A tender love story, a bank robbery gone hilariously wrong, a foiled escape to Canada, a tipsy judge, patent medicines, and the hopes and dreams of soldiers and civilians on both sides caught up in an ‘act of war’ –– or was it?

Based on the true story of the “Northernmost Battle of the American Civil War” and three remarkable period diaries.

AKA Love and Larceny/Chickasaw

The raid is factual . . . the romance is fictional . . . the result is farcical!

Book by Roger de la Mare (Adapted from Raid From Hell by Don Davison)

Music by Donald Patriquin – Lyrics by Graham Hardman

Contact DonaldPatriquin@gmail.com 450-297-2779 for a free original production DVD & info about this fun ‘family’ musical for professional or amateur theatre.

It is 1864 and the American Civil War is in full swing – North against South, brother against brother. Canada, fearing the North might annex adjacent Canadian territory, was partial to the South, tacitly allowing Montreal to become headquarters for the Southern Confederates (a.k.a. Rebels) battling the Northern Union Army.  There is, however, a commonality in all of this: each of the protagonists – Rebels, Unionists and civilians alike – has dreams of a better tomorrow. It is against this backdrop that Waiting on a Dream unfolds.

The essential story – the plotting, the raid, and the subsequent trial – as well as many participants – are historical fact, and are combined with information gleaned from three revealing period diaries penned by a ‘Doc’ Rumsey, in reality a destitute lawyer. The diaries fell into the hands of novelist Donald Davison and became the basis for the shenanigans in which Rumsey was unwittingly involved. He becomes entangled in Confederate Officer Bennett H. Young’s raid on the banks of St. Albans, Vermont, as well as with a bright-eyed ‘Northern’ woman, and thereby hangs the tale. Dreams are realized, dreams are shattered, but throughout there is always hope – and laughter!

The show is technically simple to produce, and is in the mould of traditional musicals but with a dash of rap, tango and patter songs along with the big full-cast numbers.

The songs – nicely challenging but not tough – are spread among the performers, enabling them to have their moments of glory.

Minimum cast: 21 (11 guys, 6 gals, 4 extras). Some male parts may be played by women.

Accompaniment: keyboard & drum set; optional flute & cello. Length: 2 hours (2 acts)