Act 1
It's 1933, the 30th of June, on a soundstage at Marshall Pictures in Hollywood, California. Meglomaniac, sweat-shop producer/director/actor, Roger Marshall, is filming his latest mish-mash, B budget production for the silver screen, Gilbert & Sullivan's, "The Pirates of Penzance". To preserve the movie careers of stars of the silent era who have no vocal skills, Mr. Marshall has locked not so attractive performers, with glorious voices, in a sound booth to provide the voices for these fading stars.
Daniel Brown, a vocal performer romantically involved with the director's daughter, Constance Marshall, stops Mr. Marshall and thanks him for the opportunity to work at the studio and reminds him that this is the last day of his five year contract. Aghast at this sudden disturbance in the production schedule, Mr. Marshall scours over the fine print of Daniel's contract. Manipulating the numbers, he shows Daniel that his contractual obligations at Marshall Pictures are far from over. Daniel threatens to quit, sing flat or set fire to the studio. Mr. Marshall reminds him that if he has interest in continuing a relationship with Constance he should return to the booth immediately.
Within minutes of returning to the booth the filming begins. As the actors on the stage dance, move about and open their mouths as though singing, their singing and speaking voices come from the vocal booth. Moments into filming Daniel hears the Pirate King say something that stirs him within. "Always act in accordance with the dictates of your conscience my boy, and chance the consequences." This very line sparks Daniel's courage to plot his revenge and extract himself from the clenches of Marshall Pictures.
Quietly slipping from the vocal booth during filming, Daniel commandeers one of the visual actors, puts on his clothing and makes his sudden appearance on the stage. Hilarious chaos unravels as Daniel reeks havoc with the visual actors, musicians and crew. The studio crew attempts to remove him from the stage, but to no avail.
Mr. Marshall, dressed as the part of Major General, now comes to the stage. Arrogantly oblivious to all things around him, he begins his performance. The cast and crew attempt to warn him of Daniel Brown's mayhem, but without success. Taking courage from Daniel's endeavors, the vocal actors slip from the booth, save Constance, and join Daniel in the mutiny. Kidnapping the visual actors one by one from the stage, the vocal actors adorn themselves in their costumes and impersonate their counterparts.
The movie scene finally comes to an end as Roger Marshall yells, "Cut!". Taking a cue from his assistant, Roger Marshall spins on his heel to discover that his unsightly vocal actors have been prancing in front of the camera and ruined his picture.
Act 2
The vocal actors swing through the set on ropes, leaping from place to place turning the soundstage into a jungle gym. Mr. Marshall runs to his office, picks up his phone and calls for the police.
While awaiting the arrival of the police, Roger attempts to chase off the rebel actors. They threaten his very existence and chase him through the studio. He ducks into the vocal booth and locks himself inside.
As the vocal actors run away in triumph, Mr. Marshall hears a strange sound behind the sound curtain. Pulling the curtain down he discovers the visual actors bound and gagged in their underwear. Roger unties the visual actors and tells the tale of his woes. Attempting to console him they sing a song of the most disonate chords ever heard. Needless to say they are all tone deaf.
Finally, the police arrive. Marching in to investigate, the police go into song and dance, offer their headshots and resumes and do a big Busby Berkeley dance number. The visual actors escort the police off the stage to help them begin their investigation.
The set is now quiet. From the darkness Daniel appears searching for his Constance. Sylvester and Gloria, vocal actors, find him and tell of their adventures. They have been talking to several lawyer friends about the legalities of their contracts. It is apparent that Roger has duped them all. The three make a pact to avenge and destroy Roger Marshall. Sylvester and Gloria exit.
Constance appears from the darkness to find Daniel standing alone in the studio. Daniel tells her of the dreadful wrong her father has imposed upon them all and attempts to excuse himself to find the others. Constance desires he stay. After some discussion, song and romance he promises he will soon return and exits.
The police return to the scene of the crime. Constance tells them that Daniel has done no wrong and her father is the guilty party. As Constance leaves to find her father, the police are left alone to daydream about life as a movie star. Daydreaming leads them to break into a big, show stopping, song and dance number.
Suddenly the policemen hear the vocal actors approaching from the back of the studio and run to hide. The vocal actors, with a crate full of studio prop weapons, make their way to the front of the stage seeking out Roger Marshall, as he sleeps. Anticipating that the vocal actors might surprise him in the night, Roger sneaks about the studio with his flashlight. The vocal actors duck into the shadows.
The visual actors, lead by Constance, suddenly appear and march on to the stage with flashlights in hand. The vocal actors jump from the shadows to seize Roger Marshall. The police emerge to stop the vocal actors from their attack. The visual and vocal actors band together and begin to chase the police, and most importantly, Roger Marshall. A comedic chase scene ensues throughout the studio. With effort the vocal and visual actors subdue Roger and the Police.
A newspaper reporter enters the studio stage with a newspaper in hand. She flashes the headlines of the morning paper, "Screen Actors Guild Formed" and announces that all contracts for the actors are null and void. The actors, visual and vocal, cheer in relief. Reeling in confusion, Roger attempts to make amends. The actors, taking their new found position, charge Roger with crimes and ask the police to hall him away.
Rid of their tyrannical employer, they realize the future of their careers is bright, beautiful and that new stars will shine! They exit arm in arm to find new hopes, new dreams and new contracts.
