The Synopsis of Malcolm Duff

Musical Theatre, Broadway, West End, Storytelling, Narration, Rock Opera Elements, Theatrical

[CATHERINE]
So now, without further ado,
I’ll explain the plot of Much Ado....
…Wait. No.
That’s not the show.
Let me try again today.
Malcolm Duff is based loosely on.... The Scottish Play

[ANOTHER CHARACTER]
You mean Macbeth....

[CATHERINE]
SHHHH!
In theatre we don’t say the name,
Don’t you know it brings bad luck?
Oh, the shame!
So gather ‘round, come close enough,
This is the plot of Malcolm Duff!
In the jolly little streets of Arkesheapes,
The ensemble sings their greetings, waving banners, wearing capes
“From a Town So Fine!” they cry,
While two soldiers marching by:
Malcolm Duff and Scott Glamis, brave and loyal men,
Fighting off the foreign forces of the nation known as Cawdor yet again.
But then appear the witches three,
With Clarissa leading wickedly
She flirts with Malcolm, tries her luck,
But he turns away, not starstruck.
Glamis stays listening, leaning in tight,
Hungry for prophecy whispered that night.
They win the war, they save the land
Malcolm clasps his friend’s right hand,
And sings a righteous, mighty song:
“Right This Wrong!”
A show-stopper.
But Glamis is taken by witchy Bette,
Who spins him a future he can’t forget.
Bette, Stephanie, Clarissa too,
They chant, “Your future belongs to you!”
They dance, they cackle, the cauldrons bubble,
The number’s called “Take Your Future,”
Guaranteed trouble.
Glamis runs home to his darling wife,
Elizabeth, sharp as a carving knife.
Malcolm meanwhile meets Princess Lucinda fair,
And sparks fly everywhere.
At the grand celebration, all lantern-lit,
Elizabeth shows her sinister wit:
“Treason! Power! Claim the throne!”
She whispers things that chill the bone.
Glamis resists—“I can’t betray!”
But Elizabeth sneaks in to say:
“Duncan killed your family, dear…”
And suddenly the path is clear.
Down he spirals, cold and grim
“Is This a Sword I See Before Me?”
his villain song, sung to the brim.
He murders Duncan, takes command,
And darkness falls across the land.
Meanwhile Malcolm and Lucinda, unaware,
Sing their duet “Love Song,” floating on air.
The town tries a reprise to restore the shine
“From a Town So Fine Reprise”
But Glamis storms in shouting:
His anthem booms:
“The Master.”
Malcolm stands firm in the Act One finale,
“Enough is enough!” he declares with bravado.
Sword to sword, they clash in the square,
Malcolm nearly wins right there,
But Glamis rallies, fierce and rough,
And banishes poor Malcolm Duff.
Act Two! Witches again, oh boy
They warn Glamis: “Duff will destroy
Everything you think you own.”
So he kidnaps Lucinda and claims the throne.
She mourns, she hopes, her heart laid bare,
“This Is Your Moment” fills the air.
Glamis then croons to Elizabeth,
A twisted, tender, eerie breath:
“Thanks for the Memory”
Romantic in a villain-y way.
But Clarissa finds Malcolm hiding out,
Tries one more flirtatious roundabout:
“Love me!” she pleads in a reprise of Love Song ,
But Malcolm says, “Sorry. Clarissa. Its wrong,”
Clarissa snaps and storms away,
Swearing vengeance if she may.
Malcolm sneaks back into Arkesheapes,
Pulls off disguises, daring escapes.
He calls the townsfolk to the square,
With fiery words that fill the air:
“Right This Wrong Reprise!”
His rallying cry
And they join his cause, ready to defy.
One last battle, steel and flame,
Malcolm learns the secret of his birthright name.
He strikes down Glamis, ends the fight,
The witches’ prophecy proved right.

Lucinda returns, hearts all aglow,
They reprise “This Was Our Moment,” soft and slow.
Curtains fall, bows all around,
Audience cheering, “What a sound!”

[CODA – BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL]

[ANOTHER CHARACTER]
Who wrote this?   Sounds rather tacky to me
Why not Grease or Phantom, Sound of Music you see?

[CATHERINE]
The budget’s tiny, the set is cheap,
But theatre’s magic doesn’t sleep!
It’s not like people never heard
Of Shakespeare’s famous Scottish…word.

[ANOTHER CHARACTER]
This doesn’t sound like Macbeth at all!
They took BIG liberties, that’s quite a call!

