Latest in my musical research- a play called Heartsong.
To my annoyance, there are no photos of this play on the entire Internet... but that doesn't mean there isn't still interesting information.
So, to start, this play is by Barbara Blatter, and- summary time!
The Heartsong Band, a diverse group of middle-school musical instruments who make music by listening to each other's hearts,(NOTE:???) overcomes the lures and pitfalls of promised solo celebrity and reclaims the empathy that is the source of their joyful sound.
The band’s cohesion is threatened when the conniving talent agency, AJBC (Always Judge a Book by its Cover) undermines Heartsong for its own gain with phony promises of fame and fortune. When AJBC sets up competitive auditions to select the one “star,” hostility, bullying and loss of empathy among band members ensues.
Ultimately, the instruments realize that their connections and unique way of making music are more important than winning at each other’s expense. Reclaiming each other and shared stardom, they help the CEO of AJBC and his assistant awaken to their long-lost joy in engaging with others.
And what else have we got? Well, not a song list, unfortunately, but the second-best thing- a character list, with details!
MEMBERS OF HEARTSONG BAND – middle-school teenage musical instruments from all over the world, where each member is a Star. They make music in a range of styles by listening to each other’s hearts.
There's that baffling heart stuff again. Well, I guess it is in the title...
Also, whoop-de-yay, a mass of international protagonists. This won't degenerate into stereotypes at all.
TOZI RAINSTICK - a Mexican bamboo rainstick. Empathic, introspective, proud of her rain-making Aztec ancestors; sees through pretense, not afraid to speak up and stand alone. She is named for the Aztec Goddess of Healing and Sweet Water.
And first up we have a Magical Empathic Native American. Oh joy.
TCHAIKOVSKY STRAVINSKY MUSSORGSKY CELLO 16th (aka HELLO CELLO) – a descendant of an 18th-century cello from Odessa, Russia. Old World formal, lovably bombastic, acts snobbish to conceal his soft heart, is self-conscious about his bulk.
SAM SAX - an alto saxophone from New Orleans. Super cool hipster; his desire to appear laid back and in control covers a terrible performance anxiety that causes him to stutter. Identifies with the jazz greats especially Charlie Parker.
Better concept, but I can hear his "hip" dialogue already and I don't like it.
Is... is Charlie Parker an instrument in the play's world, or are characters just going to mention real-world musicians and never explain anything?
MAJONGA CONGA - a beautifully carved Conga drum from a formerly-wealthy Somalian family who fled civil war and drought in their country and in the process lost their money. Cautious, prideful; threatened that the diversity of Heartsong will erode his aristocratic identity.
Conga drums come from Cuba, not Somalia! Blatter has committed an error no more egregious than plunking the Eiffel Tower next to the Empire State Building.
SHUEH-YEN SYNTH - a state-of-the-art Japanese keyboard synthesizer. New Punky style, insists on independence, arrogant about her cutting edge technology, but secretly lonely, wishes she could more openly express how much she values Heartsong.
Techy Japanese girl. Another dumb stereotype.
AMPED-UP – an amplifier made in a small shop in Baghdad, a poet. Passionately political, believes Heartsong can change the world; becomes agitated because the music comes through him and is not made by him, causing him to question his value to the band.
PENNY WHISTLE - an Irish penny whistle, first in her family to leave the farm in County Cork. A high achiever, brilliant in school, quick-witted, highly animated; she may express her anxiety about fitting into the group as exaggerated modesty or contempt.
MS./MR. METRONOME - a Metronome, moves and talks in rhythm, fast and slow, will burst into song spontaneously. Energetic teacher, beloved mentor to Heartsongers, thrilled about their fame, concerned about how it will impact them.
REPRESENTATIVES OF AJBC (“Always Judge a Book by Its Cover”)
I THE PHONE 26 - an I-Phone, the very latest; the CEO of AJBC, Always Judge a Book by Its Cover, the biggest music talent agency on the planet. Egocentric, all about appearances and staying at the top. With the help of the Heartsongers, he ultimately wakes up to the value of connecting to others.
Oh good LORD. If there's one thing I hate more than people getting which country an instrument comes from wrong, it's shoehorned "new technology is evil" messaging. You writers- maybe one person can't do much on their own, but all of you writers, collectively, who use that trope are responsible for the waves of online censorship that are crashing down over the world!
ANN/ANDY DROID - last year’s Samsung Smart phone, new administrative assistant at AJBC. Deferential, bumbling, disorganized; a new father(NOTE: Or mother, presumably, given the gender name variant) and former Garage Band musician, attracted to Heartsong’s compassionate music, realizes that he can have music and his family.
CASH MCGREEDY - a $100,000 bill, lawyer for AJBC. Greedy, impatient, never satisfied, sycophantish; wants to fill the void, believes he can buy whatever he needs.
Okay this last guy is so stupid it's hilarious.
And, now that we know who's in it, where did it run?
Lemme check. Workshop in Phonecia Playhouse September 2023, workshop in Antrim Playhouse August 2025, workshop in New England Youth Theater April, um...
Well, check back with me on (checks date) 4/20 when this thing is put on (although since I can't be there in person I'll have to rely on whatever the NEYT posts online, which means there might be a delay).
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