A NEW MUSICAL
INSPIRATION
It’s Only Make Believe is a musical which borrows an idea from the 1985 Woody Allen film The Purple Rose of Cairo and is conceived in the style of Bob Carlton’s Return to the Forbidden Planet.
SETTING
The action takes place over two months between November 1977 and January 1978. (There is also a one song flashback to 1942). The setting is the foyer area of ‘The Roxy’ a derelict north London cinema.
STORYLINE
The leading lady Carol, along with her boss, high-flying businesswoman Bev, is trying to refurbish a derelict cinema and turn it into a movie café where films, drinks and food will be available under one (repaired) roof. Carol’s fiancée Kevin, a bit of a wimp, (he later reinvents himself) has been employed as the surveyor and we also meet her wheelchair-bound Gran who worked at the cinema as the ice-cream girl forty years earlier. Carol’s ex-boyfriend (an architect) is also employed by Bev and is trying hard to re-kindle the relationship,
Carol opens some rusty old film cans and out pop an assortment of ‘B’ movie stars whose films have never been shown. They have been languishing in the cellar for years and are determined to help Carol as long as she, in return, puts their films “back on the silver screen where they belong”. We meet Brad Maguire - the all-action American hero (a cross between Indianna Jones and Errol Flynn); Donna Deecup - fifties icon and blond bombshell; Frankie de Chino – Mafia hit man and star of ‘Mother’s Day Shoot Out’ and Lola Del Monte – the Spanish seductress who always says yes!
The film characters become involved with Carol and try to solve her problems. In an interesting twist we discover that Carol’s granny once had an affair with the actor who plays Brad Maguire. Eventually Carol and Bev’s dreams are realised and the Roxy is set to re-open with a season of ‘B’ movies ‘Gone but not Forgotten!’
PROFESSIONAL / AMATEUR RIGHTS
"It's Only Make Believe" is available for both professional and amateur companies in the UK and the rest of the world. If you would like to produce "It's Only Make Believe" please contact John at Ovation on 020 8340 4256