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You have entered the ONCE IN EVERY WEEKEND dimension’76 Kids Forever
The soap-opera musical adapted exclusively from the original stage production “1.2.3.4.Sunday”
1
As the overture plays, Ray McFarlane, compulsive careerist of Tom Cooks & Cottesmore Close leaves his Saturday morning stint in admin. We see him cross to the Social Club where he is to meet the loutish, pampered Shaun Fraser, cousin to Ray’s idol Ian Molloy, homeowner at 22 & now acting head of admin. When, on the steps ray bumps into Ian he once again reflects upon his expectations. Driving into town for a lunchtime pint, Ray confides in Shaun. He is furious with Mick Roberts, of the Holiday Tours department for his luck in receiving next week’s ‘educational’ trip to Bremerhaven & wishes to ‘show’ him & his overflash mate Steve Curry. They spot the pair, all baggies & bravado, parading through the Saturday shoppers and, in front of Jon Bryans ladies fashions, hoot them loudly. The two old school pals curse McFarlane & continue on their way to Woolworths caff, remarking on the beauty of local women – Steve, ever optimistic, greets the passing Trisha Ellis (Flickbacks & hysteria) once more but once more she mocks his manhood. They cross Town-Square for Tim Whites Chemical Store where the stylish but cynical Phil Neames holds court & inquires if he intends to visit Annabels tonight. Phil, too uncommitted to reply is left, when the pair have gone, puzzled by their old friend, to berate his lot.
2
In Woolworths caff Steve mocks Mick for his obsession with Ray’s sister, the silent Christine, when distant roars inform them that today is FA Cup Third Round Day & Forest Fans are abroad. Together with other local lads they emerge to defend the streets but are eventually trapped in an alleyway behind the White Lion. Phil, now on his lunchbreak behind the locked door, lets them in to where we see members of local retail & commercial pre-engaged in business discussions & lunchtime drinking contests. Among them is Shaun, downing halves theatrically with Ray. Standing on the bar, Shaun declares that promotion sorts out the sheep from the goats to the enthusiastic concurrence of Ray & the others. Mick spots Christine alone at the bar but before he can get to her Ray swaggers over to announce that Trisha is going to Annabels tonight with him. This has the desired effect on Steve who is neither mollified by Phil’s lecture on the future of Hi-Fi nor an introduction to Diane’s mates. Upon spotting Trisha flounce by outside he dashes after her & demands to know if it’s true. Trisha, still feeling spiteful, replies that it might be.
3
Around the town we see the protagonists preparing for Annabels. Christine, already clad in her customary grey suit is sad for her family, disappointed in her brother & realistic about the evening to come. Trisha feels frantic and paces her room. Mick eats toast reflectively and Steve examines the mirror for blemishes which are not his own. Shaun mouths obscenities down the phone to Debbie Mason & Ray, frowning waits for him in Pickwicks as the evening crowd begins to gather. Couples walk & Phil Neames pulls up outside the dark shape of Queens Grammar blaming bad teaching yet again for his expulsion & lack of faith in anything. He knows his full length leather coat will win the evening but doesn’t feel pleased with that either.
4
By 10:30 Annabels is already alive. Foursomes & Fivesomes gather, examing twosomes and threesomes. Mick & Steve enter & notice Phil, already close-dancing with flame-haired Eileen Preston of Magnet Bowl fame. They are envious & a worsening rift is sensed. Steve downs several & spots Trisha over by the toilets. They duet playfully & Trisha finally confesses she and Andy Babbs are finished. They close-dance & plan revenge on Ray who is noisily doing the Bump with Shaun, Debbie & Ian Molloy nearby. Mick meanwhile has managed to separate Christine from Tina, her strange Fenland friend. Christine is distant but does not resist. A Northern Soul spot is announced in which Mick & Steve, thanks to their All-Nighter experience do OK. However, when the spotlight (craftily pre-arranged by Trisha) goes on Ray he foolishly attempts a backdrop & falls flat on his face in front of Ian Molloy who leaves in disgust. Christine laughs at last, privately enjoying her brother’s shame and, impressed with Mick’s dancing, asks to be walked to the taxi-rank. They bid farewell to Steve & Trish, kissing eagerly in a shop window & on the town bridge Mick asks Christine to go places with him. She refuses due to workload but agrees to meet him on Town-Square tomorrow at three.
SUNDAY
In the estates surrounding Town-Centre it is the hour after dinner & everyone is either sleeping noisily or passing blank hours with sofa & family. Trisha’s mum has got the shakes again, Steve’s dad is waxing the car again & Cottesmore Close is ominous & empty. We see Mick, walking aimlessly waiting for 2:50. Outside the ABC he meets Steve & together they stroll to Town Square where Trisha && Christine are already waiting by the filled-in fountains. In a walk to the River things seem strangely changed however. Christine is distant once more & unimpressed by Mick’s plans for a move to London telling him to be more realistic. Steve, engrossed in Trisha, is uninterested in anything. When they all bid farewell it seems strangely final & Mick in a depressed haze walks back to Town-Square which seems to be signalling the end of some era or other. The Finale reveals Ray, lurking in the shadows. He has seen everything & now emerges triumphantly. It is HE who is on the way to London he leers, to stay with his aunt in Northolt for a week. He boasts a vision of his future affluence which came to him in a dream the previous night but Mick doesn’t hear for to his horror, from out of the shadows besides ray steps Phil, his Adidas bag packed for the week also. Phil, too embarrassed to speak turns & follows Ray who is now striding towards Town-Station, turning occasionally to shout again the story of his stranger vision.
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PSYCHO-MEDICS NOTE
The benign lunacy of small town/new town living is what fascinates these gentle satirists, and they have worked out a distinctive pop language in which to express it. Their repertoire takes in pop, soft core disco, vaudeville, and muzak but their sound is immaculately thin and weightless, like the synthetic fibre fabrics their 76 kids favour. But there is more to this than just music. Issues raised by the album’s subject-matter maybe discussed today and tomorrow on Sudden Sway’s 24-hour phone-in link.
“We want to de-centre the artist from the artistic process”, explains Mike. “I think it’s about people coming together in a communal co-operative fashion and producing works.”
Perverse bastards, intellectuals.
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