The Story of “FOOTLOOSE” - Circolo Cultura e Stampa Bellunese

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The Story of “FOOTLOOSE”
Written by Erasmus Theatre
NOTE DI REGIA
La versione originale di questo elettrizzante musical verrà naturalmente mantenuta
invariata, tutta l’intensità,la veridicità e la morale del musical culto degli anni ’90.
Colonna sonora da oscar e coreografie acrobatiche vi manterranno incollati alle poltrone,
mentre massicci e coloratissimi giochi di luce ‘broadweiani’ si intersecheranno alla vicenda
rendendola ancora più avvincente.
Uno spettacolo ricco, a cominciare dal numero di personaggi, saranno infatti ancora più
attori rispetto alle passate stagioni quelli che si alterneranno sul palco per donare a questo
musical l’esplosione di energia che si merita. “Footloose” infatti è sinonimo di energia allo
stato puro, uno spettacolo adatto a tutti, facile da seguire ed estremamente emozionante.
Lo scritto che vi presentiamo è semplicemente un accenno della rappresentazione teatrale
che vi potrete divertire ad immaginare ed adattare voi stessi. In esso sono state inserite
inoltre alcune parti (contrassegnate con le note musicali) delle innumerevoli canzoni di cui
è ricchissimo questo musical.
Grazie e buon divertimento da ERASMUS INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL AND THEATRE
www.erasmustheatre.com
Ren
Ren McCormack lives in Chicago. Chicago is a city that never seems to stop. The people
there work constantly, 9 till 5, everyday. They get up, go to work, return home, eat, sleep
and then start the whole cycle again - and for what?
♫ Been working so hard
I'm punching my card
Eight hours, for what?
Oh, tell me what I got ♫
One of the only ways to let your hair down and relax after working so hard all of the week
is to “cut loose” and dance! Letting everything go and dancing away the stress is what Ren
does best.
It’s one of Ren’s last nights in Chicago. He and his mother are moving out of town to a little
known place called Bomont. Ren’s father has walked out and left them alone so his mother
has decided that maybe it would be best for them to move away and make a new start.
The fact is that no-one has really ever heard of Bomont!
When Ren tells his friends where he is going they all laugh and make fun of him. He tries
to make Bomont sound like the most interesting and popular place on earth – but they are
not convinced. Ren really doesn’t want to move from Chicago.
Ethel, Ren’s mother, has family in Bomont and has arranged for Ren and herself to stay
with them for a while, although she is a little reluctant like her son.
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Bomont
The drive to Bomont from Chicago takes around 10 hours. Ethel’s family are excited about
the fact they will be having guests in the house. Ren’s Uncle has renovated his old tool
shop above the garage to create a room for him. Everyone has been very supportive
during their difficult time.
Bomont is a small but very religious town and every Sunday the church is full of people
waiting to hear the Reverend Shaw Moore’s words.
♫ On any Sunday morning here we'll be
Raising our voices in harmony
Gathering to join the feast
Asking nought but, Lord, at least
We pray that one day once our trials have ceased
We will be released ♫
It’s the first Sunday that Ren and Ethel are in Bomont and they attend church with the rest
of the town.
The Rev. Moore gives his sermon and the choir sing. Bomont is certainly the kind of place
that Ren is not used to. Rev. Moore talks about the poet Walt Whitman and a line from one
of his poems, “I hear America singing”, and how you are the song you sing, and ……
…… at this point Ren realises how far away from Chicago he is. Things are very different
in Bomont! But he knows that he must be patient and give things a try for his mother.
Rev. Moore goes on to say how all music these days is immoral and that the Lord is
testing everyone to see whether they choose the right path and do the right thing!
Ethel was wondering whether she had done the right thing by packing up everything and
moving away.
“This morning we welcome to our parish two new souls just arrived
from Chicago. Ethel McCormack and her son … Ron, is it?”
The Rev. Moore welcomed Ethel and Ren to Bomont, getting Ren’s name wrong and
calling him Ron. The Rev. Moore said how he found the name unusual and there were a
few sniggers from the younger members of the congregation.
