Background to Bus Stop 23 - Limelight...

Background to Bus Stop 23 This musical nativity was written and composed in November 1977. It was first performed as part of a school Christmas review at Colton Hills School, Wolverhampton, in December 1977. Originally called Birth of a Baby, it was recorded by Beacon Radio and excerpts broadcast as part of a “Topic” programme. BBC Midlands Today televised a 14-minute summary of highlights from the nativity on December 22, 1977, occupying most of that day’s main evening news bulletin. The nativity was professionally recorded in March 1978 by Peeping Tom Records, performed by Colton Hills School, and an LP released with additional material by Andy Bailey. The author’s original piano and vocal score was first arranged by James Wedge and Christopher Collingwood. In September 1978, a full version of the musical nativity, renamed Bus Stop 23, was produced and recorded by the BBC at its Manchester and Pebble Mill Studios. Professional orchestrations were by Trevor Oerton under the musical direction of Guy Wolfenden, musical director of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC). The BBC 1 version, directed by Nick Salmon and produced by Chris Griffin, was broadcast at prime-time on Saturday evening before Christmas 1979. The music was arranged and orchestrated in its final form by Brian Farley in June 2010, and re-published by Limelight Musicals. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, digital, electronic, mechanical or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright holder or possession of a valid “Copy and Reproduction licence” issued by Limelight Musicals. Any resemblance to non-Biblical persons living or dead is accidental. © Andrew Bailey 1977: Original Version © Andrew Bailey 2010: Revised and updated version

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Bus Stop 23

Cast in order of appearance Joe Mary Narrator Garage mechanics Bill Sam George Town councillors Mr W Mrs H Mr C Angels Angel 1 Punky Angel 2 Angel 3 Angel 4 Angel 5 Angel 6 Angel chorus As many as possible!

Scenes Scene 1: Bus Stop 23 page 3

Props required: Bus Stop, two chairs, trunk/cases Scene 2: All night garage page 4

Props required: Toy pedal car

Scene 4: Council meeting room page 6 Props required: Table and chairs

Scene 3: Heaven page 9 Scene 5: Bus Stop 23 page 11

Props required: Bus Stop, two chairs, trunk/cases, large boxes wrapped as “gifts”

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Bus Stop 23

Scene 1: Bus Stop 23 (Props required: Bus Stop, two chairs, trunk/cases)

Mary and Joe enter stage. Mary is obviously very pregnant. Joe is carrying a large suitcase. They are walking slowly, very tired, Mary leaning on Joseph. They stop centre stage at the 23 Bus Stop. Joe puts down the case. Mary sits at the bus stop.

Joe: The 23 shouldn’t be long. Just hold on, and we’ll be home before you know it. Mary: I hope so Joe. This baby of ours isn’t going to wait much longer (looking down at

her mound). Joe: If he’s waited nine months, he can hold his horses for half an hour. (Sits down by

her). Just hold on to your Joey and don’t worry.

Spotlight on Mary and Joe centre stage. Pianist plays and narrator sings opening song.

Cue 1: Song: How to love Narrator: Now, Mary is a cleaner for a broker who deals in stock

And Joseph is a plumber’s mate for his second cousin Jock They’re returning from a visit to friends by the sea Tired by the journey, they await the 23 Now, Mary is with child, and little do they know

That their son is deemed for greatness and wonders untold. In her womb she carried the one that can set you all free The sinners and misguided ones, and even you and me! The child that will soon be born is sent from above To teach of his Father’s law, and show us how to love. How to love! How to love! How to love!

After song, blackout. Mary and Joe exit, taking suitcase.

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Scene 2: All night garage (Props required: Toy pedal car)

The three mechanics enter, dressed in overalls and carrying spanners and oily rags. Narrator: Nearby, there was an all night garage with a small crew of motor mechanics,

doing repairs and tending their vehicles. (Turns to mechanics who are busy on the ground with spanners, repairing the toy pedal car). When suddenly, the angels of the Lord appeared to them.

Cue 2: Heavenly choir A Host of angels appear and gather around the mechanics. Spotlights full on angels.

