ROCKIT AMSTERDAM SYNOPSIS
THE MUSIC NEVER STOPS in RockIT Amsterdam! The narrative is spoken to percussion rhythms.
ACT I - FRIDAY
1. Rock is in the Metro Train Terminal at Schiphol Airport. While waiting, he takes out his guitar and begins to play. He hears someone (Henk) playing a rhythm with drumsticks, but can not see anyone. 2 Females and 2 males join in singing and dancing the rhythms to the introduction of AMSTERDAM.
2. Rock enters the Metro Train going to Amsterdam Central Station. Joining Rock are: a Harmonica player (Lips), Henk playing percussions, 2 tap dancers and the men and ladies. The train conductor plugs them into the train's intercom and they play AMSTERDAM (Boogie).
3. They arrive at Central Station where Rock's friend, Steve does not show up. While at the station, Henk and Lips join him out front to wait for Steve. Henk tells them he has come to Amsterdam in search of the Live performance, where there is emotion in the music, in a country that has gone from Rock to Disco to Club. Lips has come to Amsterdam from his country to live a stress-free life. Rock tells them that his trusted friends back home have stolen from him, and people at work are mostly interested in how to raise money to live on, no matter how it hurts their friend. A calliope joins them as they play.
4. After a while, Rock decides they must find a place to stay. They walk around town, going to the VVV, GWK, Hotel Services and Hotels to find nothing availablel A person at a Hotel Services stand directs them to the hostel in Vondel Park. As they walk through the Rijksmuseum Tunnel they meet other musicians: Ricardo (congas/percussion) who comes from South America where drug lords rule his country; Robert (contra bass/electric bass) who comes from Eastern Europe where war has destroyed his home and the countries economy; and Willie (saxophone) who comes from Africa where the ruler of his country puts his power above the importance of human life. They have all recently arrived in Amsterdam to find better lives and to make music. Robert sings a song about his lost love in LOVE (Is a Word You Must Say With Meaning) (Blues).
5. A street person living in the tunnel hears their sad stories and sings LOST and LONELY (hard Cha-Cha)..
6. As they play, they are noticed by Jos, who tells them to relax and settle their minds by following him to Vondel Park. Jos tells them that everything will work out because the people will help him in the park. When they arrive in the Park, Jos introduces them to Anneka and Sultana, his friends. Rock begins to play LAND OF DREAMS (Dreamy) as Jos and Sultana sing. A concert has just ended and a Harp player (Kirsten) joins in. Jos invites Rock and his friends back to his house (a Squatter's house) where he lives with Anneka, Sultana and other musicians.
7. At Jos's house, the girls RAP about articles of clothing and then they play DUTCH DIVA (Rock) as the women get dressed for a night of dancing at a club called 'The Scene'. Jos tells the men that there is a dress code at The Scene and they would not be able to get in. Rock tells them to follow him with their instruments.
8. Outside The Scene there is a line to get in and there is a doorman selecting who enters. Rock, goes across the canal to a cafe and is able to plug in the instruments there. After hearing the men long for the Dutch Divas, Rock tells them a story about taking a chance with women by singing GO OUT & GET HER (Latin). The doorman sees the people leaving his line and dancing to Rock and his friends and invites them to play in the club.
9. As they enter the club, the DJ (Lightning) plays a solo while the band sets up. The owner, Willem, joins in by playing guitar as they sing SO JUST DANCE WITH ME (Club Dance).
END OF ACT I. INTERMISSION
ACT II - SATURDAY
10. The next morning at the house they wake up to percussions and sing as they get dressed GET UP! GET OUT! (Rock). Jos decides to take Rock on a Tourist Trip and the others join in.
11. A RAP is played as they go to a coffee shop to begin their trip. The band plays SMOKEY MOE'S (Reggae) as the men sing one verse about the party they had, and the women tell a different story in their verses.
12. After visiting Smokey Moe's, Rock and his friends go on a wild boat tour of Amsterdam as they sing CRAZY BOB'S MAGIC CANAL BOAT RIDE (Rock).
13. Crazy Bob lets them off in the Red Light District, where Rock sings RED LIGHT MADONNA (Soul) to the Prostitutes who Dirty dance around the band members.
14. To thank Jos for cheering them up, he is taken in to a parlour. The band plays GOING DOWN TO HEAVEN (Rock) as they watch their silhouettes behind the drawn shade.
15. Back at the Squatters' house, a RAP beat introduces THE BEAT IS THE HEAT (Club) as they play and get ready to go to The Scene again.
16. Rock and his friends are at The Scene dance club. Lightning plays another DJ Mix to introduce Rock and the band who play THE BEAT IS THE HEAT.
END OF ACT II.
ACT III - SUNDAY
17. Back at the house, Willem arrives to tell them that they have a permanent gig at the club. Rock tells them that he must move on today and share the words of music and love to other cities. He conducts a Sunday Morning Revival by giving a sermon and singing MOVIN' ON (Revival).
18. Rock is back at the Train Terminal and meets Steve there. He listens to his headphones and plays as the band plays from the club and the house the ROCKIT MEDLEY.
END OF ACT III.