Bat Boy: The Musical
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| Bat Boy | |
| The Musical | |
| Music | Laurence O'Keefe |
|---|---|
| Lyrics | Laurence O'Keefe |
| Book | Keythe Farley Brian Flemming |
| Based upon | Weekly World News's Bat Boy |
| Productions | 1997 Off Broadway 2004 London |
| Awards | Lucille Lortel Awards Eliot Norton Award Richard Rodgers Development Award |
Bat Boy: The Musical is an Off-Broadway and West End musical. The Weekly World News story about a half-boy, half-bat found living in a cave inspired writers Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming to write a stage adaptation. They were joined by American composer/lyricist Laurence O'Keefe (no relation to the English bassist Laurence O'Keefe) and their first production premiered on Halloween, 1997.
The musical differs in a few of its plot details from the Weekly World News portrayal of Bat Boy. In the musical, Bat Boy learns to speak from his adoptive family, yearns for acceptance and tries to join society, only to face hatred and violence from a town that fears him and jealous rage from his foster father. Although full of blood, violence, incest and interspecies sex, Bat Boy: The Musical won several awards and nearly unanimous rave reviews. The New York Times declared, "It's remarkable what [this show's] intelligent wit can accomplish"; the New York Post named it an "instant classic", and John Lahr of The New Yorker called it "a giggling cult hit" and "the only play in the history of the theatre whose hero ends Act I with a rabbit in his mouth, and who moves on in Act II to an entire cow's head."
Bat Boy premiered at Tim Robbins' Actors Gang Theatre on October 31, 1997 and has since been produced Off-Broadway, in London's West End, at the Edinburgh Festival and in scores of productions throughout the world. The musical was awarded best Off-Broadway musical by both the Lucille Lortel Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award in 2001. Regional productions of Bat Boy have been nominated for and won dozens of awards, including the Norton Awards (New England's equivalent of the Tony) and Ovation Awards (Los Angeles). It entered regional theatre in 2002 beginning with the Phoenix Theatre. The show has also proven quite popular in Korea and Japan.
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[edit] Writing and Performing
The text (script and score) veers from manically farcical to deeply tragic, and is often both at once. The book deals with very heavy themes (such as hypocrisy, acceptance, forgiveness, racism and scapegoating), but often punctures the most serious moments with slapstick, surreallism, or Simpsons-style irony.
The show contains unmistakable religious themes. It is chock-full of biblical allusions, such as the quoting of Psalm 23 and Genesis 9:4 in scene 9. Act II begins with a religious revival tent meeting featuring a faith healing preacher who performs "A Joyful Noise", a song featuring references to the Prodigal son and the lion lying down with the lamb. For the most part, religious references and scenes are used to highlight the hypocrisy and hysteria that can arise from extremism.
The score was written to be playable by a five-piece band of guitar, two keyboards, bass and drums, but the original cast album (RCA Records) contains seven extra instruments (cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, french horn, trumpet, trombone). The music covers many styles, from rock to rap to horror-movie film score and opera. The book was written to be performed by a cast of 10, with 6 men and 4 women playing every role. This means many of the actors must play two to five characters, which requires many quick changes of character and costume. Bat Boy is often performed with a cast of 15-20, although it has been known to have more than 30 actors in a production.
A note from the three authors at the beginning of the published script asks that the show be played as straight and truthfully as possible, finding the humor in the characters' high-stakes needs and obsessions and the lengths they'll go to in pursuing their goals. They advise directors and actors against adopting a winking tone, breaking the fourth wall or adding their own bits of humor or gags that can trivialize the violence or mar the truthfulness which the authors feel is necessary to get the fullest emotion and biggest laughs.
Nonetheless the show is often performed as a high-camp melodrama with over-the-top gags. For example, a production in the San Francisco Bay Area had the minor character "A doctor" turned into a Nazi, complete with swastika armband, German accent, and Nazi salute. Tangential bits such as these are frequent in productions and have inspired heated debate as to which approach, straight-faced or campy, is the best way to present the story. Several productions have portrayed the animals in the number "Children, Children" as puppets, so that the song's interspecies-sex-orgy dance break plays cute rather than disturbing. This interpretation is common in school and youth-group productions where the sexuality of the scene is considered too intense.
