WalkingOnSunshine
The decade of big hair, big egos, and big aspirationsas seen through the eyes of the Milroy family and their neighbours on Sunshine Rd, Hackney. The show features well-known 80spop songs and draws on characters from 80s sitcoms. A flexible cast: 7 men 11 women plus chorus.
At Number 80
F1 / Mum‘Nellie’ / (Age 48-50)A fiery, worn-down, but still good-looking Catholic. [Irish accent not needed] She‘s the glue that holds the family. Tough but tender. (solo-singing)
M1 / ‘Telboy’ / (Age 23-25)The elder sibling. Dresses flash but is just a market stall holder who trades in dodgy gear. He has aspirations to be a millionaire. (solo-singing)
M2 / Rory / (Age 21) Tall lankybrother. Somewhat put upon by Telboy in their uneven business partnership.
F2 / ‘Katie’ / (Age 17-19) Only daughter and hence over-protected. Has to wear a whistle around her neck in case of attack. Wants be a model until she meets Oscar.
M3 / Granddad/
Raincoat / (Age 68-70) Lives in the kitchen and bangs on the wall when he wants a cuppa or feeding. Cantankerous, obnoxious and never grateful.
Friends who practically live at the house
F3 / Roxy / (Age 17-19)Katie’s friends. They act older and wiser – but aren’t. Roxy is sassy and Carmen is a bit dim. (solo-singing)F4 / Carmen
M4 / Dodger / (Age 21) RORY’s spiv-like mate who likes to see himself as Al Capone.
At Numbers 82, 84 & 86(Houses are never seen)
F5 / WidowBlewitt / (Ages 50s-70) Like black crows with ‘old lady’ hats wedged tightly on their heads.. Mrs. Featherstone has a feather in her hat. Mrs. Blewitt has a permanent cold. Mrs. Grimshaw never smiles. (They sing as trio and will double as WORKING GIRLS)F6 / Widow Featherstone
F7 / WidowGrimshaw
At Number 88(The corner shop)
M5 / Pennywise / (Age 50s) Stuttering miserly shop keeper with designs on Nellie. (solo-singing)M6 / Gregory / (Age 30s) His nephew and grocery ‘boy’. He yearns to ‘party’. (solo-singing)
Locals/Visitors
F8 / Gloria of the Gold Tops / The local milkmaid. (solo-singing)F9 / WPC Lightfoot / The local policewoman (solo-singing)
F10 / The Supreme Being / Mrs Thatcher - a figment of Telboy’s imagination (solo-singing)
F11 / The Blessed One / Madonna - figment of Katie’s imagination (solo-singing)
M6 / Oscarthe Rev/raincoat / A leather jacket wearing ‘hip’ Protestantvicar. (solo-singing)
M7 / Nick Milroy(Age 48-50) / Nellie’s estranged husband – Act Two only(solo-singing)
Soho inhabitants(one scene in Act One only) – only Ruby has solo singing
M/F / Ruby Venezuela / An exotic drag queen (can be played by a girl with an alto voice)Fx4 / Les Girls / Four girl backing group and dancers (NB use overstuffed bosoms, big hair, copious amounts of eye-shadow, huge fake eyelashes to suggest they are drag queens)
M / Boy-George* / The young pop star in his dreadlocks phase(can be played by a girl)
M / Marilyn* / George’s very feminine long-blond haired mate (can be played by a girl)
M / Dirty Den* / A sleazy pornographer
* Ruby, Boy-George, Marilyn Dirty Den can be played by Pennywise, Granddad, Nick & Gregory.
Gregory & Pennywise / Madonna / Ruby Venezuela / Katie / Mum(Nellie) / ‘Telboy’
Rory
SONGS & SCENES
ACT ONESunshine Road/Milroy House
1 / Our House (Madness) / Telboy, Granddad, Katie & Company
2 / Don’t You Want Me, Baby? (Human League). / Pennywise, Nellie, & Widows
3 / Opportunities(Pet Shop Boys) / Supreme Being, Telboy, Dodger, Rory & Company
4 / Express Yourself (Madonna) / Madonna, Katie, Roxy, Carman & Company
5 / Uptown Girl (Billy Joel 1983) / Telboy, Rory, Dodger,Granddad, & Men.
