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Rooms - A Rock Romance

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Musical in 1 Act: Music, Book and Lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman; Book by Miriam Gordon

New World Stages, New York - 18th March, 2009
Finborough Theatre, London - 23 April - 18 May 2013 (season)

Synopsis

NYC: Late night, September 1980.

As Monica struggles to write lyrics to a new song, she is interrupted by a knock at the door. Her unexpected guest is Ian, who she hasn't seen in almost 3 years (ROOMS). NYC melts into Glasgow 1977 as Monica recalls their first encounter.

After Ian is hired by Monica to write music to her lyrics for a song commissioned for Hazel Katz's Bat Mitzvah, he gives her a glimpse into both his talent and his unusual view of life.  Monica leaves their meeting impressed and energized by their creative partnership and where it might lead. Ian journeys to Monica's upper-middle-class home to deliver the music for the Bat Mitzvah song. Thrilled with the results, Monica invites Ian to stay for Sabbath dinner.

At the temple, Monica anxiously waits for Ian, who arrives late and inebriated for their Bat Mitzvah gig. Their creative partnership is solidified when they write a new song together which they perform at the Rum Room Talent Night, winning them a trip to London.

Immersed in the burgeoning punk scene of London, Monica lands a record contract and names their punk duo The Diabolicals. They record a single which climbs to Number One on the charts and are then invited by their record company to perform at CBGB's in New York. Their relationship intensifies as they prepare to conquer the city and they are enthralled by the excitement of New York and their new relationship.

In New York, Ian's drinking starts to take its toll, culminating in his missing their all-important gig at CBGB. Monica is forced to perform on her own at the club where she is booed off the stage. Later that night, Monica informs Ian that she has decided to part ways with thelittle bit of love that remains. When Ian protests and tries to persuade Monica to reconsider, she reveals to him that she's pregnant and has decided not to keep the baby.

Ian decides to leave NYC and faces his fear of flying as he makes his way back home to Glasgow. Monica has a shaky start to her solo career with a cabaret gig as Ian struggles with his mother's death.

Monica writes to Ian, but he doesn't respond. After hitting rock bottom, Ian builds up the courage to get clean over the ensuing years and Glasgow melts back into NYC 1980. Monica wonders why Ian never responded to her attempts to communicate with him and then reveals that there is someone else in her life, Monica and Ian's 2-year-old son.

After the initial shock of this news, Ian comes to terms with his feelings for Monica and being a father in their renewed relationship. He picks up his guitar and helps Monica complete the song that she was writing when he first knocked on the door as they pick up the pieces of their past and step into the future.

Musical Numbers

  1. Rooms
  2. Steps 1
  3. The Music
  4. Bring the Future Faster
  5. Steps 2
  6. Friday Night Dress
  7. Pacing in a Room
  8. Scottish Jewish Princess
  9. I Love You for All Time
  10. Let's Go to London
  11. All I Want is Everything
  12. Let's Leave London
  1. NYC Forever!
  2. The Diabolical
  3. Little Bit of Love
  4. Fear of Flying
  5. Happiness
  6. Clean
  7. Rooms 2
  8. Steps 3
  9. My Choice
  10. New Song for Scotland
  11. Rooms Finale
  12. Rooms Bows

Cast

Orchestration

Guitar 1
Guitar 2
Drums
Keyboard
Bass