A Brand New and Original Melodramatic Operetta by Fraser Charlton

Songs based on those by Gilbert & Sullivan

Maximillian Blackheart forces the women of Red Rock village to wreck ships for him, not fearing the cowardly local Revenuemen. However, in fulfillment of a prophecy, a heroic stranger arrives in the village to win the heart of Maximillian's love and change the lives of everyone forever...

Packed with incredible coincidences, this is the 'ultimate melodrama', and a real crowd-pleaser. Good opportunities for over-the-top acting and plenty of fun for the women as the villains of the piece!

Download the full script of the 2 Act Version of The Wreckers of Red Rock or the 1 Act Version - both in PDF format.
Download the piano vocal score of the full, two act version of The Wreckers of Red Rock (PDF format).

SYNOPSIS

Dramatis Personae

  • Maximillian Blackheart (a Villain) - BARITONE
  • William Valiant (a Hero) - TENOR
  • Hamish Walters (Head Revenueman of Red Rock) - BARITONE
  • Seth Appleby (Hamish's Second-in-Command) - TENOR
  • Jessie McPhee (a Mysterious Old Lady) - CONTRALTO
  • Maggie McPhee (a Heroine) - SOPRANO
  • Molly O'Brian (Head Wrecker) - MEZZO-SOPRANO
  • Faith Jarvis (Molly's Second-in-Command) - SOPRANO
Chorus of WRECKERS and CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIALS.

ACT I. - A cove beneath the cliffs of Red Rock

  • Scene One - Night
  • Scene Two - The following morning
Red Rock is a small village on the English Coast where a band of wreckers thrives, plundering ships that have been lured onto the treacherous rocks near the village by the lamp of Maggie McPhee (beautiful and innocent) who searches the horizon for ther long-prophesied lover. The leader of the band is the wicked Maximillian Blackheart, a man who believes himslef cursed by fate. From his lighthouse, he forces the women of Red Rock to help him plunder the wrecked shipping - a task made easier by the extraordinary cowardice of the local revenuemen.

All is not well, however - the women cannot marry for fear of prosecution as all the eligible men are revenuemen. Maximillian is in love with Maggie McPhee, but dare not approach her as he would lose a valuable source of income. Maggie McPhee continues to walk the clifftops awaiting her prophesied husband, although her hope is fading. Jessie McPhee then reveals a long-held secret; she is not Maggie's real mother. In a shipping accident in which she lost her husband, she grabbed the nearest baby as the boat sank only to discover it was a girl!

On the anniversary of Maggie's prophesy, William Valiant, a national hero, arrives in the village to join the Custom House, on a secret mission to investigate the wreckings. Strangely, he fulfills all the requirements of Maggie's prophesy, and the couple agree to wed immediately...

ACT II. - The same

  • Scene One - Evening
  • Scene Two - Later that night
Maximillain Blackheart, as his alter ego of Sir Bernard Booth, throws a celebratory party for the happy couple, and succeeds in getting all the revenuemen drunk (except, fo course, for William). Thank night, the Custom House men, led by William, are ambushed by the wreckers, and the secret of the women's double life is revealed. The revenuemen agree to let the women go in return for their lives. William, however, will not surrender, and he fights a deadly duel with Maximillian on the roof of the lighthouse for the virtue of his Maggie.

Events unfold rapidly: Maximillain heroically sacrifices his life and is forgiven, a betrothal in infancy is revealed, numerous long-lost relatives are discovered and everyone concludes that nothing can be done to resist 'The Force of Destiny'!

One and two act versions of the show exist (the same principals are used, but the plot is a little simpler in the shorter version!):

2 Acts. Duration: 90 mins (excluding interval)
1 Act. Duration 50 mins
Principals: 8 - 1 Soprano, 2 Mezzo's, 1 Contralto, 2 Tenors, 1 Baritone, 1 Bass + Chorus.

ORDER OF MUSIC

ACT ONE

1. OPENING CHORUS - (The Pirates of Penzance) "With cat-like tread" - MOLLY & FAITH
2. SONG - "I am a most thoroughly evil man" (Ruddigore)- MAX & CHORUS
3. SONG - "When I was young " (The Pirates of Penzance) - JESSIE
4. a. CHORUS OF REVENUEMEN - "The guardians of the sea" (Patience)
b. SONG - "We're the Custom House officials of this town" (The Pirates of Penzance) - HAMISH-
5. SONG - "Were I thy bride" (The Yeomen of the Guard) - MOLLY
6. a. CHORUS OF GIRLS - "From the Dover quay" (Ruddigore)
b. SONG - "Young William Valiant is my name" (Patience)- WILLIAM & CHORUS
7. TRIO - "I am a maiden" (Princess Ida) - WILLIAM, HAMISH & SETH
8. SONG - "Not long ago" (The Mikado) - MAGGIE
9. FINALE ACT I
a. CHORUS - "Won't it be a pretty wedding?" (The Grand Duke)
b. SOLO & CHORUS - "Be happy all" (The Sorcerer) - MAX
c. RECIT. - "Come to my mansion" (The Sorcerer) - MAX
d. SOLOS & CHORUS - "Oh, joy unbounded" (Trial By Jury) - MAGGIE, JESSIE, WILLIAM & MAX

ACT TWO

1. SOLOS & CHORUS - "Pour, oh, pour the wine and sherry" (The Pirates of Penzance) - HAMISH & MOLLY
2. DUET - "I'll go to him" (Patience) - FAITH & MOLLY
3. SONG - "First you're born" (Utopia limited) - MAX with FAITH & MOLLY
4. a. CHORUS OF REVENUEMEN - "The guardians of the sea" (Patience)
b. SOLO & CHORUS - "A rollicking band of wreckers we" (The Pirates of Penzance) - WILLIAM
c. DOUBLE CHORUS - "Stealthily we creep" (Patience)
5. CHORUS - "Upon the lighthouse roof they duel " (Princess Ida)
6. DUET - "The battle's roar is over" (Ruddigore) - WILLIAM & MAGGIE
7. TRIO - "Here's a how-de-do!" (The Mikado) - JESSIE, WILLIAM & MAX
8. FINALE
a. QUARTET - "Oh joy, oh rapture unforeseen" (H.M.S. Pinafore) - WILL, MAGGIE, HAMISH & MOLLY
b. CHORUS - "Here's a first rate opportunity", The Pirates of Penzance

PRODUCTIONS

  • 25th-26th June 1992 (2 performances), NUGSS, Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • 14th-15th June 1996 (2 performances), NUGSS, Newcastle upon Tyne.
  • 8th-14th & 23rd-29th August 2005 (14 performances), Edinburgh University Savoy Opera Group, Edinburgh Fringe (1 act version).
  • 17-26th May 2012 (8 performances), South Australian Light Opera Society, Adelaide, Australia.
  • 17th-18th and 20th-21st May 2022 (4 performances), Worcester Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Bromyard and Worcester.

POSTERS AND PROGRAMMES

Information about producing 'The Wreckers of Red Rock'

If you are interested in producing this show, please contact fraser.charlton@ncl.ac.uk: I have piano-vocal scores and production videos available for all of my shows. I don't charge any royalties for performances - simply a copy of all promotional material, a video/DVD of your production and any reviews you get!