Protea stage productions 2013 committee

This Sunday, 27th January, the Protea stage productions held their AGM and elected their committe for 2013. The very experienced Bob Stone was re-elected as chair with Lynsay stepping up for the vice chair position. Congratulations to everybody who were elected. I will serve on the committee in a non-executive position as general committee member.

This year we will enchant the East Rand with a great program.

You can read more about Protea Stage Productions at the web site. Be sure to support us with our program this year!

A matter of import, part 2

Tyler and Melissa arrives in London. They go straight to the South African High commissioner. Here they meet Manual.

Manual tells them that they had a big celebration party for the 10 year celebration just a few days back. And yes, one of the guests was his dear friend, Hugo. In fact, Hugo still regularly attends their Sunday brunch meetings.

They sit down and Manual tells them all about Hugo and  where he is. He however cautions them not to put hopes on him returning to South Africa. Hugo has a new life in London and seems quite happy.

After almost feeling hopeful, doubt is once again settling in with Tyler. Maybe he should not have been so bold as to come all the way, just to mess things around for somebody, who obviously do not care about him.

Melissa is not unsettled that easy. She convince Tyler to keep going and visit his father. They get the address from Manual.

Will they just open scars best left forgotten?

Fighting from afar

Back to our story. Last time that we have seen Tyler, he and Melissa started their search for his father, Hugo. Melissa's dad, Neil, could not help them, but he recalled the good and bad times of the struggle.

If you do not know the story of apartheid, you can read all about it all over the Internet. Wikipedia is usually a good start. Our story is however not a political rant. The part we are mostly concerned about here is the role that those in exile played.

Neil and Hugo went to London, where they joined the struggle movements that were being established over their. Whenever South African visitors came to London, representing the country, the struggle movement organised protest marches. Eventually they succeeded in banning South African sports teams from participating in international events.

The students had lots of fun, streaking unto the rugby pitches, getting painted purple with large water cannons and getting arrested. It all paid off for them after many years in swaying the opinion of general public against the South African government, bringing about sanctions, and eventually democratic elections.

Fast forward. Tyler is still looking for his father. As Neil gives them all these details, it does not give him hope about finding his father.

They decided to take a leap. He now knows that his father is somewhere in London. If you want to find somebody, you will have to go to where that person was last seen. Sounds good.

So Tyler and Melissa get on their crusade. Tyler do not have a whole bag of money, but lucky he knows somebody who can sponsor him.

In the next scene, they arrive in London, but where do they start? Well, that can not be so difficult, can it. Start at the obvious place. Where would ex-South Africans be?

We will find out in the next scene, "a Matter of import, part 2".

Until next time, happy blogging!

Do you know what is behind the Ghost town?

Earlier this week we've given away a free mp3 of the song Ghost town.

This song is full of imagery and metaphors. Follow the lyrics on our web page (or scroll further down). The song makes ample use of lyrical detachment as discussed by Axeman Jim in his excellent book about songwriting.

http://dog-on-blues.com/ghost_town_lyrics

Did you you know that the ghost town is a real place? Can you find the clues? It is a place I have visited probably more than 100 times. Easy? How many places have I been to that sports a forsaken beachfront? And with storms pouring violently down? Gee, Grisilda on Point road. Now it is a give away!

Now that you figured out where it is, can you figure out the rest of the riddles? Do you know who or what Samara is? Can you find all the clues? Who is Lilith? The blight? Who are the cave-men and what are the rat-holes?

Ghost town

 
Music and lyrics by Eric Swardt
(Vocal by Jeanette)

Verse 1
The cave-men are escaping from the rat-holes
The sun is down on this desolated town
Through the mist the lights shine down on no-one
As the storm pours violently down

Verse 2
Ghouls crawl along the forsaken beach front
On point road Merrow performs her rite
A patron talks to Griselda about a quick one
Then sped off into the misty night

Chorus
Free me from this coast town
Where the gloom will drive me insane
Save me from this ghost town
Free me from this strangling chain

Verse 3
A beast in rags begging on the beach front
For a desperate grit a scrap of food is fine
He will sweat for bread or drinking water
In the blight of fear Lilith resigned

Verse 4
In the dark I can hear the demons talking
With a tongue of people gone and dead
The smell of the dread and loneliness overwhelming
As pictures of my death runs through my head

Repeat chorus

Verse 5
Taking refuge in the corner on a bar stool
Watching Samara play the bass guitar
A barrel of rum is all that I needed
To fall in love with little evils charm

BRIDGE
This is not a nightmare, the truth bears down on me
This is not a nightmare, the truth has come to be
How is it that I could not foresee
How did I become a dead machine
Will my future be drowned in sadness
Do I have to stay in this affair
In this life of endless madness
I have to escape this nightmare

Repeat chorus

BRIDGE 2
There are many through this before me
Many martyrs survived this ordeal
All too scared to cross the Red sea
While the kings will have their meal

Repeat chorus

Coda
At the break of dawn the skies are dull and cloudy
Slaves face the puke for one more day
A day in hell would be a mercy
As I send little evil on her way

A matter of import - part 1

During the 1980's, South Africa experienced what was known then as the "brain drain". Many young South Africans left the country to settle overseas. Favourite destinations were Australia and England. Many of those young people contributed a great deal to the eventual end to apartheid in South Africa. After democratic elections in South Africa, many of those who lived in exile returned to South Africa. These young people received good education at overseas universities and eventually helped to reverse the brain drain to some extend. Those who joined the 'official' struggle movement while in exile were rewarded with positions in the new government.

