THE BURNT PART BOYS Musical in 1 act. Book by Mariana Elder; Music by Chris Miller; Lyrics by Nathan Tysen Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway (Mainstage Theatre) - 30th April - 13th June, 2010 (29 previews, 23 perfs) SYNOPSIS An unforgettable coming of age story, THE BURNT PART BOYS follows the adventures of a group of teenagers deep in West Virginia's coal country in 1962. The musical is a life transforming odyssey Fourteen year-old Pete's fighting to claim his past. His older brother Jake's hoping to forge a future. With an eclectic band of friends teetering on the brink of adulthood, they've embarked on a life-altering journey to the coal mine that took their father's life. With its soaring, elegiac bluegrass and pop-inspired score, this inspirational new musical finds both the streaks of light and the heart of darkness within us all. Story A row of headlamps slowly comes up. In the distance, we see miners from 1952 - the Dead Miners -vigorously working on the earth that their God created. We now flash forward ten years, to 1962. We are in the town of Pickaway, West Virginia. An impoverished coalmining town with lush mountains and the Burnt Part - a gray and desolate area. Jake and Chet, two eighteen-year old coal miners, are finishing up a full night of drinking. The two friends lament about leaving school to work eight hours a day, for five days a week. We move to Saturday morning in Jake's kitchen. At breakfast, we meet Pete who must beg and plead for seventy-five cents from Jake. Dusty enters and proclaims that he will be the musical entertainment for his grandma's quilting circle that evening! A news report airs over the radio, announcing the reopening of the Pickaway Coal Company's South Mountain mine. It is revealed that there was a tragic collapse and fire in 1952 at the very same mine. The boys' fathers were victims of the collapse. Jake informs Pete that he has been handpicked for the reopening; Peter is concerned and pleads with his older brother. Jake storms out, leaving Pete to his thoughts and regrets. Lost in his fantasies, General Sam Houston fromThe Alamo appears to Pete in the kitchen. Pete concludes that there is only thing to do - demolish the Burnt Part. He stuffs dynamite in his backpack and leaves. Later that day, Chet and Jake have come back home from fishing. Chet confronts Jake about the way he handles the Burnt Part with his little brother, Pete. Outside, Pete is pleading to Dusty to join him on the mission to the Burnt Part. He is hesitant. Eventually, Jake discovers the broken lockbox and missing dynamite; he and Chet go chasing after Pete. But Pete and Dusty, who has reluctantly joined him, are already long gone. Jake and Chet have come to the realization that they must now make the journey to the Burnt Part - the same place their fathers met an untimely fate. Further on, in the woods, we find Pete and Dusty stopped in front of a Pickaway Coal Company security fence. Pete is now lost in a new Alamo fantasy, as Davy Crockett appears to show him the way around the fence. In another area of the woods, we meet Frances; she has her gun raised and is stalking her breakfast . As a campsite comes into view, Frances runs into Pete and Dusty. Frances is not pleased and demands they leave - Pete is shocked to see her. It is revealed that she ran away from her home and parents three months ago. When Dusty tells her of their mission, Frances is intrigued and insists on joining. She says she has been to the Burnt Part and can help them. They continue on their journey. Back on the company road, Jake and Chet talk about starting work on Monday and how they plan to find Pete. At the same time, in the hills, we see Dusty, Frances, and Pete navigating their way through the terrain. Tensions are beginning to mount as Dusty and Frances argue about the past. It climaxes to a physical face-off,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=