ACT I SYNOPSIS

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The musical opens with Richard Haunting singing a lament (“Sarah”) at the grave of his beautiful wife and their daughter, who were tragically killed in a fire twenty years ago.  The scene then switches to the main stage where the Performers at John Deron’s Horror Weekend are readying themselves for the arrival of the guests (“Entrance of the Performers” and “Spooked Tonight”). The rehearsal is cut short when the actress playing the Girl in the Red Dress, a ghost in the Horror Weekend is found to be missing. Her part is given to the dotty Anna.

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The guests to the horror weekend arrive ahead of schedule. These include the cantankerous Mary and her long-suffering husband Percy, the brazen Peaches and her glamorous friend Jasmine and the boyish James and his geekish friend Henry. Also booking himself into the weekend is Richard Haunting. Mary soon starts finding fault with everything about the weekend, while Peaches flirts outrageously with every man in sight, soon hitting it off with the Munsterish butler Herbert.

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The theme of the weekend is a murder mystery perpetrated by one of the Horror Performers. James and Henry are keen to do well and have done some early research into the history of Deron Hall. They have a book that tells the story of Sarah Haunting and the tragedy that took place twenty years ago.

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The guests are introduced to proceedings by the sinister John Deron, the owner of Deron Hall (“Horror Weekend” and “Murder Murder”). Anna, the Girl in the Red Dress seems to be using the wrong script as she sings about trying to escape from a blazing house. One of the Horror Performers, the egocentric Jerry who plays the part of Count Dracula, tries to charm Peaches and Jasmine. Jasmine is unimpressed but Peaches is flattered by the attention.

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John Deron asks Herbert to find out who Richard is and why he has come to the weekend. Herbert quizzes Richard who says that he received a letter saying that if he wants to find out what really happened twenty years ago he should book into the weekend. James and Henry eavesdrop the conversation and believe they are getting clues for the murder mystery.

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Jerry continues to make advances towards the girls, dancing romantically with Peaches after being spurned by Jasmine (“It’s Hard to be in love when you’re a Vampire”). At the end of the song a beautiful a girl in a white dress is seen by many of the guests, including Richard who is convinced that it is his wife Sarah.

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One of the guests Percy has been given the role of The Informant. His job is to feed clues to the other guests without them realising that it is him. His wife Mary has no clue that he is the Informant and ignores all the clues that he tries to give her. He has been briefed about the Girl in the Red Dress, so is very confused by sightings of a girl in a white dress. He quizzes John Deron who angrily denies that there is such a girl in the murder mystery.

 

John reveals that it was his evidence that put Richard in prison twenty years ago. John takes out his anger on his wife Susan who laments the person that her husband has become (“This Man and his Heart”).

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James meets the girl in the white dress in the garden. Sarah recounts being locked in her bedroom with her child and that she was unable to escape. James is very excited and makes notes. He is also mesmerised by the beauty of Sarah. She hears Richard’s voice calling and has to leave but promises James that they will meet again.

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Richard meets James who says that he has met Sarah. Richard says that he was married to her twenty years ago, which confuses James until he realises that she must be a ghost. Richard asks James where she is but James toys with him. Richard is confused and excited by the sighting of the girl in the white dress (“It Can’t be a Dream”).

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Back in the house, Jerry tells Susan of his plans to bed Peaches using his special love potion. Susan is unimpressed. James tells Henry of his meeting with Sarah and the two believe that they have solved the murder mystery. Richard enters the house and continues to sing about his love for Sarah (“It Can’t be a Dream – Reprise”) and his plans for revenge. Sarah is seen again but soon disappears. Richard begs Sarah to come back to him….

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ACT II 

What are the answers to these questions? All will be revealed in Act II.

Who is the girl in the white dress?

Will Henry and James solve the mystery?

Who will end up drinking Jerry’s special love potion?

Will Jerry score with Peaches, Jasmine or perhaps someone else?

Who is orchestrating events that take place over the weekend?

Will Percy be a successful Informant?

Who and why does Constable Brown turn up at the weekend?

What will be the outcome of the inevitable showdown between Richard and John?

 

Songs in Act II

“A Matter of Time” – Richard, James and Sarah

“Life is so much better when you’re dead” – Frankenstein’s Monster

“Judgement Night” - John

“The Ghost within my Heart” – James and Sarah

“I Met Jerry” – Jerry, Peaches and Jasmine

“Morning Come Soon” – Sarah and the Draculettes

“The Final Judgement” – John and Company

“Morning Come Soon (reprise) – Richard and Company