In Airport 1904, a 2-act musical/non-musical melodrama, widow Knight and her lovely daughter Lovey open the world's first flying school in January, 1904 (the Wright Brothers did their thing in December, 1903, you remember). But all does not go well. TWO villains harass the Knights and plan to take over the school and Lovey. In the nick of time, enters the hero Sterling Strongwrench!That's the good news. The bad news is that a mysterious woman is following Sterling. The complications tail-spin and loop-the-loop many times before all is resolved in this hiss-the-villain, cheer-the-hero melodrama. Delightful music and songs help everything turn out well.

The play may be presented as a non-musical simply by omitting the songs, or by treating the lyrics as dialogue. For adults and young adults (a little bawdy). The few words and lines which may be objectionable for some groups can be changed or rewritten. The set is a flying school office; costumes are typical of the time. Ideal for touring.

Remember our motto—"Fly by Knight and thank you"—George P. Lawson, Barn Theatre, Port Sanilac, Mich. "I have worked on several melodramas...my favorite is Airport 1904."—Arlene Glassner, Anchorage, Alaska. "We have recently been granted a sum of money from the State Arts lottery to produce a play" (naturally they choose Airport 1904)—Charles Ford, Westboro, Mass., Players Club. "Keeps the audience laughing...Cearley's music is excellent...a superb job."—Clara Clay, Pasadena Citizen

Also by Cope: Agatha Christie Made Me Do It, Agatha Christie Tackles Texas, Don't Print That, Frankenstein's Centerfold, The Invisible Man, The Last Tango in Pango Pango, Without a Clue

Other musical/non-musicals: A*B*C*, Christopher Columbus, Dick Whittington and His Cat, Hansel and Gretel, Heidi, How Reading Came Back to Nowhere, I Just Wanna Tell Somebody, It Happened in Hamelin, Robin Hood, Tales From the Arabian Nights, Wind of a Thousand Tales, The Wizard of Oz

See also: Melodramas