Once the sermon was finished Rev. Moore went over to greet Ren and his mother
personally. Rev. Moore was one of the most powerful and important figures in Bomont. He
introduced his wife, Vi, who unfortunately made the mistake of asking about “Mr
McCormack” and when he would be arriving. Ethel, obviously embarrassed, explained how
they are separated. The subject of conversation was quickly changed to Ren and his first
day of school. Oh was he in for a surprise!
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Ariel
Ariel is Rev. Moore’s daughter. An obedient, God fearing girl with a dark side, and a pair of
flame red cowboy boots.
After church she asks her father if it is ok to go out and get burgers with her friends – she’ll
be back by 10 o’clock! Her father agrees, but what he doesn’t know is that she is not going
for burgers! She is going to meet with her boyfriend, Chuck. Now, Chuck was not the
model boyfriend – and not at all the kind of boy Ariel’s father would approve of – and that’s
why she liked him.
Ariel prepares to go and meet Chuck by taking off her best ‘church’ clothes to reveal
something more colourful underneath. She knows how to hide things from her father! She
asks her friends, Rusty and Urleen to lie for her. If anyone asks, she was with them at the
“Burger Blast” all night!
♫ Well, she'd like you to think she was born yesterday
With her innocent looks and her little-town way
When she's smiling at me she's got angels in her eyes
But I've seen how she moves and the girl really cooks
She taught me some tricks you can't learn in books
And I'm starting to think she's a devil in disguise ♫
Ariel meets with Chuck and two of his friends, Travis and Lyle. She’s having a good time,
laughing in Chuck’s arms when along comes her father. He has been out looking for her to
give her a jacket, just in case she got cold. She takes it from him and he leaves, obviously
upset about what he has seen and being lied to.
School
Its Ren’s first day at school. Walking through the corridor he bumps into someone. This
someone is Willard, a real country boy. He and Ren almost get into fight until Ren uses his
comic abilities to lighten the atmosphere. Ren asks Willard what they do for fun around
Bomont and he quickly understands that there really is nothing to do for fun in Bomont. No
clubs, movies or shopping malls. Ren begins to explain that what he does for fun is dance!
♫ I never walk when I can run
I don't believe I ever could
People try to slow me down
Saying, "Boy you really should
kick back and chill"
But I can't stand still ♫
He shows Willard a few of his moves but is interrupted by the Principal of the school who
tells him that there is no dancing allowed at school or anywhere else in Bomont. Ren
thinks that he is joking, that they have all played a trick on the “new kid”, but he’s not.
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The others tell him about an accident that happened five and half years ago. “The
Potawney Bridge Accident”. There were four kids that were involved in a car accident as
they were driving back from a dance in Baylor County. Maybe it was the rain or they might
have been a little reckless but somehow they lost control of the car. It skidded across the
bridge, through the railings and fell thirty five feet into the river. No-one survived. It was
after this incident that the law was passed – No dancing, loud music, alcohol … you get
the picture.
Ren is surprised how everyone can live in this way. Rusty explains that they have had
plenty of practice and that people are always watching.
♫ Careful what you do
Someone's on to you
Careful what you do
Careful what you say
Because you're on display
Every night and every day
Somebody's hiding in the great unknown
And every time you think that you're alone
Somebody's eyes are watching
Somebody's eyes are seeing you come and go
Somebody's out there, waiting for the show
You've got no disguise
From somebody's eyes ♫
In the first couple of weeks Ren seems to get into a lot of trouble but all of it is not his fault.
Whilst driving he gets pulled over by a policeman who says that he didn’t stop when he
should have and that his music was too loud. At school during wrestling practice Chuck’s
two friends, Travis and Lyle, are a little too heavy handed with Ren, but it’s Ren that gets
into trouble. Ren has a part time job at the hardware store. Willard had gone into the store
and asked if Ren had change for a dollar, so, Ren opened the cash register to get him the
change and the shop owner accused him of stealing. On top of this his Uncle is not happy
with Ren’s supposed behaviour and they end up having an argument which finishes with
his Uncle striking him across the face. It seems like all of Bomont is against him.
