WAITING STAR ________________ A Musical in Two Acts by Edward Miller © 2018 Edward Miller (541) 479-5463 [email protected] www.waitingstar.com Waiting Star —A New Musical— PRINCE HAL Prince Hal is affectionately remembered as “The Madcap Prince.” In his time — the early fifteenth century — his wayward adventures and lowly companions were an ongoing scandal, and caused people to fear for England’s future. Shakespeare was so intrigued by him that he made Prince Hal the central character in three of his plays. More than anything else, Hal was motivated by an enormous appetite for life. He wanted to experience everything and to play as many roles as possible — thief, lover, hero, and statesman. To the surprise of all, the “madcap” became one of England’s greatest Kings. FALSTAFF Of all Prince Hal’s companions, none was more notorious than Sir John Falstaff. This merry rogue, a "Santa Claus for adults" is regarded as one of the greatest comic characters in English literature. Falstaff’s enormous size and out-of-control physical appetites make him a natural for comedy, but he is also a con artist of the first order. He’s learned to use humor as a way to evade, deceive and seduce. Easily, Falstaff’s roaring laughter and crafty wit could corrupt a saint ANN Ann was born and raised in a small Welsh village. All her young life she believed herself to be the daughter of a Welsh lord, but after her “father’s” death, her mother confesses that she is really the natural daughter of a nobleman from Eastcheap, Sir John Falstaff. She decides to go in search of him. As the show opens, Ann has just arrived at the Boar’s Head Tavern and is stunned when she meets Falstaff. Ann believes that souls inhabit trees, flowers, streams and animals. Through her song, “Waiting Star,” she clears her mind and heart to receive the guidance of these spirits. The “voices,” though, are really from her deeper self. Through her remarkable intuition she actually has a wisdom and strength far greater than the people at court she wants so to impress. When she becomes “more sophisticated” she loses contact with that part of herself and is no longer able to feel the voices. Her victory, near the end of the play, is rediscovering that magical, romantic part of herself, and realizing its power. She also learns that she has helped Prince Hal to hear his own voice inside — a voice of destiny. STAR-CROSSED After a stormy beginning, the love between Ann and Prince Hal becomes deeply powerful and they dream of a shared future. Unfortunately, politicians, courtiers, even Falstaff, scurry to make the romance serve their own ends. The conflict reaches a climax when Hal is nearly killed. Ann decides to return to Wales. At the show’s conclusion, Ann is on the boat landing when Prince Hal makes an unexpected appearance. While their future is uncertain, they realize their love has been victorious in a profound and powerful way. This magical force touched two people’s lives, changed them forever, and gave them a strength that nothing would ever take away. “GOLDEN AGE OF MUSICALS” Although many of the characters in this show come from Shakespeare, the tone of Waiting Star is not “classical”— the treatment is comparable to a Golden Age musical. The author’s foremost goal is to create a show in this bright and entertaining tradition. For more information about Waiting Star contact Edward Miller (541) 479-5463 [email protected] or visit www.waitingstar.com Musical Numbers Act I A Toast To The Boar’s Head - Falstaff and Chorus Why Can’t They Sing About That? - King, Queen Grand Adventure - Prince Hal, Chorus Waiting Star – Ann Just a Hint - Mistress Quickly, Women’s Chorus One Place You Can’t Go Alone - Ann and Prince Hal At The Turn of Fortune’s Wheel - Falstaff and Thieves Act II She Goes Somewhere - Prince Hal Grand Adventure (Reprise) Ann & Prince Hal Just a Hint - Falstaff & Mistress Quickly When It’s My Day to Repent - Falstaff and Thieves Waiting Star (Reprise) - Ann Finale - Chorus Cast of Characters PRINCE HAL: Male, 19-24 A wild youth who wants to experience everything that life has to offer. He is charismatic, handsome, and bright. His love for Ann proves to be transformative and he is destined to become one of