faqs and MELODRAMA resourceS
Here's a slew of questions and answers and resources for your next Melodrama
Can I print out as
many copies of your script that I need? Really?
That's right. With our plays you get to print
out copies of as many scripts you might need for
your cast and crew. Other publishers seriously frown
on this and prohibit even the thought of it. Perhaps
you have lots of paper, a free copier and lots of
time on your hands ... When you pay royalties you
get access to a downloadable and printable version
of the script and music score. So, if you need to
print out another copy for someone who misplaces
their script ... no problem ... you can stay in the
"Hero" category and make extra copies so you have a
great Melodrama.
What is your Twitter link ? ... I want to
post a melodrama video.
Here
you go ...
https://twitter.com/GotMelodrama .
What is Piano
"underscoring"?
If you
are lucky enough to hae a talented Piano player
providing constant underscoring during your
Melodrama ... that is amazing. In case you had
forgotten ... "underscoring" is simply the playing
of music quietly under spoken dialogue or a visual
scene in between actual songs. It is done to
establish a mood or theme, to recall and/or
foreshadow a character or plot point in your
Melodrama ... which adds so much to tie the entire
play together. In the scores provided as part of
HeroAndVIllain Melodrama packages ... musical vamps
precede many of the songs and these vamps can easily
be used as character theme music. Some plays even
have an overture included that helps with
underscoring or use variations on the curtain call
song. Another advantage of a piano playing is that
it has a tendency to discourage hecklers. I guess
they feel fine interrupting someone delivering lines
... but not a piano player. Interesting.
What is the best
place to perform a Melodrama?
While Hero and Villain plays are available for
Theatres and Playhouses, they also work great as
fund raisers for civic organizations, clubs, church
groups, community centers, mountain retreats or
dinner theaters. These family-oriented melodramas
are now provided for a flat royalty fee based upon
how many performance you need.
If you haven't
done so already ... take a few minutes to view video
highlights for several of our Melodramas and
afterwards ... go ahead and click on Links to get
rights to produce a Melodramas in your community.
There is almost no bad place to perform a Melodrama.
I remember one that occured during a wedding.
Really! The bride and groom asked me (in the guise
of Presessor Mack) to opbject to their wedding. You
know the opportunity is given to anyone to object,
but no one ever does. Well not long after my
objection and a friend shows up to cart me off from
the wedding with a shotgun (loaded with blanks) ...
I allowed them to continue with the wedding. How
Melodramatic.
Where do I get all
those 1800's old west costumes for our melodrama?
Here are a couple of Unfunded Shameless Plugs
(these are not affiliate links - just suggestions)
Our favorite place for Old West clothing
https://www.historicalemporium.com/victorian.php
Another place for great Melodramatic
clothing
https://www.wwmerc.com/cgi-bin/Category.cgi?category=home&type=store
I suppose that the internet is today's version of the wild west and websites come and go like the train. So ... if you happen to find a link on our directory or somewhere else on our website that has turned into a ghost town ... please let us know.
What about Hecklers?
If you have been on stage enough times ... there is always someone in the crowd that decides that their jokes are more funny than yours on stage. Melodrama has enough similarities to a comedy night or improv theatre ... that you can help from getting a heckle or two. The term heckler apparently originates from the textile trade, where to "heckle" was to tease or comb out flax fibres. The modern meaning was coined in Dundee in the early 19th century. Staff who combed flax in the city were considered some of the most radical workers in the business. As the hecklers toiled in the factory, one of the team would read out the day's news - and the others would butt in with constant interruptions and a stream of furious debate whiole they were doing their tedious jobs. Below you will find a few heckler responses to memorize just in case the need ever arises. It is usually the Villains in the play that need to worry about dealing with hecklers ... so this page is dedicated to those unsung heroes ... the Villains of Melodramas.
A random list of Witty Put-Downs for Hecklers
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/PutDowns1.pdf
A non-credited list of insults and Put Downs
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/PutDowns3.pdf
Even more Random Put-Downs about the rich and famous and not so famous
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/PutDowns4.pdf
A List of "Never Die" Quotations
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/NeverDie.pdf
Professor Mack’s Traveling Medicine Show Spiel (great for an audition piece or party monologue)
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/MedicineShow2.pdf
Audience - Emotions “check off” list (print these off for yoru audience and give awards)
https://heroandvillain.com/pdf/EmotionsCheckList.pdf