Bumblescratch is an original sung-through musical with book, music and lyrics by Robert J. Sherman. The musical premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in London on 4 September 2016 as a one night, celebrity gala charity event in aid of Variety, the Children's Charity (UK). This was done as part of weekend commemorations of the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of London.
The staged concert was directed and choreographed by Stewart Nicholls with music direction by Tom Kelly, orchestrations by Rowland Lee and design by Gabriella Slade.
An Original Cast Recording which includes musical highlights from the show was recorded at Angel Recording Studios on 12–13 September 2016 in Islington, London. The album was mixed and mastered between 14 September – 11 November in Kent and released by SimG Records on 19 December 2016.
In the Adelphi cast were Darren Day, Jessica Martin, Michael Xavier, Ilan Galkoff, Alastair Barron, Jacob Chapman, James Dangerfield, Emma Harold, Katie Kerr, Jessie May, Teddy Moynihan, Cathy Read and Dickie Wood. Prior to this performance, there was a workshop of the show held on 9 and 10 May 2013 at the Network Theatre in London.
Theme and Inspiration "The characters in Bumblescratch each experience one form of isolation or another. Redemption comes when a character no longer feels isolated. The overarching theme in Bumblescratch is "redemption of the unredeemable". This is why Melbourne had to be a plague rat. Otherwise his redemption would have come across as phony. The audience has to believe that Melbourne is a deeply vile creature, which he is. So when Melbourne rises up, his redemption too becomes plausible."
Production history The first draft of Bumblescratch was written in the period between 2004 and 2008 when Sherman had first moved to London. It was during this time that his father, Robert B. Sherman of the Sherman Brothers, was working on Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Mary Poppins for the stage. Sherman later credited the epic scale of Bumblescratch to his exposure to his father's work during this period. Sherman had moved to England to be a support to his father and to manage his business affairs. Sherman said, "When I wasn't managing my father’s office, I was working on Bumblescratch." In 2009, Sherman and his old friend, opera singer, Michael Niemann presented three songs from Bumblescratch as part of a one night, off-Broadway showcase in New York and the songs were very well received.
In November 2012 a weeklong workshop/read-through was conducted and then, six months later, a full workshop was presented of the show. In 2015 the LOST Theatre in Stockwell requested the rights to present the show in 5 week run, but LOST pulled out of the production due to a lack of funds, meanwhile with orchestrations already commissioned and other aspects of the production already underway, Sherman pulled together some of the creative team who did the previous year's well received Love Birds and transformed the production into a one night charity benefit for Variety Club. The show was presented on September 4, 2016 and was in aid of Variety. An Original Cast Recording (CD) including many of the musical highlights from the show was recorded a week after the show and released in December 2016 by SimG Records.
2013 Workshop A workshop of the show was done on May 9 and May 10, 2013 at the Network Theatre in London, England. The workshop cast included: Paul Baker (as "Melbourne"), David Adler (as "Fats"), Rosemary Ashe (as "Bethesda"/"Widow MacGregor"), John Barr (as "Socrates"), Gary Jerry (as "Charmer"), Jeremy Secomb (as "Hookbeard"), Darren Street (as "Thomas Farynor"), James Yeoburn (as "Mordekai"), Ziggie Sky Ward (as "Hortense"), Harry Stone (as "Rufus"), Sebastian Croft (as "Perry"), Daniel Dowling (as "Perry" [understudy]), Frances Encell (as "Thamesa"), and Lydia Grant, Bianca Harris, Stephen Matthews, Sarah Moyle and Sophie Poulton (playing ensemble roles). It was directed by Graham Gill. The Musical Director was Colin Billing. The assistant Musical Director was Matthew Ramplin. Musical Staging was done by Robbie O'Reilly. The Stage Manager was Fiona Bailey. General Management was provided by Joanne Benjamin and Clive Chenery of The Entertainment Business. The Productions Assistant was Stephanie Marks. The Technical Manager was James Henshaw. The Casting Director was Anne Vosser. The children's casting Director was Mark Deitch. Wardrobe was created by Debbie Bennett. Public Relations was done by David Bloom of Target Live. Child Chaperones were David Russell and Doulla Croft. Videography was done by Ramsey Jeffers.
2016 Adelphi In the autumn of 2015, following well received previews of Love Birds at the LOST Theatre and excellent reviews that followed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for Love Birds official run, Robert Sherman was approached by the LOST Theatre in Stockwell for permission to do a four-week, extendable run of Bumblescratch with the associate creative director of LOST, Jack Bowman directing. After several months of preparation Sherman and Bowman were informed that LOST had to withdraw its offer for lack of funding. With orchestrations and other aspects of the show already commissioned, Sherman decided to proceed with a one-night celebrity gala performance in aid of Variety. That show took place on 4 September 2016. The director/choreographer for the Adelphi incarnation of the show was Stewart Nicholls who had collaborated with Sherman on two previous shows Love Birds and A Spoonful of Sherman. Love Birds designer, Gabriella Slade also provided the design for Bumblescratch. Nicholls' long-time associate Rowland Lee was brought on to orchestrate the ten-piece band. Sherman, Nicholls and Lee met regularly from March to August to work on the orchestrations.