There was great light. They were very frightened. And the angel said to them… Angel 1 Do not be afraid. I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Punky For unto you is born this day at the 23 Bus Stop in the town centre a Saviour

who is Christ the Lord. Angel 2 And this shall be a sign unto you. You will find the babe wrapped in a Marks &

Spencer’s cardigan and lying in a Finger Lickin’ Good Fried Chicken box. Narrator And all at once, the angels started praising God singing… Cue 3: Song: We are the angels of the Lord on high

We are the angels of the Lord on high Bringing this message to you Do not fail us or doubt our word, ‘cos every syllable is true In Newtonhampton centre on this very night The Son of Man is born to turn wrong to right All you do is follow the neon light Come follow with all your might! Cue 4: Dance and jive

And with that, the heavenly angels start dancing and jiving with the three mechanics, moving it and grooving it all over the place.

When the music ends, the angels depart, lights resume normal, leaving the three mechanics on stage. They look at each other bewildered.

Bill (Sceptical) The ‘Son of Man’, eh? Sam (Amazed) Born in the town centre!

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George (Gobsmacked) Yeah, and in a Finger Lickin’ Good Fried Chicken Box! Bill Well, I don’t believe it. Sam You don’t believe it?! They were angels. Angels don’t tell lies! George How do you know they don’t tell lies? Sam The rule says ‘Angels must not tell lies. It gets the firm a bad name.’ Bill What do you think George? I’m starting to feel a strange pulling sensation on

the end of my leg…(holds out leg and waggles it…) George We don’t even know they were angels. Bill Good point! They could have been a bunch of students from the college having

a laugh. Sam No. No. NO! They were angels, I tell you. Look, I’ll explain it to you. Cue 5: Song: Please believe me Sam Spoken The angels came down from heaven Didn’t you see their eyes? Those angels were from heaven (Sung) Please believe me guys! Those angels came down from heaven Don’t you realise? Sent by the Lord, to spread his word Then taken back up into the skies The angels came from heaven And make no mistake They were genuine heavenly angels Positively real and not fake! Bill (Spoken under music) Well, I’m still not sure. George Me neither. Bill (Sings) I don’t know much about angels But I’ll tell you straight

You wouldn’t catch real angels rockin’ and rollin’ and a jivin’ through the Pearly gate!

George You know Sam, you’re really off the track It’s so plain to see

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You wouldn’t catch real angels rockin’ and rollin’ with the likes of you and me!

Bill and You can’t call us fools! Say we’re mules! George Make us think that we need a Shrink Cos’ they weren’t heavenly angels No matter what you think. Sam (Spoken over music) I’ve got to make you understand. I’ve just got to make you

understand. I’ve just got to…! (Sings) Why don’t you believe me, when I know it’s true The angels came down especially to give that message to me and you What more can I say, to make you see That the angels proclaimed a birth tonight At the bus stop of the 23! Can’t you see?! Can’t you see?! Can’t you see?! Why can’t you see?! That the Son of Man was born tonight At the Bus Stop of the 23….. Oh yeahh! End of song Bill Alright, alright! We better go take a look. George Guess so, and before someone bursts a blood vessel. They exit, Sam ad-libbing until they are off stage (“I told you all along, didn’t I? I knew

they were angels. I said from the beginning… and fancy him being born in our town…. it’s amazing, don’t you think?!… etc….”)

Narrator Sam finally convinces the others, and they go in search of the new born child at

the 23 bus stop. Meanwhile, working late in the Town Hall are three councillors. Unknown to them, they too are to get a visit from the heavenly angels.

Narrator exits. Scene 3: Council meeting room

Props required: Table and chairs

Three counsellors enter and sit around table. Mr W Right, about this new Ring Road. I think it should go from the old Ring Road to

the site of the future link between the M6 interchange and the Flyover converging on the M1 slip road, that leads to the private drive of my country mansion.

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cue: "explain it to you"

Please Believe Me(cue 5)

Words and Music: Andrew Bailey

Orchestration: Brian Farley

A

q=156

Voice

Piano

Samuel: (spoken)The an

gels- came

down from

Hea

ven,

-

did n't

- you see

their

eyes,

those

Move it!

6 molto rall.

in tempo

Med Fast 4

q=144

Voice

Pno.

an

gels

- were

from

Hea

ven,

(sung)

please

be lieve

- me

guys!

