Dr John Reynolds
​​​-Author-Teacher-Songwriter-Broadcaster-
​FOLLOW ME
THE MUSICALS
The five musicals featured here have been produced by schools and theatre in places as diverse as New Zealand, Australia, Kiribati, Tanzania, Prague, England, Canada and the USA. Each show features universal themes with which any cultural social or ethnic group can identify, a strong storyline with drama and humour, and a wide variety of excellent music.
A comment from Richmond, Virginia tipifies the many many postive comments on the shows: "I wanted strong dialogue that does not talk down to either the cast or the audience. I also look for music that is rich and catchy. Your show fitted the bill on both counts ."
Costume and scenery can be designed in a variety of styles on a simple or elaborate scale depending on available resources. Similarly, although each show can be staged with large or small casts using the high quality musical backing tracks or playing the full musical scores. All the shows are suitable for performance by students (aged 10+) or theatre groups seeking a production that is ideal for family audiences.
Robyn Hood: Outlaw Princess​​
View excerpts on YouTube:
Ottawa, Canada: Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2
Auckland, NZ: Excerpt 1 Excerpt 2
​Robyn Hood: Outlaw Princess is a lively, fun, 'pop' musical, based loosely on the traditional tales of 12th. century, English folk hero, Robin Hood. In what is essentially a fantasy tale, Robyn is a schoolgirl who has a confrontation with her school headmaster. As punishment, he orders her to write an essay on the lives of famous men in history.
Angrily Robyn complains that school history lessons always concentrate on the lives of men. Why weren't there were more famous women in history she asks? She had often dreamed of being a famous heroine.Her dream becomes a reality in which she re-emerges as Robyn Hood, an outlaw princess, leading a female band of outlaws. The band rescues a young woman who is being taken under guard to be the bride of the Sheriff of Nottingham. She first identifies herself simply as 'Pip' but the band soon discovers that she is in reality Princess Phillipa, Robyn's long-lost sister.
The story unfolds in a series of dramatic, and amusing adventures centred round an on-going confrontations with the evil Sheriff of Nottingham (the school headmaster) and his dim-witted soldiers, the Heavies.The final scene is a dramatic treason trial in the marketplace in Nottingham as Robyn's dream becomes a nightmare, but then ends in a dramatic and unexpected twist.
Due to the considerable international success of this musical, John has adapted his story to a new young adult novel of the same name. (See Books section)
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Starblaze
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A contemporary rock musical set in the future. It tells the story of a group of female freedom fighters on board the spaceship ‘Vigilant’. After a space battle they capture the evil dictator Odium and his Heavies. However, with the assistance of the traitorous genius Dr Sneech, Odium captures the ship and forces it to land on the Planet Zodark. All the pirates are taken under guard to Zodark City except Sandy, the daughter of the Captain who manages to escape. Alone and frightened in the outlands of Zodark she meets a young Zodark called Astro and after an initial period of mutual suspicion, the two become friends. However they are quickly captured by a band of roaming monsters called the Horriffs whose personal appearance is so repulsive that for years they have struck fear into all Zodarks. But it transpires that they are in fact ‘misunderstood monsters’ who simply want to be friendly to everyone.
Back in Zodark City, Odium is preparing to execute the pirates. When the Zodark leader protests, he too is condemned to die. Just as the Heavies are raising their weapons, the Horriffs, led by Sandy and Astro burst in, overcome the Heavies and capture Odium, whereupon peace and harmony is restored.
Each of the major groups in the story is designed specifically to appeal to school pupils. The main group, the Space Pirates, creates the opportunity for girls to play a female role in which singing and dancing is combined with drama on a group or individual scale. Similarly the Zodarks (the star people) appeal to girls who prefer a gentler role. The role of the Horriffs has proved to be very popular with both sexes as it involves acting the part of lumbering monsters whose fearsome appearance combined with their awkward antics invariably invokes a strong audience response. The paramilitary characteristics of the Heavies who guard the dictator Odium appeal particularly to boys.
In each of the groups there is ample opportunity for the development of cameo roles. The lead roles are principally designed for girls. Several (eg Sandy and Astro) involve acting and singing. Others, although having no solo numbers, do provide the opportunity for singing in choral parts if desired. Two lead roles are provided for boys - Odium (the dictator) who has one solo, and Cosmo (the Zodark leader).
Starblaze is a bright musical with catchy melodies that can be performed with a simple guitar/piano accompaniment or full instrumentation, and will definitely leave the audience humming on the way home. It is suitable for performance by students (aged 10+) or theatre groups seeking a production that is ideal for family audiences.