[edit] Controversy
The musical production contains depictions of violence, gore, incest, and rape, which has roused debate in certain high schools seeking to produce it. In 2005, the La Cañada High School in La Canada Flintridge, California high school scheduled a performance of Bat Boy: The Musical for the school's spring musical, but several parents objected to the play's content, saying that it "was not age-appropriate" and the unedited script should not have been provided to students as young as 14 without proper notice to the minor's parents. Many students within the school defended their right to perform the play. Christian organization Focus on the Family involved itself in the discussion with the school, trying unsuccessfully to persuade the community to cancel the production.[1] In fact some Christian schools do perform the play despite the claims of being "not age-appropriate." Many other high schools have performed Bat Boy: The Musical. Schools that perform the play often de-emphasize the sexual themes; they alter or remove the interspecies orgy and render the love story between Shelley and Bat Boy more innocently, depicting them fully clothed during "Inside Your Heart", and so on. Most if not all of the schools that perform Bat Boy keep the violence intact, though the gore is not exhibited as fully (and is commonly played-up as campy as possible).
[edit] Synopsis
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The plot summary in this article or section is too long or detailed compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot. |
- Act I
Three teenagers -- Ron, Rick and Ruthie Taylor -- are spelunking in a cave near Hope Falls West Virginia. They notice a strange, humanoid creature in the cave with them, and identify him as the legendary feral "Bat Boy". Bat Boy bites Ruthie's neck, and Rick and Ron leap on him and knock him unconscious. The company then assembles onstage as a sort of Greek chorus and begin to tell the legend of Bat Boy, instructing the audience to watch and learn from his struggle ("Hold Me, Bat Boy").
Ruthie is taken to the hospital and Rick and Ron hand the Bat Boy over to the local lawman, Sheriff Reynolds, who decides to take him across town to the house of town veterinarian Doctor Parker. At the home of Doctor Parker, the doctor’s wife Meredith and daughter Shelley are cleaning and discussing boys; Rick Taylor is Shelley's boyfriend. Sheriff Reynolds arrives with the Bat Boy. He asks Meredith to take in the creature until Dr. Parker returns home. Meredith agrees to keep Bat Boy in one of Dr. Parker's spare cages, and the Sheriff thanks them for their "Christian Charity" and leaves.
Later in the evening a thunderstorm is brewing. Bat Boy is now inside a large cage in the Parkers' living room. He is terrified and hungry, yet refuses everything Meredith makes for him. Shelley, annoyed by his shrieking, calls him an "Ugly Boy". Meredith christens him Edgar. Rick Taylor arrives to see his Shelley. Rick flips out when he sees Edgar is still alive, but taunts him and tries to ignore him instead of doing anything. He and Shelley start making out, and Edgar starts imitating the noises they're making. Rick goes over to the cage and continues to taunt Edgar, who bites him. Rick gets pissed off, takes out a knife, and threatens to kill him ("Watcha Wanna Do?"). Meredith interrupts and throws him out of the house.
The storm hits and the power fails; Meredith sends Shelley to bed. Now alone with Edgar, Meredith sings softly to him, telling him that she hopes her house can be "A Home for You". He responds to her, but spits out a stew she tries to give him.
In the Hope Falls Slaughterhouse, the Mayor Maggie has called a special meeting of the Town Council. She announces that the Reverend Billy Hightower will be bringing his Tent Revival Meeting and Barbecue to Hope Falls in the spring. Secondly, Mayor Maggie asks for an explanation from the ranchers for the lack of meat in the slaughterhouse. The ranchers admit their cows are too malnourished to be slaughtered, and several have died for no clear reason. The ranchers and townsfolk argue with each other and express their fears that "Another Dead Cow" may destroy the town. It is suggested that the cows may be dying because of the Bat Boy. They agree that Doctor Parker should kill it.
