Bruce Vickers and Sheila Hackett are tasked with developing Tourism Australia’s Tourism 2018 campaign. After discovering a series of online memes claiming that everything in Australia can kill you, they petition their boss and perennial job-hopper Scott Morrison to host a group of tourists for a journey across the country as a PR ploy.Once the tourists arrive, no one is safe. Before the trip even begins, a maple-syrup-flavored bloodbath taints the prospect of an idyllic journey. Throughout their travels across southern Australia, the group sings, discovers, and flirts with disaster in cities, the ocean, and the Outback. As Bruce wonders if the trip is cursed, the audience is left to wonder if Bruce and Sheila will ever be able to let their true feelings for each other out of their mouths.Bodies start to pile up, and the climax of the show reveals an excessively-planned scheme to discredit the Land Down Under and push the rest of the world to turn their backs on the Lucky Country. Does this spell the end of the tourism industry in Australia? Who is really behind the online campaign to demonize their beautiful land? And what is a barbecued snag?
Lead roles - Tourism Australia
BRUCE Vickers - Half of the marketing team for Tourism Australia. Fancies himself a decent songwriter. Would never admit that he has the hots for Sheila. Male, tenor, aged 25+.
SHEILA Hackett - The other half of the team. Knows a lot about Australia; not so much about social interactions. Would never admit that she has the hots for Bruce. Female, mezzo soprano, aged 25+.
SCOTT Morrison - Director of Tourism and so many other things. Not yet Prime Minister. Male, baritone, aged 40+.Tourists/Chorus (SATB)
ALEX - Canadian. Concerned about the crazy things he’s seen in YouTube videos. Written male but pronouns can easily be altered, younger-ish.
IAN - The annoying reality show inspired survivalist—definitely an American. Male, age ambivalent.
YETTA - Searching for inspiration for her art. Most recently she finds herself at home in the mountains of Azerbaijan. Does not understand Australian slang. Often corrects others; usually wrong. Female, age ambivalent.
HEATHER - Most likable, charismatic tourist. Sociology professor from Austria. Female, written older but can be younger by changing to “student” instead of “professor.”
BEN - A French child who thought he was going to summer camp for fat kids. Written male but pronouns can easily be altered, appears under age 18.
KALYN - New Zealish spy. Claims she's from the small island of Arlin and Tosh (that’s an anagram for North Island… KIWI ALERT!) Female, mezzo soprano, age ambivalent.
Other roles
NURSE - Knowledgeable but murderously inept healthcare worker at the bush hospital. May be played by a tourist other than HEATHER. Written male, but pronouns can be easily altered, baritone or mezzo soprano. Age ambivalent.
RANGER - Chases a chlamydial Koala and saves the day. Is barely thanked for their efforts. May be played by ALEX or IAN. Gender and age ambivalent.
DROP BEAR - A drop bear. Or is it? May be played by a tourist other than KALYN.Written male, but pronouns can be easily altered. Age ambivalent.
CHORUS - Any number of non-speaking background actors may be added as chorus members, including hotel staff, food truck workers, and others.
Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano, Wind: available for Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, or Trombone
