HERBERT WEST, RE-ANIMATOR: The Musical

[filkertom]

Okay.

It's just noon, and I'm starting. Looking the story over again, I'm struck by how much bigger this is likely to be than I thought. So I don't know if arranging and recording it as I go will be practical.

But this is gonna be fun.

And, if you hadn't seen it, Randy has already provided an incredible album cover:



I'll keep you posted, putting up song lyrics in this thread as I complete them.

---

HERBERT WEST, RE-ANIMATOR: THE MUSICAL
Written by Tom Smith with thanks to Randy Milholland
Adapted from the story by H. P. Lovecraft


[Spotlight on down-center stage. The Narrator, a nervous man who does not easily make eye contact, walks to stand in the spot.]

NARRATOR [Spoken]
Of Herbert West, who was my friend in college and after, I can speak only with terror. Not only due to the sinister manner of his recent disappearance, but by the whole nature of his life's-work, begun more than seventeen years ago, when we were in our third year of medical school at Miskatonic University in Arkham, Massachusetts. The wonder and diabolism of his experiments fascinated me utterly. Now that he is gone and the spell is broken, the actual fear is greater.

[Lights come up to show a medical classroom -- DEAN HALSEY at S.R. with lectern and anatomy chart, STUDENTS at S.L. in several chairs and desks. The NARRATOR takes his place at one of the desks, next to an intense, slightly rumpled young man, HERBERT WEST.]

Song: "From The Dark"

DEAN HALSEY
Life is precious, filled with myth and mystery,
And sometimes death is beyond our control,
As we've seen throughout medicine's history
You can't treat the parts without treating the whole.
Heal the body, but also the soul.

WEST [spoken]
Phwah! The Soul!

NARRATOR [spoken]
Sh!

DEAN HALSEY [spoken]
Something to add, Mister West?

WEST [spoken]
Now that you mention it, Dean Halsey, yes.

STUDENT [spoken]
He's always got something to add!

[STUDENTS laugh]

WEST
Life is only organic machinery,
Chemistry and energy, with no divine cause,

DEAN HALSEY
Would you deny God's hand behind the scenery?

WEST
You reduce science to unknowable laws,
By your words, God is no more than the Wizard of Oz.

[STUDENTS gasp]

WEST
From the dark we came,
To the dark we will return.
Something in the dark
Caused the human spark to burn.
So that primal flame
Might be kindled once again
But instead we hear
Of a God we fear to offend!

Why do you insist on superstitious rot?
Is this church? Must we offer up prayers?
Will God smite us as heretics? Well, I think not,
And you, decreeing life and death, putting on airs,
Gloating of your ignorance, as if someone cares.

DEAN HALSEY [spoken]
Mister West, you go too far!

WEST [spoken]
Nowhere near far enough, sir!

WEST
You see Death as proper, irreversible,
Accepted with a shrug, saying, "What can we do?"
I theorize WE may control Life's crucible.

[STUDENTS gasp]

DEAN HALSEY
You believe this nonsense might be actually true?

WEST
I believe that I know science more factually than you!

DEAN HALSEY
Well I know of your grotesque experiments,
Rabbits, rats and guinea-pigs slaughtered en masse,
And now humans? Well, sir, you may think me very dense --
Not so much I don't recognize a danger to my class.
The doors of Miskatonic, you're no longer free to pass.

WEST [spoken]
You bar me from my work?

DEAN HALSEY [spoken]
I bar you from my school, Mister West. Get out. And take the obscene ravings you inexplicably dignify as "theories" with you.

[After a moment, WEST gathers his books and leaves without a backward glance, moving downstage. After another moment, the NARRATOR follows. Except for a large spot on them, the lights go down.]

NARRATOR [spoken]
Herbert... Herbert, what are you going to do?

WEST [spoken]
Seek the truth... no matter where it takes me.

WEST
He calls my work obscene,
He's stupid, old, and scared,
Life is a machine,
It can be repaired,
To the world I'll give
Control of that great spark.
I refuse to live
In fear... of the dark.

WEST [spoken]
Now, come, my friend -- we've much to do!

ETA: Lyrics to the first song.

ETA: Well, I wasn't going to do this for 24-Hour Comics Day originally anyway. I'm sick -- not awful sick, but distracting sick. I'll do as much as I can of this off and on today and over the next few days... but I'm not going to be able to write it all in one day. Sorry, gang. I'll post to a new thread as soon as the next song's done.

Comments

[per_solo]

Neat, have fun!

I'm looking forward to this. Not as much as one of your other projects, but good god this looks to be fun!

