Just a few pages from the Oct. 2022 workshop programs
SCENE ORDER
From July-Dec, 1939, & epilogue July, 1944
In order to better help you understand the setting of each scene, a subtle and muted slide will appear behind the actors, as a ‘back-drop’ (note: the Perth scenes actually show the REAL Perth Junction train station building, no longer in existence - all else shown in Perth scenes is fictionalized. The exterior of Rideau Hall, residence of the Governor General, is also as it still appears. The interior rooms are fictionalized. ) *** In some cases, the Narrator will add a few sentences to set the scene or explain a necessary
action, as well. “ Traditional, yet with fresh features, Rough Notes is an historical musical set in Canada with ‘Rurals juxtaposed with Royals’, melding a mosaic of music about life, love and literary pursuits whirling in on the winds of WW II.”
ACT I
Sc. 1 –Train Station, Perth Junction, NB, July 1939
Sc. 2– In Forest near Perth Junction, NB, same day
Sc. 3 – Rideau Hall Library, Ottawa, ON July, 5 days later
Sc. 4 - Rideau Hall front steps, same day
Sc. 5- Sadlers’ General Store, porch, Perth, NB, August 1939
Sc. 6- In Forest near Perth Junction, evening of same day
Sc. 7- In Forest near Perth Junction, NB, August, a week later
Sc. 8- Rideau Hall, Ottawa – Library/study , Early Sept., 1939
ACT II
Sc. 1- Rideau Hall Gates, a few hours later, Early Sept., 1939
Sc. 2- Rideau Hall, Donnie’s Bedroom, evening of same day
Sc. 3- Tableau Scene, Tweedsmuir/Mack-King, Newsies, Sept. 10, 1939
Sc. 4- Rideau Hall, Dining Room, September 11, 1939
Sc. 5– Rideau Hall, Dining Room, late November, 1939
Sc. 6- Sadlers’ General Store, interior, Perth, NB, December 18, 1939
Sc. 7 - Rideau Hall, Dining Room, Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) 1939 ,
Also: a portion of Sadler’s General Store
Sc. 8- Newsies/ Narrator
Sc. 9 - Perth Junction, NB, - ** Five Years Later, July 1944 **
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SONG ORDER
Overture
Act I
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1. Greet the Great (Full Company)
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2. A Plan for the Planet (Gookum, Lord & Lady T, Others)
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3. Reprise of Greet the Great ( Full Company)
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4. Sit With Me Awhile (Pete, Beth)
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5. What Bird Has Flown? (Pete, Gookum, Guimont, McL)
(Counter Duet)
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6. The Secretarys’ Secrets (Mrs. Killick, Redfern, Ruth, others)
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7. Rough Notes (Full Company)
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8. All I’ve Ever Known (Pete, Beth)
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9. Commonwealth (Full Company)
Act II
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10. Mother, May I Quit Piano (‘Donnie’s Song’) (Donnie, Ruth)
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11. Lullaby (Ruth)
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12. a -This Fragile Life-- Part 1 (Lord Tweedsmuir)
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12. b - This Fragile Life- Part 2 (Lord & Lady Tweedsmuir)
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13. Ministering (Lady T, Ruth, Nanny, Mrs. Killick, others)
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14. Such A Time As This (Beth, Margaret, Papa, McL, others)
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15. Ye’ll No Wan Muckle Else (one verse) (Lord & Lady T, McL)
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16 Rough Notes Reprise 1 (Redfern, Mrs. Killick,Lord & Lady T)
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17. Borne Up By The Sorrow (Lady Tweedsmuir & Beth)
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18. Rough Notes Reprise 2 (Full Company)
Overture/Instrumentals
TRIVIA TID-BIT: While most melodies and lyrics were written (in 2018) by Johnson, then arranged by Slipp in 2019-2022, (incl. in Cairo and Vienna, Austria!) Slipp wrote most of the beautiful Borne Up By The Sorrow, with initial lyrics inspired by Johnson just this year after the school shootings in Uvalde, Texas. Dedicated to the little children of Robb Elementary, ‘here for a reason’.
TRIVIA TID-BIT: ‘Ye’ll No Wan Muckle Else’ (a longer Scottish dancing reel) and ‘Borne Up By The Sorrow’ are lines from real letters, the 1st title from a John Buchan letter to his mother (in fact, all the lyrics you hear in that first verse are his own words), the 2nd in a letter from Susan to J.B.’s sister Anna (the author O.Douglas) following Lord Tweedsmuir’s death. She says that the people of Canada have ‘borne her up’ as she witnesses their own sorrow at his death.
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