Rock Musical | medium 11 plus

Originally performed under the title CHRISTIAN!, the rock musical BIG BASS DRUM opened to full houses and critical acclaim in Durban in December 1979, subsequently playing two months at His Majesty's Theatre in Johannesburg and later again revived (with a revised book and score) for a further Durban season. The show has since been seen widely throughout South Africa and has been produced as far afield as Germany.

"The music is unfailingly pleasant, often touching and frequently rousing .. the musical .. does indeed work quite astoundingly well" - "The Star"

"The European Premiere was a smashing success. ..The Forum was packed .. There were several encores at the end." - "Wetzlar Neue Zeitung"

The citizens of Destruction lie, cheat, thrive on human weakness and are experts on corruption. For them the only truth is the word of the evil Lord Appolyon. Defying the mockery of the citizens, Evangelist and his Holy Glory Band try to spread the Word with music and song.

After the citizens leave, Christian remains behind to find out more about the Celestial City and receives a book from Evangelist. He decides to leave Destruction to join the Holy Glory Band. Christiana, Christian's wife, does not leave with him, but when her friends refuse to help her to hide from Appolyon's guards, she decides to follow Christian.

In Vanity Fair, Christian leads the song and dance. A drunk wench throws herself on Christian. He grabs her glass to prevent it breaking, but is accused of stealing it and is dragged away to be locked up in the dungeon.

As Christian is sentenced to life imprisonment, the court erupts in raucous cheering, dance and song. In the turmoil Evangelist helps Christian to escape. En route he meets his wife and Evangelist tells them to go on alone, because the Book will guide them and with faith they will find "Home".

They encounter Appolyon and a fierce fight breaks out between him and Christian. As he is about to kill Appolyon with his own sword, he relents: "Destroy evil and it will rise again, for evil has only the place on earth that we give it by denying our own".

ACT I Overture
Sun's Coming Up/what A Day For Saving Sinners
Mad Inhabitants
Van Van Evangelist
Appolyon
Bethlehem - Gospel Version
What A Day For Saving Sinners (Reprise)
Go Christian Go
Show Me Peace
Who Knows
Song Of The Night (Part One)
We Know You (Song Of The Night Part Two)
Follow The Man
Alone
Vanity Fair
Follow The Man (Reprise)
Bethlehem
Vanity Fair (Reprise)
Images Of Pain
ACT II Entract
Baby I'm The Best
To Life
Warm Days Of Home
Children Of Morning
Who Knows (Reprise)
Moment Of Sunlight
Appolyon (Reprise)
Show Me Peace (Reprise)
Follow The Man (Reprise)
Finale Medley

Rock Musical
3 Scene Changes - 2 hours
CAST: 11m, 4f (expandable)
LEADS:
Christian
Evangelist
Appolyin
Christiana
CITIZENS OF DESTRUCTION:
Hypocricy
Pliability
Liberality
Bronwyn
Guard One
Guard Two
Dancing Girls One
Dancing Girl Two
Miss Worldlywise
HOLY GLORY BAND
Leader
Joker
Girl
One or more members
NIGHT SCENE
Night
Chroal
Medieval Choir
Dawn
3 Groups
VANIT FAIR (can be doubled by Citizens of Destruction)
Master of the Fair
A Buxom Wench
Guard One
Guard Two
Four Inhabitants
JURY (Same as above)
Blindman & Jury Members
Dancing Girls
Court Orderly
One or More Spectators
FIGHT SCENE (Same as above)
Line of Guards

30 Libretti
2 Vocal Scores Act I
2 Vocal Scores Act II

1 KEYBOARD II
1 HORN IN F
1 TRUMPET
1 TROMBONE
1 DRUM KIT
1 GUITAR
1 BASS

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