The decent rogues showreel
The Decent Rogues is a period comedy musical with book and lyrics by Dan Lashbrook and Rob Pratt. The show premiered at Bath's Rondo Theatre in July 2011, directed by Petra Schofield, to critical acclaim. It underwent a revival at Bath's Mission Theatre in February 2012. It subsequently transferred to the off-West End London venue The Bridewell Theatre, at which point Time Out Magazine placed it in their "Top 10 musicals in London" list.
Contents
The Decent Rogues won two NODA 2012 awards for "Best Musical" and "Outstanding Achievement". It underwent full orchestration in 2012 by Pete Readman and was subsequently released for public performance later that year, with a CD of the soundtrack released in 2013.
The decent rogues musical
Act One
The action takes place in a small fictitious village named Horston Barrow in Edwardian England. After the introduction ("Prologue"), we see the villagers assembled in prayer at the local church, with Rev. Beauchamp leading everyone in song to celebrate the advent of Spring ("Horston Hymn"). During the singing, two men have a private conversation with each other: Percy Goldsmith, a wealthy merchant having made a fortune in the rag trade, and Bevan Bawden, a locksmith and his best friend and confidante. Through their banter we learn that, while they are upstanding members of their society, they commit annual crimes every May Day, victimising a community member who has behaved disreputably: thus, they consider themselves "decent rogues".
Percy and Bevan consider the nature of their crimes ("We'll Get You") before encountering Blinker, the village's night watchman. Blinker is both the Rogues' nemesis and accomplice: fired by Percy for a minor misdemeanour when in his employ, he is being held in a blackmail situation, and helps the Rogues by turning a blind eye to their May Day crimes. Meanwhile, in the tea shop, an urchin boy attempts to steal cake and is threatened at gunpoint by the tea ladies ("The Cross Guns March") - the prize muskets were an anonymous donation to the tea shop by the Rogues.
Percy returns home to find his wife, Polly, is pregnant ("Simple Words" / "Percy & Polly's Duet"), although she is still unaware that he is a Rogue. The local police force are determined to catch the Rogues this year and put on a show of bravado and confidence ("Coppers' Song"), although there are only three members of the force - plus Blinker - active in Horston Barrow. Phineas, captain of the police, remains optimistic. Blinker enters to write his nightly report, and ruminates on how he would like revenge upon the Rogues ("An Eye for an Eye").
Agnes Hackett, Bevan's landlady, is a harridan who overcharges her tenants and abhors philanthropy ("Why Should I?"), and during a meeting, the Rogues decide to make Hackett their next victim - they will pay her back for her behaviour by stealing some wartime memorabilia, melting it down and creating a new medal with her name on ("Plotting Song"), although - unknown to Bevan - Percy is starting to have misgivings about continuing with their crimes, as he is a father-to-be ("Percy's Epiphany").
Act Two
The villagers celebrate May Day with an annual festival ("Villagers' Song"), during which everyone takes part. Towards the end of the day, two gravediggers, Graves and Mortlock, discuss the nature of their job with dark humour ("Dig!") before leaving, the village now quiet and dark. Percy, Bevan and Blinker appear and proceed to gain entry to Hackett's house - Percy and Bevan enter, with Blinker keeping a watchful eye. The Rogues depart with the stolen medals, after which Blinker enters the house, and emerges in a state of agitation.
Blinker summons the villagers with the line "villagers, hearken to me!". He announces that he has found Hackett dead in her house, and suspects that the May Day Rogues have murdered her. His impassioned speech alerts everyone, and the townfolk gleefully start to rumour about who the murderers could be ("There's Been a Murder!") - although nobody really misses Hackett - except Polly, who was her niece.
Percy and Bevan are arrested to be tried and possibly hanged for the murder of Hackett. Blinker agrees to let them buy his silence for £5,000, but they cannot pay that amount and Blinker sings about "The Knife In Your Back". The two friends agree to stand by each other ("Stand Fast") during their coming trial, and they admit to Phineas that they are the May Day Rogues, but deny killing Agnes Hackett. Percy and Polly have a tearful reunion and sing a reprise of their duet ("What We've Become"), Percy ruminating on his unwillingness to commit the crimes any more.
On their way to the gallows, Percy and Bevan are saluted by their wives Polly and Gertie, and eventually the whole village, who solemnly bid them farewell in a show of honour ("Thee, I'll Never Forget"). Just as they are about to be hanged, Hackett appears - alive. She reveals that she was faking death as part of a plot by Blinker and herself to unmask the Rogues and get Blinker's revenge for their ill-treatment of him throughout the years. As their annual crimes have helped to dispense justice upon ill-doers in the community and they did not commit murder after all, Phineas releases them.
Soon afterwards, things in the village return to normal, with some changes: Hackett is now fair and pleasant, Percy employs Blinker at his estate, the police force are pleased at their solving of the crimes, and the Rogues no longer commit the May Day felonies and re-emerge as honest gentlemen. The villagers sing together in united harmony ("Finale").