R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)
Sound Cue Sheet - Broadway Production
Adapted by Talene Monahon | Original by Karel Čapek
✓ | Page | Cue # | Act | Line Before/Stage Direction | Sound Description | Duration | Priority | Notes/Equipment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | 1.1 | Prologue | "A knock at the door." | Knock on door | Brief | Low | Office door knock | |
8 | 1.2 | Prologue | "He presses a button. A scratchy recording plays." | OLD ROSSUM'S VOICE playback | ~15 sec | HIGH | Period recording quality, static/scratchy | |
16 | 1.3 | Prologue | "A loud factory siren goes off." | Factory siren/whistle | 5-10 sec | CRITICAL | Robot work signal - PLOT IMPORTANT | |
29 | 2.1 | Act 1 | "A knock on the door." | Knock on door | Brief | Low | Domestic knock | |
33 | 2.2 | Act 1 | "The phone rings." | Telephone ring | Until answered | Medium | Period telephone | |
35 | 2.3 | Act 1 | "A knock on the door." | Knock on door | Brief | Medium | Urgent knock | |
43 | 2.4 | Act 1 | "A knock." | Knock on door | Brief | Low | Simple knock | |
46-47 | 2.5 | Act 1 | Fire crackling sounds | Fireplace fire | Continuous | Medium | Papers burning - manuscript destruction | |
50 | 2.6 | Act 1 | "Male laughter from off." | Men's laughter | 5-10 sec | Low | Approaching voices | |
59 | 2.7 | Act 1 | "LOUD FACTORY WHISTLES AND SIRENS." | Multiple factory signals | 10-15 sec | CRITICAL | Robot attack signal - MAJOR PLOT POINT | |
62+ | 3.1 | Act 2 | Piano music from off | Helena playing piano | Continuous/intermittent | Medium | Live piano preferred | |
63 | 3.2 | Act 2 | "Fabry enters, dragging two electrical wires." | Electrical work sounds | Brief | Low | Wire dragging, setup | |
64 | 3.3 | Act 2 | "He turns on a lightbulb." | Electric hum/click | Brief | Medium | Power connection - plot relevant | |
66 | 3.4 | Act 2 | "Helena's music trickles in from the next room." | Piano music | Background | Medium | Soft, melancholy | |
66 | 3.5 | Act 2 | "LOUD FACTORY WHISTLES AND SIRENS." | Factory signals | 5-10 sec | HIGH | Power loss warning | |
78 | 3.6 | Act 2 | "A strange sound." | Distant rumbling/roaring | 5 sec | Medium | Ominous, approaching | |
79 | 3.7 | Act 2 | "The light goes out." | Electric cut-out sound | Brief | HIGH | Power failure - dramatic moment | |
79 | 3.8 | Act 2 | "The door swings open." | Door opening | Brief | Medium | Dramatic entrance | |
81 | 3.9 | Act 2 | "Shooting sounds from off." | Gunfire/battle | Intermittent | CRITICAL | Off-stage combat | |
81 | 3.10 | Act 2 | "A shattering explosion from off. Screams." | Explosion and screams | 5-10 sec | CRITICAL | MAJOR battle escalation | |
81 | 3.11 | Act 2 | "More shooting." | Continued gunfire | Intermittent | CRITICAL | Ongoing battle | |
84 | 3.12 | Act 2 | Window breaking/climbing sounds | Robot entry | 5-10 sec | Medium | Physical action | |
84 | 4.1 | Act 3 | "A whirring from outside." | Machinery sounds | Background | Medium | Continuous robot activity | |
85 | 4.2 | Act 3 | "A knock on the door." | Knock on door | Brief | Low | Formal, controlled | |
90-93 | 4.3-4.6 | Act 3 | "Marek screams from off." (multiple times) | Screams of pain | Brief (x4) | HIGH | DISTURBING - Surgery scene (plot necessary) | |
96 | 4.7 | Act 3 | Young Rossum's recording plays | YOUNG ROSSUM'S VOICE | ~10 sec | HIGH | Button activation - key exposition | |
97 | 4.8 | Act 3 | Recording plays again | YOUNG ROSSUM'S VOICE | ~15 sec | HIGH | Extended quote - thematic importance | |
98 | 4.9 | Act 3 | "From out the window!" | Bird songs | Continuous | CRITICAL | BEAUTIFUL - Dawn chorus, hope theme | |
98 | 4.10 | Act 3 | "The birdsong grows louder." | Increasing bird songs | Building to end | CRITICAL | Hope/renewal theme - FINAL CUE |
Equipment & Technical Requirements
- Period telephone bell
- Factory siren/whistle (multiple types)
- Playback system for voice recordings
- Piano (live performance recommended)
- Gunshot effects system
- Explosion effects
- Comprehensive bird song library
- Fire crackling sounds
- Electrical/mechanical sound effects
- Knife/cutting sounds (surgery scene)
- Door knock variations
- Window breaking effects
Critical Design Notes
- Factory Sirens: PLOT CRITICAL - they signal major story turns and robot behavior
- Voice Recordings: Should sound period-appropriate (1920s technology) with authentic static/quality
- Final Bird Songs: Represent hope and renewal - thematically essential for ending
- Battle Sequence: Complex soundscape requiring careful balance with dialogue
- Surgery Screams: Disturbing but plot-necessary - handle sensitively
- Piano Music: Helena's playing represents humanity - live performance preferred
- Industrial Ambiance: Low-level throughout without overwhelming dialogue
Show Themes Supported by Sound
- Industrialization: Factory sounds, mechanical ambiance
- Humanity vs. Technology: Organic sounds (piano, birds) vs. mechanical
- Communication: Recordings of the past, telephone connections
- Hope and Renewal: Final bird chorus representing life continuing