In a tiny mountain kingdom a boy named Gazoon Wazoo plays his shnookimer and makes up songs.
He’s supposed to be practicing for a terrifying walk across the wire between the mountains of Lanadoon, but instead spends time with his friends pursuing his love of music.
The boy is the central character of The Great Gazzoon. The folktale is the story about how the small boy’s love of music in the Kingdom of Jabbi Cragg transforms his community. The Great Gazzoon was released last fall and is a four-CD musical audio novel that was co-written and produced by Rick Scott and Valley Hennell and illustrated by Linda Sanborn.
It is coming to the stage during TheatreOne’s Just Kidding Series Saturday (Feb. 2) at 1 p.m. The show will include portions of the three hour musical story and a behind the scenes look at how the sound effects were created and other tidbits.
Scott, a Protection Island resident, said that during live performances he loves watching the reactions of the audience.
“It’s like sticking your finger in the socket – it’s electric,” said Scott.
The three-hour musical story involves the talent of about 25 voice actors from Vancouver Island.
“The responses we have had – people equate it to musical theatre in your own home,” said Hennell.
Scott said they knew they could come up with something “interesting and unique” working with so many Vancouver Island actors and musicians on the project.
“It is all local talent on the recording. This is the best talent in the world that is right here,” he said.
During the recording of the musical story Anthony Maki helped turn Scott and Hennell’s home into a recording studio. Hennell said the story was one that Scott had written years ago and shoved into a drawer. She carefully went through it and adapted it to the musical audio story format.
During the presentation Scott will share the stage with his 11-year-old granddaughter Lilu Scott, who plays the princess.
“Lilu is a bright light,” said Hennell.
The performance also includes Andrea L’Heureux, John Payne and Kyle Shepard, who did most of the sound effects for the story.
Hennell said with the digital age events like the Just Kidding Series presented by TheatreOne are rare.
She hopes people come out and support it to ensure the series continues running.
Scott’s The Great Gazzoon is Saturday (Feb. 2) 1 p.m. at Malaspina Theatre.
Tickets are two for $14 and are available at www.theatreone.org or at the door.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com