Act Two Songs
SONG 1 THERE’S UNREST – WE ARE EAST NOT WEST
Song 1 is a group of two short songs musically related but performed by two different sets of characters. They are presented on a split stage with both groups appearing at the same time. THERE’S UNREST is performed by THE REFORMER and HARDLINERS, and WE ARE EAST NOT WEST is performed by THE THREE ELDERS. Both songs reference historical Chinese political figures and events. Together they set the timeline that occurs shortly before the birth of the protagonist MEI LI GOODSON in China. Vocals are performed by Jeff Howell, Gregg Brandt, and L Steven Santora.
SONG 2 PEARL OF CHINA
The next day on a sunny morning, the MAYOR, ZHENG HU is strolling through the park meeting and greeting when he comes across his friend ZHUANG GUO who is noticeably distressed. Zhuang Guo tells Zheng Hu that he believes his daughter was in the park yesterday and she will be back looking for him today. Zheng Hu does not entirely believe his friend but admonishes him by saying that if his daughter is here that he must tell her everything about her family and early life in China. They stop for a moment when they hear the sound of a young woman’s voice. Zheng Hu looks up to see Mei Li, a PEARL OF CHINA heading their way. PEARL OF CHINA is performed by L Steven Santora.
SONG 3 WHY CAN’T WE BE FREE
When ME LI spots the two men, ZHENG HU leaves allowing ZHUANG GUO to do what he must. After some explaining, reveling his identity, ZHUANG GUO tells Mei Li about the political circumstances and the subsequent unrest that occurred in China around the time when she was born. WHY CAN’T WE BE FREE is performed by Anderson Davis. Guitars are performed by Tony Janflone Jr., and drums and percussion by Ron Krasinski.
SONG 4 LULLABY
ZHAUNG GUO tells MEI LI about the night he took her to the Institute with the song LULLABY. Vocals are performed by Anderson Davis (ZHUANG GUO), and Caroline Nicolian (XI’ER). Background vocals are performed by Lindsey Gort, Doug Kreeger, Anderson Davis and Ruby Lewis.
SONG 5 THIS IS CHINA LIFE
ZHENG HU returns and interrupts an obviously stressful conversation between father and daughter. In order to lighten things up a bit, he encourages ZHUANG GUO to join him in a happy story about life in China. THIS IS CHINA LIFE is performed by Anderson Davis. Background vocals are by Jeff Howell and Gregg Brandt.
SONG 6 PROMISE ME
Although ZHENG HU succeeds in lightening things up, Mei Li’s thoughts begin to drift back to her home in America and her adoptive parents JOHN and LIA. Caught up in her fantastic journey and the new revelations by Zhuang Guo, she doesn’t realize until now that she is homesick. John and Lia sing PROMISE ME, performed by Helen Karloski and Devin Ilaw .
SONG 7 GET ME OUT OF HERE
ZHUANG GUO sees that MEI LI is being drawn away from him. In a thoughtless panic, he interrupts Mei Li’s daydream by insisting that she is Chinese, and should stay with him in China. Confused and angry by the demand, Mei Li reacts by running away from him. Kristiann Menotiades performs GET ME OUT OF HERE.
SONG 8 LIFE IN AMERICA LIFE IN CHINA
MEI LI becomes lost in a nightmare within her dream. Vocals and spoken words are performed by Jeff Howell and Kristiann Menotiades.
SONG 9 STAY WITH ME MEI LI
All at once the nightmare stops and MEI LI finds herself back in the park alone. All is quiet for a moment but soon she is surrounded by THIEVES, STREET VENDORS and DIRTY CHILD BEGGARS. Overwhelmed, she cries out for ZHUANG GUO who comes to rescue her. He disperses the attackers, then he calms and comforts her. He gently persuades her to return to his home, her birth home, in the village. Feeling secure in his arms she agrees. Exhausted from ordeal of the day, MEI LI quickly falls asleep in her birth home. Zhuang Guo carries her to her room, the room that she had as an infant. He then looks to the heavens in a dramatic plea for his daughter to stay with him in China. STAY WITH ME MEI LI is performed by Anderson Davis.
SONG 10 WHIRLWIND
Slowly the light from the morning sun filters through MEI LI’S window. She awakens feeling content and comfortable as though she were back at home in Connecticut. Later in the day, father and daughter return to the park together. They talk, laugh and catch up on nearly two decades of lost moments. Locals are playing Jianzi, and tourists are snapping pictures. It’s a beautiful day and Mei Li thinks that she just might be happy in her new home. She is caught up in a WHIRLWIND of emotion, performed by Alex Manalo.
SONG 11 LIFE IN AMERICA (REPRISE)
They return to the village content but very tired from the day. ZHUANG GUO retires to his bedroom. Mei Li does too but cannot sleep. She leaves the village before dawn, but soon returns to say goodbye face to face. Zhuang Guo struggles with emotion as he realizes he must let his daughter go back home to her LIFE IN AMERICA.