6 / Girls Just Want To Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper) / Katie, Roxy, Carman & Women
A Soho Street
7 / I Don't Wanna Dance(Eddie Grant, 1982) / Company as ‘Raincoats’ & Working Girls
Madam Jo Jo’s, Soho
8 / I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) / Ruby Venezuela & Les Girls
9 / Let’s Hear it For The Boy (Denise Williams) / Katie, WPC Lightfoot & Company
Sunshine Street
10 / I Say A Little Prayer / Nellie with Widows
10a / I Say A Little Prayer / Gloria with Widows
11 / Walking On Sunshine (Katrina & The Waves) / Company
ACT TWO
Sunshine Street11a / Our House (2nd time) / Rory, Granddad, Katie Company
12 / Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen) / Oscar & Company
13 / Always On My Mind (The Pet Shop Boys) / NickNellie
Tab scene
14 / One Way Or Another (Blondie, 1978) / Company
Granddad’s Wake in the Milroy House
15 / Don’t Leave Me This Way (Communards) / Widows, Nellie, Katie, WPC Lightfoot & Company
Sunshine Street
16 / It Must Be Love (sung by Madness) / Gloria & Gregory
Midnight in TheMilroy House
17 / Thriller (Michael Jackson) / Granddad, soloists & Company
17a / Reprise: Walking On Sunshine / Company
PROPS
Table and bench...... Onstage in number 80Armchair ...... Onstage in number 80
Mops, brooms and postcard rack...... Onstage outside shop
Wire basket with six milk bottles...... GLORIA
Gold fob watch...... GRANDDAD
Tea pot and mugs...... On the table
Letters...... On the table
Newspaper...... On the table
Party hats and streamers...... COMPANY
Box of large bottles of white wine...... Under the table
Gift wrapped dressing gown with RAM on the back..NELLIE
Wrapped briefcase with combination lock...... Under table.
Birthday cake...... THREE WIDOWS
Tray with plastic glasses...... KATIE
J-cloth or duster...... NELLIE (in her housecoat) Paper plate full of party food...... GREGORY Handbag...... THE SUPREME BEING
Paper money...... THE SUPREME BEING Cameras or notepads...... COMPANY as reporters / Bowler hats...... COMPANY as city workers
‘Katie’ badges...... COMPANY as fans
Small whistle on chain...... KATIE
Folded letter...... KATIE
Pricing gun/price stickers...... GREGORY’s apron
Unlabelled perfume spray bottle ...... TELBOY
Padded groin...... DODGER
Charity tin...... OSCAR
Small bar unit...... onstage in Madame Jo Jo’s
Small high round bar table...... onstage – Jo Jo’s
Handcuffs...... WPC LIGHTFOOT
Hand written note from Katie...... NELLIE
Canvas Rucksack ...... GREGORY
Two small gift wrapped boxes...... NELLIE & TELBOY
Gift-wrapped Vinyl record album...... ROXY
Postcard...... GLORIA
Guns...... MEN as hit-men
Passport...... PENNYWISE
STORY
ACT ONE: Sunshine Road, Hackney/The Milroy’s house
It’s Rory’s surprise 21st birthday party and all the neighbours are there. - Our House. Telboy gives Rory a briefcase (a factory reject). Left alone mum, Nellie is wooed by persistent local shopkeeper, Pennywise. But Catholic Nellie is still married. All the pair can do is reminisce over their look-but-don’t-touch ‘affair’ - Don’t You Want Me? Telboy, as usual, has a dream. But this vision came direct from the Supreme Being (Maggie Thatcher) - Opportunities. Wannabe sisterKatie also has had a dream – Express Yourself. These visions of money and fame lure the younger Milroys up town. Tired Nellie turns in early and the boys head-off to make a night of it –Uptown Girl.
Sunshine Road The girlssneak out and head-up town– Girls Just Want To Have Fun.
Gregory is also restless.
Soho Sex Shop & Outside/InsideMadam Jo Jo’s,
I Don’t Wanna Dance. The boys arrive at Soho and enter a colourful club. The exotic Ruby Venezuela & Les Girls perform I Will Survive as Oscar the vicar collects for charity. Telboy goes to work his charm on Ruby while Rory and Dodger try to chat up two long-haired ‘girls’ at the bar. They turn out to be Boy-George and his very feminine mate, Marilyn. Meanwhile Telboy had an unfortunate encounter with ‘Miss’ Ruby. Swearing to never mention their mistake the boys are about to exit whenWPC Lightfoot bumps into them. Lightfoot is undercover trying to catch a pornographer. Suddenly there is a scream. A dishevelled Katie and her mates are trying to escape form Dirty Den – the pornographer. Oswald knocks him out and WPC Lightfoot cuffs and arrests Dirty Den. Telboy and Katie are smitten with the ‘saviours’ – as are the clientele. Let’s Hear It For The Boy/Girl.
Sunshine Road - Outside the Shop
Gloria (of the gold-tops) is delivering the milk when a worried Nellie asks if she has seen the girls. Gloria says not to worry. Nellie says worrying is a mother’s lot. Say A Little Prayer. Gloria sees shop ’boy’ Gregory is off to the explore the world. He tells Gloria not to worry and leaves. Reprise: Say A Little Prayer. The clan return (with WPC Lightfoot & Oswald) and once again they’re Walking On Sunshine.
