Company Policy

Daniel J. Laubacher - Composer

Company Policy - a Musical

Company Policy is a traditional musical in that it is spoken dialog with songs (numbers). In two acts, it takes place in a Viennese Heurigen (restaurant), called The Grinzing Inn, during recessionary times of the 1990s. The Grinzing Inn is bought out by a new company called The Merry-Go-Round Restaurant or MGRRC. . To minimize expenses, optimize profits, and enforce its rules and regulations - MGRRC has come up with 1001 Company Policies. Failure to abide by "this holy thing called Company Policy" may evenutally lead to termination of contract. The employees are constantly in the state of fear. But there is more behind the scenes! The stock holders of MGRRC are members of a new and upcoming political party called The Corporate United Party or CUP. The plan of the party leader, Gustav Grabenheimer, is to make loads of money with MGRRC profits, expand the chain restaurant - first throughout Austria and then Europe - so that he can become the financial leader of the developing European Union.

CHARACTERS

DOUBLE ROLES:

MS MAGGIE MACWIGGEL: (40-45) Manageress of The Merry Go Round Restaurant; strict, "by the book", Doubles as:

ELISABETH BERGHOFF: Private Investigator working under cover as Maggie MacWiggel; sympathetic and likable

MAX: (62-65) accordion player at The Grinzing Inn; traditional older Viennese man; Doubles as:

MR. CHAIRMAN: Chairman of the Board of MGRRC; dressed in black cape, top hat and eye mask, white gloves and identity withheld from audience, always behind the silhouette screen, intimidating and only interested in money

MGRRC EMPLOYEES

MR. TYLER TALIHOE: Assistant Manager of The Merry Go Round; company man, only interested in his own ascent in the company as a CUP member; belittles employees with sarcastic comments and tone of voice; immediate ambition: to replace Maggie MacWiggel (the "woman") as manager

HOMER PODERMEYER: (18-19) Busboy; eager to please, good-natured, possesses a subtle wit, intelligent

ROGER RUTHAFORD III (23-26): Cook with Walter, Helen's boyfriend; friendly and fun-loving, young at heart and carefree

HELENE WINDSOR (21-25): Waitress; Roger's girlfriend, motherly, stable, conscientious

ZACK HEATH: (20-21) Waiter, vain and self-centered, likes to believe he is popular with the ladies, arrogant

FANNY FEATHER: (18-19) Hostess, vain and arrogant; gossipy, shows no interest in the job

MORRIS T. ASTERSON: (30-35) Dishwasher but trained as a bookkeeper; hard-working, clumsy, pleasant and likable

WALTER DILLCOX (35-40): Cook, can be intimidating, sensible, hard working, warm, looked up upon by his fellow employees; was cook from The Grinzing Inn

CONNIE: (35-40) Bartender/Lounge Waitress; former Grinzing Inn employee; minds her own business, does not get directly involved in house politics

ALEX APPLEBEE: (22-23) waiter; hard-working, friendly, well liked by his fellow employees, outspoken

EXTRA EMPLOYEES: Waiters/waitresses

MGRRC BOARD MEMBERS & CORPORATE UNITED PARTY (CUP) MEMBERS / SUPPORTERS

GUSTAV GRABENHEIMER: Head of the CUP; Well-groomed and smartly dressed; confident, convincing, narrow-minded and power-hungry politician; independently wealthy; seen at isolated moments delivering speeches

MR SCHMIDT: Colleague of Mr Schnitzel; CUP member (dressed in long trench coat and 1940s-style rimmed hat) and MGRRC Board member (dressed as board member); character: underhanded and sneaky, self-serving, unfriendly

MR. SCHNITZEL: Colleague of Mr. Schmidt; Like Mr. Schmidt also is a CUP member and MGRRC Board member; character: naive, slow to catch on, pleasant and positive through his own ignorance

MR. ROGER RUTHAFORD: Roger's father, the President of Ruthaford Investment Bank, undercover, makes himself appear a bit naive as an MGRRC board member. Puts the money up MGRRC.

