I am frequently inspired by images.  During pre-production of this show, set designer Scott Adam Davis presented the image below as an idea for the primary location for the play. This image, particularly the piano against the backdrop of the ship image and the nocturnal color palette, inspired this music.  It’s a lyrical, somewhat serious piece, but I take the advice of Mel Brooks that music should take the situation seriously and not play the comedy.

Much of this play is very silly so I imagined this piece would only be heard as a prelude before the start of the show – preshow music, essentially.  Director William Brown staged an abridged version of the music as a pantomime introducing several of the characters taking in the view and the sea air.  It culminated in the image you see at the top of the page – Dvornichek slowly lifting a tray with a drink for Turai as the final chord is played.