ACT TWO: Sunshine Road, Hackney/The Milroy’s house
It’s Katie’s 18th surprise party and everyone is there -Reprise: Our House. The reformed Telboy (with the now pregnant WPC Lightfoot) gives a charm bracelet. Nellie wishes they would marry. Katie announcesshe has married the protestant Oscar. To make matters worse, Nellie’s estranged husband (Nick) turns up. He claims he has a weak heart and wants to make amends and turns on the charm Always On My Mind. Telboy suspects his dad is after the family heirloom (Granddad’sgold hunter watch). With Rory and Dodger he cooks up a plan to get rid of him and enlists the neighbours’ help.
Sunshine Road/Outside the local shop
Granddad’s Wake, the Milroy’s house
Later that evening a drunk Nick arrives back and finds the household in mourning for Granddad - Don’t Leave Me This Way. . Nick plays the distraught son throwing himself on his ‘dead’ dad’s chest (but is unable to find the gold watch). In keeping withGranddad’s Haitian beliefs Nick must keep a midnight vigil by the body to stop him becoming a zombie.
Sunshine Road: Gloria reads another postcard from Gregory (from Kathmandu). The Widows tell her not to waste her life moping. Death is only round the corner – look at Granddad being taken so sudden. Gloria realises she misses Gregory - It Must Be love(taken-up by the returning Gregory). He had forgotten his passport and had only got as far as Dover. They kiss and with Pennywise offering promotion Gregory can marry Gloria.
Midnight in the Milroy’s house
Things go bump in the night as Granddad and zombies rise from the dead - Thriller. The shock gives Nick a heart-attack. Nellie is free at last so Pennywise proposes. Nellie accepts but only if Telboy marries WPC Lightfoot. Telboy agrees. No need to save money though a double-wedding, however, as Oscar has had the gold watch valued and it’s worth a fortune. At least Telboy is a millionaire. Now the Milroys and their friends really are Walking On Sunshine.
ACT ONE: Sunshine Rd, Hackney:
DSR outside of number 80 - the Milroy’s. Centre SRa covered dining table (NB needs only be an 8 inch ledge) with three chairs.
Next to this is an armchair in which sits GRANDAD in his dressing gown, pyjama s and flat cap. DSL is the outside of the
local shop (number 88) witha rack of postcards on special offer. Doors to both properties open inwards (i.e. upstage)
GRANDDAD (Bangs on floor with waking stick) Are you there? Why’s it dark? Lights come up.
(GRANDDAD sees the audience) What you lot gawping at?
(Bangs on floor with waking stick) Wakey! Wakey! Where’s my breakfast? ‘
(GLORIA appears DSR with a cradle of milk bottles which she places SR to SL as TELBOY appears DSR and half asleepmakes a cuppa)
OUR HOUSE (Madness) / Song#1TELBOY / (Collecting milk from front step)
GRANDDAD wears his Sunday best
Mother's tired she needs a rest
The kids are playing up downstairs
Sister's sighing in her sleep
KATIE / (Spoken)Oh! Omar!
TELBOY / Brother's got a date to keep
RORY (Fully dressed) / (Spoken as he nicks cuppa)Cheers, Telboy! (Sits at table, Checks the post)
TELBOY
with GRANDDAD / He can't hang around
(RORY reads the paper. KATIE & NELLIE enter - they are clearly hiding something)
Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our house, IS our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our...
ALL (led by Roxy & Carman) / (Appearing from under the table and other places. Some blow party squeakers. Some wear party hats. We are now in RORY’s 21st Birthday – depicted by balloons and a banner)
Surprise! (Led by Carmen and Roxy the youngsters dance )
TELBOY / Our house it has a crowd
There's always something happening (The Widowsproduce a cake)
And it's usually quite loud
with KATIE / Our mum she's so house-proud
Nothing ever slows her down
And a mess is not allowed
ALL / Our house, in the middle of our street
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our house, IS our castle and our keep Our house, in the middle of ....
DA DA DA DA DA DA DA
DA-DA Da-DA DA-DA
DA-DA DA-DA DA-DA HEY!
Group1 / NA NA NA NA NA NA NA (x3) Group2
NA NA NA NA NA NA NA / AY YAY YAY YA (x3)
AY YAY
ALL / DA LA DA LA DA LA LA (x2)
DA LA LA DA LA DA LA LA
DA DA LA DA DA
NA NA NA NA
DA LA DA LA DA LA LA (x2)
DA LA LA DA LA DA LA LA
DA DA LA DA DA
NA NA NA NA (Led by Carmen and Roxy the youngsters dance )
Our house, in the middle of our street(x3)
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our house, in the middle of our street(x2)
Our house, in the middle of our ...
