sydney known as Newtown. It is a direct product of Timothy Daly's Playwriting Courses - so blame him, not me.
Shopped around to various producers and theatre companies, the end result was earning its writer (me) a co-writing contract with New Theatre's cabaret show, "Lots More Funny Business" with head writer, Donna Abela, and co-writer, Gina Schien, and directed by Gill Falson. This was following the considerable success of New Theatre's "No Funny Business" the previous year. "Lots More Funny Business" was an even greater success than the previous year's so a second sequel the following year was produced, "Life is a Funny Business".
Back to "Lipstick"...
Shopped around to various producers and theatre companies, the end result was earning its writer (me) a co-writing contract with New Theatre's cabaret show, "Lots More Funny Business" with head writer, Donna Abela, and co-writer, Gina Schien, and directed by Gill Falson. This was following the considerable success of New Theatre's "No Funny Business" the previous year. "Lots More Funny Business" was an even greater success than the previous year's so a second sequel the following year was produced, "Life is a Funny Business".
Back to "Lipstick"...
Short Synopsis/Blurb
Some industrial betrayal, a ruptured romance, a one-sided love affair, a bit of adultery and a whacking great lot of homophobia are the ingredients that go to make Lipstick a musical comedy play.
Blend in a dollop of improbable disguises, add a touch of jealousy and retribution and the plot thickens as it is stirred by an androgynous petrol-head out to give an ambitious sleep-around babe what-for.
Set in Newtown, things just don’t go as planned when a sales manager and his personal assistant don’t get that promotion they’ve been so keen on. From there, they take the ultimate step to get even: treachery but end up themselves being betrayed.
Lipstick deals with truth in perception and one woman’s tormented struggle to accept her feelings when she discovers her perceptions have betrayed her.
Blend in a dollop of improbable disguises, add a touch of jealousy and retribution and the plot thickens as it is stirred by an androgynous petrol-head out to give an ambitious sleep-around babe what-for.
Set in Newtown, things just don’t go as planned when a sales manager and his personal assistant don’t get that promotion they’ve been so keen on. From there, they take the ultimate step to get even: treachery but end up themselves being betrayed.
Lipstick deals with truth in perception and one woman’s tormented struggle to accept her feelings when she discovers her perceptions have betrayed her.
Synopsis
Deidre Wallbreaker is a young woman with a consuming ambition to get to the top of her field by any means she can. She is the personal assistant to the national sales manager of a successful manufacturing company, Dawn and Lang. She has driven her boss, Gary Miller, before her in her quest to achieve her goals and, together, they are now about to sell out to the opposition, Dixon’s, as they finalise a lucrative international marketing deal. Deidre is also a very passionate woman and her loves and hates are displayed with equal fervour; her love of money, power, glory and men, especially good-looking young men with tattoos who ride Harley Davidsons and dress in black; her hatred of wimps, westies, slackers and dykes, especially dykes of any sort.
Nicky is the company’s young, good-looking courier who rides a Harley-Davidson, dresses in black and has tattoos. At night, Nicky is the lead singer and drummer in a rock and roll band, “Kisses”. Nicky is well liked by all the boys and girls at Dawn and Lang. Nicky is also a dyke.
This morning, Nicky overhears the two as they recap their scheme before the overseas principals, George and Henry, arrive and looks for Sue, the office manager. Meanwhile, in the main office, Adrienne, a very down-to-earth type, is about to break up with her boyfriend, the wayward but inoffensive David. Rebecca, an escapee from Double Bay suburbia, is hovering about trying to help. Rebecca has her own problems as she struggles with her sexuality and admitting this to herself and the one she most cares for, Nicky.
Deidre and Nicky have not met before but Nicky knows of Deidre’s reputation of man-eater and dyke-hater, as do all the girls. When they do meet, and much to everyone’s astonishment, Deidre does not realise Nicky is not a man. They decide to have some fun at Deidre’s expense at the same time exposing the double-cross she and Gary are about to pull.
A plan is concocted to expose everything in the controlled environment of Nicky’s night club, “Lipstick”, an exclusive, women’s venue in Newtown.
David, desperate for Adrienne’s forgiveness and knowing they will all be there that night, decides he, too, will go to “Lipstick” in his last attempt to reconcile with her, prepared to dress in drag to achieve it. However, he doesn’t realise that this particular night is drag night but the girls dress up as boys.
