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Sadvipra
March, 1974
THE RAINBOW RAINBEAM RADIO ROADSHOW
Photo caption: "Left: President Mister (Herbert G. Goldman) and Billy Earth (James Rado) in a scene from new rock musical."
The Rainbow Rainbeam Radio Roadshow.
Music and lyrics by James Rado.
Book by James Rado and Ted Rado.
reviewd by Terry Campbell
"And remember: Peace is the ultimate object and Love the ultimate soul." Jesus (appearing in the form of two girls) utters these words to Billy Earth in a new rock musical called The Rainbow Rainbeam Radio Roadshow, an off-Broadway delight. James Rado, who penned the lyrics and music for the daddy of rock musicals, Hair, is the creative wizard behind Rainbow.
The same incredible energy that Hair generated can be felt in this new production. Hair's main thrust was the music, which is also the case in Rainbow, with 33 new songs. Its main stream of music is, of course, rock and soul, with generous doses of old time radio ditties, a little burlesque, country and western, some razzmatazz - and even a Carmen Miranda set, complete with dancing bananas (which leaves you helpless with a heavy case of the hearty hoo-hahs).
The story concerns young Billy Earth, who, after his death on earth, awakens to find himself in the middle of Rainbowland (inhabited by Rainbeam people). He spends a lot of time trying to figure out where he is (or even who he is) and whether he is dead or alive or what.
Alll the while he is nurtured along by some loving Rainbow foster parents and Rainbeam musical antics, until they break it to him - that he is from earth, he died in a war there, and that before becoming a Rainbeam like them he must return to earth to find out why he died. His quest for the answer comprises the greater portion of the production, and Billy eventually confronts the President of the United States himself with the question.
But the magic of the show is not so much in the story (part missing) Since much of the material revolves around the bufoonery of President Mister, an obvious parody of Nixon, its value may not endure the test of time. Fortunately when the storyline wanes the music takes up the slack (and ties it into a bow).
The music steadily gushes with delight. There are only one or two inconsequential numbers, and the rest zoom. Whatever emotional mark they aim for they hit, right in the heart. "Mama Loves You." for example - familial affection has never been set more sweetly to rock music. As Billy is reborn on earth, he sings the deeply compelling "My Lungs" in poetic praise to the sheer fact of breathing. "I Want To Make You Cry," Billy's crucial confrontation with the president, expresses his emotional urgency more fully than any of the lines he speaks.
The Statue of Liberty puts in an appearance, decked in black (her green stone is at the cleaners, she tells us) and her scroll (with the famous inscription) misplaced. "But don't worry," she says wryly, "I have this memorized." Her recital turns into an hilarious burlesque routine as she give us the real lowdown: "You gotta be naughty, you gotta be nice, you gotta remember that we're rolling the dice."
Then there are those heartdancing numbers like "You Live In Flowers" (in which some of the players dance among the audience to give them flowers), "Somewhere Under The Rainbow," and "The World Is Round" - some of the most exciting and joyous music around these days - and all a celebration of love. When the Rainbeams burst out "Somewhere" they sound like a heavenly host of rock and roll angels. And in the "The World Is Round" they form a dancing mandala around the befuddled President. The clapping, foot-thumping players become their own percussion section while affirming the logic of the universe as well:
"The world is round, it has no sides, take a lesson from that!"
With love, Billy has gained the universe. Rainbow culminates with his initiation in Rainbeamship while the president is left to ponder the piercing question of Billy's death (and the deaths of others) and must come to terms with it himself. For Billy, it is enough that he has asked.