Meet Neil, one of those young men. Neil left the country with Hugo and settled in London, where he received a degree in law. While in exile, Neil met and married an English girl. They had one daughter whom they named Melissa.

When Melissa was about 8 years old, her family relocated back to South Africa, where her dad got a job in the new government and became a member of the new Parliament.

Ten years later, the day after the freedom day celebrations, Melissa, with her friend, Tyler, arrived at her home to talk to her father, who is in their lounge.

At the freedom day celebrations the previous day, Tyler made up his mind. He wants to bring his father back to South Africa. Melissa told him to stop talking and do something about it. She suggested that they should go see her father, Neil who might know where he is.

Track: A matter of import part 1
Album: Unpublished (From the musical, The exile)
Artist: Eric Swardt

With that background, the lyrics of this song is self explanatory. After the introductions, Tyler states his business and Neil offers to assist. In the last verse Neil reflects on his memories of Hugo, which is covered in detail in the song which follows immediately after this one.
 

Melissa

(1a)

Good day father. it is good to see you again

please meet Tyler, he is my dearest friend

he's the son of Pam and wish to talk to you

about a matter that you may know a thing or two

 

Neil

(2a)

Good day young man, tell me what's on your mind

is there some information that you wish to find

and as your member of the parliament

I'll take your matter without any argument

 

Tyler

(3b)

Sir, the matter about which i wish to talk

is not of public import

I seek news of the one who made a stand

and sacrificed so much for this land

(4a)

I am told that you are one

who joined my father on the run

but while so many have returned

my father never claimed what he earned

 

(5a Tyler and Melissa)

We know what fate befell on every one

(oh yes, we know)

of the heroes that were on the run

but as for Hugo we don't know how

he is doing now

(6c with Melisa)

Sir, the matter about which I came to speak

is of great import to me

I come to you as I am on the trail

of my father who is in exile

 

Ghost town

Today I'm going to break the tradition a little bit to make things interesting and post about other shows I am working on besides The exile. I'm also going to give away an mp3 to my blog followers.

I have been asked once: How many musicals do you have inside of you?

Some composers might have only one or two musicals, but for most - we have many. There are all these ideas that we are half working on. In a way it is good, as it gives our brains a break to concentrate on something different when we get stuck on a project, or it seems like a project does not move along fast enough because we are waiting for somebody else to catch up (book writers, producers, directors, publicists, etc)

I am currently working on four shows, including The exile. One of these shows is Ghost town. This one is only in the concept stage, with one concept song recorded, i.e. the Title track, Ghost town. Click on this link to download the mp3, or go to this page to stream. I am particularly happy with this version, which features a great vocal performance by Jeanette.

Enjoy!

Singing comes cheap (to those who do not pay)

After Pamela told Tyler all she knows about his father, Tyler returns to the main room, where Anthony and his friends are having a rave of a party. Anthony is drunk and swears at Pamela for not bringing drinks fast enough.

Tyler has to control his temper and turns around again and enters the kitchen. Melissa notice Tyler's mood and follows him into the kitchen. Melissa starts the next song.

Track: Singing comes cheap
Album: Unpublished (From the musical, The exile)
Artist: Eric Swardt

Melissa

(1a)

I hope you will not be offended

by what I am about to say
for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay
and all this is done at the cost
of one who has done so much
to dedicate his life so we can be free today

In the first verse Melissa addresses Tyler about the bad behaviour of Anthony and his friends.

Tyler

(2b)

If this man here were to see

my father come back to me
he would pray for longer legs
to carry him away

(3b)

And soon you all will see

my father coming back to me
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Tyler states that he wish his father to return.

Melissa

(4c)

Your father is still far away

Some doom is keeping him in that place
against his own will
a prisoner of ill fate
I do not know if this ends well
It is your story that you have to tell
It's in your hands
to make your father come home

Melissa is the one who points out to Tyler that his father is not about to come back all by himself. It is up to Tyler to take control of the situation.

Tyler

(5b)

If he really loves this country

so much that all can see
he would pray for the first plane
to come back home again

Tyler is considering Melissa's words and contemplates that Hugo must surely be wanting to come back to South Africa. After all, he has been fighting for the freedom of the land and he is a national hero.

(6b)

Anthony just wait

soon we'll set things straight
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Now he addresses Anthony (who is drunk and rowdy in the other room) and states that he will set thing straight. Tyler is kicking into action.

(7a)

I wish I knew where he is

and if he think about me
I wonder if he will
come back if I ask him
And some will say he is their hero great
but to me he is just a name
He left us all alone
without a house or home

(8b)

I know not what chains of steel

is holding him away from me
Far away all while this man
is feasting on my land

(9b)

I wish my father could stand

here to give me a helping hand
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Now that Tyler has made up his mind that he will do something, he starts to think about how he is to do it. He wants to find Hugo, but he has no idea where to start.

Melissa

(10c)

To me it seems you do

want your father to come back to you
It is in your hands
to ask him to return
You know that you can be free
from your mother's and your misery
It's in you fate
to go and make yourself a name

(11b)

Just get up and be on your way

There is so much more to gain
My father was there
on that day when they went away

Melissa states her support for Tyler. Melissa is the daughter of Neil, who also went into exile. Neil returned to South Africa after the democratic elections and now has a senior job as a member of parlaiment in the new government. Melissa is suggesting that this could be a good place to start looking for Hugo.

Tyler

(12b)

And soon you all will see

my father coming back to me
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

(13b)

So Anthony you'll see

this house will soon be free
You will cry for singing comes cheap
to those who do not pay

Melissa has given Tyler hope. He is now determined to follow up on the lead that Melissa has given him.