I think I feel a song coming on: musicals about unlikely subjects
Jane R
Shipmate
in The Circus
Inspired by the Purgatory discussion about whether there are any subjects unsuitable for turning into a musical, here is a thread for imaginary musicals on unlikely subjects.
For example: Algae!
The tale of one man's struggle to eradicate algae from his garden pond, or alternatively the struggle of algae to withstand attacks on their very existence. Scenes with the Gardener ('In the Garden') are cleverly interspersed with 'Under the Microscope' when the chorus of algae get their chance to shine. With show-stopping numbers such as 'Clean the Pond!' and the triumphant finale 'Life Wins' sung by the chorus, this is sure to be a commercial and artistic success.
For example: Algae!
The tale of one man's struggle to eradicate algae from his garden pond, or alternatively the struggle of algae to withstand attacks on their very existence. Scenes with the Gardener ('In the Garden') are cleverly interspersed with 'Under the Microscope' when the chorus of algae get their chance to shine. With show-stopping numbers such as 'Clean the Pond!' and the triumphant finale 'Life Wins' sung by the chorus, this is sure to be a commercial and artistic success.
Comments
DT
Well-played. You should find a way to work the goddess of chess, aka @Caissa, into a song.
(Though I will dock half a point in the novelty department, since there has, in fact, been a musical about chess, called, fittingly enough, Chess. I think all it ever got known for was the single One Night In Bangkok.)
Get into the box - a chorus opening number involving the whole cast chasing the animal which now appears to be so lively as not to need a vet. A brief interlude mid-song subtitled I told you to lock the car flap nearly ends divorce for the cat's owners. The number ends in a tableau of exhausted chasers and a viciously angry boxed cat.
Come out Little Kitty,a duet between the Owner and the Vet as they coax the beast who now as reluctant to leave the box as he was to go in it earlier. Although normally a bass baritone is cast as the vet, the part ends on a high tenor C with optional E as the cat is extracted but rakes its rear claws down the vet's arm.
Just two grey pills in the morning and a white one in the evening - lilting number as the owner tries to remember the instructions but actually keeps changing the times, numbers and colours of the pills. Really two songs in one, as the owner's husband interjects with his own lyrics I can't believe those little bottles cost £60
End of Act 1
Act 2 opens with come on, they're good for you - a notoriously technically difficult number to sing, performed as it is hanging over the back of the sofa trying ro reach the spitting angry feline. Suddenly it bolts for the door where the owner's husband just fails to catch it. Segues directly into where has the sodding creature hidden/oh bugger I've dropped the tablet does it matter it's now covered in fluff?
What if we... a beautiful patter duet as the owner and the owner's husband come up with various ideas, snatching the tune from each other. They are interrupted by a knock at the door from the neighbour, who hearing their tale of woe suggests crushing the pill between spoons and sprinkling it on the food. They agree, leading straight into I think it pinged against the cupboard and went under the fridge, darling
The cat fails to improve, and the act ends with a reprise of Get into the box
Act III
Owners return and the act opens with This special diet he has to have costs more than our food! and ends as Evri arrive at the door with a distressingy small box for a sum equivalent to the GDP of a medium Central American republic. The Cat has his first solo number here, Heh heh I'll gobble it down then ruin their relief by refusing to ever touch it again. This is followed by the famous Night From Hell scene where the soprano Cat gets to scale well above the stave in the blues number Don't like this food at 3am.
There's then a reprise of What if we...? as the owners come up with more and more bizarre ideas to try to get the cat to eat. The cat looks on with a massive smile on his face as the owner and owner's husband are settled into the psychiatric wing of the nearby hospital, with a final reprise of Get into the box sung by the nurses.
The most recent Broadway revival of Chess, starring starring Aaron Tveit, Lea Michele and Nicholas Christopher, just closed last month.