Those

3

Bass

BSWING

iq = iq.-11

Voice

Pno.

an gels

- came down from Hea

ven,-

don't

you re

a

- lise-

mf

3

Copyright © Andrew Bailey

15

Voice

Pno.

sent b' the Lord

t' spread

his

word

then ta

ken- back up in

to- the skies.

The

19

Voice

Pno.

an gels

- came

from

Hea

ven-

and make

no

mis

take-

theywere

23C

Voice

Pno.

gen u- ine,

hea ven- ly

an

gels,-

po si- tive- ly- real

and not

fake.

3

3


2

27D

Voice

Pno.

Bill:

I don't

know much

a bout

-

3 3 3

3 3 3

31

Voice

Pno.

an

gels-

but I'll

tell

you straight

youwon't

catch

real an

gels- a

35

Voice

Pno.

rock in- and roll

in- and a ji

vin- thro'the pear

ly- gates

You know

Sam

you're real ly-


3

39

Voice

Pno.

off the

track

it's so

plain

to see

youwould

n't-

42

Voice

Pno.

catch

real an

- gels a rock

in- and roll

- in with thelikes

of

you and

me.

Youcan't

46

Voice

Pno.

call us

fools,

you are,

say we're

mules,

you are,

make

us think

that we need

a shrink

'coz


4

50E

dialogue

Voice

Pno.

they

were

hea ven- ly

- an

gels-

no

mat ter-

what

you think

3

3

54F

Voice

Pno.

Why don't

you be lieve-

me

3 3 3

3 3 3

59

Voice

Pno.

when I

know it is true

the an

gels- came down

es pec'l

- ly to give

that

mes


5

63

Voice

Pno.

sage- to

me and you

Whatmore

can

I

say

3 3 3

67

Voice

Pno.

to

make you see

that the an

gels- pro

claimed

- a

birth to night-

at the

71G

Voice

Pno.

bus stop of the twen

ty- three

can't

you see

can't

you seesee

can't

you


6

Moderato

Moderato

q=80

q=80

(cue 12)

Words and Music: Andrew Bailey

Orchestration: Brian Farley

Let Him Into Your Heart

A

Voice

Piano

GIRLS

'Lo,Si

mpherelent-

hely-comes'now

callallthethe

voiceworld

ofistheaanwait

gelsting

--

mp

mp

mp

5

Voice

Pno.

erac

+ BOYS

choes

--

theirand

songna

throughtions- u

outnite

-

allas

theifworldone,

tellsing

oftheir

peaceprai

heses-

willtobringGod

whenand

8

Voice

Pno.

JeJe

sussus--

ChristChrist

ishis

kingSon

ifHe

wehas

oncome

mf

lyto

- seeEarth

it'sa

onvir

lygin--

hebirth

to

withshow

hisusloveall

canwhat

setlove

usisfreeworth

toso


11

B

Voice

Pno.

livewel

income

hishim

lightin

onceto-

ayour

gain.world.

-

mf

mf

Let him in

(girls)

(boys)

to your

mf

mf

14

Voice

Pno.

heart

whe ther- young

or old

black or white

now's the time

to start

Lethim

17

Voice

Pno.

in

to your heart

for Je

sus- Christ

is


2

20

C

Voice

Pno.

born.

Here

GIRLS + BOYSmp

now is Christ

our

mp

mp

mp

24

Voice

Pno.

Lord

and our sa

viour,

- Hope

for theworld

in the con

quest- of strife,

turn to God

and be lieve

- and from

28

Voice

Pno.

Himyou will re ceive

-

all the hope

mf

that we

will soon

be free

to live

withHim

e ter

- nal- ly- so

mf

mf


3

31

D

Voice

Pno.

wel come-

Him in

to-

your heart.

fLet

f

him in

to your

f

f

34

Voice

Pno.

heart

whe ther- young

or old

black or white

now's the time

to start

Lethim

37

Voice

Pno.

in

to your heart

for Je

sus- Christ

is


4

40

molto rall.

Voice

Pno.

born.

For Je

sus- Christ

is born


5

Background to Bus Stop 23 - Limelight...

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