Vincent
This new musical in two acts confronts the audience with the dramatic final hours of Vincent Van Gogh.
A total of 14 songs support rhyming verse and contemporary dance. Vincent pleads for help as he tries in vain to understand his life. But it is not forthcoming.
Perhaps we fail people like him … still.
If listened to whilst reading/acting out the stageplay this is a tremendous theatrical performance that can be enjoyed at home. Interest from professional/amateur dramatics is keenly sought.
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Synopsis:
Act One
Scene One: The Pavement Café at Night
♫ Take This Hand :
We meet a troubled Vincent Van Gogh. He sings directly to the audience asking who will help him. He then talks of the unhappiness in his life beginning his long contemplation with:
“This life is unfulfilled yet my journey’s been long
And now Madness is reached where discordance is strong”….
But even following these moving disturbing words there is no support or response and he remains alone.
♫ Cafesong :
This cheerful accordion instrumental piece reminds us of the lighter side of Parisian life but Vincent’s presence is apparent throughout. There is to be no escape for him – or the audience.
♫ Why this Starry Sky? :
This lovely haunting song is crucial to an understanding of the whole musical. It is Vincent Van Gogh wondering about his destiny and the meaning to his life
♫ Into the Night :
We watch as Vincent dances in a morose melancholy way. The powerful emotive music is of dark loneliness and we witness Vincent accepting its familiarity.
Scene Two: The All Night Café
♫ Why all this Heartache? :
A lady of the night representing the loves of Vincent sings in despair as she tries to understand why he has been so difficult to love. Like Vincent she seeks support – but again there is none.
♫ Cafesongs :
Another jolly little melody tries to lift the spirits and it certainly does for the customers of the Café (Gauguin, Dr Cachet, the Postman etc) - (and the audience!) but it does not improve the mood of Vincent or his love who go on to ask:
♫ Where’s that Feeling? :
The realisation that a love has died. Very sad, but for Vincent, always inevitable. They seem to accept it. But then she has to be certain and she goes on to reflect on their lives together:
♫ Vincent :
A heart-rending song where a lady in his life considers if anyone could ever truly love this man forever … and of course we may wonder of our own feelings towards him.
This is all proving too much for Vincent. He lives in despair and in a moment of madness slices through his ear …
Intermission
Act Two
Scene Three: The Wheatfield with Crows
♫ The Field :
This powerful threatening orchestral piece opens Act Two as we watch Vincent paint with great frustration and what seems like contempt. He is desperately unhappy and as part of his spoken anger says of his need to paint:
“Born in heaven, but corrupted in hell
Oh! The despair when its energies swell”
♫ Brother :
His faith and inner strength are beginning to die. He must find the one person who understands him and who has supported him always – his brother Theo. But today he is not there when Vincent needs him more than ever. And he talks of the illness that has plagued him all of his life:
And when the blackness bites
Like the hungriest beast
Then do I consider
Why in me it should feast…
♫ I think I’ll die today :
So finally he makes the decision to take his own life. For him enough is enough. He addresses the audience and explains why he must do this. He is relaxed, accepting and calm. He finishes singing. He shoots himself.
♫ Death of an Artist :
Vincent lies dying and on a now darkened stage we see human shapes appear. Who is it? What do they want?
Scene Four: The Starry Night
♫ Rest Your Weary Heart/Lonely Star :
We watch, as the people from his life appear to try and help him. But he dies… much to their shame. They sing of their hope he will rest in peace and then recognise his genius represented by an appearing shining star glowing down on them. There is much guilt and remorse but the music is uplifting, belief in love prevails and the star shines even more passionately. We see portrayals of his work appear slowly in the darkness of the sky. The curtains close.
© John Hutchinson 2008