ROCKIN' ROBIN - THE MUSICAL by Brian McIntyre
CONCEPT - pre- and post story of the song “Billie Jean” using Michael
Jackson songs.
Characters:
Robin - child
Robin - teen and adult
Diana - child
Diana - teen and adult
Ben - Robin's father
Billie Jean - mother of Robin
Eddie - Ben's soldier friend and father of Diana
Janet - Billie Jean friend and mother of Diana
Annie - mother of Billie Jean
Frankie Simon - sleazebag manager of Robin
SYNOPSIS - ACT ONE opens with old BEN and BILLIE JEAN reminiscing on a
park bench [song Remember The Time] and action flashes back to the day they
met at the Dangerous Disco. Young BEN and friend EDDIE on their last night
before heading off to war pair off with young BILLIE JEAN and friend JANET
[song Wanna Be Starting Something].
During the dance, the DJ FRANKIE SIMON tries to hustle BILLIE JEAN and is
put in his place by BEN [song mashup Wanna Be Starting, Rock With You,
PYT and big finish with Wanna Be Starting Something chorus and the
mama se mama sa].
Scene change to diner operated by BILLIE JEAN’S mother ANNIE. BILLIE JEAN
and BEN start to bond [song Ben] and BILLIE JEAN promises to meet BEN at
midnight. BEN rues his timing [song duet Human Nature] and EDDIE runs in to
break the news he has just married JANET. They make a pact to look out for
each other [duet I’ll Be There]. BILLIE JEAN promises to wait for BEN [song
duet I’ll Be There]. They bond. He is sent overseas.
Scene change to inside diner. BILLIE JEAN has morning sickness and ANNIE
asks how did it happen [song Blame It On The Boogie]. BILLIE JEAN fears to
tell BEN the truth against ANNIE’S advice. They touch the baby through BILLIE
JEAN’S belly [song Can You Feel It].
Change to bedroom scene - baby ROBIN crying in BILLIE JEAN'S arms who
promises to always be there [song I'll Be There] Enter EDDIE and JANET,
carrying their own baby DIANA. EDDIE has brought the badly injured BEN who
feels rejected by BILLIE JEAN. On discovering they have a son he reacts badly
and runs off. Alone, he sings to the night and drifts off into a decade long
drugged and drunken haze [song She’s Out Of My Life].
© Brian McIntyre 2010 all rights reserved
Scene change to schoolyard where ten year old Robin learns about love from his
mother [song ABC] and shows off his dancing talent [song Rockin’ Robin].
FRANKIE SIMON reappears as does BEN who confronts BILLIE JEAN and
ROBIN discovers the truth about his lack of having a father [song Billie Jean].
ANNIE tells BEN to go {song Beat It] and it ends badly [Sam Tsui mashup of
Billie Jean, Beat It, Smooth Criminal], with ROBIN not trusting any of his family
[song Leave Me Alone and They Don’t Care About Us]. FRANKIE becomes
ROBIN’S manager and ROBIN grows up wayward. In a drugged confrontation
with grandmother ANNIE he hits her. FRANKIE persuades ANNIE not to go to
the police for fear the bad press would impact ROBIN’s career and concocts a
story {song Smooth Criminal]. ANNIE opines the boy is no good [song Bad] but
BILLIE JEAN remains faithful in her love for her son [song I Just Can’t Stop
Loving You].
ACT TWO
Opens with production number of ROBIN on stage [song They Don’t Care
About Us]. Backstage he is introduced to DIANA by FRANKIE [song Dirty
Diana] as the date for a function they must attend. ROBIN and DIANA reminisce
and bond as DIANA comments on his physical condition. He says that is his
lifestyle and he copes with it [song Off The Wall].
Scene change back to the Diner the following morning where BILLIE JEAN is
looking after ANNIE and missing her son [song Ain’t No Sunshine]. EDDI E and
JANET surprise BILLIE JEAN by bringing in BEN who has recovered and
become a lawyer. He relates his salvation [song I’ll Be There] and seeks to
shake off the bad blood and hopes for a reconciliation with BILLIE JEAN [song I
Want You Back].
Meanwhile, ROBIN and DIANA have spent the night walking and talking and find
themselves at the door of the diner. BILLIE JEAN rushes out of the door followed
by BEN and they bump into DIANA and ROBIN. FRANKIE bursts in on this family
scene and relates that contractually he owns ROBIN and will squeeze him unless
BILLIE JEAN agrees to marry him. BEN and FRANKIE get verbal with each other
[song Bad] whilst ROBIN laments the relationships [song Earth Song]. They all
fight and ROBIN is concussed.
At the hospital ICU, BILLIE JEAN and BEN wait and pray for ROBIN to come out
of a coma [song You Are Not Alone]. ROBIN comes around and has an
epiphany about life [song Heal The World, You Are Not Alone]. Transition back
to the diner where FRANKIE shows up to demand BILLIE JEAN be his bride.
BEN reveals he has become FRANKIE’S senior business partner and now
controls FRANKIE’S business moves. It also transpires that FRANKIE and
BILLIE JEAN share the same biological father so that marriage is impossible and
FRANKIE has gained a family. They opine that some people cannot change, but
ROBIN says nothing is impossible [song Man In The Mirror].
© Brian McIntyre 2010 all rights reserved
Scene change back to original park scene where BEN and BILLIE JEAN are
joined by everyone as a whole family. Whatever happens, everyone has a family
who will always be there whether you know it or not [song Will You Be There].
Encore numbers The Way You Make Me Feel and Black Or White
© Brian McIntyre 2010 all rights reserved