Okay, first of all, thank you Romer. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have posted this because the same topic exists somewhere in the distant history of the Frenz Forum. I really think that Split Enz should make a musical out of their songs and I've created a whole story line based on Split Enz songs. Now keep in mind, I only used songs that I thought would fit in a musical so many good early songs a well as hits like "I Got You" and "History Never Repeats" are not in this musical. I have decided to name my work in progress "Hermit McDermitt." It's sort of a romantic adventure comedy. Please respond with advice, suggestions, critique, pots of your own etc.
So without further ado, my summary of "Hermit McDermitt"
Setting: A seaside town in England, Northern New Zealand, probably early 1900s
Scene Change Music: "The Lost Cat", "Albert of India", "Double Happy", "Walking Down A Road" (Intro)
Character list: (No official names for most characters)
Hermit McDermitt: Sings Tim Finn songs
McDermitt's Brother: Sings mostly Neil Finn songs
Girl 1: Brother's girlfriend
Girl 2: McDermitt's love interest
Admiral: Aristocrtic, as close to a villain as the musical has
McDermitt's friends
Police Officers
Chorus
The play begins with the song "Hermit McDermitt" naturally. The song is exactly like the music video with McDermitt's friends playing instruments like the band. When the song is done we learn that McDermitt's little brother has just graduated from college and McDermitt and his hobbo friends are in town for the first time in years to meet him. The brother tells that he is in love with a girl he met in college and plans to marry her soon. McDermitt scoffs at him and tells his feelings about love with "My Mistake." After this McDermitt, his brother, and his friends are arrested by the police for loitering. They are brought to the admiral who serves as judge in the small town. However, when McDermitt tells his name, he is mistaken for the famous Captain McDermitt a great war hero and explorer who disappeared ten years earlier. McDermitt, being a bit of a crook claims he is the captain. but the admiral is suspicious and puts him up to the task of sailing to a remote part of New Zealand. McDermitt is nervous but accepts his quest because he becomes greedy and begins to want fame and fortune and for once respect. Meanwhile, news spreads throughout England that Captain McDermitt has returned. After Mcdermitt signs several autographs, his brother, who has a strong moral conscience, tries to talk McDermitt out of his dishonesty by singing "Famous People." Just then Girls 1 and 2 appear. They are friends and Girl 1 is the brother's girfriend. Her friend, Girl 2, wants McDermitt's autograph. Despite what he said earlier, McDermitt falls madly in love with girl 2. His brother and girl 1 leave and McDermitt and girl 2 talk for a while and eventually kiss. Then antisocial McDermitt accidentally says something horribly insulting and she runs away in tears. In the next scene McDermitt gives roles for his voyage to his friends but his brother becomes slightly angry when he is given the role of cabin boy. Later, McDermitt passes girl 2 on the steet and tries to apologize but she does not listen. They sing "I Hope I Never" as a duet. After girl 2 leaves, his brother, no longer angry, asks why he is so glum. McDermitt sings "Shark Attack" to cover up the fact that his breakup was his own fault. The brother sympathizes. Mcdermitt, then asks what he thinks about the journey that would be the next day. His brother says he hates having to be cabin boy but says he's excited and then sings "Take A Walk" The next day, they set sail. The brother tells McDermitt and his friends who have been transformed into professional seamen, about his plans to propose to girl 1 and sings "Message To My Girl" A bit later the crew experience some sort of nautical crisis (I haven't decided what) but they manage to overcome it after an action packed scene. Then the friend who is the navigator (I kind of picture him as the Eddie Rayner character who played keyboard in the first scene) says that they are close to New Zealand. "Pioneer" plays as the crew goes about their duties. This fades into "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" which is the climax and like "Hermit McDermitt" is exactly the same as in the video only in the stage version, the Maoris are performing in the aisles and maybe even interacting a bit with the audience. After the song, the scene changes again and the crew arrive safely back in England. Encouraged by his brother, Mcdermitt admits that he is not the famous captain and apologizes. However, he and his crew are still all heroes because of their adventures. McDermitt then apologizes to girl 2 and this time since she worried for him during his trip, she accepts his apology and they do a reprise of "I Hope I Never" only this time, instead of "I hope I never have to see you again" it's "I hope I never have to leave you again." The brother then proposes to girl 1 and starts singing "One Mouth is Fed" as the finale. The entire cast and chorus join in at the song's chorus similar to how the rest of the band did on "See Ya' Round." The end.