[CATHERINE]
Well isn’t that what AmDram does?
We twist, we tweak, we make a fuss
And somehow still the crowd has fun
Now my part of this chaos is done.
So if you want organisation, structure, or a plan,
I’ll hand the reins over to Karen.
Who will teach you the audition pieces sublime
And she'll start with "From a Town So Fine".

4284/7500

[CATHERINE] So now, without further ado, I’ll explain the plot of Much Ado.... …Wait. No. That’s not the show. Let me try again today. Malcolm Duff is based loosely on.... The Scottish Play [ANOTHER CHARACTER] You mean Macbeth.... [CATHERINE] SHHHH! In theatre we don’t say the name, Don’t you know it brings bad luck? Oh, the shame! So gather ‘round, come close enough, This is the plot of Malcolm Duff! In the jolly little streets of Arkesheapes, The ensemble sings their greetings, waving banners, wearing capes “From a Town So Fine!” they cry, While two soldiers marching by: Malcolm Duff and Scott Glamis, brave and loyal men, Fighting off the foreign forces of the nation known as Cawdor yet again. But then appear the witches three, With Clarissa leading wickedly She flirts with Malcolm, tries her luck, But he turns away, not starstruck. Glamis stays listening, leaning in tight, Hungry for prophecy whispered that night. They win the war, they save the land Malcolm clasps his friend’s right hand, And sings a righteous, mighty song: “Right This Wrong!” A show-stopper. But Glamis is taken by witchy Bette, Who spins him a future he can’t forget. Bette, Stephanie, Clarissa too, They chant, “Your future belongs to you!” They dance, they cackle, the cauldrons bubble, The number’s called “Take Your Future,” Guaranteed trouble. Glamis runs home to his darling wife, Elizabeth, sharp as a carving knife. Malcolm meanwhile meets Princess Lucinda fair, And sparks fly everywhere. At the grand celebration, all lantern-lit, Elizabeth shows her sinister wit: “Treason! Power! Claim the throne!” She whispers things that chill the bone. Glamis resists—“I can’t betray!” But Elizabeth sneaks in to say: “Duncan killed your family, dear…” And suddenly the path is clear. Down he spirals, cold and grim “Is This a Sword I See Before Me?” his villain song, sung to the brim. He murders Duncan, takes command, And darkness falls across the land. Meanwhile Malcolm and Lucinda, unaware, Sing their duet “Love Song,” floating on air. The town tries a reprise to restore the shine “From a Town So Fine Reprise” But Glamis storms in shouting: His anthem booms: “The Master.” Malcolm stands firm in the Act One finale, “Enough is enough!” he declares with bravado. Sword to sword, they clash in the square, Malcolm nearly wins right there, But Glamis rallies, fierce and rough, And banishes poor Malcolm Duff. Act Two! Witches again, oh boy They warn Glamis: “Duff will destroy Everything you think you own.” So he kidnaps Lucinda and claims the throne. She mourns, she hopes, her heart laid bare, “This Is Your Moment” fills the air. Glamis then croons to Elizabeth, A twisted, tender, eerie breath: “Thanks for the Memory” Romantic in a villain-y way. But Clarissa finds Malcolm hiding out, Tries one more flirtatious roundabout: “Love me!” she pleads in a reprise of Love Song , But Malcolm says, “Sorry. Clarissa. Its wrong,” Clarissa snaps and storms away, Swearing vengeance if she may. Malcolm sneaks back into Arkesheapes, Pulls off disguises, daring escapes. He calls the townsfolk to the square, With fiery words that fill the air: “Right This Wrong Reprise!” His rallying cry And they join his cause, ready to defy. One last battle, steel and flame, Malcolm learns the secret of his birthright name. He strikes down Glamis, ends the fight, The witches’ prophecy proved right. Lucinda returns, hearts all aglow, They reprise “This Was Our Moment,” soft and slow. Curtains fall, bows all around, Audience cheering, “What a sound!” [CODA – BREAKING THE FOURTH WALL] [ANOTHER CHARACTER] Who wrote this? Sounds rather tacky to me Why not Grease or Phantom, Sound of Music you see? [CATHERINE] The budget’s tiny, the set is cheap, But theatre’s magic doesn’t sleep! It’s not like people never heard Of Shakespeare’s famous Scottish…word. [ANOTHER CHARACTER] This doesn’t sound like Macbeth at all! They took BIG liberties, that’s quite a call! [CATHERINE] Well isn’t that what AmDram does? We twist, we tweak, we make a fuss And somehow still the crowd has fun Now my part of this chaos is done. So if you want organisation, structure, or a plan, I’ll hand the reins over to Karen. Who will teach you the audition pieces sublime And she'll start with "From a Town So Fine".

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