Our house, IS our castle and our keep
Our house, in the middle of our.. (x2).
Our house, in the middle of our street
NELLIE (Handing over a gift box) Many Happy returns Rory from me and the neighbours
at Sunshine Road. Well go on open it. It’s a dressing gown – with your initials on
the back. Well go on show everyone. (RORY reluctantly shows a dressing gown with the
word ‘RAM’ emblazoned on the back. The girls giggle) See ...RoryAnthony Millroy.
DODGER Nice one Mrs M. I got you an IOU, mate. Bit short of the readies.
TELBOYNice one Dodger! Well. Unlike this plonker Igot you some'fink special.
(Handing RORY a briefcase in a paper bag) ‘Appy returns from me, brouv’.
It’s for your new job as my executive partner.
RORYTelboy! We’ve only got a market stall.
TELBOY Yes. But that’s ‘ow Marks started out. An’ now e’s an institution.
RORYKarl Marx had a market stall?
TELBOY No! Marks and Spencer, you plonker! (RORY takes out the briefcase)
That’s real genuine leather vinyl, that is. S’got a combination lock an’ all.
RORYTerrific! It should fit right in at Hackney!
TELBOY It will do, Rory.... after we’ve flogged the other twenty-nine I’ve got.
RORY So where’s the combination number, then Tel?
TELBOYY (Pause) The what? (RORY shakes the case)
RORY You plonker! (KATIE, ROXY & CARMAN produce trays of plastic glasses)
TELBOY Never mind that now. ‘Os for a drink? (With a large bottle) Come on don’t be shy.
Drink up. Plenty more where that came from.
NELLIE(Ushering) Off you go. There’s a spread laid out in the front parlour.
GREGORY Whey! Hey! Grub up! (The company begin to exit but PENNYWISE lingers).
PENNYWSIE (TO GREGORY) You better take yours b-b-b-back to the shop, Gregory.
It’s been closed for nearly half-an-hour, now.
GREGORY Crikey! That could mean the end of capitalism!
(PENNYWISE gives him a clip round the ear and they exit into the parlour)
NELLIE Catherine show them where everything is.
KATIE It’s Katie not Catherine.
NELIIE Not to your mother it’s not! And you two - Pepsi and Shirley....
ROXY & CARMAN Roxy and Carman!
NELIIE No getting Granddad up to dance. You know what happened last time.
(The girls exit. Calling off ) And eat something.! (Leans over the t able to wipe it)
GREGORY (Entering holding aloft a plate piled with food) Excuseme. Grocery-boy on an urgent
errand coming through. (Exits to shop. NELLIE bends over the table to wipe it with a cloth)
PENNYWSIE Luverly spread, Nellie. And the food’s not ‘arf bad, either.
NELLIE Ah! Away with you and your foolishness, Horace Pennywise. Don’t you have
a shop that needs keeping?
PENNWISE I’ve just sent Gregory back in case we get a sudden rush. Got a special offer on
po-po-po-po...cards this week.
NELLIE SoI’ve seen. Who the heck is going to buy foreign postcards?
PENNWISE Folks who can’t afford a real holiday. Ah! Nellie. When are you going to
m-m-m-make me a happy man? Or failing that, marry me!
NELLIE Ssssh! I’m still married. Just because my low-down good-for-nothing husbandabsconded with a jezebel and once, in a bleak moment of despair , we were....
close, doesn’t mean I should break the holy sanctity of my marriage vows .
PENNYWSIE That’s a very one-sided view. Ah! Nellie where did yesterday go?
DON’T YOU WANT ME, BABY? (Human League) / Song#2PENNYWISE / You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
When I met you
I picked you out, I shook you up, and turned you around
Turned you into someone new
Now TEN years later on
you've got the STREET at your feet
SUCESShas NOT BEEN easy for you
But don't forgetI STOOD RIGHT BY YOU
AND I’M HEREnow
And IT’s YOU IWANT TO ENSCHEW
with Widows who enter like a girl group / Don't, don't you want me?
You know I can't believe it
when I hear that you won't see me
Don't, don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you
when you say that you don't need me
It's much too late to find
You think you've changed your mind
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry
Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh (x2)
NELLIE / I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar
That much is true
But even then I knew I'd find a much better place
Either with or without you
The TEN years we have had have been such good times
I still LIKEyou
But now I think it's time
I lived my life on my own
I guess it's just what I must do
PENNYWISE & Widows / Don't you want me baby? Don't you want me oh (x2)
TELBOY (Enters with hobbling GRANDDAD) All right, Mum? Granddad’s had a bit of bother.