Back at the Parker house, Doctor Parker returns from hunting, carrying some dead geese slung over his shoulder. He has been drinking. Parker sees Edgar in the cage and is horrified. He analyzes Edgar and is about to give him a lethal injection when Meredith interrupts. She begs him not to kill Edgar, and says she will sleep with him if he saves the bat child from starvation. Doctor Parker asks that it be tonight, and she is reluctant. He sings "Dance With Me, Darling" about their happier times together. Meredith agrees, and after she leaves Doctor Parker slices open the neck of one of the geese and feeds Bat Boy the blood. A ghostly chorus of Voices in His Head appear onstage and sing with him.
At the local hospital, a doctor assures Mrs. Taylor that the delirious and terrified Ruthie will be okay. Ruthie’s mother and brothers try to reassure her ("Mrs. Taylor's Lullaby"), promising her that if the Sheriff wants to stay in office he will kill the Bat Boy.
The next day at the Parker house, Meredith tries to teach Edgar how to behave like a human being. Over the course of several weeks, we see Edgar evolve from a gibbering, crouching creature to a confident, eloquent man-about-town with a high school equivalency diploma. Whenever Edgar's progress stalls, Doctor Parker secretly feeds him blood ("Show You a Thing or Two").
Mayor Maggie calls another special meeting of the Town Council, to discuss the upcoming revival meeting. The Sheriff, urged on by the townsfolk, tells Parker that Edgar cannot attend. Doctor Parker tries to convince the townsfolk that Edgar is not a danger, but they threaten to kill the Bat Boy if he is not taken away. Doctor Parker gives them his word of honor that Edgar will not come. ("Christian Charity (Reprise)").
At the Parker house, Shelley is teaching Edgar to dance while Doctor Parker convinces Meredith that the pact he made is for the best. As they have tea, Edgar mentions he's heard about the upcoming Revival and asks to attend. Doctor Parker tries to persuade him to go camping with the family instead. Edgar argues that he wants to see the world and join society, and that he doesn't want to harm people he only wants to learn from them ("A Home for You (Reprise)"). Parker and Meredith are firm. Edgar argues that attending the Revival is crucial to his own development and happiness, because he is probably human - a realization he made recently when he noticed he has a navel (after watching a medical program TV). Parker is unmoved, but Meredith changes her mind and says she will take Edgar to the revival. In anger, Doctor Parker grabs Meredith’s arm and Edgar instinctively attacks him. Meredith stops him, then comforts Edgar - instead of Parker. Parker realizes Bat Boy has taken over his spot in Meredith's heart ("Parker's Epiphany"). Parker's mind snaps, but he smiles and agrees to let Edgar attend the revival. Meredith leaves Doctor Parker alone with Edgar. Edgar is hungry, but hates himself for his bloodthirst. He says he thinks he can change, but Parker, in a cruel taunt, pulls a live rabbit out of his doctor's bag and places it in front of Edgar, telling him to resist it. Doctor Parker argues with the Voices in His Head and devises a plan to destroy Edgar and win Meredith back. All the other residents of Hope Falls, including Meredith, Shelley, Maggie and the ranchers, sing of their plans for the revival the next day. Edgar sings a prayer to God, asking Him to remove his bloody nature. Bat Boy masters his hunger and hugs the rabbit, but Doctor Parker takes it from him and kills it. Edgar, horrified but unable to control his hunger, picks up the rabbit and begins to drink its blood. Doctor Parker comes to Ruthie Taylor’s hospital room and administers a lethal injection. She convulses and dies. ("Comfort and Joy")
- Act II
At the Revival Meeting, Reverend Billy Hightower works hard to raise the spirits of the townspeople ("A Joyful Noise"). He offers faith healing and asks for a volunteer with sins on his soul. Meredith, Shelley and Edgar arrive, and Edgar asks for healing, but it is unsuccessful. Edgar asks the townspeople to "Let Me Walk Among You," promising he can be a civilized member of the community. They change their minds and embrace him ("A Joyful Noise (Reprise)"). Doctor Parker arrives and claims Ruthie Taylor has died in the night from a bizarre infection caused by Edgar's bite, adding that he has called the Institute in Wheeling and they are on their way to remove him. All are horrified at the news as the town (and Edgar) believes the lie. Rick Taylor runs in with his brother and mother and aims a gun at Edgar ("Whatcha Wanna Do (Reprise)"), but Shelley steps in front of the gun. Rick shoves her aside violently and Edgar attacks Rick, biting his neck. Edgar runs away. Doctor Parker pretends to administer an antidote to Rick but instead gives him a lethal injection. Rick convulses and dies. The townspeople search the forest for the Edgar ("Stop the Bat Boy!").