OTHER BOARD MEMBERS: Mr. Robolite (also MGRRC customer), Mr. Humblenot (also MGRRC customer), Mr. Moneymaker, Mr. Dunkem, Mr. Takeall, Mr. Getmore

ANDY FARGONE: rough mannered, CUP supported

ROBOLITE FAMILY (Mr. and Mrs., Brucy and Lucy): children are younger "copies" of parents, boring, CUP supporter

LOUISE CRABBLE: lonely, complains constantly, CUP supporter

MR. AND MRS. L.P. HUMBLENOT: snobs; act "royal", CUP supporters

SUPPORTING ROLES:

HERR BERGHOFF: owner of The Grinzing Inn; friendly and caring

FRAU BERGHOFF: wife of Herr Berghoff, kind and warm

SOPHIE: Zack's cousin, bright and good-humored; modest and sincere

ETHYL VON TEUFEL: Cabaret-style entertainer at The Merry Go Round

EXTRAS

Customers: Mr. and Mrs. Customer, Dorothee and Frank, Rollie, Pierre, Herbie and extra customers in The Grinzing Inn and Merry Go Round; Police Officer

Note: Both CUP and MGRRC are “spelled out” when spoken as dialog. MGRRC is spoken as M-G-double R-C, CUP as C-U-P

Below are some extracts (mostly computer-generated instrumental demos). Some scores are available for viewing at the MGM-LE eStore.

Title	Description	View, Listen, Print Scores MBM-LE eStore*	Listen to mp3
ACT I
Overture - Company Policy	A musical introduction to many of the musical themes in the show
Grinzing Inn	This is the The Grinzing Inn's favorite song played on the accordion by Max and sung with the regular patrons of the Heurigen.	MBM-LE eStore
The three important Things in Life (one, Money, two...)	The Board of Directors sing this wacky little song to express the wonders of making lots of money: "Nothing brings me so much joy as rising profits and falling gold..."	MBM-LE eStore
Merry-go-Round Round 1	Once the Grinzing Inn has been taken over by the MGRRC, the employees are "encouraged" to sing the new theme song.
It's Company Policy!	After the waiter Alex was told off for bringing the wrong drink to a customer and not allowing him to smoke in the non-smoking area, he realizes that he had been framed by the assistant manager (Mr. Talihoe). This prompts him to sing this song to point out the absurdity of "this holy thing called Company Policy."	MBM-LE eStore
So friendlly we serve (as long as they don't get on our Nerves!)	This song is sung by the employees of the M-G-R. They poke fun at the odd group of customers who are both shareholders of the MGRRC and supporters of the CUP. Basically, the message from the employees is: "...just leave a big tip on the plate!")
What more can I do for Heaven's Sake?	Morris T. Asterson is a dishwasher at the Merry-Go-Round Restaurant. He is like an elephant in a porcelan store: clumbsy and nervous in his movements. He has taken the job as "transition" work while he looks for a position as a bookkeeper. He sings this song after receiving a rejection for an opening.
Place your Bets on the Company	Walter, the head cook at the restaurant, has noticed that he has been paid as a trainee cook after being promised that he would receive the correct payment in this month's pay check. When he confronted Ms. MacWiggel on this she claimed he came in late once last week and that cost him the raise for another few months. Angered, he and his colleague Roger decide to stage a walk out during the busiest shift: Sunday morning. Who then will cook?	MBM-LE eStore
Merry-Go-Round Round 2	A slower, depressing version of M-G-R Round 1
ACT II
If you buy me a Drink	As the morale is very low at the M-G-R Restaurant, the managment decides to bring in the singer Ethyl von Teufel to bring up the spirits of the employees.	MBM-LE eStore
I don't want this, I want much / no more	Roger and Helene have been seeing each other for quite a long time. Helene, however, is quite frustrated that Roger has been dragging his feet in their relationship. She points out (and he in turn) the many defficiencies in their relationship and sees no reason that it should continue.	MBM-LE eStore
Love can wait (to be alone is not what I fear)	This is sung by Sophie who is alone in her room getting ready to go to the MGRRC Employees Appreciation Ball. She has been invited by her cousin Zack who has arranged her to be with Homer (as a "blind date") during the evening so that he can spend time with Fanny. But since he does not mind being alone she decides to stay home and read "Gone with the Wind." But does she stay or get up the courage and go?
Ball Music (Instrumental)	In an attempt to start an annual tradition and, therefore, an acceptance of the MGRRC community the board of directors organize an "Employees Appreciation Ball." The employees know, however, that's more of a political / stockholders event than a show of appreciation!
Once upon a Midsummer Night	Homer, who works clearing tables at the MGR Restaurant, falls in love with Sophie at the MGRRC's first annual ball. They sing this beautiful duet together about their newly found love.	MBM-LE eStore
Don't smile till Christmas	The Board of Directors (with their unidentified Chairman) speak to the new manager, Ms. Maggie MacWiggel, about how to handle the employees ("Never compromise..."). The chorus in the song is a somewhat out-of-place Christmas song.
Finale - Ensemble	A "reprise" of some of the musical numbers both thematically and as a curtain call opportunity.
SCRIPT	VIEW PDF (copyright prohibits printing, saving or unauthorized use)		-----

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