All is set and that night, Sue, Rebecca and Adrienne are all dressed to the hilt as men and, at “Lipstick”, all has been arranged to allow the real men into this exclusive space. Shazza, however, being the opportunistic bouncer, sees her chance to make a few quick dollars out of all this by way of bribery, coercion and blackmail.
Nicky does her best to keep Deidre believing that she is a man, unwittingly falling victim to Deidre’s charm much to Rebecca’s chagrin. Sue tries to keep everything running smoothly until Jim Lang’s arrival. David believes he is being pursued by a “poofter” not realising it is Adrienne trying to stop him from spoiling the plot. After much confusion, the pair’s covert plan is finally revealed.
Now, under Rebecca’s subtle insistence, Nicky must face Deidre with the truth about herself.
Nicky is the company’s young, good-looking courier who rides a Harley-Davidson, dresses in black and has tattoos. At night, Nicky is the lead singer and drummer in a rock and roll band, “Kisses”. Nicky is well liked by all the boys and girls at Dawn and Lang. Nicky is also a dyke.
This morning, Nicky overhears the two as they recap their scheme before the overseas principals, George and Henry, arrive and looks for Sue, the office manager. Meanwhile, in the main office, Adrienne, a very down-to-earth type, is about to break up with her boyfriend, the wayward but inoffensive David. Rebecca, an escapee from Double Bay suburbia, is hovering about trying to help. Rebecca has her own problems as she struggles with her sexuality and admitting this to herself and the one she most cares for, Nicky.
Deidre and Nicky have not met before but Nicky knows of Deidre’s reputation of man-eater and dyke-hater, as do all the girls. When they do meet, and much to everyone’s astonishment, Deidre does not realise Nicky is not a man. They decide to have some fun at Deidre’s expense at the same time exposing the double-cross she and Gary are about to pull.
A plan is concocted to expose everything in the controlled environment of Nicky’s night club, “Lipstick”, an exclusive, women’s venue in Newtown.
David, desperate for Adrienne’s forgiveness and knowing they will all be there that night, decides he, too, will go to “Lipstick” in his last attempt to reconcile with her, prepared to dress in drag to achieve it. However, he doesn’t realise that this particular night is drag night but the girls dress up as boys.
All is set and that night, Sue, Rebecca and Adrienne are all dressed to the hilt as men and, at “Lipstick”, all has been arranged to allow the real men into this exclusive space. Shazza, however, being the opportunistic bouncer, sees her chance to make a few quick dollars out of all this by way of bribery, coercion and blackmail.
Nicky does her best to keep Deidre believing that she is a man, unwittingly falling victim to Deidre’s charm much to Rebecca’s chagrin. Sue tries to keep everything running smoothly until Jim Lang’s arrival. David believes he is being pursued by a “poofter” not realising it is Adrienne trying to stop him from spoiling the plot. After much confusion, the pair’s covert plan is finally revealed.
Now, under Rebecca’s subtle insistence, Nicky must face Deidre with the truth about herself.
Scene Breakdown
Act I
Scene 1
Loudspeaker sets the scene and tone.
Gary, New South Wales sales manager for this manufacturing company, Dawn and Lang, and his personal assistant, Didi, enter discussing the impending promotion of one of two sales managers and the alternative plan if Gary does not get promoted. Didi discloses that she hates coming to Newtown and that she and Gary are having an affair. She also shows how ambitious she is.
Song: Didi’s Anthem.
Scene 2
David, a young sales representative for the company, is having an argument with his girlfriend, Adrienne, a clerk at the factory. They are fighting over David’s apparent lack of commitment but she can’t see that he is just a victim of his job. Rebecca, who moved from Vaucluse to Newtown only a few years ago to find herself, is playfully adding fuel to the argument fire.
Song: Men!
David leaves in a huff.
Scene 3
Nicky, the company’s inter-office courier, rides her black Harley-Davidson motor cycle on and, as she is examining the motor, is run into by David. She warns him that his boss, Gary is around so he quickly exits. She then drops behind her bike to fix its problem. Gary and Didi enter very upset that Gary missed out on the promotion and they now plot to sell the company’s secret manufacturing processes to the opposition, Dixon. It is also revealed that Gary is married and that Didi is homophobic, the reason she hates Newtown. They argue over this but continue with their subterfuge and exit. Nicky has heard all.
