I wrote the Book, Lyrics, and Music for this Romantic Farce – The Campaign, my second musical. As with my first musical, thanks to the singers, actors, musicians, and production folks who lent their talents, I was able to mount a community theater production at the Hermosa Beach Civic Theater.
The story begins as Robert Clairmont returns to his home town, Centerport (Long Island), New York, to capture the love of his life, Cathy, who is now engaged to a campaigning congressional candidate Richard Mason, who has been hurled, much to his chagrin, into the political arena by his conniving, pushy sister Annabel. Robert is talked into running against Richard, who was running unopposed, so that he may win back Cathy. And so the story takes off.
Here are a few scenes from the show.
In the ensemble Serving Beer, we see tabloid reporter Rebecca Tongue-Smith, accompanied by the Tabloid Girls: Tanya, Becky, and Cassandra, reporting on a Mason campaign event. Present are candidate Richard Mason, his fiancee Cathy, his sister Annabel, and Annabel’s amorous, cat-toting French butler Francois. Mid-way through, Robert Clairmont arrives to make a surprise announcement of candidacy. His team: campaign manager and shoe salesman Sonny Babcock, ex-Navy friends of Bob’s: hypochondriatic Fred and animal-phobic Book, Book’s wife Sophie, and the playful ghost of another Navy friend lost overboard at sea Pig.
Here we see Robert and Cathy wanting to reconnect, but afraid, in I Don’t Know What To Do.
As Election Day approaches we see Richard showing his reluctance to be a candidate in Why Won’t They Leave Me Alone?; and Cathy fighting her feelings for Robert in Without Him.
After speaking with campaign manager Sonny Babcock, Cathy believes now that despite all that has happened Robert does love her, and shows her happiness in He Loves Me.
In a more reflective moment, the ghost Pig sings I Wish I Still Had My Body.
Music by John Dusenberry 