MainstreetMusicals.org

SYNOPSIS (with song placement)

Prologue: The ensemble sings the first part of Sundown.

Scene 1: Suzanna and Phil’s house
Suzanna (72), a recent widow is in the Alzheimer’s ward of a nursing home. Her husband of 53 years, Phil, had cared for her at home until he suddenly died. Their children are Sophie (53) who lives in Baltimore apparently somewhat estranged from her husband Paul, and David (45) who lives locally with his family. After their father’s death, David, who had helped his father care for Suzanna at home, had moved her into the nursing home. Sophie is not happy with that decision.
Sophie wishes her mom could still live in her house, while David, having done much of the work to help while she lived there, knows that is not possible. Going through old boxes in their parents’ house, hoping to find things to spur memories, Sophie and David find a painting of their mother at age 12, holding a cello. They never knew this about her and music was never part of their family’s lives. The portrait is signed by Sam Rogowski. They Google him, and learn that he was only two years older than their mom, and grew up in the same small town. He had talent as a child, but there was no art in his high school. Later in life, he founded an organization to keep art in the schools, and funded annual scholarships for a painter and a cellist. They find that he lives nearby and go to visit him.

Scene 2: Sam’s home Sam (age 74) is sitting alone in a dimly lit room. Sam, an artist, is a widower after losing Alicia, his wife of nearly 50 years. After a year, Sam still has not regained his will to paint or do much of anything, much to his children’s frustration. (Empty House) His daughter, Anne, who lives nearby (age 40) arrives at Sam’s home and opens the window shades. We learn that Sam and Alicia had funded annual scholarships for college-bound students, one in art and one in music. (Anne is married with children. His son Michael, is married with a son and lives out of town.)

Scene 3: Suzanna’s room at a nursing home:
Since Phil’s death, Suzanna has been deteriorating rapidly. Her children are at a loss for what to do and her caregiver at the nursing home, Margaret, suggests finding things from her youth that might spur memories. She explains to Sophie and David about sundowning which occurs in Alzheimer’s patients late in the day; as the other characters sing about their own pain. (Sundown)

Scene 4: Sam’s home
Upon seeing the portrait, Sam initially tells them he didn’t know her well; but he did.
When alone, in “A Ghost or an Angel” we learn of a close friendship, turned to love and then loss. “She was a friend, for years stood by me and more than friends, as friendship rose above.
From her I gained a love of music, and loving her, I learned to love.
Inspired me to be an artist; If not for her, I'd not have found my light.
Then she chose a different world and left me. Left me broken, and not all right.”
Sam realizes that he must go to her, but with trepidation, since it could lift him from his darkness or open old wounds. Telling Sophie the truth, he arranges to visit Suzanna.

Scene 5: Lobby and Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
As Sam arrives, Sophie and David are leaving, distraught as Suzanna doesn’t know their names. In Oh, Mama!, they tell Margaret how their parents gave everything to them, and taught them well, except for music, the thing that was absent in their education. In stories she read to them as children, she inserted their names in place of the name of the characters; and they are pleading that she remember them.
Sam brings the painting to Suzanna, and looking into his eyes she begins to cry. (That’s Me) She remembers pieces, but not coherently. She remembers that her father loved that painting; Her father loved Sam; She loved Sam; She sent Sam away. She becomes very agitated. Margaret suggests that Sam just sit with her. Margaret notices that Sam connected with something strong inside her, and when Suzanna falls asleep, inquires about their relationship. (Feelings of My Youth)

Scene 6: Suzanna and Phil’s house
Sophie, still not happy about their mom being in the nursing home, is taking over organizing things from David, who is annoyed that his work in taking care of their parents is unappreciated.
Sophie has somewhat estranged herself from her husband, Paul, an actuary, who started playing guitar in a band; She is spending time at her parents’ house, while Paul is in Baltimore. David is maintaining a good relationship with his brother-in-law.

Scene 7: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
Sam speaks to his son Michael whose wife is 8 months pregnant. With Suzanna, Sam plays cello music on his iPhone (The Swan by Saint-Saëns) and reminds her how she would play the cello as he painted. She begins to remember, moving her arms, like she is bowing the cello. She asks him to paint here with her. In a short moment of lucidity, she remembers the night they spent together; but moments later, doesn’t know who Sam is. (The Swan).

