Bliss
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Music By Andy Duerden With Adrian 'H' Rawlins and Emily Blunt
Lyrics By Andy Duerden With Adrian 'H' Rawlins and Emily Blunt
Book/Libretto by: Paul Sellar
Directed by: Mike Friend
Synopsis
Maddy, an beautiful, yet innocent looking 18 or 19 year old, has been scarred by a brutal lover. But now she has found Jimmy, a slightly older man, who leads a dull, repetitive life running a book store. They both need to escape the restraints of their current lives and so they take to the road in a small Fiat 127 and drive for the coast, something Maddy has never seen before.
This scenario is introduced by Jimmy, standing, alone as a death-like figure, having packed up his business once and for all, retracing his steps of years ago. He relives that journey he made with Maddy to the coast and we watch the happy couple, escaping from their pasts, as loves young dream. These scenes provide some lively, rock-pop duets, as well as clever comedy.
They pick up a hitchhiker - played by Andy Duerden himself - who is a very sinister character. He warns them not to go to coast, that it will only end in disaster and that he has seen this happen too many times. Throughout the play this character is in the background, and often sings along with Jimmy.
The tragedy seems inevitable and almost routine since Jimmy can never bring himself to tell Maddy that he loves her, even when she presents him with a special gift and sings about how they will always be together - "If You Ever Lose Me".
But, in truth, nothing could ever prepare the audience for the horrific, shocking and deeply upsetting outcome.
They camp out over night, and Maddy drops a bombshell to Jimmy announcing to him that she is pregnant with her ex-boyfriends baby. We all know that this is not her fault, but Jimmy, can't take this news and erupts with anger, before leaving Maddy on her own for some time. She loves Jimmy so deeply. She would do anything to please him... and she does.
Stripped to her underwear, Maddy gets herself drunk and disappears into the tent with a coat hanger which she makes red hot in the fire and bent into shape. The haunting theme ballad of the show "Something Inside" is sung by Andy Duerden, to the piercing scream of Maddy, as she terminates her pregnancy.
Jimmy returns to pull a blood soaked body from the tent, and he can only try in vain to get her to safety.
As we return to Jimmy telling the story, Maddy's spirit appears and take him away. We can only assume that he has killed himself, overcome with grief, guilt and regret.
Song List
- Bliss
- Nothing's Going To Take Us
- On and On (Forevermore)
- Drowned in Tears (Hitchhikers Song)
- If You Ever Lose Me
- Something Inside
- Heaven's Dying
- Shadow of a Clock
Misc. Show Information
This new musical play made its first "professional" debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival running 4-28 August, 2000. A superb show which crosses the tragedy of "Westside Story" with the rock-opera soundtrack of "Chess", it had me laughing, singing-along and in tears, all within the space of an hour. Andy Duerden's music is incredible. Its diversity, beauty and intensity are perfect for the show. The initial liveliness of the script is well contrasted against the horrific and graphic tragic scenes towards the end of the show.
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Added: Fri May 06 2005