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The Story So Far…

The story arc of The Resistance Cabaret isn’t something the audience will necessarily pick up, but it’s what guides the song choices and emotional flow of the evening. It helps to know where songs are in the big arc to help pull together a full, intentional evening.

20 years in the future we are living in what many of us would call this country’s worst future (The Future). There are no free elections, freedom of speech, freedom of press. All public events are banned except for religious gatherings. Most music and art is banned.

Reverend Gregory Honeybiscuit, a preacher from The Church of the Golden Dawn, an official sect, gathers his flock to the mandated 20-year celebration. He has gathered a group of singers to perform - purely for educational purposes - banned songs. Just so the audience of patriots can learn to identify those salicious ditties and malevolent melodies (opening monologue).

The first song he introduces (Is That All There Is?) tells of the Second American Revolution, when the White House was burned in a coup, the resistance crushed, and people disappeared for protesting. Things are very bad, but people still resist. [Editor’s Note: Trump has cited Peggy Lee’s song as his favorite song. He doesn’t get to own that.]

Next, we hear a love story from the apocalypse (As the World Caves In), reminding us that even when the bombs are falling, we seek out love. [Editor’s note: This song was actually written as an imagined duet between Trump and short-lived, wildly unsuccessful UK PM Liz Truss.]

A Malvina Reynolds protest song from the 1930’s is next (A Policeman Needs a Riot). With an especially pertinent lesson to the Twin Cities now: “A policeman needs a riot like a general needs a cause. And he hasn’t got a riot if we stay within the laws. But a word of righteous anger is excuse enough you’ll find for an officer of the law to blow his mind.”

The ‘70s protest song For What It’s Worth comes up, but by adding some punk weight, we twist the chorus, “Stop children, what’s that sound, everybody look what’s going on” from a caution to a command of resistance. Everyone has to pay attention, don’t look away.

We hit the middle section with a tone - and costume - shift. Reverend Honeybiscuit appears in gold, purple, bedazzled papal vestments. The ultimate in prosperity theology - the official religion of the Second American Republic (and the corporate interests for which they stand). He delivers a sermon praising His Word in Your Hand - social media. The sermon continues into a country/gospel celebration of the smart phone (Personal Jesus).

Then we go to hell. Rather, hell comes to us in the form of Satan Herself, crowing to the audience about her relationships to the horrible people who have brought us to this future. She teases us with a bright, sunny future (When that Man is Dead and Gone).

Joe Carey comes up next to sing a story written for the moment (Song that Never Was), including one of the most fun audience sing-alongs you’ll ever hear.

We head into the final third of the evening. These are songs of empowerment, starting with A Change is Gonna Come. Then Change is on the Rise. Then the audience gets another chance to raise their voice with What’s Up?

Reverend Honeybiscuit introduces the final song, pulling the thread of the evening’s story that things are bad, but we still have to resist. Because there is still love and we have the power to make change. We ring out the evening on the emotional high of Take Me to Church.

But there’s a blackout at the end, chaos and noise… it’s a raid! The authorities have found out little illicit concert. Reverend Honeybiscuit yells over the cacophony for everyone to stay put and remember no matter how bad things get… “Yes, we have to fight for our neighbors. Yes, we have to love our neighbors. But that’s not enough. You have to bring them into your lives, you have to celebrate!”

Mirror ball turns on and the most banned artist of all - a drag queen - enters to lip sync Last Dance. By the end, everyone is up and dancing. Confetti cannons, clapping, bows.

Set List