Scene 4
Nicky rushes into the office to look for Sue, the office manager who is showing Didi around. Rebecca has a crush on Nicky. Adrienne has decided that tonight they are all going to celebrate her liberation from David by going to Nicky’s club - a women’s only venue where Nicky is singer and drummer for the house rock and roll band, Kisses. When Didi and Sue enter, Didi does not realise Nicky is a woman but sees her as a very attractive sexy young man. Nicky sees this and, in order to get more information out of her and to “cure” her of her homophobia, invites Didi to lunch much to the surprise of all the office staff. Rebecca relates her story.
Song: Let’s be Friends
Scene 5
Late that afternoon, Nicky and Didi finally return. Didi is drunk having been slipped laced orange juice by Nicky. Didi is totally infatuated with Nicky much to Rebecca’s jealousy. After inadvertently confirming the scheme, Didi falls into a drunken sleep. The girls then concoct a plan to keep Gary, Didi and Dixon under scrutiny under their boss, Jim Lang can return from Melbourne late that evening. Nicky reveals that tonight is a special night at the club - Passing - where all the women are required to dress as men. David enters insisting that Adrienne spend the evening with him.
Song: Lipstick
Loudspeaker sets the scene and tone.
Gary, New South Wales sales manager for this manufacturing company, Dawn and Lang, and his personal assistant, Didi, enter discussing the impending promotion of one of two sales managers and the alternative plan if Gary does not get promoted. Didi discloses that she hates coming to Newtown and that she and Gary are having an affair. She also shows how ambitious she is.
Song: Didi’s Anthem.
Scene 2
David, a young sales representative for the company, is having an argument with his girlfriend, Adrienne, a clerk at the factory. They are fighting over David’s apparent lack of commitment but she can’t see that he is just a victim of his job. Rebecca, who moved from Vaucluse to Newtown only a few years ago to find herself, is playfully adding fuel to the argument fire.
Song: Men!
David leaves in a huff.
Scene 3
Nicky, the company’s inter-office courier, rides her black Harley-Davidson motor cycle on and, as she is examining the motor, is run into by David. She warns him that his boss, Gary is around so he quickly exits. She then drops behind her bike to fix its problem. Gary and Didi enter very upset that Gary missed out on the promotion and they now plot to sell the company’s secret manufacturing processes to the opposition, Dixon. It is also revealed that Gary is married and that Didi is homophobic, the reason she hates Newtown. They argue over this but continue with their subterfuge and exit. Nicky has heard all.
Scene 4
Nicky rushes into the office to look for Sue, the office manager who is showing Didi around. Rebecca has a crush on Nicky. Adrienne has decided that tonight they are all going to celebrate her liberation from David by going to Nicky’s club - a women’s only venue where Nicky is singer and drummer for the house rock and roll band, Kisses. When Didi and Sue enter, Didi does not realise Nicky is a woman but sees her as a very attractive sexy young man. Nicky sees this and, in order to get more information out of her and to “cure” her of her homophobia, invites Didi to lunch much to the surprise of all the office staff. Rebecca relates her story.
Song: Let’s be Friends
Scene 5
Late that afternoon, Nicky and Didi finally return. Didi is drunk having been slipped laced orange juice by Nicky. Didi is totally infatuated with Nicky much to Rebecca’s jealousy. After inadvertently confirming the scheme, Didi falls into a drunken sleep. The girls then concoct a plan to keep Gary, Didi and Dixon under scrutiny under their boss, Jim Lang can return from Melbourne late that evening. Nicky reveals that tonight is a special night at the club - Passing - where all the women are required to dress as men. David enters insisting that Adrienne spend the evening with him.
Song: Lipstick
End of Act I
Intermission
Act II
Intermission
Act II
Scene 1
Nicky and Rebecca enter and Rebecca almost tells Nicky how she feels about her but is interrupted with the entrance of Sue and Adrienne. They are all dressed in men’s outfits except for Adrienne who is outrageously dressed as a cowboy. They enter the club. David timidly enters. He is dressed as a very cheap woman. He is unsure about going in and exits again. Gary and Didi come on. They can’t believe Didi would book such a place to meet Dixon but Didi gives excuses but she doesn’t remember why she booked that place at all. Dixon comes on and he is very annoyed about being brought to such an area until he sees Didi. He sees an opportunity to bed her and she responds accordingly much to Gary’s annoyance. Didi and Dixon enter. David re-enters and bumps into Gary who doesn’t realise who David is but takes a fancy to him instead. This terrifies David. Together, they enter.