Meredith and Shelley also hunt for Edgar in the woods, resolving once they have found him they will leave town, change their names, and live far away from anyone - including Doctor Parker ("Three Bedroom House"). Shelley tells Meredith she is in love with Edgar. Meredith is horrified, and Shelley runs away deeper into the woods. She finds Edgar, and they comfort each other, then realize they're in love. The Greek God of nature, Pan, a satyr, arrives to preside over a sort of union between Edgar and Shelley ("Children, Children"), accompanied by a chorus of animals of all shapes, sizes and species. The celebration culminates in a huge interspecies orgy.
Meanwhile, Ron Taylor is hunting for Edgar. He heads for the slaughterhouse, concluding the Bat Boy would most likely satisfy his blood-lust there. Ron makes a terrible racket while looking for him. Townsperson Daisy hears the noise and tells the Sheriff that she may have the Bat Boy cornered in the slaughterhouse. Mrs. Taylor overhears this comment and tries to kill Bat Boy by setting fire to the building with the torch. The slaughterhouse burns and the townsfolk arrive to watch the blaze. Ron is killed in the fire. The townsfolk by now are turning into an irrational mob. Doctor Parker riles them further by telling them the Bat Boy is on a rampage ("More Blood"). The mob follows the doctor as he leads the hunt ("Kill the Bat Boy!").
In the clearing in the woods, Shelley and Edgar are curled together. Edgar realizes he is hungry and tries to leave to protect Shelley, but she reveals she knows he eats blood. She offers her arm to Edgar to drink from and he reluctantly agrees ("Inside Your Heart"). Just as Edgar is about to bite her, Meredith finds the pair and stops them by revealing that she is Edgar's mother. Overcome with grief and shame, Edgar runs off.
Edgar decapitates a cow and confesses his despair to the severed head ("Apology to a Cow"). He laments his lost life in the cave and rages against his parents. He declares he will murder his mother and father as revenge for making him aware of the world, but denying him love with Shelley. The Townsfolk, Doctor Parker and the Sheriff arrive. Parker tells Edgar that he is not his father. The Sheriff tries to talk down the townsfolk, who are about to kill Edgar, who is about to kill Parker, but Meredith arrives and begs them not to. She and Parker tell the true story of how Edgar came to be. They say that Doctor Parker was a young ambitious veterinarian and Meredith was his assistant and fiancé. He spilled a pheromone he was working on onto her. It drove him mad with lust, and he raped her. Coming home, she was raped again by a swarm of bats. Doctor Parker cared for her afterward, hoping she would forgive him. She discovered she was pregnant, and they married and moved to Hope Falls. She gave birth to twins: Shelley and Edgar. She demanded that Edgar be killed, but Parker, unable to kill Meredith's child, left him at the mouth of a cave, where his true fathers (the bats) found him and carried him down to the caves to raise him as one of their own.
