In The Red OCR CD

BOOK MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
MICHAEL BRAND AND IAN CHIPPENDALE
FREELY ADAPTED FROM THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS
BY ROBERT TRESSELL
STEPHANIE LAWRENCE - MARY
JANE MILLIGAN - RUTH
PETER POLYCARPOU - EASTON
CARL WAYNE - HUNTER
SCOTT FLEMING - CRASS
WILL ADAMS - BERT
PHIL NICHOLL - LANDLORD
and
WILLIAMS FAIREY BRASS BAND
CONDUCTED BY GEOFFREY BRAND
In a small town in England at the beginning of the century, a Sunday open air meeting is taking place (In the Beginning).At the same time Easton, a follower of the new doctrine of socialism is lecturing to a non-existent audience. Easton and his wife Ruth are struggling to make ends meet as his political beliefs make it hard for him to fi nd a job. Ruth is beginning to regret her marriage (Wedding Bliss) and, realising her despair, Easton reluctantly takes a job paying below the going rate, thus abandoning his beloved principles (How Could I?). The job is with a painting and decorating fi rm called Rushton & Co. whose tyrannical manager, Hunter, is much despised by the men (Misery). To make way for Easton, Hunter sacks the slower, elderly decorator Jack Linden. Jacks daughter, Mary, accuses Hunter, who is a lay preacher, of religious hypocrisy (We Dont Need Your Prayers)
Ruth has found another way of making some money she takes in a lodger in the form of Crass, a foreman with Rushton & Co. and also an old beau of her sisters. (Happy Times) (If She Were Mine) At home Ruth and Mary bemoan their lot but, in the pub, the men get drunk trying to organize their annual social outing. The Beano (Making Ends Meet / Put It On The Slade).
When Rushton tells Hunter to sack all the men and re-employ them on a lower rate, Hunters professional and personal interests are brought into anguishing confliict (Dont Come Monday). Easton meanwhile tries to convert the men to socialism, but the only one interested is Bert, the young apprentice (Politics! Politics!) (Song Of Socialism).
The day of The Beano arrives, but although the men have given money to pay for old Jack Linden to go with them, he is too frail and his daughter Mary looks back at better times. (Times No Longer On Your Side). Easton misses the outing to visit the sick Jack but Ruth goes with Crass. Bert entertains the crowd and a tipsy Ruth joins in (Oompah Band).
When they return home, Crass makes his advance on Ruth who easily succumbs. Easton returns and catchers them and Ruth leaves with Crass. An embittered Easton and the newly converted Bert decide to try their fortunes and spread the word in London (Finale).

Tracklist

1. IN THE BEGINNING Hunter and Company
2. WEDDED BLISS Ruth
3. HOW COULD I? Easton MISERY Men
4. WE DONT NEED YOUR PRAYERS Mary and Company
5. HAPPY TIMES Ruth and Crass
6. IF SHE WERE MINE Crass
7. MAKING ENDS MEET | PUT IT ON THE SLATE Ruth and Mary | Landlord and Company
8. DON'T COME MONDAY Hunter
9. POLITICS, POLITICS Easton and Men
10. SONG OF SOCIALISM Easton
11. TIME'S NO LONGER ON YOUR SIDE Mary
12. OOMPAH BAND Bert and Company
13. FINALE Company