Return to the Forbidden Planet

Here is the rewritten encyclopedia entry, using a new sentence structure throughout.

A jukebox musical by Bob Carlton, *Return to the Forbidden Planet* takes its inspiration from the 1956 sci-fi film *Forbidden Planet*, which itself borrows loosely from Shakespeare’s *The Tempest*. The production’s songs are drawn from rock and roll hits of the 1950s and 1960s, while its dialogue is largely built from famous lines of Shakespeare. Frequently promoted as “Shakespeare’s forgotten rock and roll masterpiece,” the show has been staged across the globe ever since its London debut in the 1980s. It took home the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in both 1989 and 1990.

The cast is made up of actor-musicians, with keyboards and drums hidden inside the spaceship sets. The campy sci-fi aesthetic features silver space suits, and the robot Ariel is played by an actor on roller skates, wearing a costume that recalls Robby the Robot from the original film. A narrator, called “the newsreader,” appears via pre-recorded video; celebrities such as Patrick Moore, Brian May, Richard O’Brien, and Neil deGrasse Tyson have filled this role.

**Plot**

**Act 1** The bosun of the starship *Albatross* welcomes the audience as passengers on a routine survey flight, about to depart under Captain Tempest. After liftoff, the captain argues with the ship’s new Science Officer—a woman—about the roles of men and women on Earth. A meteor shower interrupts their debate. The Science Officer suggests abandoning ship in a shuttle, but Captain Tempest insists on flying through the storm. In the chaos, she escapes via the shuttle. The *Albatross* is then pulled mysteriously toward the planet D’Illyria, where the crew meets the mad scientist Doctor Prospero. He has been stranded there ever since his wife and science partner, Gloria, sent him and their daughter Miranda into space. Doctor Prospero offers to repair the damaged starship, and he, Miranda, and their robot Ariel come aboard. The ship’s cook, Cookie, instantly falls for Miranda’s beauty, believing she returns his affection; in truth, she has fallen for Captain Tempest, against her father’s wishes. While discussing how to find the missing Science Officer, Ariel reveals details about Doctor Prospero’s new formula, “X Factor,” which can enhance the brain and mind.