Rob Russell Davies: Listen

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From the musical: THE GARDEN OF EDEN

The Story: The musical's lovers share a dance at a party as the drugbaron watches on with growing anger.

A song which was great fun to record and equally challenging to stage. Basically a quartet with some interesting counterpoint singing and the chorus joining in at the end. I've left the director's notes in the lyrics so hopefully you can imagine the action onstage.

WON'T YOU BOSSA NOVA? [A quartet and dance for Antonio, Carla, Ferdinand, Pedro and the full company.]

ANTONIO:
My darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
So sweetly
Won't you dance with me?
To hold you
And to feel you near me
You're so close
Oh my darling
Won't you dance with me?

[Because of the obvious affection that Carla and Antonio are showing each other, and because of their expert and graceful handling of the dance, the other dancers gradually make way for them, leaving them alone on the dance floor. Ferdinand (the drugbaron) watches with growing anger...]

CARLA:
My darling
I will Bossa nova
And hold you
Hold you close to me
And all eyes
Will be watching close now
As we move
Oh my darling
Won't you dance with me?

[Ferdinand now staggers drunkenly out of his chair, openly annoyed at being upstaged. He sings to the company at his table...]

FERDINAND:
What is this here?
What is this dancing before me I ask?
And who are these two?
Who do they think that they are?
First they're alone
Like they're too good for us, all on their own
Then they come in
Take over the dance floor and put on a show
Do they think that this party's for them?!

[Antonio and Carla, intent on each other, have not noticed the Drug Baron's growing indignation...]

ANTONIO AND CARLA:
My darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
So sweetly
Won't you dance with me?
To hold you
And to feel you near me
You're so close
Oh my darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
Won't you think it over?
And won't you dance with me?

[Ferdinand kicks his chair over, and comes over to Carla, roughly pushing Antonio out of the way. He grabs her by the hand, forcing her to dance...]

FERDINAND: [Sarcastically...]
My darling

CARLA: [Confused and frightened...]
My darling?

FERDINAND:
Won't you Bossa nova?
Or are you...

CARLA: [Sung to Antonio who moves to intervene...]
No leave me

FERDINAND:
... much too good for me?

CARLA:
I must be careful I dare not offend him

FERDINAND:
So dance now

CARLA:
I'll dance now

FERDINAND:
And I'll make the stars shine just for you

CARLA:
If it makes the stars shine just for you

FERDINAND:
Oh my darling

CARLA [to Antonio...]
Don't step in now

FERDINAND:
Won't you Bossa nova?

CARLA:
Don't start a row

FERDINAND:
Won't you think it over?

CARLA: [To Ferdinand...]
I will allow...

FERDINAND:
Won't you dance with me

CARLA:
Just one dance with me

[Ferdinand and Carla dance while Antonio looks on in frustration and rage. Pedro (Antonio's best friend) comes over to try and calm him down...]

PEDRO:
It's just one dance

ANTONIO:
It's more than spinning around, no it's not right

PEDRO:
It's a dance

ANTONIO:
No it's a slap in the face, it's an insult, a challenge

PEDRO:
Let it go

ANTONIO:
Look how he holds her so close, what can I do?

PEDRO:
Don't react

TOGETHER:
It's a reaction he's looking for
He's waiting for you (ANTONIO: me) to bite

[All four sing the following passage together in a counterpoint...]

FERDINAND: [sung to Carla...]
My darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
I'll hold you
Hold you close to me

CARLA: [sung to Antonio...]
It's alright
I'm alright
No danger
I can take care of it, don't argue for me

ANTONIO: [sung to Pedro...]
It's not right
I cannot stand by
What to do?
When I cannot react

PEDRO: [sung to Antonio...]
Careful Antonio
Don't fall in the trap

[In an effort to defuse the situation, Katrina and one of the girl workers guide Antonio and Pedro onto the dance floor and begin dancing with them...]

FULL COMPANY:
And all eyes
Will be watching close now
As they (DANCERS: we) move
Oh my darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
Won't you do it over
Won't you dance with me
Oh my darling
Won't you Bossa nova?
Won't you do it over?
And won't you dance with me.

[At the end of the dance, the drunken Ferdinand lecherously throws his arms around Carla and tries to pull her towards him. Instinctively, she pulls away...and basically from this point on... all hell breaks loose!]