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Due to the popularity of the musical, John has adapted it to a young adult novel, also called Starblaze. See Books section
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Valley Of The Voodons
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​​Set on a distant planet, the people of Zandrus are plagued by periodic attacks from the evil Voodons who live in a forbidding jungle area within a valley outside the city. Queen Fara has found the whole situation too stressful and is retiring in favour of her daughter Princess Kimnos, to the fury of her son Prince Dronos - a lazy fellow who prefers to surf with his friends. As the Zandrusites are putting the final touches to the coronation celebrations, the Voodons attack the city and capture Princess Kimnos and Prince Dronos. Two buskers then arrive shortly afterwards and offer to rescue the royal ​pair from the Voodons lair.​
Meanwhile, in Voodon Valley, the creatures, in cohorts with a land despoiler Baron Wastes, are contructing a machine that will manufacture magdonite - a deadly substance that can be used in the tip of intergalactic warheads. The buskers manage to gain entrance into the Princess's prison and after a series of table turning incidents, turn the machine against Baron Wastes and the Voodon leader Stark. Peace and harmony is then established on Planet Zodark.
The Zandrusites provide the opportunity for both male and female characters with a wide scope for singing and dancing. The role of the Surfies is designed to appeal principally to young males. Their mild chauvinism coupled with their colourful costumes and surfing songs ensure that they make a considerable impact. The Voodons provide considerable scope for those many students who enjoy being evil on stage. Their uncompromising nastiness invariably provokes a strong audience response. The Zombos, although primarily passive creatures can, with their shuffling gait and chorused responses, provide plenty of humour. And, in the end, sweet revenge is theirs. In each of these groups there is ample opportunity for the development of cameo roles.
The lead roles provide a variety of contrasting characters. Reflecting an increasing tendency for male students to participate in rock musicals, several key parts have been written for males (with appropriate songs).
Valley Of The Voodons incorporates simple technology including a computer and a machine called ‘The Destructor’. These can be designed on a simple scale but, where schools or theatre groups have greater expertise and resources, there is a considerable scope for more elaborate presentations.
The musical has a conservationist theme with some great musical numbers, one of which, the finale ‘Light a Candle’ is very popular with school choirs at music festivals. Like Starblaze, the show is suitable for performance by students (aged 10+) or theatre groups seeking a production that is ideal for family audiences.
View a classy choral presentation of Light a Candle in the Darkness - the finale for Valley of the Voodons:
Windust
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​​Windust is an amusing satire on the western movie genre. Consequently costuming and sets can be simple or elaborate, depending on available resources. Similarly, although it can be staged with a relatively small cast, it is possible to considerably expand the ​numbers​ of participants.
The townspeople of Little River are constantly plagued by drought and bandits. In desperation, the sheriff sends for a gunfighter called the Drongo Kid whom he has found listed in the Yellow Pages. However, the gunfighter turns out to be shortsighted and incompetent.
Meanwhile, in the local school house, the school Ma'am Miss Scow is trying to suppress her natural desires to break out of the ultra-conformist mould. She covers this by encouraging children to be totally obedient and to maintain their manners at all times. Two of the school children, Shane and Charlotte escape into the hills where they are captured by the bandits. Realising that an attack is imminent, Miss Scow persuades the sheriff to treat the bandits with kindness and generosity, a plan which backfires. However, the arrival of Professor Pecksniff, a travelling quack doctor and the erratic behaviour of the Drongo Kid save the day. It transpires that the professor is a geologist who has discovered a permanent water supply, thereby saving the town and ensuring its future prosperity.
Each of the groups within the show is designed specifically to appeal to school children. The Citizens of Little River provide ample scope for both male and female characters with additional opportunities for singing and dancing. Young men enjoy the roles of the Cowboys while young women can be cast either as the traditional Western female in long skirts and bonnets or in more ‘liberated’ garb. Similarly, the Schoolchildren include both male and female roles which enable the actors to play exaggerated mimics of their real selves.
The Bandits are likeable rogues, for whom the adventurous aspects of their lives have been long since overshadowed by the harsh realities of making a living. Mexican style costumes offer ample scope for complementing the colourful nature of the characters. The Stinkers can be quite outrageous and vile. Most children spend their early years reluctantly tolerating constant parental exhortations to maintain a high standard of cleanliness. Being a Stinker, a role in which they can deliberately be revolting, has an obvious attraction.
Within each of these groups there is ample scope for developing cameo roles. The lead roles have been designed to provide a variety of contrasting characters with an equal opportunity for both male and female roles (including Professor Pecksniff who portrays both).
Windust is a lively show, easily staged. Many of the songs are based on western styles and have the potential for wide appeal.
The Littlest Elf
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The Littlest Elf is a musical written for children from 6 to 8 years old. It is ideal for teachers or theatre groups looking for a show that they can present during Christmas time.
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The story is set in the Santa's workshop where the Elves are working very hard to provide enough toys for the children of the world on Christmas Day. The Elves are not happy because they have to work too hard and they never recieve any of the presents themselves. They decide to go on strike and tell the Littlest Elf that he/she has to inform Santa Claus.
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When Santa Claus is told the reason for the strike he immediately points out that there are no presents for him either. After some discussion it is decided that presents will also be given to the hard-working Elves in Santa's workshop.
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Dialogue is written for a variety of characters and there are 8 songs that include solos and chorus. They are flexible enough to allow a variety of children to perform depending on numbers and ability.
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Scripts, scores, demonstration recordings and backing tracks are all available direct from the writer, John Reynolds. For futher information contact the John direct: jbess@xtra.co.nz
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