SYNOPSIS
Act I Act II
In the magical land of Mediastan, a feudal society existing entirely within a media universe is divided into three castes. The Aristocrats rule over both the Minions, a servant class, and the lowest of the low, the Audience. Each Aristocrat possesses a unique magical ability which allows them to retain power. Intrigue, entitlement, greed, treachery and egomania are the coin of the realm. A crisis emerges when one of the Aristocrats, Baron Anchor, begins sinking into insanity.
Due to the show within a show nature of the story, two distinct audiences exist. Audience refers to the audience that resides within Mediastan while Theater Audience refers to folks like us, in the real world, who are watching a show titled The Media Lords.
Due to the show within a show nature of the story, two distinct audiences exist. Audience refers to the audience that resides within Mediastan while Theater Audience refers to folks like us, in the real world, who are watching a show titled The Media Lords.
SCENE 1
On the set of the Lady Diva Show, her fans excitedly take their seats in the audience. In her dressing room Lady Diva throws a fit because her Minions forgot her chocolate. The Audience express how much they adore Lady Diva while the Minions denigrate her behind her back. The show's Announcer prepares the Audience and explains they should respond enthusiastically when the applause sign lights up. The Minions continue to complain about Lady Diva's behavior (Diva Devotees). Fourth Wall introduces himself to the Theater Audience and explains that he can see them and dishes dirt about how Mediastan operates. This culminates in a faux fashion show where he catalogs each aristocrat's magic power (Fourth Wall).
On the set of the Lady Diva Show, her fans excitedly take their seats in the audience. In her dressing room Lady Diva throws a fit because her Minions forgot her chocolate. The Audience express how much they adore Lady Diva while the Minions denigrate her behind her back. The show's Announcer prepares the Audience and explains they should respond enthusiastically when the applause sign lights up. The Minions continue to complain about Lady Diva's behavior (Diva Devotees). Fourth Wall introduces himself to the Theater Audience and explains that he can see them and dishes dirt about how Mediastan operates. This culminates in a faux fashion show where he catalogs each aristocrat's magic power (Fourth Wall).
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SCENE 2
Baron Anchor begins his newscast before he is scheduled to tape an appearance on The Lady Diva Show. In one news story the courts have recognized Consolidated Media's patent claim on love (Anchor's Newscast). A commercial interlude promoting the product Love™ follows (The Love Commercial). SCENE 3 Pap, Par, Azzi bemoan that they are reduced to stalking Baron Anchor because of the lack of more desirable scandals or affairs to cover (Stalking Anchor). SCENE 4 Lady Diva interviews her "best friend" Baron Anchor on her show. Baron Anchor is promoting an upcoming special of his own. During the interview Baron Anchor's behavior becomes increasingly strange as he displays signs of encroaching dementia. Eventually he forgets who Lady Diva is. Lady Diva ends the interview early (Diva Interviews Anchor). Lady Diva and her Producer wonder what has happened to Baron Anchor (Empty Eyes) SCENE 5
Sir Mogul assisted by his Minions gets dressed while literally singing his own praises (A Modern Media Mogul) |
Act I, Scenes 1 - 4 |
Act I, Scenes 5 - 8 |
SCENE 6 A commercial interlude promotes a vacation resort run by Consolidated Media (The Chimera Resorts Commercial). SCENE 7 Major Brands and Sir Mogul discuss their declining TV rating numbers, shows that didn't work out as expected, and the need to find a new low-brow hit. They decide they still must support the news as a propaganda device to maintain power and control. This culminates with a hymn to the "quid pro quo" (Trendy Next Big Thing). Fourth Wall describes Major Brands' personality (Major Brands, an Ambitious Man). Major Brands and Sir Mogul speculate on what's required for a new hit show (Pabulum). SCENE 8 Pap, Par, Azzi rush to spread rumors about Baron Anchor's breakdown even though they know nothing about it (Stop The Presses). |
SCENE 9
Fourth Wall notes that Major Brands is in a foul mood because a fashion columnist mocked him (Style Maven). Major Brands sulks that he is misunderstood and is actually a benign oligarch (Noblesse Oblige)
Fourth Wall notes that Major Brands is in a foul mood because a fashion columnist mocked him (Style Maven). Major Brands sulks that he is misunderstood and is actually a benign oligarch (Noblesse Oblige)
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SCENE 10
While Major Brands and Sir Mogul review financial reports Baron Anchor's newscast plays in the background. They begin paying attention to the newscast when the financial news starts and are horrified when Baron Anchor announces that Consolidated Media's stock price will fall 60% in a week. They panic because everything Baron Anchor says becomes true, that being his magic. They discuss Baron Anchor's mental decline and decide he must be convinced to retire before the week finishes to avoid catastrophe (Anchor Spooks Brands & Mogul). SCENE 11 On the Mediastan Tonight show Pap, Par, Azzi cover the latest tabloid news (Mediastan Tonight Gossip). A commercial interlude promotes a new drug from Consolidated Media (The Solace Commercial). SCENE 12 Sir Mogul visits Baron Anchor in his dressing room. Baron Anchor offers him a glass of wine noting that he always has one before his newscast. Sir Mogul tries to convince Baron Anchor to retire quickly in order to receive a huge time-limited enhancement to his pension. Baron Anchor, distrustful of Sir Mogul, takes the suggestion poorly and angrily declines (Mogul Visits Anchor). |
Act I, Scenes 9 - 12 |
SCENE 13
Sir Mogul meets with Lady Diva, Baron Anchor's oldest friend. They discuss Baron Anchor's mental condition and Sir Mogul asks Lady Diva to convince Baron Anchor to retire. Sir Mogul overcomes Lady Diva's initial reluctance by offering her the newscast in addition to her own show (Mogul Asks for Diva's Help).
Sir Mogul meets with Lady Diva, Baron Anchor's oldest friend. They discuss Baron Anchor's mental condition and Sir Mogul asks Lady Diva to convince Baron Anchor to retire. Sir Mogul overcomes Lady Diva's initial reluctance by offering her the newscast in addition to her own show (Mogul Asks for Diva's Help).
Act I, Scenes 13 - 16 |
SCENE 14
Lady Diva meets Baron Anchor for lunch at an expensive restaurant. Their Waiter describes an over-the-top special. Baron Anchor confesses that he doesn't remember the end of his appearance on The Lady Diva Show. She makes a diagnosis that he is stressed and requires a rest cure. Lady Diva then asks Baron Anchor why he hasn't retired yet noting that she would if she could only afford to. Baron Anchor knows that Lady Diva is very wealthy and realizes she is in cahoots with Sir Mogul (Diva and Anchor Lunch). Baron Anchor berates Lady Diva for her treachery and contemplates the ways she could have betrayed him (Et Tu Diva?). SCENE 15 Pap, Par, Azzi breathlessly announce a huge story even if they don't know what it is (Something's Up). SCENE 16 Lady Diva at home is watching Baron Anchor's newscast when he announces, as retribution for her betrayal, that Lady Diva has retired effective immediately. This means Lady Diva's fame will cease and she will be no different than any Audience member (Anchor Banishes Diva). In a rage Lady Diva vows that she will one day regain her noble aristocratic status (Diva Reacts). |
