Story Behind The Song

Set in East Berlin during the 1980s, A Knock At The Door is a passionate love story, interwoven with social and political satire, a touch of human tragedy and moments of pure farce. As the dramatic tension builds, fear mingles with laughter as we take a surrealist look at the illogicalities of life in a police state where walls, quite literally, have ears and even the moon could be a secret Stasi spy. Nothing here is ever quite what it seems. The action centres around a group of cadets and their leaders, whose well planned lives are changed dramatically by the arrival of a mysterious stranger in their midst. A story of idealism, hope and love in adversity, the dynamics of the plot reflect the growing tensions in the Eastern Bloc during the run up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the show closes with the mixed emotions of East Berliners as the seemingly unshakeable system which has been their ?reality? for so many years falls apart. Celebrations and rejoicing, yes. But just who will get the happy ending? The title refers to the metaphorical knock of history on the door of the future as well as to the literal knock on the door in the middle of the night that heralded a visit by the dreaded Secret Police under communism. The characters and story line are my own creation and I have attempted to cover themes which are chillingly relevant to today?s audiences. The questions raised by ever-increasing levels of state surveillance, anti-terrorist ?suspect? laws, detention without trial, trial without jury, freedom of (mis) information, the politics of spin, Big Brother, censorship and the morality of war are all issues that hold particular resonance for contemporary audiences. And then there's love... Yes, these are all "big" themes, but I have tackled them through the eyes of down-to -earth human characters with whom every local audience can empathise.

Song Description

A love duet from "A Knock At The Door", an original new musical by Nicol Walsh and Ville Hildén

Lyrics

Would It Be Such A Crime?

Anton:
Could not stop thinking 'bout you
Tried so hard - no can do...
Now you're right here, quite unplanned
Moth to flame. Tell me why I should love you
In Lenin's name I've no reason to love you

Petrova:
You should be all that I hate
The brute face of the state
That has shattered my country
Moth to flame I've no reason to love you
Together:
A mug's game - Tell me why I should love you

Anton: It's beyond me
Petrova: Oh I agree

Together: Guns and flowers
Anton: You like Shostakovich?
Petrova: Nope. Which writer?
Anton: Clausewitz
Petrova: Try Sassoon
Anton: Who?
Petrova: Moonlight Sonata?
Anton: Brass bands
Petrova: Haute cuisine
Anton: Hot Dog stands
Anton: Balalaikas? Petrova shakes her head
Anton: Me neither

Anton: Beyond reason or rhyme I should love you
Petrova: On an island in time I could love you

Tog: Though even there
Tog: Why should we care?

Petrova: The whole world to explore
Anton: But I'm happy right here
Anton: Promised flat, good career
Petrova: See I'd want so much more...

Anton pulls her round and kisses her. Petrova responds.
They break apart

Instrumental

...Utter madness

Together:
Beyond reason or rhyme I should love you
On an island in time I could love you

But until then
It?s just not zen

Any way you look at it - it's madness
Every way you look at it we lose

For you would be so bad for me
And on that we agree
Moth to flame. It's insane

Anton: On an island in time
Petrova: Such as this
Petrova: Would it be such a crime?
Anton: Just one kiss?
Tog: Though of course (kiss) we both know (kiss) this is madness
Petrova: A smoking gun
Anton: What's to be done?

Petrova makes a face. Lenin!

Together:
Far beyond reason and rhyme
On this island in time
Would it be such a crime?