Beach Blanket Tempest

Book and Lyrics by Dennis Watkins. Music by Chris Harriott.

Imagine a surf rock musical that starts like this.....

“ The summer sun is cookin. The guys and chics good lookin. And school is over for another year. The surf is really poundin. And bodgies walk around in. The latest crazy way out kooky gear... So pass around the pretzels and the beer.”

Now try to think what this could possibly have to do with Shakespeare?

In the early 1980’s writer Dennis Watkins made the link.

“I tried to imagine what would be the most ludicrous update of Shakespeare you can think of and I arrived at the Beach party movie genre.”

Dennis was brought up on the schools out for summer incy wincy bikini movies of the 1960’s , one of his favourites was a gem called “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini”.

After Dennis met Chris Harriott...Beach Blanket Tempest was born and it became a major hit. It was first produced by the New Moon Theatre and toured all over Queensland , The Northern Territory, Adelaide and finally Sydney. It was revived in the early 1990’s and again got great reviews.

The Sun Herald described it as a “high energy, wild and whacky rock spectacular.” The Australian said it “was a nicely rounded pop-musical... but apart from a few cracks of lightning and a bit of a storm at sea” it has little in common with Shakespeare.

Dennis Watkins begs to differ.

Vince Prospero In the Tempest proper, Shakespeare examines the relationship between a Duke called Prospero and his evil and jealous Brother. The brother steals Prospero’s fortune and casts him and his daughter onto an island. While marooned on the island Prospero practises magic , raises his daughter and meets and releases a spirit from a tree. He also meets another ‘resident’ of the island who is the misshapen son of a witch.

In Beach Blanket Tempest. The central character is Vince Prospero...he is the Duke of rock n roll .. a superstar of Elvis proportions. He too is marooned on an island with his gorgeous daughter Annette. Their ‘spirit’ is Gidget, a genie released not from a tree but a bottle. She wants to be free and ride the wild surf of the world. The other resident is Moondoggie, a delinquent teenage punk bikie... “ I’m the knife that cuts your finger as you slice a loaf of bread.”

Just as in Shakespeare’s Tempest.. a wild storm is whipped up to bring the evil brother and his cohorts to the island.

Vince Prospero sets up a series of tests,designed to reveal, in BBT , Tony Prospero’s true evil character.

In the 20th century the most entertaining ‘tests’ or quizzes are of course on television.

So true to form the last part of the show is a Giant Quiz show... Tony Prospero come on down!!! The chorus sings .. “Will you take the great temptation”, as the evil brother's true character is laid bare.

It is spectacular end to a show that is jam packed with thumpingly catchy ballads and tunes, beautiful love duets, thrashing sixties rock and even a visit from the Supremes.

The composer Chris Harriott just gets busier and busier. He now works full time writing music for movies, TV shows and children’s television.

He composes all the music for the High Five Series.

Gidget The show was originally cast for a minimum of eight.. but Dennis Watkins has just finished a special new edition with chorus for schools and amateur theatres. The chorus become part of the Tempest, spirits on the island, more look alike Supremes, party animals and members of the studio audience.

A CD of a live performance at Sydney’s footbridge theatre has now also been released for the first time.

Track 8

Track 15

Track 17

Track 19

Note: Tracks are all recorded in MP3 format.

This is a musical in the vein of Return To the Forbidden Planet, but much funnier. Roll Over Shakespeare...

* A beach blanket is two normal sized Beach blankets sowed together so two people can sit on it

Royalty B.

Orchestrations: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboard1 and 2, Trumpet, Saxophone.
Optional extras: Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion

Cast: Originally written for 8 with some parts doubling. Now includes ( as an option ) a spectacular new chorus edition.

Contact DSP for perusal details (david@davidspicer.com)


	Book and Lyrics by Dennis Watkins. Music by Chris Harriott. Imagine a surf rock musical that starts like this..... “ The summer sun is cookin. The guys and chics good lookin. And school is over for another year. The surf is really poundin. And bodgies walk around in. The latest crazy way out kooky gear... So pass around the pretzels and the beer.” Now try to think what this could possibly have to do with Shakespeare? In the early 1980’s writer Dennis Watkins made the link. “I tried to imagine what would be the most ludicrous update of Shakespeare you can think of and I arrived at the Beach party movie genre.” Dennis was brought up on the schools out for summer incy wincy bikini movies of the 1960’s , one of his favourites was a gem called “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini”. After Dennis met Chris Harriott...Beach Blanket Tempest was born and it became a major hit. It was first produced by the New Moon Theatre and toured all over Queensland , The Northern Territory, Adelaide and finally Sydney. It was revived in the early 1990’s and again got great reviews. The Sun Herald described it as a “high energy, wild and whacky rock spectacular.” The Australian said it “was a nicely rounded pop-musical... but apart from a few cracks of lightning and a bit of a storm at sea” it has little in common with Shakespeare. Dennis Watkins begs to differ. In the Tempest proper, Shakespeare examines the relationship between a Duke called Prospero and his evil and jealous Brother. The brother steals Prospero’s fortune and casts him and his daughter onto an island. While marooned on the island Prospero practises magic , raises his daughter and meets and releases a spirit from a tree. He also meets another ‘resident’ of the island who is the misshapen son of a witch. In Beach Blanket Tempest. The central character is Vince Prospero...he is the Duke of rock n roll .. a superstar of Elvis proportions. He too is marooned on an island with his gorgeous daughter Annette. Their ‘spirit’ is Gidget, a genie released not from a tree but a bottle. She wants to be free and ride the wild surf of the world. The other resident is Moondoggie, a delinquent teenage punk bikie... “ I’m the knife that cuts your finger as you slice a loaf of bread.” Just as in Shakespeare’s Tempest.. a wild storm is whipped up to bring the evil brother and his cohorts to the island. Vince Prospero sets up a series of tests,designed to reveal, in BBT , Tony Prospero’s true evil character. In the 20th century the most entertaining ‘tests’ or quizzes are of course on television. So true to form the last part of the show is a Giant Quiz show... Tony Prospero come on down!!! The chorus sings .. “Will you take the great temptation”, as the evil brother's true character is laid bare. It is spectacular end to a show that is jam packed with thumpingly catchy ballads and tunes, beautiful love duets, thrashing sixties rock and even a visit from the Supremes. The composer Chris Harriott just gets busier and busier. He now works full time writing music for movies, TV shows and children’s television. He composes all the music for the High Five Series. The show was originally cast for a minimum of eight.. but Dennis Watkins has just finished a special new edition with chorus for schools and amateur theatres. The chorus become part of the Tempest, spirits on the island, more look alike Supremes, party animals and members of the studio audience. A CD of a live performance at Sydney’s footbridge theatre has now also been released for the first time. Track 8 Track 15 Track 17 Track 19 Note: Tracks are all recorded in MP3 format. This is a musical in the vein of Return To the Forbidden Planet, but much funnier. Roll Over Shakespeare... * A beach blanket is two normal sized Beach blankets sowed together so two people can sit on it
	Royalty B. Orchestrations: Guitar, Bass, Drums, Keyboard1 and 2, Trumpet, Saxophone. Optional extras: Violin, Viola, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Percussion Cast: Originally written for 8 with some parts doubling. Now includes ( as an option ) a spectacular new chorus edition. Contact DSP for perusal details (david@davidspicer.com)