The Sound of Helen

"**The Sound of Helen**" is the first segment of the thirteenth episode of the first season of *Kiff*. It is the twenty-fifth episode overall.

## Synopsis

Table Town School puts on its first musical, but it's all about Helen.

## Plot

At a school assembly, Principal Secretary announces that Table Town Middle School will be staging a musical directed by Helen. Kiff and her classmates are excited by the news, only to discover that they have all been cast to play Helen, at different ages, in her autobiographical musical *The Sound of Helen*. While reading the script during rehearsals in the gym, they realize that the musical has no plot and revolves entirely around praising Helen. They consider quitting, but Kiff suggests that they can improve the musical by getting feedback from an expert on musical theater, Sweepy Steve. After sitting in during a rehearsal, Sweepy Steve bluntly tells them that it will be the worst musical ever produced.

Concerned that they may never get to stage a musical again if *The Sound of Helen* fails, Kiff and her classmates approach Helen with constructive criticisms of the script, and are eventually forced to admit that they think the musical is bad. Helen accuses them of not appreciating her talent and the effort it took her to get the musical greenlit, revealing that she placed thumbtacks on the road to give Principal Secretary's car a flat tire, then got him to fund the musical in exchange for changing the tire. She then quits as director, running out of the gym in tears. Kiff is impressed by Helen's passion and says that the musical should instead focus on Helen's struggle to get *The Sound of Helen* produced. The whole class quickly puts together an entirely new musical.

On opening night, Helen shows up in disguise, having been sent a ticket by the class. Principal Secretary announces that instead of *The Sound of Helen*, the class will be presenting a different musical called *My Fair Helen*. As the night goes on, the musical turns out to be a success, winning over even Helen, and it ultimately receives a standing ovation from the audience. Touched that her life story is being applauded, Helen takes off her disguise and joins the class onstage. As the rest of the audience applauds, Principal Secretary remains seated and expresses his annoyance that nobody minds what Helen did to his car.

## Cast and characters

* Kimiko Glenn as Kiff Chatterley
* H. Michael Croner as Barry Buns
* Lucy Heavens as Helen
* Nic Smal as Principal Secretary
* Kent Osborne as Sweepy Steve
* Eric Bauza as Billiam and Reggie
* Vella Lovell as Candle Fox
* Tom Kenny as Trevor Angstrom and Darryn
* Mary Mack as Renée du Bedat

## Locations

* Table Town
	+ Table Town Middle School

## Songs

* "My Fair Helen Musical Medley" – written by Nic Smal and Lucy Heavens

## Trivia

* **Opening sponsor**: Thelma's Thumbtacks.
* The title of the episode (and of Helen's musical) references the 1959 musical *The Sound of Music*.
* Sweepy Steve mentions that he attended the premiere of *Legs Diamond*, a 1988 musical notorious for having flopped badly on Broadway.
* The title of the new musical produced by the class, *My Fair Helen*, references the 1956 musical *My Fair Lady*.
* Co-creator Lucy Heavens considers this and "Blooper Quest" as her favorite episodes.

## Videos

The Sound of Helen Musical - Kiff - @disneychannel
## References

1. ↑ Reddit MAX | Disney (November 11, 2023). #Kiff creators Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal play a little game called BFF Quiz! #DisneyKiff #KiffSweep #NYCC #NYCC23 #NYCC223 #NewYorkComicCon. *Twitter*. Retrieved on November 18, 2023.