A Blast From The Past

Sample Songs

Listen below to some of the songs from A Blast From The Past.

Plot Summary

Following the opening song (‘A Blast From The Past’) we join two children, Alice and James, at home with their family. They are feeling slightly put-out that a number of their classmates will be missing the final week at school in favour of early holidays to Disney World and Centre Parks, while they still have to face the daily grind! As Mum, Dad, Gran and Grandpa try to console them with the fact that their last week will be more relaxed, with trips, parties, non-uniform days and suchlike, the conversation turns to their own memories of school in the ‘olden’ days! These recollections provide us with some hilarious snapshots of what things used to be like in the dim and distant past!

For example, what did school children used to wear? Well, with the aid of a catwalk, two flamboyant presenters and a few reluctant models, we find out the answer! In a fashion show that demonstrates what every discerning child would have worn to school through the ages, we are re-introduced to some memorable designs, culminating in the celebration of a truly classic item! (song – ‘Navy Blue Knickers’).

Dad digs out an old whole-school photo and we learn how, with skill, timing and nimble feet, he’s managed to appear twice in the same picture! Confused? All is revealed, and we come to appreciate that having your photo taken at school these days can be a slightly more stressful affair for all concerned…especially the photographer! (song – ‘Sit Still And Smile’).

James and Alice then listen in stunned silence as the adults talk about the methods that ‘old-school’ headteachers used to discipline unruly pupils! We witness a training day when enthusiastic heads are put through their paces and instructed in the best techniques for wielding a cane! Painfully funny! (song – ‘Six Of The Best’).

Remember free school milk, in bottles? Mum and Dad certainly do, and also the thrill of being picked to be the ultimate teacher’s helper….milk monitor! However, we soon discover that being given a daily bottle of the ‘white stuff’ didn’t always provide the benefits to a child’s health that it was supposed to! (song – ‘Drink Your Milk’).

And what about learning to read? It used to be a much less-complicated affair, all done with those loveable and memorable characters, Janet and John. Forget phonemes, digraphs and compound-words, and enjoy a tongue-in-cheek reminder of when it was as simple as ABC! (song – ‘Pink For A Girl, Blue For A Boy’).

As the family’s conversation draws to an end, Alice and James are filled with a new- found enthusiasm for going to school, and realise that their last week is one they wouldn’t want to miss for the world! Although a little sad at the prospect of leaving, they want to celebrate all those things that have made their time at school so special, and with the final song (‘The Time I’ve Spent With You’) that’s exactly what they do!

Characters

Note: If you have a smaller cast, because most characters only appear in one scene, multiple parts can be played by a single child. Alternatively, for extra-large cast numbers, many speaking parts have enough lines to be divided between any extra characters you want to create.

Continuity scenes
Mum, Dad, Gran, Grandpa, James and Alice – enjoying a trip down memory lane.

Scene 1
2 fashion presenters – with a keen eye on what’s been ‘cool for school’ over the years.
9 ‘models’ (non-speaking) – they might disagree!

Scene 2
Teacher – looking for a photo-opportunity.
8 Children – with faces only their mothers could love.
Photographer – this job isn’t a million miles away from wildlife photography!

Scene 3
2 ‘Super-Heads’ – given the task of training new ‘recruits’ in the art of caning!
6 Novice Heads – a little too keen to learn!
6 Children – let’s hope they’ve ‘padded’ their behinds!

Scene 4
Teacher 1 – free school milk? Whatever will they think of next?
2 Milk Monitors – wearing their badges with pride.
8 Children – eagerly awaiting their morning tipple.

Scene 5
Janet and John – wholesome children on a mission to teach us to read.
Mother and Father – very traditional… very nice!

Ensemble Characters: – if numbers allow, for featured songs and scenes
More fashion-conscious kids
More Novice Heads
More ‘Milky’ Children

What do you get?

This musical production is available to buy in 3 different formats. When ordering, simply choose the option (details below) which best suits your requirements.

• Option 1 – Book & Audio CD.
  A wire-bound book containing the full script with detailed stage directions, character information, tips and suggestions for costumes, props and scenery, and a piano score for all songs. An audio CD of all songs (backing tracks & vocal tracks) plus continuity/incidental music and sound effects where required.
• Option 2 – CD-ROM & Audio CD.
  A CD-ROM containing both a PDF and an editable MS Word document of the full script, with detailed stage directions, character information, tips and suggestions for costumes, props and scenery, and a PDF of the piano score for all songs. An audio CD of all songs (backing tracks & vocal tracks) plus continuity/incidental music and sound effects where required.
• Option 3 – Digital download.
  All the PDF and MS Word files from Option 2 above, all audio tracks as MP3 files, plus JPEG files of cover artwork for use in making posters or other promotional material. Upon completion of your order, a link will be automatically sent to the email address you provided, from which all the files can be downloaded.

Any order containing a digital download option must be paid for online at the point of ordering. Any order containing a digital download which is not accompanied by payment will not be processed.

UK schools can order Book & Audio CD and CD-ROM & Audio CD options with an invoice to be paid within 30 days. Non-UK schools and private individuals (not ordering on behalf of a school) are required to pay for these at the point of ordering.