Connect

SONG 1: “CONNECT” A burst of energy. Lights explode up to announce a stage in motion. It is a blinding and busy Thursday-ish morning, pre-2020, and our characters are having their normal, frantic lives. TVs are on, traffic whizzes by, neon signs flash, everything that can ring and beep and buzz does so. With highly-stylized choreography, the characters maneuver around each other without really seeing; for the most part they are nose-deep into their iPhones, Blackberries, iPads, or mp3 players. As usual. With few exceptions, lyrics are delivered to the audience, establishing the musical revue style for the whole evening. The characters connect to the audience exactly because they cannot connect with each other. It is important to establish a world where the players can exist in their world and beyond the fourth wall at the same time.

JILL
STORY IN THE PAPER SAYS, “POPULATION EXPLODES.”
MICHAEL
TRAVEL IS EXPENSIVE BUT NO ONE STAYS IN ONE PLACE.
MAGGIE
TRAFFIC IS A PAIN WITH TOO MANY CARS ON THE ROADS,
JILL, MAGGIE, MICHAEL
AND EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK PEOPLE WANT MORE TIME AND SPACE.
ZOE ANY GIVEN WEEKDAY THE CITY BUZZES WITH SUITS.
ENSEMBLE T/B
CONNECTION
ADAM
LIKE A HONEYCOMB WHERE THE BEES ARE SERVING THEIR QUEEN.
ENSEMBLE S/A
CONNECTION…
ALL FIVE
MORNING AFTER MORNING THE WORKERS START THEIR COMMUTES,
BUT NONE OF THEM WILL SPEAK, AND THEY’D RATHER NOT BE SEEN.
ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
‘CAUSE WE’RE OVERGROWN, WITH SO MUCH UNKNOWN,
THAT IT’S EASIER TO BE LEFT ALONE.
AND THE NET EFFECT IS WHAT YOU’D EXPECT.
IT’S A WORLD OF STRANGERS WHO DON’T CONNECT.
MAGGIE
RUNNING TO A MEETING, I SPOT A FRIEND AND WAVE “HI.”
ENSEMBLE
CONNECTION…
MICHAEL BUT INSTEAD OF STOPPING WE NOD AND KEEP ON OUR WAY.
ENSEMBLE
CONNECTION…
ZOE, ADAM DUCK AROUND THE CORNER AND SEND A TEXT ON THE FLY.
ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
ONE DAY WE’LL GET LUNCH, BUT THE SCHEDULE’S TOUGH TODAY…

ALL FIVE
THERE’S A DAILY GRIND THAT WE’RE ALL ASSIGNED,
AND WE CAN’T RELAX OR WE FALL BEHIND.
BUT THE NET EFFECT IS WHAT YOU’D EXPECT.
ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
IT’S A WORLD OF STRANGERS WHO DON’T…
OPEN THE DOOR, LOOK AT THE VIEW,
VENTURE OUTSIDE THE WORLDS WE LIVE IN.
CONNECTION…
DAY AFTER DAY, WE MUDDLE THROUGH,
NEVER NOTICING ALL THAT WE’VE BEEN GIVEN. …
MICHAEL
GOTTA MEET MY DEADLINE BY TEN.
JILL
GOTTA TAKE THE CAR IN AGAIN.
ADAM
GOTTA SEE THAT SHOW ON TV.
MAGGIE
GOTTA HOP A FLIGHT TO D. C.
MICHAEL
GOTTA DO MY EMAIL NOW.
ZOE
GOTTA GET TO SLEEP SOMEHOW.
ADAM AND MICHAEL
CAN’T STOP TO REFLECT…
ZOE, JILL, AND MAGGIE
CAN’T STOP TO REFLECT…
ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
GOTTA FIND A WAY TO CONNECT!

JILL
CAN WE PLAN A TRIP JUST AS SOON AS THINGS SETTLE DOWN?
ADAM, ZOE, MAGGIE, ENSEMBLE
CONNECT!
MICHAEL CONNECTION…
ALL OTHERS CONNECT!

ADAM FINISH UP THE SEASON AND THEN, I’LL JUST HAVE TO QUIT!
ALL OTHERS CONNECT!
ZOE, JILL
CONNECTION…

ZOE THINGS’LL LIGHTEN UP IF I PLAY MORE CONCERTS IN TOWN. ALL FIVE
WHY SHOULD I STOP NOW WHEN I’M FINALLY MAKING IT?
ALL FIVE
BUT A LOVED ONE DIES, OR A BABY CRIES
AND A HEARTBREAK COMES AS A HUGE SURPRISE.
ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
AND WE NEED SUPPORT, BUT OUR NEEDS FALL SHORT,
‘CAUSE WE ONLY BREATHE AS A LAST RESORT.
ALL FIVE
SO WE PROMISE TO WORK EVEN LONGER,
BECAUSE THAT SEEMS TO MAKE US FEEL STRONGER.
AND WE BRUSH ASIDE WHAT WE’VE ALL DENIED,
WHAT WE ALWAYS HIDE INSIDE:

ALL FIVE AND ENSEMBLE
WE LONG TO CONNECT!
CONNECT!