Characters and Cast Character Description 2013 Workshop Cast 2016 Adelphi Cast Melbourne Bumblescratch A plague rat living in 1660s London. Paul Baker Darren Day Perry An innocent "child" plague rat who becomes Melbourne's only living friend. When he meets a human named "Thamesa" he is instantly smitten. Sebastian Croft, Daniel Dowling Ilan Galkoff Hookbeard The legendary ghost of a rat pirate. In life he had been the pet of the Viking invader Olav. Hookbeard's curse is that he has no memory of who he is and does not realize that he is a ghost. Jeremy Secomb Michael Xavier Bethesda/Widow MacGregor Bethesda: The long suffering fiancée of Melbourne Bumblescratch. Widow MacGregor: A sad lady whose life ended gruesomely. Rosemary Ashe Jessica Martin Socrates The wicked King Rat who rules over the other rats of London. John Barr Jacob Chapman Fats One of Socrates' henchman. Oafish and dimwitted, he is often seen with "Charmer". David Adler Alastair Barron Charmer One of Socrates' henchman. Oily and disloyal, he is often seen with "Fats". Gary Jerry Dickie Wood Thamesa A 15 year old human girl, the daughter of Thomas Farynor, the Royal Baker. When her dog is taken from her, Thamesa takes Perry as a pet. Frances Encell Cathy Read Squabbler An underdweller rat youth who learns to admire Melbourne, becoming his closest follower and eventually a leader in his own right. "Mordekai" in the 2013 Workshop. James Yeoburn Teddy Moynihan Squeaker Squabbler's closest minion who is drawn by his magnetism. "Rolanda" in the 2013 Workshop. Sophie Poulton Emma Harrold Thomas Farynor The Royal Baker. Melbourne lives in the roof thatching of his bakery. Darren Street James Dangerfield Rolanda One of the female rats of London. A street artiste. "Hortense" in the 2013 Workshop. The character was reworked for the Adelphi production. When Melbourne inadvertently topples her artwork (a cranberry pyramid) it instigates her descent into depression and eventual madness. Ziggie Sky Ward Katie Kerr Lascivia In the Adelphi cast, this was a single character. "Ensemble" in the 2013 Workshop. This/These character/s are Melbourne's former lovers. At the front Act II of the Adelphi version, Lascivia is experiences a religious transformation. Lydia Grant, Bianca Harris, Sarah Moyle Jessie May Rufus An incidental historical character from the period who underestimates the danger which the fire represents. (Voice Over) Harry Stone James Dangerfield Samuel Pepys An incidental (historical) character who underestimates the danger that the fire represents. (Voice Over) Stephen Matthews (v/o) Lord Mayor Bloodworth An incidental historical character from the period whose inactions the danger which the fire represents. (v/o) Judge Satan The judge who casts down sentence on Melbourne during the nightmare. Jacob Chapman (v/o)
Synopsis
Act I
In London, during the Great Plague of 1665, a plague rat named Melbourne Bumblescratch tells stories to (and occasionally steals from) the other rats passing by. Despised for this, Melbourne spends a great deal of his time dodging those whom he has wronged; including his long suffering fiancée, Bethesda; and Socrates who is the King of the Pack Rats. In the first scene, Melbourne inadvertently pickpockets a blue and white jewel from Socrates, thinking that all he was taking was a mere morsel of cheese (London In The Plague) but by the time he realizes what he's stolen, and from whom he's stolen it, it's too late. As he makes his escape, Melbourne meets a juvenile, homeless rat named Perry who takes an instant liking to the storyteller and refuses to leave Melbourne's side (Thank You Sir). The others find and surround Melbourne and Perry when, like a magician, Melbourne sprinkles some "Jiggery Pokery" (gunpowder) on the ground and the twosome disappear into the smoke of the explosion. Just then Bethesda returns, vowing to make Melbourne pay for his treachery (Melbourne Bumblescratch). Contrasting Bethesda's tirade, Melbourne expresses his own, more laid back approach to life (and connubial fidelity) in (At Least A Rat ‘As Got An Excuse).
Meanwhile, Socrates' oafish henchmen, Fats and Charmer, have caught up to Melbourne, following him and Perry into the Cock Lane Rat Pub only to lose the duo once again. Later on, they try to justify their incompetence to Socrates who will hear none of it (Socrates’ Scorn). By the end of the night, Melbourne reluctantly offers Perry (who is still in tow) a place to stay for the night (Close Scrape Today). As Melbourne falls asleep, he has nightmares of being tortured by Socrates when suddenly he is awoken by his recurring hallucination: Hookbeard, the amnesiac ghost of a legendary rat pirate (Hookbeard's Theme). Melbourne explains to the audience that the reason for his hallucinations is because of his long-ago consumption of tainted cheese (Don't Eat Bad Cheese!). He explains that the Bad Cheese made him just a little crazy, but that the insanity is manageable. Hookbeard chastises Melbourne for stealing Socrates's jewel, insisting Melbourne give it back for his own good. Melbourne lies to Hookbeard telling him that he can't give back the jewel, "much as he'd like" due to the jewel being lost. The justifiably skeptical ghost takes pity on Melbourne, promising to protect him should his location be discovered by the Socrates (Hookbeard's Rebuke).