VIOLET A musical drama in 2 act/ Music by Jeanine Tesori; Book and lyrics by Brian Crawley. Based on The Ugliest Pilgrim by Doris Betts. Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway - 14th February, 1997 - 6th April, 1997. (32 perfs; 29 previews) SYNOPSIS Set in 1964 in the Deep South during the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, “Violet” follows the growth and enlightenment of a bitter young woman accidentally scarred by her father. In hopes that a TV evangelist can cure her, she embarks on a journey by bus from her sleepy North Carolina town to Oklahoma. Along the way, she meets a young black soldier who teaches her about beauty, love, courage and what it means to be an outsider. One of the most acclaimed off-Broadway shows of the ’90s, “Violet” astounded critics and audiences with its powerful story, its energetic, toe-tapping Gospel, Rock, Country, and Rhythm and Blues score by Jeanine Tesori, and its well-crafted book and lyrics by Brian Crawley that are not afraid to deal with important, sensitive issues. Its simple set and modest cast and orchestra requirements adjust to any scale production. “Violet” features a strong ensemble cast with bravura roles for the two leads. STORY ACT ONE The story begins on a sleepy street in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina on September 4th, 1964. Perhaps the only sounds to be heard are a breeze in the trees, a creaking window shutter, and a lazy dog sniffing up trouble. Two scenes are taking place simultaneously. In the present, Violet is kneeling on a bench with her back to us reading a bus schedule. In the past, Young Vi, about 13, is gathering split kindling to the percussive sound of wood being chopped. The two are in separate domains, not aware of each other. Suddenly, the voice of Violet's father cries, "Violet, watch out!" Young Vi straightens, her mouth open wide, terrified by something we can't see. Older Violet stiffens. Leroy Evans, a man walking his dog, approaches Violet and asks if she's going anywhere. It's obvious he won't look her straight in the face. She doesn't respond to him. Rather, she looks at her luggage and comments on how stupid this town is. Of course she is going somewhere – she is sitting at a bus station with her luggage. The bus pulls in and Violet and an Old Lady gather their bags and board the bus. The Old Lady finally looks at Violet's face and is taken aback by the huge scar (which the audience never sees). An axe blade split her face in two when she was a child, and she has lived with this scar ever since. Violet is on her way to Tulsa, Oklahoma; the Old Lady is on her way to Nashville to see her family. In the past, we see Young Vi tearing down the mountain and almost running into her father, who is struggling up the path with a burlap bag over his shoulder. Violet is terribly upset because it appears that the Elam Brother, boys from the town, came to pester the poor deformed girl. They told her that her accident is her "just desserts" for never going to church on Sunday. She bursts into tears as she asks her father if this is true. He cheers her up by giving her a quarter for the new picture show, while he goes off to deal with the Elam Brothers. The bus stops for twenty minutes at Kingsport, Tennessee. Violet takes a place at the rest stop grill and orders a tuna fish sandwich. Seeing her grotesque scar, the waiter asks her to take a place at one of the booths. He doesn't want the rest of the customers to be frightened because of her. Flick, a black soldier who has been riding on the bus with her, is talking with, Monty, a white paratrooper. The two are preparing to play cards. The waiter looks at Flick with a prejudiced disdain. Flick and Monty move to a table and Violet follows them and asks to join them in a game of straight draw poker.
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