Shows F

THE FIX Book and Lyrics by: John Dempsey Music by: Dana P. Rowe Director: Sam Mendes Decor: Rob Howell Lighting: Howard Harrison Sound: Andrew Bruce, Bobby Aitken Choreography: Charles Augins Orchestrations: Steve Margoshes Musical Director: David Caddick Assistant director: Lisa Clarke Donmar Warehouse Theatre, London - Opened 12 May, 1997. Closed 14 June, 1997 From a new team of writers comes a hard-edged, hard-boiled commentary on the American political machine. Part tabloid, part “The Manchurian Candidate,” The Fix is a totally original biting satire ripped from the headlines of today, yesterday, and most likely tomorrow. A popular presidential candidate is dead, and his wife, who has power on the brain, thrusts her son into the political spotlight. Her maniacal scheming is matched by that of her crippled brother-in-law, who will stop at nothing to see the boy elected. Together, the three of them make up one of the most dysfunctional almost-first families this side of real life Washington politics. With a driving, riveting score by John Dempsey and Dana P. Rowe (The Witches Of Eastwick), The Fix is a powerful, nightmarish, hysterical roller coaster of a musical guaranteed to leave an audience breathless. STORY ACT I An offstage voice announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, a big welcome for the next President of The United States … Senator Reed Chandler!!!” Television reporters appear on a television screen and report that Senator Reed Chandler is “a veritable shoo-in for the presidency of the United States.” Below the screen, the Senator sits beneath his mistress Donna, who none too subtly screams out in pleasure, until she realises that the Senator is no longer moving, or breathing. the Senator rises from his death bed, and looks incredulously at his dead body. Grahame, the Senator’s brother, as well as the genius behind his presidential campaign, walks in on crutches, with his legs in braces, and looks over his dead brother’s body. He asks the ever-present security advisor, Peter, if anyone has told Violet, Reed Chandler’s wife. When Violet enters screaming, “You Son-Of-A Bitch!”, that question is quickly answered. Reed, realising the spin it is going to take to remedy the situation he has caused, announces the ensuing fervour triumphantly, During the Funeral America asks if "there’s another Chandler waiting in the wings”, and Violet coldly answers, “There is.” The other Chandler is Reed’s only son Cal, who has different aspirations than his father. A far cry from the presidency, Cal dreams of being a guitar playing rock star. Devastated by the loss of all he has worked for, Grahame struggles to move on with his life. Violet interrupts him, and convinces Grahame to help her mould Cal into a presidential candidate, and to not dwell on the failure of the past. Tempted with the promise of being made a judge, Grahame reluctantly agrees. Grahame and Violet waste no time in getting their new project into the public eye, and enlist a reluctant Cal into the army. Grahame, Violet, and the Army Sergeant slowly turn Cal into a soldier. Cal still feels some reservations about a life in politics, but his father, Reed, returns to give his son a little pep talk, and convince him that the sacrifices he’s to make will be more than made up for in power and control. After returning from battle, one purple heart richer, Cal is confronted with Violet, Grahame and Peter’s next part of their plan, a wife. Deborah Pullman, the pert and perfect wife, is presented to Cal, as Grahame, Violet, Peter, and several reporters explain to Cal that he and she will make the perfect couple.

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