Scene 8: Rest area on turnpike
Paul has brought work files for Sophie and some if her clothing and they meet halfway at a highway rest area. Sophie had been missing the evenings they spent working together, since Paul has been spending time with his friend in the band. (“I Don’t Get Him”)

Scene 9: Sam’s home
Sophie comes to help Sam as he prepares painting supplies to bring to Suzanna’s. He sets up an easel for the first time in a long while and tries to get Sophie to try her hand at it, putting a brush in her hand. (“Feel”) He is trying to encourage her to relax and not think, as he guides her. Before emotions and sensuality take over, Sam stops.

Scene 10: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
Sam brings the easel and paints, setting up in Suzanna’s room while everyone else is at lunch. Sam imagines Suzanna, healthy again. He questions whether he is betraying the memory of his departed wife. Realizing that Suzanna will never again be whole and with “Is she a ghost or an angel?” repeating terrifyingly in his head, he cries out that he dare not love again, cannot paint again, and rushes out, much to her children’s dismay. (Act-I Finale)

ACT-II
Scene 1: Paul and Sophie’s bedrooms
Late that night. Sophie is in bed, alone unable to sleep. Paul is asleep alone at home. Sophie misses Paul and calls him. (Sundown - reprise)

Scene 2: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
Suzanna is alone at night. She is only partially awake, dreaming and remembering bits of memories about Sam. Her thoughts are disjointed. (Suzanna’s Night)

Scene 3: Sam’s home
Sam’s children are concerned about this latest turn of events and try to convince him to not give up. (You Can’t Just Walk Away) But it is when Sophie brings to Sam an un-mailed letter that Suzanna wrote to him 53 years ago, he immediately decides to return to her. Sam had needed to forget her to move on; but she never forgot him. (Dear Sam)

Scene 4: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
With Suzanna in her room Sam puts on cello music and begins to paint again as Suzanna’s memories begin to flow. (Dreams We Left Behind)

Scene 5: Lobby at nursing home
Sam arranged for musicians to perform for the nursing home residents and organizes art classes for them. Sam invites Sophie to this year’s scholarship awardee’s recital in New York. David appreciates how his sister arranged Suzanna’s room and Sophie realizes that having her stay here was the right choice. Sam learns that Suzanna and Phil had, unknown to him, purchased one of his paintings, which had hung over Suzanna’s desk.

Scene 6: Concert Hall in NY
At the concert, Sophie sees the passion in the cellist’s playing and the fire in her eyes, as they were seated close enough to hear her breathing. She now understands the heart of a musician, and asks Sam to bring her back to the house right away. She wants to get her car and drive to Baltimore that night, to her husband, Paul.

Scene 7: Suzanna and Phil’s house
When Sophie arrives at her parents’ house, her husband is there with David. Paul had come up from Baltimore. She hears him at first unnoticed, playing a love song he wrote for her. (Dearest Sophie). She enters as it concludes and in each other arms are reunited. (Love Renewed).

Scene 8: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
In the early evening in Suzanna’s room, looking out the window Sam sees the evening star and begins to paint it, although the picture evolves into a painting of Suzanna. (Evening Star on a Mostly Cloud Night) Sam recognizes Suzanna is not a ghost, but his living angel, inspiring him once again as she once did.

Scene 9: Lobby at nursing home
Margaret and the staff are preparing for the busy Mother’s Day. (Mother’s Day is Coming)

Scene 10: Suzanna’s room at the nursing home
Early on Mother’s Day, with music playing, Sam paints a portrait of Suzanna, with her children added beside her. She has moments of greater lucidity as he repeats their names over and over for her. (Remember) When her children arrive, she greets them by name. While they know that it is only a moment, not always to be repeated, they are overjoyed. Sam’s son calls to tell him he has a new granddaughter, named Allie, after Alicia. Her children present Suzanna with a cello. She caresses its neck and when Paul starts to play the accompaniment on his guitar, Suzanna begins to play “The Swan”.
Realizing that there will be good days and bad days, and we hope for the best, Sam notes that “Today . . . was a good day.” (Final Scene)
The ensemble sings the title song. (A Good Day)