Synopsis of Invisible Tears
Invisible Tears is a two art musical theatre work. It was first performed at the Minerva, Chichester Festival Theatre in March 1998. The musical portrays issues of love, conflict, truth and deception. Invisible Tears has a contemporary through-sung score and is set in the later half of the twentieth century. An original story, the musical is written for four characters. The plot centres around a mysterious girl - Cara May, and the effect she has upon the other members of the cast. To Jeremy, she's the image of perfection he meets at a bus-stop in the pouring rain (Late Last Night). To Millie, she's the cold, unfriendly stranger who lives opposite her flat (Lament). To Ron Chumley, she's "The Blue Lady" a dancer at the seedy club where he regularly drowns his sorrows (The Blue Lady).
(links feature the words & mp3 samples from the musical)
ACT ONE
Act 1 Scene 1
Monday morning. Jeremy, administrative officer of Chumley Mirrors, fields numerous phone-calls, and covers for Millie Reid (Morning, Jeremy Speaking). Millie's disorganised approach to secretarial skills lead a lot to be desired, and, after her arrival, she is forced to calm her agitated colleague (Millie's Theme).
Act 1 Scene 2
They are soon interrupted by the comic intervention of Ronald Henry Chumley, head of Chumley Mirrors. He urges his staff to speed up preparations for Thursday evening's Looking Glass Ball - the annual company do (Right For The Looking Glass Ball).
Act 1 Scene 3
That evening, Millie returns to her flat. As she turns the key in the door she hears a sad lament coming from the flat opposite. (Lament)
Act 1 Scene 4
The following morning, Jeremy tells of a romantic encounter he had last night. Whilst sheltering from the pouring rain, Jeremy met a beautiful girl - Cara May. Knowing little about her, Jeremy makes a number of assumptions (By The Name Of Cara May).
act 1 scene 5
Chumley dives for cover from his work and marital responsibilities. Spending yet another lunch time at the seedy Club Expose, Chumley grumbles to the barman about his lot (Propping Up The Bar Once Again).
Act 1 Scene 6
Tuesday evening. Jeremy is alone in the office. Taking the hat-stand as a substitute, he sings of his love for Cara (Mirror).
Act 1 Scene 7
Late that night, Jeremy and Cara sing in the moonlight (Suddenly). Despite their love-song, Cara remains hesitant, concerned that traces of her secret world will show through. She keeps her bag close to her, knowing that it holds her costume from Club Expose.
Act 1 Scene 8
Wednesday morning. As usual Millie is optimistic, cheering others with encouraging words. Musing on Jeremy's lovesick enthusiasm, her thoughts turn to her own wedding (Millie`s Turn). In a daydream she re-enacts walking down the aisle - a moment of peace shattered by an abrupt request from Chumley on her intercom.
After spending their first night together, Jeremy leaves Cara's flat.
Act 1 Scene 9
Late for work, (Jem, You're So Late) he rushes to the office, just in time to endure Chumley trying out the first draft of his speech for the Looking Glass Ball (The Great Dictator- Act 1 Scene 10)
Act 1 Scene 11
The climax of Act One reveals Cara's other role as an exotic dancer and escort at Club Expose (The Blue Lady). As she does her act, Chumley is just another of those faces she has come to recognise in the crowded bar. Once she finishes her performance, Cara strides over to the bar. As the light fades on this scene we see the attention Cara draws from her audience, and Chumley, also under her spell, is seen lighting her cigarette. Meanwhile, Jeremy waits for her at their bus-stop, unaware of Cara's double-life.
ACT TWO
Act 2 Scene 1
Act Two opens with The Looking Glass Ball. In a moment of stillness, Millie and Chumley dramatically reveal the reality behind their welcoming smiles (Invisible Tears). Cara May arrives, and to her terror, recognises Chumley across the dance-floor.
Act 2 Scene 2
The Boss makes his annual speech promising the company world-expansion and mocking his wife's excitement at the prospect of shopping all around the globe (Knew It Was Coming All Along).
Act 2 Scene 3
Whilst dancing with Cara, Jeremy declares his love (The Meaning Of Love). Cara's belief in her own inadequacy means she cannot even look Jeremy in the eye. For a few brief moments she is free from the need to pretend. Self-assured, she dances beneath the spotlight - but it is soon clear that these movements exist solely in her imagination, and she returns to her desperate state, carefully hiding feelings of shame.
Act 2 Scene 4
Jeremy carefully chooses his moment. In the middle of the dance-floor he gets down on one knee. Taking out an engagement ring he simply asks "Will you?" Unable to reply, Cara tries to escape (The Proposal). Her distress is made worse when she collides into Chumley. As she recovers, she realises that Chumley now recognises her from the Club.
Act 2 Scene 5
Characteristically, Millie grabs Cara's forgotten handbag and dashes after her. On the steps outside her flat, Cara sits, locked out of her flat and dejected. With Millie's arrival, Cara is able to confide in someone for the first time and the two sing of coping against the odds (Maybe).
Act 2 Scene 6
Back at the party, a devastated Jeremy gets some unwelcome advice about women from Chumley (Plenty More Dishes In The Sink) Although Chumley hands him a card for Club Expose, he does not reveal what he knows about Cara.
Act 2 Scene 7
The following morning, Jeremy turns up at Cara's with a large bouquet. Receiving no reply, he leaves the flowers outside her door (Flowers In The Morning).
Act 2 Scene 8
Back at the office. To Millie`s embarrassment, Chumley overhears a phone conversation in which she mocks her bosses behaviour at the ball. The scene concludes with Chumley inviting her for a lunch time drink.
act 2 Scene 9
Cara cannot face Jeremy. If she told him about her work at Club Expose, she is certain he would not want to know her. She resolves to leave and starts to pack her few possessions and clothes. She tries to write him a note, but tears the note in half, discarding it into the bin. Leaving with her suitcase, Cara discovers Jeremy's flowers. Before she goes, Cara places the flowers at Millie's door. Taking Jeremy's card, she writes her new address for Millie and warns her not to pass it on to Jeremy (Flat Out).
Act 2 scene 10
When Jeremy returns for Cara, he is devastated to discover her empty room. Finding the torn up note, he places the two scraps together. As he sits on his bed reading, we see Cara standing at the bus-stop explaining why she has left (Conclusions).
Act 2 Scene 11
Jeremy panics. He runs to all the places where he thinks she might be. He tries the bus-stop - she is not there. He overhears music coming from the Club. Connecting Chumley's card with some of his comments, Jeremy runs across the road and into the Club. He ignores Chumley, who is sitting at the bar. Chumley reprises his bitter song about women (Plenty More Dishes In The Sink) as Jeremy takes to Cara's stage to discover some clues to her whereabouts. Followed at a distance by Chumley, Jeremy runs out into the street. In despair he leans against a shop window which displays the whole range of Chumley Mirrors. From where he stands he can see the figure of a woman standing at the bus-stop. Could this be Cara? Excited, he speeds towards her, only to discover Millie. She had come to offer him comfort and tries to convince him that his relationship is over. She is about to walk away when, filled with compassion she changes her mind and hands him Cara's address.
Act 2 Scene 12
The musical finishes with Cara moving into a new place. She is unpacking her suitcase and sings of adopting another role (Quartet). Jeremy sings optimistically of the moment when he`ll soon hold her. Chumley, moved by Jeremy's integrity, reconsiders his cynical view of life. Both Chumley and Millie wonder whether something new is stirring in their lives - "Could this be the place where we begin?"
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