Draft:Rush! Musical

RUSH! THE STAGE MUSICAL
Rush! is a New Zealand musical first performed in Dunedin in 1998. The book and Lyrics were written by David John, with music by Kevin Lynch.

SYNOPSIS
Set in the goldfields of central Otago, the musical follows Duncan McKenzie and his wife Sarah after their arrival in Dunedin. Jackie O'Fea brings news of gold strikes in Central Otago which Duncan sees as an opportunity to find real wealth for his family of five children. Against Sarah's wishes he joins the rush with his friend Nathan Hall and his wife Millie. Tragedy strikes at the Arrow river as Nathan along with fourteen companions are swept to their deaths in a flash flood. Duncan forms a close bond with Joe Lawason who together find a rich seam of gold. Joe helps the widowed Millie Hall who has a small Baby, Rose with as much as he can as Millie washes for the camp. A drunk Jackie O'Fea attacks and rapes Millie while threatening the baby. O'Fea's nephews John and Bill Lomax are complicit in the attack. Duncan has an argument with Dan Nolan but agrees to attend his birthday party at Dan's cabin and arrives after the Lomax boys have murdered Dan and stolen his stash of gold. Duncan is accused pf Dan's murder and sentenced to hang. Joe Lawson visits Sarah and gives her Duncan's share of the gold. Sarah goes to the court to plead Duncan's case but to no avail. Duncan is hanged. Sarah visits the gold field at the Arrow river where Joe Lawson and Millie have fallen in love. Millie confesses to Sarah what happened with O'Fea. The Lomax brothers are awakened with the confrontation of Duncan's ghost and accuse each other of Dan's murder. A hooded woman enters and shoots them both. O'Fea enters and pushes the woman to the ground and while holding a knife above her the ghost of a Prospector enters and O'Fea cuts his own throat. As he falls the woman rises and exits. Meg, the proprietress of the hotel Gives Sarah Duncan's few belongings. Sarah joins Joe and Millie to start a new life.

PRODUCTIONS
DUNEDIN Regent Theatre. CHRISTCHURCH. WELLINGTON. Opera House. GORE. QUEENSTOWN. ALEXANDRA. HAWKES BAY. BARROW IN FURNESS (UK) LIVINGSTON (UK)

LIST OF SONGS

 * A New Day Dawns
 * A Fair Day's Work
 * Gold At your Fingers
 * Duncan And Sarah
 * Bright And Shiny Gold
 * Cry Your Tears
 * Ballad of Millie Hall
 * Broken Wings
 * You Can Look But Don't Touch
 * Run Duncan Run
 * Working Men
 * Perfect World
 * A Hell Of A Life On The Arrow
 * Seven Doors
 * The Wheels Keep On Rolling
 * I Wonder
 * Once Upon A Time
 * The Ghost Of Duncan McKenzie
 * Make the Best Of What You've Got
 * If I Knew Then
 * A New Day Dawns (Reprise)