The Moore House
Ariel returns home one evening after meeting Chuck to find her mother preparing dinner
and her father busy writing his sermon for Sunday. Rev. Moore is still annoyed and worried
about Ariel seeing Chuck. She tries to be pleasant and polite with her father but he
responds to her questions with an air of sarcasm. Ariel decides to leave and go to her
room. She is frustrated but does not want to argue.
Rev. Moore’s wife, Vi, tries to talk to him about the situation but he has already made his
mind up and will not listen to reason. She can never seem to have a conversation with her
husband anymore. Whenever she tries to discuss something with him it always feels as if
she is listening to one of his sermons, so most of the time she keeps her opinions to
herself.
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♫ Swallowing my words
Staring at the floor
Counting little cracks in the tile
Struggling to smile without choking
Learning to be silent ♫
The “Burger Blast”
Ren has got a new job working at the local diner. Ariel is there with all of her friends and
they are discussing their homework from school. They are talking about King Arthur,
Guinevere and chivalry when Willard turns up. Now, there has always been a strange
relationship between Rusty and Willard. Willard likes Rusty and Rusty likes Willard but
they never seems to be able to say more than three words to one another. The other girls
find this quite amusing.
Ren skates over to take their order and all conversation turns to him. All the girls start to
quiz Ariel after she teases Ren whilst he takes her order. She likes “bad guys” and Ren
has certainly proved to be the wild spirit of Bomont – but can he compete with Chuck?
♫ Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules
to fight the rising odds?
Isn't there a white knight upon a firey steed?
Late at night I toss and I turn
And I dream of what I need
I need a hero ♫
Ariel remembers that she should be meeting Chuck and she’s late. He turns up at the
Burger Blast infuriated that she didn’t meet him on time. The start to argue even though
Ariel is trying to diffuse the situation. He tries to get her to leave with him but she says no.
He insists but she keeps on refusing to leave. Ren decides to intervene and when things
begin to get a little tense between him and Chuck, Willard decides to get involved – and he
knows how to use his fists! Luckily it doesn’t come to that – Chuck goes home and Ren
manages to keep his new job.
Ariel thanks Ren for standing up to Chuck. It’s past curfew and Ariel and Ren should really
be on their way home, but rules are meant to be broken, aren’t they?
Ariel takes Ren to the train tracks. As the train passes she screams after it – she says that
she is answering the train. She can’t wait for the day when she gets on it and leaves
Bomont behind. This is the first time that Ren and Ariel have really spoken together. They
talk about Ariel’s father and their relationship which leads into Ren talking about how his
father left them. Ariel convinces Ren to let out all of his anger and shout after the train. He
screams after the train as though it was his father – “I hate you!”
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Meet The Family
Ren walks Ariel home but on the way Chuck sees them together.
They reach the Moore house and she invites Ren inside to say hello to her parents. Ariel’s
mother welcomes them both but Rev. Moore is not as happy to see Ren. He had thought
that Ariel was up in her room doing her homework and is obviously upset that she has lied
to him yet again. How is he supposed to impose a curfew on the other members of his
congregation if his own daughter doesn’t abide by the rules?
Ren decides to leave as he can see that things are beginning to get a little heated. On his
way home he is followed by Chuck and his friends who seem to be looking for a fight.
Back at the Moore house a raging argument has developed and Ariel storms out. Rev.
Moore is not sure where to turn next.
♫ I don't enjoy being her jailor
I don't relish telling her "No!"
But then I think - what if I fail her?
How can I just let her go?
I strive to be a good preacher
I try not to go overboard
But then I think - if I can't reach her
How can I face my Lord?
Heaven help me shoulder my load
Every day's a struggle, still
Someone's got to take the high road
If I don't, who will? ♫
Gym Class
The following day Ren, Willard and Ariel are late to gym class because as Ren was
walking home after leaving the Moore house he was attacked by three guys. He now has a
black eye and a bandaged hand. Coach thinks he is making excuses and gives all of the
class fifty push ups as punishment. The rest of the class are not very happy with Ren for
this!
The class talk about how everyone seems so wound up in Bomont – there’s no where they
can let off some steam! But Ren has an idea!
