The Rocky Monster Show Junior Version

Malcolm read music at Cambridge University before entering the theatre as a Musical Director. Probably the highlight of his career was a 4 year world tour of the ˜Rocky Horror Show'. At the same time he honed in his writing skills with a series of Pantomimes and Children's musicals, which were performed professionally all over the country including his hit 'Mr Men Musical' in London's West End.

He started writing schools musicals with 'Ebenezer', which coincided with the launching of Musicline. Since then his many follow-ups have been so successful worldwide that they have enabled him to retire from the theatre to concentrate solely on this aspect of his talents.

His major hobbies are bridge, cricket, and writing musicals for schools! People often ask him if he is a teacher, as his shows have such a rapport with kids. The answer is no - he is an entertainer pure and simple, backed by the experience of years in the professional theatre. He claims to be still a child at heart, and he loves working with children, which shows very much in the works he produces for them.

THE ROCKY MONSTER SHOW – SYNOPSIS

After the Opening Chorus [Song: “EVOLUTION”] [with optional Ghouls] the Narrator/s set the scene for:-

Dan and Rebecca, young scientists, arrive at Arkham station, a remote place with no electricity or taxis. The weird Stationmaster asks them their destination. When they say the Fenton Laboratory, the Stationmaster goes into a fear-induced trance. When he recovers, he says they’ll get no peace at that wicked place, and will probably end up mad. They start to make their own way, and meet a Batty Girl, who goes into a similar trance at the mention of the laboratory. It seems everyone in Arkham is related. The girl leaves and Dan and Rebecca see a castle outlined against the setting sun, which is their destination. Song: “CASTLE IN THE SKY”

Inside the castle, the sinister housekeeper Mrs.Danvers [from “Rebecca”] is in conversation with the handyman, the 200-year old limping hunchback Igor [as in the Frankenstein films – and “Young Frankenstein”] Professor Fenton’s bimbo daughter Gloria appears, fed up with the stuffiness of the castle and the deadness of Arkham. Song: “LOOKING FOR THE ACTION” Dan & Rebecca arrive – Dan much to Gloria’s relief and Rebecca much to Mrs.Danvers anger. They await the appearance of Professor Fenton, who in the 60s was rock star Rocky Fenton until an accident burnt his face, finishing his career, and causing him to wear a Phantom-of-the-Opera mask. He became interested in the study of genetics, studied for 7 years in Vienna, and became a Professor of Genetics. He appears. Song: “PROFESSOR OF ROCK’N’ROLL”

The Narrator/s explain further: Fenton was on tour in the Carpathians when the accident happened, and we go back to when Fenton came out of hospital. Awaiting him is Igor, who takes him on a journey to a Transylvanian Castle which belonged to the notorious - Baron Frankenstein! [Igor was, of course, the Baron’s servant]  Fenton remembers his family name had been changed because of unpleasant associations with the past. Inside the castle are the remaining notes on the Baron’s experiments – which inspire Fenton to take up the study of genetics – especially as he discovers that he is the Baron’s descendant, and so – a Frankenstein!

Back in the laboratory in the Arkham castle, Fenton is introducing his young assistants to his work; he has created the templates of life inside a computer, but can’t bring it to life outside, which is where he needs their help. He also shows them two coffins wherein reside the remains of the original Frankenstein’s handywork, the monster Mungo and his companion Elsa. As they leave the lab, a thunderstorm breaks out and bolt of lightning strikes Mungo’s coffin. He comes to life. Another bolt brings Elsa to life, and they instantly fall in love, enthused by each other’s ugliness. Song: “GUESS WE’RE IN LOVE”

The Castle inhabitants come in, and Fenton is overjoyed to find what brought the monsters to life. Song: “THE FLASH CRASH”

Meanwhile, back in Arkham, the villagers are holding a meeting, unhappy at the “goings-on” at the castle. The hellfire-and-damnation Preacher enters, and says let’s be calm and not leap to conclusions – but if the castle occupants are indulging in ungodly tactics, let them burn! Song: “BURN! BURN! BURN!”

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

Dan & Rebecca are working in the lab. Nerdish Dan discovers he’s in love with Rebecca, but doesn’t know how to express it. Song: “CALLED LOVE” The castle people assemble. Fenton says they are on the verge of a major breakthrough, and promises man-mad Gloria a “special present”.

In a police station the Arkham villagers get Inspector Baskerville to promise to investigate the castle and its occupants.

Back in the laboratory Fenton demonstrates his first “breakthrough”. He releases a life-form from his computer – out comes Gloria’s present Song: “TOY BOY”. Fenton then reveals his plans. He intends to return to the rock scene by creating the perfect Rock Group.

At this moment Inspector Baskerville rings the front door bell. The assembled company hastily find an excuse to cover their bizarre appearance – they’re holding a Star Trek convention. The Inspector appears and is taken in. Fenton does good PR by inviting him and the villagers to a concert in a week’s time. The Inspector accepts, and leaves. Fenton reveals the dream that has sustained him all through the years – the creation of a Song: “SUPERGROUP”

The Narrator/s link into the next scene, the Castle ballroom a week later, the night of the concert. As the Inspector & villagers assemble, the first rumblings of a thunderstorm are heard. Fenton appears, and explains to the villagers why he didn’t mix with them because of his scarred face. Then he introduces the first Act – Mungo and Elsa doing a clumsy “Young Frankenstein” type show number – Song: “STEP OUT ON THE TOWN”. It goes down a storm, but then Fenton produces from the computer the first of his “created” pop groups, the Superbs. Song: “LADY LOVE” Surely nothing can top that…but yes. Fenton produces from his computer the King himself – Elvis! Song: “A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW”

The whole place goes wild, but the Preacher questions whether Elvis is alive or dead. By this time the storm has built up to its height, and a sudden lightning flash spikes the “created” people – the Toy Boy, the Superbs, and Elvis. They are rendered lifeless, when another lightning strike sets the Castle on fire. There is pandemonium. A brief link from the Narrator/s to the ruined Ballroom after the fire. Dan and Rebecca stagger on. They appear to be the only Castle occupants to have survived, until Mrs. Danvers appears, clutching her neck, having been bitten by something…she turns on them, her teeth having become vampire fangs!

Finale: “EVOLUTION” [The Narrator/s & the Company]

ROCKY MONSTER CAST

MALE

Narrator [can be female, or could be split in 2, M & F]

Dan Stoker, a nerdish young scientist

Station Master

Igor, a 200-year old handyman

Professor Fenton, masked ex-rock star

Mungo, a monster

William, a villager

Grandfather Ted, a villager

The Preacher [could be female]

Inspector Baskerville [could be female]

The Toy Boy

Elvis

FEMALE

Rebecca Shelley, a young scientist

Batty Girl [a villager]

Mrs.Danvers, a sinister housekeeper

Gloria, the Professor’s man-mad bimbo daughter

Elsa, a monster, companion to Mungo

Aunt Ada, an ancient villager

The Superbs, three group singers

[See also Narrator, Preacher & Inspector Baskerville in Male cast]

CHORUS

Ghouls & Villagers

OPTIONAL CHOIR

Running time   Approx 2 hours, including interval. - Junior Version 1 Hour