Treatment

THE LOST CHILDREN

A Musical by Alexander Williams

Treatment

Logline: 

A quest story for children where our characters discover the importance of friendship and family. Alice in Wonderland meets The Pied Piper.

 

Plot Summary: 

When the monster Rushwilden steals all the children from a woodland village, the adults seems more delighted than upset. It’s down to Emily, the only child the monster left behind, to head into the forest and rescue the lost children before they meet a grisly fate!

 

Characters

The story opens with the NARRATOR who brings an immediate sense of energy to the show with some fast-paced backstory and quick links between scenes. This role can be split into many Narrators if needed.

EMILY is our hero, the determined young girl who goes into the forest to save the lost children. We love her because she defies the adults around her and does the right thing, putting herself in harm’s way to save her family and friends. She meets a host of zany characters on her journey who help (or hinder!) her progress.

The first is THE GUTTER BOY, a neglected orphan who decides to help because he’s always wanted a family of his own. We love him because of his chipper attitude and honest vulnerability. At the end of the show he’s welcomed into Emily’s family in a heart-warming button.

Next is BLUE, a bluebird whose feathers have turned black from the city smoke. He’s a pessimistic soul but helps Emily anyway and is rewarded at the end with gorgeous blue feathers.

Then comes the PUZZLE BUGS, a gaggle hyperactive forest creatures who only help in exchange for a riddle or two. 

Finally, URSULA and VANESSA, the princess and queen of the forest, help Emily complete her quest.

RUSHWILDEN is the primary villain who steals the children. He teaches us that even monsters have to eat, and that even evil has its motives. Although he is defeated he is not destroyed.

The MAYOR and SECRETARY are the secondary villains, the adults who love life without the kids. They chase after Emily in an attempt to scupper her rescue plan, and enlist the karate-kicking, lyric-rapping BAD BADGER to help. When the Badger discovers their true motives for chasing Emily, he turns on them, ridding the village of their evil influence.

 

 

Synopsis

Scene 1: The Narrator sings The Monsters Always Win, a chilling cabaret number which welcomes the audience into the world of fairy tale and sets up the backstory.

Scene 2: The villagers sing It’s Better With the Blighters Out, an up tempo celebration of how great life is for the adults now the irritating children have been taken away by Rushwilden.

Scene 3: Emily meets The Gutter Boy as she prepares to begin quest. Desperate for a family of his own (I Don’t Ask For Much), he agrees to help her.

Scene 4: The Mayor and Secretary seek out the fearful Bad Badger (Bad Badger Rap) and convince him Emily plans to pollute his beautiful forest home. He agrees to help them track her down.

Scene 5: Confounded by Rushwilden’s magic powers, the lost children are happy in their captivity and sing Paradise. Little do they know he’s preparing them for his midnight feast. Only Emily’s sister Eve remembers their village home (Rushwilden’s Magic Garden). Rushwilden decides to eat her first. 

Scene 6: Emily and the Gutter Boy meet the hyperactive Puzzle Bugs who agree to help them on their way if they solve a few riddles first (The Puzzle Bugs).

Scene 7: The Mayor, Secretary and Badger are hot on Emily’s heels.

Scene 8: Emily and the Gutter Boy meet Blue, the melancholic bluebird, who despite initial reluctance (The Bluebird) decides to help them on their quest. 

Scene 9: Blue takes them to Ursula, princess of the forest, who insists on belting out her jazzy signature song I’m Still Standingbefore directing them to her sister, Vanessa, the queen of the forest, to complete their quest.

Scene 10: Queen Vanessa is loathe to enter into complex human affairs (Shades of Grey) but recognises the gutter boy as her long-lost son, and so takes them to Rushwilden. 

Scene 11: Vanessa defeats Rushwilden just in time, releasing the lost children from his spell.

Scene 12: In the village, the lost children are reunited with the families, who have recognised the error of their ways and welcome them back with joyful celebration (It’s Better With the Blighters Here). The Gutter Boy is adopted by Emily’s family and the Mayor is booted out of power. Even the pessimistic Blue and self-obsessed Ursula consolidate their friendship with the swinging final number They Said We’d Never Make It. 

The End: Bows to Paradise/ Puzzle Bugs Finale