♫ Looking into your eyes I know I'm right
If there's anything worth the fear, it's worth the fight
No one can tie my hands
Or make me change my plans
I'm crossing the line, jumping the track
Taking what's mine and not looking back
Heaven helps the man who fights his fear
Every day I face a new frontier
I can't worry what the world will say
I may fly or fall but either way
I'm free ♫
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He decides that he will go against the rules and try to organise a dance in Bomont!
The Bar-B-Que
To try and convince the others that a dance is a good idea, Ren decides to take his friends
out of town to a Bar-B-Que dance club. Cowboy Bob with his band supply the
entertainment and the dancing goes on all night long.
♫ Still rocking
Still rocking
Going strong
Still got the heat
I’m keeping the beat
Because it still feels so good ♫
Ren grabs Ariel and whisks her away to dance. Rusty plucks up the courage to ask Willard
if he’d like to dance but the first thing he wants to do is to find somewhere to sit.
The music continues, Ren and Ariel are clearly having fun and you can tell that Rusty is
itching to get up and dance. Cowboy Bob jumps down off the stage, grabs Rusty, and pulls
her up to dance. Willard can only take so much! He gets up and goes over to where Rusty
and Cowboy Bob are dancing and makes a point of telling him that Rusty came with him.
He rolls up his sleeves eager to make his point clearer with his fists but Cowboy Bob
quietly walks away, leaving Rusty with Willard. Rusty assures him that she knows who she
came with and again asks him to dance with her – but Willard runs off to get a beer!
Ren can see that something is not right with Willard and joins him for a beer. Willard
confides in him that he can’t dance. Everyone hears this but Cowboy Bob announces it a
second time – just to make it clear!
Ren decides to give him a helping hand and teach him a few of his moves. Willard finds it
a little hard to begin with, but Rusty is behind him one hundred percent.
♫ Let's hear it for the boy
Let's give the boy a hand
Let's hear it for my baby
You know you got to understand
Whoa, maybe he's no Romeo
But he's loving one-man show
Let's hear it for the boy ♫
With a little help from his friends Willard manages to fight his fear and strut his stuff with
the best of them!
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Back at the Moore House
It’s late. At Ariel’s house Chuck is trying to get her attention by throwing stones at her
window. Her mother goes outside and tells Chuck that she is not there – she went to study
with the other girls. Vi is joined by her husband who is a little annoyed with Chuck visiting
so late. He leaves. Rev. Moore is concerned about his daughter as she should be home by
now. He goes to call Ariel’s friend but Vi tells him not to bother because she is not there.
Ariel returns home from a night of dancing to find her parents awake and waiting for her.
They confront her with the fact that they know she has not been studying with the other
girls. She is not happy about her parents checking up on her. They argue. Ariel feels like
her father does not really care about her anymore and that he’s not interested in what she
thinks and feels. Rev. Moore lets his emotions get the better of him and comes very close
to hitting Ariel. He manages to stop himself, but Ariel runs away in tears. He is shocked at
his own behaviour. Vi tries to talk to him before the whole situation gets out of hand.
♫ Can you find it in your heart to forgive her?
Can you stop and see there's part of her that's trying to obey
While part of her is dying to run away?
Can't you hear what's she's trying to say? ♫
She tries to tell him how he has changed. They once had a son called Bobby but he died
in the accident on the bridge. Vi feels that he tries to control Ariel’s life so much because
he is frightened of losing her too.
She feels so far away from her husband and would give anything for things to return to the
way they had been.
The Speech
Ren has been working on his speech that he will give to the Town Council proposing they
organise a dance. He’s practicing in front of Willard and his friends, but they don’t seem
very impressed with his work. Now, when Willard gives any kind of advice to anyone he
always relies on what his mother may say to do in that particular situation.
♫ Everything I ever learned
That gets me through the worst
I learned at my Mama's knee
Now, anytime I'm turned around
I turn to Mama first
And you'd be wise
To memorize
What Mama says to me ♫
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Even after Willard has told Ren everything that his “Mama says”, he has still got no idea
what he should do to his speech!
