ROBOTS: The Musical Production

ROBOTS: The Musical Production takes place June 22nd through June 24th at the Delphi Opera House in Delphi, Indiana.

It was spring of 1983 and robots were on my mind.

My little self just heard "Mr. Roboto" by Styx and a grand idea struck me. As I walked to get the bus to school that morning, the idea took root and grew. I would write a story sure to earn me both Hugo and Nebula Awards for it was so earth-shattering, so innovative, that it's fresh quality could not be denied by anyone of estimable mind. What was this bold new literary concept? Why I would write an epic story arc about...hold on to yourself now...

Robots taking over the world.

Fortunately for the human race, I never got far with it. Even more fortunate is there are those out there with truly inspired takes on robotics and what their continued evolution means for humanity. One of them is my friend and former professorial colleague, Dr. Paul Geraci. He has written and composed an opera called ROBOTS: The Musical Production and took time out of his busy schedule to talk with me about the show.

Jon Nichols: Thanks for talking with me today, Paul. Could you please tell us a little about the play?

Paul Geraci:  ROBOTS is a futuristic opera in one act that takes place in a 1st grade classroom in the not too distant future.   It blends story aspects of Blade Runner, Battlestar Galactica, the Twilight Zone, and the Terminator, with operatic musical stylings of classic Gilbert and Sullivan operettas and Soundheim musicals.  
In this conception of the world, students learn to control robots to accomplish their every task.  But since machines now do everything for them, what purpose do human beings have?  Events occur that pose questions such as “If robots do everything what will we do?” and “Is our station in life defined by the robots we own?”.   The teacher must balance her role in teaching robotic education while contemplating her place in this new world of technology.  When no one is around the robots come to life and ask questions of their own such as “Where would the humans be without us?” and lay hints at future robot revolution.  Finally, a new teacher comes to the school and challenges perceptions about society’s values and a new paradigm of things to come. 
ROBOTS is a show that will leave the audience humming tunes, deliver big laughs, and put on a spectacle of dancing robots.  But more importantly it will also leave concertgoers with deeper questions about the future, humanity, and the obsolescence of the human race.

JN: What inspired the show?
   
PG: Originally ROBOTS was a 5 minute short film.  After several rewrites and brainstorming sessions with film director Tim Mills, I decided it worked better as a stage show with music than a film, thus, it became a 1 hour opera instead.  This show is unique as I wrote the music, lyrics, and the story, but the added time allowed me to develop the characters and create some amazing feelings about them.  I took some inspiration from the musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee where all the children are played by adult actors.  This added some humor and light-heartedness to some rather dark subject matter.  It took 13 months to compose- though I am constantly editing!


JN: What can an audience expect musically?

PG: Since ROBOTS is futuristic but also centered around 1st graders, a special type of music was called for.  In most music we have chords, and those chords are built on thirds (do mi sol, or C E G).  ROBOTS uses what we call quartal harmony, or chords built on fourth (sol do fa, or G C F) this creates the signature harmonic language for the entire show.  Quartal harmonies are not new, composers Paul Hindem
ith and Kent Kennan used them quite a bit.
    Despite the lengthy and technical description of the harmonies, my concept of melody still falls within the tonal paradigm.  All of the melodies are singable and fun with memorable tunes.  And there is variety – the audience will hear a wide array of styles including:  operatic arias, musical theatre tunes, children’s tunes, funky blues, waltz, and rap  (yes, rap). 

JN: What are your favorite robots from science fiction?

PG: There are so many robots from science fiction that I loved.  Here are two of my tops
1.  R2-D2  -- R2 is a stud.  Although he doesn’t communicate in English, we can tell he’s got sarcastic bent to him and that he is probably not above using a few four letter words from time to time.  He always  manages to save the day and has been in every Star Wars film with the exception of the new Han Solo film.
2.  Twiki  --  Who didn’t love having a robot voiced by Mel Blank.  The wise-cracking Bugs-Bunny jokes keep me amused even today.  Buck Rogers may have been the hero, but we watched for Twiki!  Well, and Erin Gray- as Twiki would say “What a babe!”

There are deeper issues at work in ROBOTS. As I mentioned, Paul was a colleague of mine at the now closed Saint Joseph's College. He explained how that traumatic event, perhaps inadvertently, found its way into the work.

PG: There is a actually a big connection to SJC and losing a job in this show.  Even though it was written before the announcement, perhaps it was a strange foreshadowing of things to come.  Many people may tear up a bit as it strikes at our hearts.  Even though the show is called ROBOTS, it is really about people and human emotions and self worth.   I’ll leave you with some song lyrics from the show:

What do you do, when they don’t need you anymore?
        The curtain falls, but no calls for encores.
        Yesterday’s news, just a footnote to the page.
        I’ll sing the blues, retired at middle age.

        And it’s plain to see, this society
        Ignores all the flaws that make us real.
        Then humanity, will cease to be,
        A people who love and care and feel.

What do you say, when they take your life away?
        You gave all you had, but you can no longer stay.
        Collect your memories, and put them in a box.
        Turn in your keys, and watch them change the locks.

        And as soon as you’re gone, progress bravely marches on.
        But does it march in the right direction?
        And to whom it may concern:  What lessons are being
            learned?
        There is more to life than sterile perfection.
       
        And what becomes of me, a disposable human being?
        Sacrificed on the alter of efficiency.
        And who do you think, is next to be extinct?
        It’s you and you and you just wait and see.
        Wait and see!
   
        You’re ostracized, no one cares about your cries.
        And you curse the ground upon which you live and breathe.
        Outrage ensues, and your faith becomes unglued.
        And there’s no one left to blame or to believe.
        But I believe!
        There is more to life, than just a petty job.
        And my heart’s value can’t be judged by anyone but God.   
        There is more to me, there is more to say,
        The journey doesn’t end it just goes another way.
        There is more.
        There is more.
        There is more.
        There is more.
There is more to life, there is more to me.

        There is more.


I certainly hope so, brother. I certainly hope so.


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