Act one. The Dress Rehearsal. You can’t stop the beat Cast & Dancers Cast are in their rehearsal wear, and are playing all the parts between the 11 of them, lots of energy, and lots of dancing. Caretaker introduction Caretaker The ‘Caretaker’ is the Madder Market Ghost, so although he’s present and commenting on the action, there’s never any real recognition from the cast that he’s there, he comments that they’ve got their final dress rehearsal this evening, and will be back after they’ve sorted out some of their issues. He wishes the audience a pleasant evening seeing a show through his eyes. Lights go out. Carol of the Bells Cast Starting quietly in the dark the cast enter holding candles (?) The song builds when they all reach centre stage. Once done the house lights go up. A dialogue begins between them how they’re not ready, and someone just says that it’ll be fine with a bit of good luck etc… It’s bad luck to say good luck Joe / Dan W + All cast Joe and Dan do the majority of the actual song, the entire cast are involved in trying to get the theatre ‘ready’ with the caretaker making sure that no accidents happen (plenty of near-misses though) At the end of the song – someone breaks their leg – This is going to just be spoken by someone who’s taken a phone call from the guy who was going to be their Father Christmas. He’s broken his leg and won’t be coming. Gimmick Dan S /Nic/April Dan, springing into action, tells the cast to go and get ready for the next scene, he reassures Nic and April that they don’t need a father Christmas and if they make the show bigger and glitzier, and fill it up full of gimmicks then the audience won’t even notice. Dan – Trumpet, Nick – Finness, April… light up bra… The Caretaker comments that they didn’t need Gimmicks in his day to make a show special, and he sets the next scene, a change in lighting, a touch of smoke, a beautiful voice and some wonderful dancing… Night and Day Gen (Charly/Dan W + Dancers) Glamorous and sophisticated, Gen singing with a Fred a la Ginger routine with Dan and Charly – to have the other dancers join in with towards the end. Xmas Wish tbc This was discussed as a song for Dan S, but I may need to give him a ballad in act two, so this might be better given to Nic. (We can discuss once act two is fleshed out.) ‘Zat you Santa Claus All Girls (and Joe) Joe enters, put out that he’s going to have to the Father Christmas replacment, The girls each enter and do a verse of ‘Zat you Santa Clause. The Dancers will also be involved – would like this routine to end up with Joe being wrapped up light a Christmas present. ‘Cell Block Tango’ All cast A version where we re-write the verses to fit either Christmas problems or Theatre problems. Dancers to be included within the choreography of each persons ‘story’ Small Time Caretaker Final words from the Caretaker, how it’s always messy and a work in progress until it all comes together on the night etc… We are what we are All