The townspeople still demand revenge. They blame Edgar for the cow plague, but Meredith tells them that the cows are dying because they’ve been raising them on a mountain. She tries to comfort Edgar, but he has already decided he wants to die ("Finale: I Imagine You're Upset"). The Sherriff tells Edgar not to throw his life away, but Edgar doesn't listen. He asks Doctor Parker to kill him, but Parker cannot, so Edgar reveals that he slept with Shelley and that she offered him her blood. Doctor Parker is about to kill him when Meredith stops him. Parker apologizes for what he’s done, Meredith forgives him and asks him if they can start over. But Parker, unable to forgive himself, asks Edgar if he's hungry and lifts his knife and slits his own throat open. Edgar, unable to resist the blood, leaps upon Parker and drinks from his neck. Doctor Parker stabs Edgar in the back, and as he raises his knife to stab again, Meredith runs forward and tries to pull Edgar off, and she too is stabbed in the back. The three fall to the ground, dying. Edgar declares that he is an animal and dies in Shelley’s lap. ("Finale: I Am Not a Boy"). As the townsfolk stand stunned, the Institute Man arrives, but too late. He asks what happened, and Shelley stands up and tells the story of the Bat Boy ("Hold Me, Bat Boy (Reprise)").
The cast, living and dead, turn and address the audience, delivering the final messages of the show. Bat Boy rises up and the show ends as the company tells the audience "don't deny your beast inside."
[edit] Characters
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[edit] Songs
(As they appear in the Piano/Conductor Score)
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* Appear on the Original Cast Recording.
Please note that "More Blood/Kill the Bat Boy!" is included on the Original London Cast Recording. Also note that, on the London Recording, "Inside Your Heart" is replaced with the song "Mine, All Mine", and "Ugly Boy"/"Whatcha Wanna Do?" are replaced by a song called "Hey Freak". Additionally, this recording begins with the end portion of dialogue before (and segues into) "Hold Me, Bat Boy". It is underscored by a portion of the song "The Cave". The track is titled "Dude! What is It?".[1]
[edit] Major differences in the London production
The London production had one full song replaced completely and several small moments revised or replaced. There are small lyric and dialogue changes throughout the script and score. Some are attempts to clarify cultural references for British audiences. For example, in "Show You A Thing Or Two", the reference to "Larry, Curly and Moe" (the Three Stooges) was replaced with "John, Paul, George and Ringo" (the Beatles), and the authors eliminated a reference to Bat Boy being a 'CPA', as the British equivalent ('Chartered Accountant') could not fit in the melody. The authors consider the London text the definitive version of Bat Boy: The Musical. The London revised script and score has been used for many subsequent productions around the world; beginning with the 2006 Edinburgh Festival run and again in, for instance, the Toronto and New York University productions.
- The small scenes interspersed in the opening number "Hold Me, Bat Boy" are omitted so the song plays right through without interruption (though the scenes are included in the London cast recording to give some context).
- The songs "Ugly Boy" and "Watcha Wanna Do?" were replaced in the London production by one song, "Hey Freak".
- There are significant lyric alterations in "Dance With Me Darling" (verse 2) and "Show You A Thing Or Two" (the 'flash card' sections).
- One stanza in "Children, Children" has been notably altered. The new lines, "fur and feathers making love/So put away your teeth and claws/And let us bend a few of nature's laws", replaces the lines "fur and feathers making love/Paws and claws and jaws and beaks/Let the song go on for weeks and weeks", two lines composer-lyricist O'Keefe has called "an unfortunate remnant of early drafts when we were trying deliberately to sound idiotic".
- In Act Two, "All Hell Breaks Loose" (called "Whatcha Wanna Do (Reprise)" in the Playbill) has different lyrics and melody for Rick when he points a gun at Edgar. The accompaniment (and the sentiment) is the same, but Rick's sung melody is derived from "Hey Freak" and "Mine All Mine" instead of "Whatcha Wanna Do".
- In the London production, the song "Mine, All Mine" replaces "Inside Your Heart". In this song, Shelley awakes to see that Edgar is trying to leave her without explaining why. Shelley demands that Edgar stay or at least explain his change of heart. In this version, Shelley does not understand that Edgar drinks blood until he admits it. Only then does she decide to offer him her arm. "Mine, All Mine" was known in the London production to stop the show much more effectively than "Inside Your Heart" and the authors have called it their favorite song in the show.
[edit] Film
In 2004, a film version based on the London version of the musical was announced, to have been directed by John Landis with a tentative release date of 2007,[2][3] but production was quietly canceled sometime in 2006.
