In 1987, I wrote a 30-minute musical for the 6th grade. It was written just after my father died in 1986. In the years that followed I included story lines about missing fathers. It would take a much longer narrative to explore why this was. However, just know that my relation with my father was not always of value. Edward… is about a group of kids who meet each Saturday at a local park to take chess instructions from a man named Edward. Edward has taught them so much, including, of course, where to put the pieces (Every Piece In Its Place). One of the kids has come close to beating Edward, but he fails at one certain move in the Ruy Lopez opening. Edward likes to sing a certain song when it gets to that move (Edward’s Song), but not today. They now know the move.
Unfortunately, Edward is nowhere to be found. The group comments on Edward’s age and how they will never be old (When I’m Older Than I Am). As they wait they contemplate how people want to make them into little adults, (I’m Not a Man), a theme I explore in several of my other musicals. Finally, they discover that Edward is no longer at his address. They have no idea where he went, or if he is ok. Sadly, they wrestle with their thoughts and how they will miss him (The Only Real Thought).
As they sit and think, a young child comes up and asks about the game. Our main character starts to explain where the pieces go, and it becomes apparent to all that the cycle begins again.
A note about the songs. I really like the first three. There is a calmness about them, yet a complexity that is deceptive.
I appreciate your comments. Enjoy.
THE SONGS:
Every Piece In Its Place: This is an ensemble musical. There are very few solos. EPIIP is a gentle introduction into the placement of the pieces. Several students related that this song is how they learned where the pieces went. The cast really liked the “Long Live The King” part.
Edward’s Song: I love writing ethnic sounding songs. This one not only has a drone as its basis, but it also contains some nonsense words that are meant to sound somewhat Eastern European. The cast is absolutely sure that Edward will not get to sing his victory song today…and they are correct, but not in the way they are thinking.
When I’m Older Than I Am: I revived the musical in 2022. This song snuck up on me because of the lyrics. I wrote them when I was 33 years old. Now that I am much older, I can look at the lyrics differently. Many of the things the cast sings about did come true.
The groove has an island feel to it, which still works for me all these years later.
I’m Not a Man: Here is another song about trying to force 12-year-old boys to be “young men”. The school I taught at had them dress in slacks, blue oxford shirts, hard black shoes, and a school tie. The boys were constantly referred to as “young men”. I constantly worked to have the faculty/staff, as well as myself, understand that the students are not young men, they are boys.
Sean Breen 