Once again, please comment.
Posts: 232 | Location: Somewhere in Ohio | Registered: 03 October 2009
I must admit, I rolled my eyes at first but that was actually quite an enjoyable read. I like that you did your best to line up your plot with the actual videos for "Hermit McDermitt" and "Six Months in a Leaky Boat". I can't wait to hear what kind of crisis they face at sea! Is it a Dirty Sea Creature?
Thanks for the complements and the ideas. I think that a Dirty Creature is a great idea for the action scene and Strait Old Line would be a great end. (I stuck One Mouth Is Fed in because its a personal favorite more so than because it would work in a musical.)
Posts: 232 | Location: Somewhere in Ohio | Registered: 03 October 2009
Not really my cup of tea Spencer (I have visions of the Sgt Pepper musical) but that being said, I think you've done well here.
My two cents:
I'd have the Hermit character not arrested for jay-walking and then having to prove to the cops that he was the famous sailor...I'd have him do something tragic and have him escape to the sea. That way, his troubles on the sea could be a metaphor for Hermit's own personal journey to redemption...and I'd have it end with him returning knowing that he must face the music (no pun intended) but having found his character, understanding he must now pay the price to society, and being reunited with his loved one. OR...it could be a sad ending like Madame Butterfly where he perishes (but still having redeemed his soul somehow). Either way, a tougher and more compelling human story I think...
The tragic thing I would have being based off a very human emotion - i.e. jealousy, envy, pride etc. cause him to lash out emotionally and in that haste, he does a societal wrong. Again, this way, people in the audience would be able to relate - "oh i've dealt with that before too / or am dealing with it now" (maybe Charley would be a good song here)
All of that kind of avoids the brotherly stuff you start with - needs to be woven in somehow because I think it's a good story as well. This way you'd have 3 things going on to keep people interested: personal demons/crime/redemption; tortured love; and brotherly relationship.
Just a thought...maybe the brotherly thing could be one where the older brother at first feeds off his younger brother's hero worship but as he faces up to his own faults, grows increasingly uncomfortable with that worship, and then tries to redeem that also by breaking down his younger brother's image of him in order to set him right. That has the interesting trait of kind of mirroring the real-life relationship adjustment of Tim/Neil in 1982.
Happy trails...
Posts: 792 | Location: Back and forth 'tween Princeton and Brisbane | Registered: 08 June 2000
how about the captain fights with his first mate (phil judd) over his hair-do, and they sing "Split Ends"... Or Phil throws Tim overboard whilst singing "Sweet Dreams".. a bit silly but the fight idea is ok..
Originally posted by John: I'd have him do something tragic and have him escape to the sea. That way, his troubles on the sea could be a metaphor for Hermit's own personal journey to redemption...and I'd have it end with him returning knowing that he must face the music (no pun intended) but having found his character, understanding he must now pay the price to society, and being reunited with his loved one.
If you want Charlie to be in the play, that not a bad idea.
Posts: 232 | Location: Somewhere in Ohio | Registered: 03 October 2009
Well it's been quite awhile, rather enjoying reading all the ideas..I do believe I Walk Away would be good towards the end or in regards to unrequited love ... has anyone tried to write a story using every single Enz song title? I'm up for it if anyone else is...Going to be a long one though...
Here and Now Not Forever..
Posts: 184 | Location: Over There Next To The Remote | Registered: 12 January 2010
