Stiff Fingers: A Search for the Source of This Dramatic Line

'I play so badly now. I'm all out of practice. Sister Theresa will give me a dreadful scolding. I'll practice every day from now on. But something horrible has happened to my hands. The fingers have gotten so stiff-'

This intriguing snippet hints at a dramatic scene, but without further context, its origin remains a mystery. Who speaks these words? What instrument do they play? And what caused their fingers to become stiff?

While we can't pinpoint the exact play, the themes resonate with numerous dramatic works:

• Fear of Failure: The speaker's dread of Sister Theresa's scolding highlights the pressure to perform and the consequences of not meeting expectations.* Loss of Skill: The lament of stiff fingers suggests a musician or artist struggling with a decline in ability, perhaps due to illness, injury, or simply lack of practice.* Desperation and Determination: The vow to practice every day reveals a desperate desire to regain lost skill and avoid further disapproval.

Exploring plays with themes of music, performance anxiety, or physical limitations might offer clues to this enigmatic quote's source. Do you recognize these lines?