Birds of Paradise (musical)
| Birds Of Paradise | |
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| Music | David Evans |
| Lyrics | Winnie Holzman |
| Book | David Evans and Winnie Holzman |
| Productions | 1987 Off-Broadway |
Birds of Paradise is a musical with music by David Evans, lyrics by Winnie Holzman, and the book by Evans and Holzman. It had a brief run Off-Broadway in 1987. The story involves a group of amateur actors involved in a musical adaptation of The Seagull.
The Harbour Island Players is an amateur theatre group whose lives are turned upside down when a professional actor, down on his luck, decides to direct and star in one of their productions. The group is awaiting the arrival of Lawrence Wood, the actor. Wood, who grew up on Harbour Island (and left as soon as he could) is visiting his hometown for the first time in twenty years. He has agreed to observe their rehearsal. Thrilled at the prospect of a real professional in their midst, each member feels, for the first time since they've been working together, that it's finally "worth it" (So Many Nights). Wood arrives and we learn that he's in trouble, both personally and professionally. The amateurs are dazzled by his presence and blind to his problems.
Wood is interrupted by the sudden arrival of Julia, who bursts in dressed as a kind of moon-sprite and begs to be allowed to perform a song written by Homer, a young writer/composer who is also a member of the group. It's from his bizarre musical adaption of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, aptly named Seagull. Over the groups protests, Wood asks to hear the song, an eerie ballad about a young girl who flies to the moon only to find she can't get back down (Every Day Is Night). Intrigued by the song, by Homer's loony talent, and most of all, by Julia. Wood asks to see the script and reflects on how good it feels to be a big fish in a little pond (Somebody). In an attempt to recover what has been missing in his life, Wood offers to direct and star in Homer's show. The others are beside themselves with excitement, especially Marjorie, Homer's mother who still carries a torch for Wood from high school days.
The next morning, Julia and Homer arrive early for rehearsal. Since childhood, Homer has been unrequitedly in love with Julia. Before rehearsal, they both fantasize about how the events of the past evening might change their lives (Coming True). The rest of the group arrives and, in a sequence that tracks the first weeks of rehearsal, Homer discovers what it's like to work with a real professional (It's Only A Play).
As the final week of rehearsals approaches, Andy (Wood's brother) gives him a message about a call from his agent in New York. Wood claims he's not interested and Andy seizes the opportunity to confide in his brother about his rich fantasy life (She's Out There). Later, in the middle of a disastrous rehearsal, Wood takes Marjorie, Hope, and Stella aside and encourages them to "open up" emotionally. This results in a hilarious misunderstanding as the ladies attempt to make sense of what he said (Birds of Paradise).
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