Scene 2
Here, inside Lipstick, is where Sue, Nicky, Adrienne and Rebecca all try various ruses to stop Gary handing over the plans to Dixon. During this sequence, David, who becomes drunk very quickly, has pulled away from Gary and is having one drink after another at the bar to steady his nerves so he can look for Adrienne to plead with her to go back to him. Sue, pretending to be the restaurant’s maître d’ tells Gary his table restaurant is not ready and they should go to the bar for drinks. David runs off.
Nicky and Rebecca enter and Rebecca almost tells Nicky how she feels about her but is interrupted with the entrance of Sue and Adrienne. They are all dressed in men’s outfits except for Adrienne who is outrageously dressed as a cowboy. They enter the club. David timidly enters. He is dressed as a very cheap woman. He is unsure about going in and exits again. Gary and Didi come on. They can’t believe Didi would book such a place to meet Dixon but Didi gives excuses but she doesn’t remember why she booked that place at all. Dixon comes on and he is very annoyed about being brought to such an area until he sees Didi. He sees an opportunity to bed her and she responds accordingly much to Gary’s annoyance. Didi and Dixon enter. David re-enters and bumps into Gary who doesn’t realise who David is but takes a fancy to him instead. This terrifies David. Together, they enter.
Scene 2
Here, inside Lipstick, is where Sue, Nicky, Adrienne and Rebecca all try various ruses to stop Gary handing over the plans to Dixon. During this sequence, David, who becomes drunk very quickly, has pulled away from Gary and is having one drink after another at the bar to steady his nerves so he can look for Adrienne to plead with her to go back to him. Sue, pretending to be the restaurant’s maître d’ tells Gary his table restaurant is not ready and they should go to the bar for drinks. David runs off.
End of Act II
CURTAIN
CURTAIN
The Script or Book for "Lipstick"
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You may download the "Lipstick" script here but please remember to read the very fine print below:
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The Music for "Lipstick"
The sound tracks below are really 'sketches' - a basic idea of what the melodies could be. Tim Carson very deftly and ably took my very ambiguous ideas and moulded them into something that was coming close to what I intended. More work needs to be done but here they are anyway.
There are only 2 tracks; the first has 11 melodies and the second, the last melody. Next to the song's title is the character(s) who performs it and next to that is an approximation of where along the track the music starts. (For the lyrics, please view the script.)
There are only 2 tracks; the first has 11 melodies and the second, the last melody. Next to the song's title is the character(s) who performs it and next to that is an approximation of where along the track the music starts. (For the lyrics, please view the script.)
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ACT I
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Track 1 with 11 songs:
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Didi’s Anthem
Men! Let’s be Friends Lipstick |
Didi, Gary
Adrienne, Rebecca, David, Chorus Rebecca Adrienne, David, Nicky, Chorus |
0:14
4:39 6:14 10:17 |
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ACT II
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She’s Gonna be my Baby
She’s a Tramp Didi and Nicky Duet Why? Alone Big Fat Poppa Man of my Dreams Inside Out
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Nicky
Nicky Didi, Nicky Rebecca David Adrienne Adrienne Nicky
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12:56
15:47 19:01 21:58 24:46 26:30 28:39 0:13
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Track 2 with 1 song:
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The very fine print:
All rights by all media reserved
Copyright Susanna Bonaretti
Copyright warning: The whole contents of this work are copyright of Susanna Bonaretti.
No part of the contents may be reproduced or dealt with in any way that is inconsistent with the rights of Susanna Bonaretti under copyright law.
In particular, no part of this may be disseminated to a third party without the prior written permission of Susanna Bonaretti.
All rights by all media reserved
Copyright Susanna Bonaretti
Copyright warning: The whole contents of this work are copyright of Susanna Bonaretti.
No part of the contents may be reproduced or dealt with in any way that is inconsistent with the rights of Susanna Bonaretti under copyright law.
In particular, no part of this may be disseminated to a third party without the prior written permission of Susanna Bonaretti.