JCB The Musical is a stage production written by Steven Griffith (music) and Katrina Walker (lyrics).  The story is based loosely upon the legend of Tristan and Isolde. 1

Kevin Morgan is delivering a brand new JCB excavator to a customer.  Along the way, he accidentally crashes into a Caterpillar road-roller driven by Suzy Jones and the pair fall madly in love.  Although Kevin works for JCB and Suzy works for a Caterpillar dealership, she and Kevin are forced by their love to seek each other out.  The director of the Caterpillar dealership repeatedly tries to have Suzy sacked for disloyalty but the couple use guile and deceit to hid their love.  The chairman of JCB hears about the romance between Suzy and Kevin and encourages them to meet, however his motives are selfish because he just wants to know more about the technical capabilities of Caterpillar’s rival machines.  Through a tortured series of plot twits, involving tyres, hydraulics and excavator buckets, the couple overcome the obstacles placed in their path and escape to Solihull where they live happily ever after.

The original 1991 Swansea Grand Theatre production, directed and choreographed by Ian Basseux, and produced by Phillip Card, marked Griffith and Walker’s stage musical debut.

JCB The Musical was a moderate commercial success, but was given a hostile reception by theatre critics who variously described it as "moribund", "inane" and "totally ill-conceived".  The show has not been performed in the UK since its 6 week run at the Swansea Grand Theatre ended in April 1991.

Overture

Prologue

This is MY Digger

CRASH!

I Love You Because You Wear Overalls

Can it Be True?

Suzy, You’re Sacked

Kevin, Let’s Have a Chat

The Journey To Kidderminster

Kevin’s Story

Poor, Poor Suzy

Song of The Engines

Piston Chorus

We Need a Plan

Chant of the Non-Wheeled Vehicles

Help

Why So Cruel

Escape Calypso

JCB Forever

Soliloquy To Solihull

Notable in the composition of the music is the variety of styles used by Griffith.  Included into the mix are styles of rock and roll, blues, folk, country and western and disco.

References

1.         Kurt Ganzl, Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, (Schirmer Books, 1994),p. 893.