[jss]

Squee!

[jonnorthwood.livejournal.com]

I have been looking forward to this since Randy first posted the comic. *laugh* From what I've read--and heard--of your work, it seemed like a perfect fit.

[bathtubnz.livejournal.com]

Wow, good luck with this!

[ericcoleman]

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY !!!

[melaniedavidson.livejournal.com]

This will be epic.

[hanabishirecca.livejournal.com]

Good luck!

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

SO AWESOME! :)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

I wonder if you realize the irony in what you're doing?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Apparently not.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

Okay, before I go on, let me just say that I'm not judging anyone. People have to make their own decisions in life and as long as what they do doesn't adversely affect me or the overall furtherment of humanity, more power to them. That said...

From the theme of the lyrics in the very first song and from what I know of the Herbert West story, you've just set the whole thing up as a condemnation of athetism and the stance that spirituality has no place in science, two sentiments which, and please forgive me if I'm mistaken, you yourself adhere to.

Now, I can uderstand why Lovecraft, an atheist himself, would do so. He was a self-loathing misanthrope (and a racist, to boot). But I can't figure out why YOU'D do that... You always struck me as a jolly, cheerful sort of guy.

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

you've just set the whole thing up as a condemnation of athetism and the stance that spirituality has no place in science

Not necessarily. But more centrally: If that's what the story is, might it be out of line for Tom to change its message? I mean, Tom's telling a story, not delivering a soapbox speech. Not everything needs a Message.

(Tom, sorry to hear you're sick. I love the first song and can't wait to hear the whole thing.)

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

I'm not saying Tom is being wrong. I'm just saying... It's kind of ironic.

Like Wayne on bed of hay.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Ummm... read the story (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Herbert_West:_Reanimator). I'm adapting it. That's, like, West's central thesis. Third paragraph. More to the point, he's a shmuck about it.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

I know, I know, I'm just saying... It's kinda ironic like an atheist would be making a musical that's more or less a condemnation of atheistic thinking.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[lizreay.livejournal.com]

It's great so far...hope you feel better soon!

[markbernstein.livejournal.com]

Great start. It's nice to see someone writing a good horror musical, 'cause this sure isn't one. (Seriously, try reading some of the posted lyrics. They're truly, truly awful.)

[voiceofkiki.livejournal.com]

One of my friends bought me the soundtrack to that show for my birthday. I can't wait to get it. I'm sure it will be horrifically terrifying.

[pandoradeloeste.livejournal.com]

Speaking of bad horrror musicals, have you seen Shoggoth on the Roof (http://www.cthulhulives.org/shoggoth/)? (It actually has a special place in my heart because it's a Fiddler filk and my friends and I wandered around singing "Byakhee Byakhee" for the better part of a month. But still.)

[kali921.livejournal.com]

BWAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA! Oh, dear GOD, that is fulsome with win!

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

In this comedic take on the 80s horror franchise

So... A comedic take on a comedy?

[kali921.livejournal.com]

This is totally entertaining and wonderful to read, as a huge reader of Lovecraft. I've wanted to friend you for ages, and now I'm going to!

[dlobok.livejournal.com]

Looks awesome so far!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to put on gold shorts and act like an idiot in front of a crowd.

-randy

[chaosdancer.livejournal.com]

Oh wow...digging this so far. Hope you feel better soon (and not just so you'll keep going on this!)

[delayra.livejournal.com]

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Nope. Skipped a year.

[delayra.livejournal.com]

[mouser.livejournal.com]

Yes, but can you get Jeffrey Combs to sing it with you?

[bardicwench.livejournal.com]

I am SO MUCH looking forward to this!

[foenix.livejournal.com]

That was great. I definitely hope to see more! And even better, hear more. =D

[tomreedtoon.livejournal.com]

Well, I generally react very badly to horror stuff. Even angrily. However, I think I'll be able to read or listen to this at least once.

Whether you intend to have a "moral" or not, Tom, I get the distinct feeling that you will be Saying Something with this work. And that in itself may make the difference, because the works drooled over by the gorehounds in this time and place Say Nothing.

[voiceofkiki.livejournal.com]

I just hope some female part gets written at some point so I'll be able to sing along. You rock, Tom. Have I ever mentioned how much I ADORE Reanimator? You are the man!

[ravenclaw-eric.livejournal.com]

MORE MORE WE WANT MORE!

When you get done with this, make sure to post the info on how one can order the CD. Besides one for me, I've got a friend who's NUTS about Lovecraft.

[dark-calvert.livejournal.com]

Awesome!! can't wait for more :D