They are interrupted by Ariel and her friends. Ariel and Chuck have had a big fight and
Chuck hit her across the face. Willard is ready to go and strike back but Ariel tells him that
she doesn’t want anymore trouble, so he backs down and cools off. They had fought
because Chuck had demanded that Ariel couldn’t see Ren anymore. Ariel said that she
would see who she liked! She tells the others that she just wants to spend some time
alone so they leave. Ren checks with her to make sure that she doesn’t want any
company. She changes her mind and accepts his offer.
She hears the train arriving and runs after it, pulling Ren along towards the tracks. She
climbs up onto the railway bridge which at first glance seems to be covered in graffiti, but it
is actually poetry. This is where Ariel goes to be alone and write poems for her brother,
Bobby. She explains to Ren how he was one of the kids that died in the Potawney Bridge
accident.
Ren and Ariel have become a lot closer since Ren arrived in Bomont. They have shared a
lot of painful memories.
♫ I thought that dreams belonged to other men
Because each time I got close, they'd fall apart again
I feared my heart would beat in secrecy
I faced the nights alone
Oh, how could I have known
That all my life I only needed you?
Almost paradise
We're knocking on heaven's door
Almost paradise
How could we ask for more?
I swear that I can see forever in your eyes
Paradise ♫
Ariel has a helping hand for Ren’s speech, the Bible. She has marked all the passages
that he might be able to use to strengthen his argument.
They both realise how much they like each other and how close they have become. They
end this magical moment with their first kiss.
The Town Hall
The time has arrived for Ren to speak up and forward his motion to abolish the “no
dancing” law. He stands up and expresses his opinion supported by all the young people
of Bomont.
Rev. Moore is ready with a counter attack saying how the law is in place to benefit the
town – to stop the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs. He is certain that no-one will grant
permission to change the law. All the other council members nod in agreement.
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But Ren has a second chance to try and convince the panel. Vi defends Ren saying that
he has a right to be heard.
Ren explains how he realises that the idea of this dance scares some people but there is
nothing to be afraid of. He makes his speech, which includes all of the relevant passages
from the Bible that Ariel had given him. He was speaking on the same level as Rev.
Moore. His argument was backed up by the ideas that Rev. Moore preached every
Sunday.
But the vote still resulted in a NO!
Ren leaves the town hall feeling defeated but his mother sits him down and tells him how
proud she is and how he should try and talk to them again.
It was obvious that the council had already discussed the matter and had decided to vote
against him even before hearing the details. Ethel will not take no for an answer so Ren
goes off to find Rev. Moore and give it one last try.
He finds Rev. Moore and tries to talk to him calmly and seriously about his idea. Ren
understands what the town has been through. Rev. Moore seems to think that everything
is ok now and the wounds have been healed – but they haven’t.
All Ren wants is to be able to dance freely!
He tells Rev. Moore that he knows about his son, Bobby and is sorry for his loss. But Ren
has lost someone too – his father. He understands how Rev. Moore feels. The constant
questioning – all those “what ifs”, “whys” and “maybes”. Ren leaves him to think about
what has been said knowing that, in the end, Rev. Moore will do what he has to do.
Sunday at Church
As usual everyone attends church just like any other Sunday, but this Sunday something is
different.
Rev. Moore, in his sermon, talks about how he has been wrong. He has been too selfish,
thinking that he is the only person that lost someone the night of the accident, but
everybody had lost somebody.
He should have been helping people to find the joy in their lives, but he hasn’t been.
He ends his sermon by saying that someone has opened his eyes and that maybe a
dance just might be a good idea!
The Dance
So, the senior class of Bomont High School have got permission to have their dance. All
that’s left is now is for Willard to pluck up the courage to ask Rusty to the dance and …
DANCE!!
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♫ I rented my tux
Bought flowers –
Twelve bucks!
And on my twenty-third try
I finally tied my tie
I got this feeling
That time's no longer holding me down
Been feeling so strange
My life is about to change
I know just how she feels
That's what happens when you're wearing heels
Let's hit the ceiling
And then let's tear up this town
Tonight I got to cut loose
Footloose
Kick off your Sunday shoes ♫
THE END
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