The musical is set in December 2019, and is based around the Butterworth Care Home for the elderly, situated in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England. We follow the lives of three main characters: Morag and Betty (residents), and Bernie (carer). When Morag and Betty meet for the first time, they strike up a friendship. But that soon changes, when Betty reveals a painful event from her past, involving Morag’s late husband Stanley. Morag is left angry and confused. But when Stanley visits her in a dream, things start to become a lot clearer. Morag and Betty sneak out of the care home to visit Stanley’s grave on his birthday. But they get more than they bargained for, when Stanley and some of his deceased friends in the cemetery, decide to have a birthday party, and Morag and Betty are most definitely welcome.
All the residents love staff nurse Bernie. She’s very kind and helpful to the residents, and fellow staff. However, her own life is far from happy. Lurking in the background, is her violent, abusive husband Ralph. Bernie has left him and wants a divorce, but Ralph has other ideas, and he’ll do anything to get Bernie back. One night while fuelled with drink and drugs, he breaks into the care home, and confronts Bernie with a knife. There’s a dramatic turn of events, when Ralph starts to rape Bernie, stabbing her in the process. Colonel Bob and Cyril, two of the residents, come to Bernie’s rescue. Everyone is on edge, as the paramedics desperately try to save Bernie’s life.
LISTEN TO THE SONGS ON YOUTUBE
MUSICAL NUMBERS
1.The Butterworth Care Home
2.Brexit Will Happen Finally
3.Waiting To Die
4.Stanley Withersall
5.The Crazy Gang
6.Escaping
7.Bingo
8.Have You Ever
9.I Remember
10.Stanley’s Alright
11.There’s No One Else
12.The Cemetery Looks Wonderful Tonight
13.Stanley’s Birthday
14.We’re Having A Party
15.Age Is Just A Number
16.I’m Happy To Be Stuck With Me
17.Is It A Dream Or Real
18.The Party’s Over
19.Don’t Go
20.Heal Your Life
21.On The Other Side
22.Rise Behold
23.Hold On To Life
24.Here I Am
CAST
MORAG: Resident, northern accent, lovely, overweight, late 80’s
YOUNG MORAG: Attractive, northern accent, bubbly, early 20’s
STANLEY: Morag’s late husband, northern accent, charming, 5ft, mid 80’s
YOUNG STANLEY: Morag’s boyfriend, northern accent, 5ft, charming, mid 20’s
BETTY: Resident, slight woman, northern accent, gentle, late 80’s
YOUNG BETTY: Slim, attractive, sad, early 40’s
COLONEL BOB: Resident, still thinks he’s in the army, straight talking, early 90’s
QUEENIE: Resident, ex model, talks posh, always well groomed, late 80’s
CYRIL: Resident, quiet, tourette syndrome, says crikey bloody ell, after every sentence, 80’s
BERNIE: Staff Nurse, troubled soul, suffering domestic abuse, loving and kind, early 40’s
RALPH: Bernie’s husband, angry, cunning, violent when drunk, mid 40’s
MRS SHIVERS: Carer, attractive, remainer, mid 40’s
TED MOLE: Carer, confident, know-all, argumentative, brexiteer, mid 50’s
JAFFA: Senior Carer, fat, early 60’s
MICKEY BARKER: Deceased, cheeky chappy, early 30’s
MRS ROBINSON: Deceased, mid 70’s
SPIRIT 1: Deceased, male, mid 70’s
SPIRIT 2: Deceased, female, 60’s
SPIRIT 3: Deceased, male/female, mid 50’s
DEBRA TRAVIS: Vicar, mid 40’s
CHURCH CONGREGATION: A mixture of men, women and children, all ages
SAMMY: Bernie’s best friend, compassionate, emotional, mid 40’s
BARBERSHOP QUARTET: Men/Women, various ages
Escaping The Musical Is Available in Paperback and Download.
UK: Amazon.co.uk USA: Amazon.com