RAGAMUFFINS
Synopsis

Story, Book, Music and Lyrics by Erika Stadtlander
May 2004 Photography by Martha Henney and Michaelangelo Robles

Set in Upstate New York in 1932 during the Great Depression, Ragamuffins is a musical play about a resourceful club of kids who are "poor in the pocket, but rich in spirit".

At the start, there is an election for president; the charming confident self-interested future-politician Adlai convinces the boys to help him cheat on the votes to beat out the principled young female lawyer-to-be, Mavis. The kids cannot decide upon a name for the club, and they argue about equality and rules.

The group finds that they are being watched by a lonely rich kid named Whitley, for whom the jealous boys initially deny membership. The modest but enormously popular Madelaine boldly quits the club to protest the boys barring Whitley; this upsets the boys, impresses the girls, and amazes Whitley. Whitley and Madelaine become smitten with one another. Ultimately, after some ill-advised conduct on the part of the boys (including a group theft), the kids realize that Whitley is a generous friend; they welcome him into the club, and Madelaine returns.

Many other stories throughout the play involve the hopes, dreams, triumphs and mishaps of all the characters, including the endearingly enthusiastic "second bananas" who are determined to reach the top: club vice president Skelly; and South Carolinian ballerina Carlene, who has forever been unfairly passed over for leading dance roles.

The kids separately encounter two hobos: stumbling drunken bum Zeke, who at first scares and harrasses them; and sweet lovely nurturing Lil, who they are stunned to learn has just been released from prison. They also discover that Lil and Zeke were engaged to marry a few years back. When the stock market crashed in 1929, Zeke lost his marvelous movie theatre business and the home he planned to share with his bride. Thrown to the gutter, Lil still romantically dreamed of a beautiful wedding, so she impulsively stole two gold rings and white satin fabric with which to sew her bridal dress. Lil went to jail for three years; devastated about this, Zeke took to the bottle.

The kids come to compassionately understand and appreciate the hobos and their plight. They reunite Zeke and Lil, and arrange for them a touchingly thoughtful homemade wedding - once Zeke promises to quit drinking.

Married and unemployed, Zeke finds it hard to stay dry, and in his extreme intoxication he nearly causes a tragic disaster. Surviving this, realizing the frightening pain he's caused for many people, Zeke swears he'll stay sober for life. He resolves to take Lil to Hollywood to finally follow his dream of writing and directing films.

The kids surprise Zeke and Lil with an encouraging farewell show produced by Skelly and starring Carlene. Everyone vows to believe in the possibility of a better life in the near future, and all recognize the inestimable value of loving loyal friendship - the most precious thing in the world.

THE GIRLS
Mavis, 13, determined to be a lawyer, promotes women's rights, well-educated, moral, honest, fair, resilient
Alice, 12, plans to be a newspaper reporter, wears a "press" hat, factual, enthusiastic, hard-working,
Madelaine, 12, caring, humble, has good strong principles, plays piano, pretty, adored by the boys, loves Whitley
Emmalyn, 13, observant, astute, patient, compassionate, kind, wants to be a psychologist, loves animals
Eva, 12, intent on becoming a film actress, glamorous, vain, witty, sassy, smart, aspires to be like Jean Harlow
Adele, 11, intent on becoming a stage actress, feigns English accent, self-assured, intense, overly-dramatic
Daphne Dill, 9, loves to bake and make pickles, friendly, always game, has a limp, her mom's a maid at Whitley's
Doris, 10, young photographer, practices without film, dependable, thoughtful, good friends with Alice
Carlene, 11, expressionistic dancer from South Carolina, eccentric, gregarious, passionate, optimistic, driven
Daisy, 7, the youngest one, affectionate, funny, eager, curious, asks lots of questions, likes to sew
Smidge, 10, tomboy, tough, loveable, mechanical whiz, considerate, trustworthy, Adlai's sister (real name Audrey)
Millicent, 9, joyous, giggly, aspiring comedienne, befriends Milburn, dreams of performing on a radio show
Amelia, 8, a great listener and thinker but not a big talker, loves to sing and dance

THE BOYS
Adlai, 13, club president, confident, charming, clever, bossy, self-centered, always the politician
Whitley, 13, generous, loyal, smart, forgiving, lonely, unpretentious, from a wealthy family, loves Madelaine
Skelly, 12, inventive, resourceful, amusing, easy-going, likes Carlene, Adlai's right hand, secretly wants to be boss
Lindbergh, 12, obsessed with aviation, energetic, proud and patriotic, loves adventure (real name Billy Bergman)
Cringe, 8, funny, finds much to be "yucky", still always interested in exciting new experiences (real name Henry)
Elliott, 11, loves gangster books and films, likes to take risks, enthusiastic, a good guy, a team player
Cecil, 9, visionary, dreams of being a film director, uses a megaphone, sees life as a movie-in-the-making
Milburn, 10, wants his own radio show, smart, innovative, clever, from South Carolina, Carlene's brother
Arthur, 8, extremely intellectual, analytical, ethical, at the top of his class, loves to read and write
Theo, 11, an artist and an engineer, he wants to design and build trains someday, infatuated with the railroad
Ellsworth, 6, loves to sing and dance and be with the older kids

THE HOBOS
Callalily (Lil), 25, maternal, romantic, practical, resolute, just released from jail (small regretted theft)
Ezekiel (Zeke), 28, inspired, original, wishes he could write and produce films, drinks to excess, quick-tempered

MUSICAL SCORE
Ragamuffin
This World Is Going to Turn for You (Queen Bee)
A Girl Named Madelaine
Junk
(It's Okay) Bein' a Banana
Wouldn't It Be Wondermous (Marvelub and Fabuloop)
Gosh Golly Gee, Doll (You're Still Lookin' Swell)
Muffins' Wedding Shower
Hobos' Wedding Song
One Day Soon
Money Won't Give You the Moon
I Have a Place to Go