England’s greatest kings. ANN GWYNELLYN: Female, 18-22 Romantic, innocently beautiful, and possessed with unusual spiritual gifts. Her storybook idealism is challenged by the manipulations of the English court. She is also quick-witted and adventurous. JACK FALSTAFF: Male, 50-70 A con artist of the first order; overweight, cunning, corrupt, and driven by his physical appetites. His contagious merriment and quick wit cause others to quickly forgive his vices. Some have described him as a “Santa Claus for adults”. MISTRESS NELL QUICKLEY: Female, 40-70 Owner of the Boar’s Head Tavern. Shrewd and sometimes coarse, but with a soft heart. She and Falstaff have the most unusual of relationships. MELISSA FARADAY: Female, 35-65 She is a strange outcast who is believed to be a witch. Psychic, mysterious and a bit scary. BELLE MAYFIELD: Female, 16-20 Ann’s companion. Comical without meaning to be. Her wants in life are simple. She wants Ann to use her powers to get her a good husband. KING HENRY IV: Male, 40-50 Stern, dutiful and stingy. He is the opposite of his free-spirited son, Prince Hal. QUEEN JOANNA: Female, 35-50 She is bright, quick-witted and spontaneous — a foil to her too-serious husband, King Henry. HARRY HOTSPUR: Male, 20-30 Believes he, and not Prince Hal, should be the next King of England. A blustering, glory-seeking, young man who nonetheless has some inspired greatness in him. He is easily manipulated by the older men around him. EDMUND RUTHERFORD: Male, 50-65 A devout, wise, and slightly corrupt elder statesman. He sees the love between Ann and Price Hal as a threat to England’s future. He does a lot of behind-the-scenes manipulation. A loyal supporter of King Henry. CHARLES WORCESTER: Male, 40-60 An enemy of King Henry. Calculating, ambitious, and treacherous. He tires to bring down the king by manipulating Harry Hotspur. JOHN NORTHUMBERLAND: Male 40-60 One of the conspirators against King Henry IV and Prince Hal. Ambitious and scheming. NORA STARK: Female 35-60 She is assigned to watch over Ann and becomes her confidant. Kind but cynical. THIEVES, SOLDIERS, PEOPLE OF THE COURT, AND A MESSENGER. SCENE: England TIME:1403 "1 ACT I Scene 1 SETTING: A darkly lit room in a manor house. ANN, a young woman, has been writing a letter by candlelight. She stands and begins to sing a few lines from the song, “Waiting Star.” ANN In the hush Quiet sky There lies tomorrow Only a sigh Hopes can fade or fly. (Discouraged, she stops singing and speaks to something invisible.) Where are you? I’ve never needed you more than now. (A messenger from the king enters. Ann is startled.) MESSENGER The convoy to Wales is ready, Miss. ANN I’ll not be much longer. MESSENGER The King asked me to give this to you. It’s a gift. (Hands her parchment. After reading it Ann is almost amused.) ANN The date of my parent’s wedding has been moved back two years by royal decree. That makes me legitimate. MESSENGER If you wish for me to wait outside… "2 ANN I have a letter to be delivered. Find me a messenger who can be bribed. MESSENGER Bribed, Miss? One of the King’s own messengers? (Ann brings out some gold pieces.) Who’s it for? (Nora, a middle aged servant, enters. She listens quietly to the transaction that is taking place.) ANN The Prince. MESSENGER Miss, you know the King has forbid you to… ANN I’ve said nothing the King could object to. (Hands him letter.) MESSENGER It’s still a bit of a risk. (Ann adds a couple more gold pieces to the stack. The Messenger nods knowingly and exits.) ANN (Mostly to herself) This isn’t who I am. What’s happened to me? NORA It’s not too late. You could still change your mind. ANN (Shakes her head.) It’s best this way. NORA The Prince would have you stay—you know that. There’s not a thing in all this world he’d have come between you.! "3 ANN Not even his crown. That’s why it can’t be his choice. NORA (Sadly) It’s a shame, Miss, truly. ANN I suppose I should have known it would be this way from the beginning—from that first time I met my father. If I had any sense I would have left that very night. NORA And what of your father, Miss? Do you mean to write? ANN (Sadly) No. NORA It’ll hurt him, Miss. ANN It hurts me—more than you could imagine. All this has been a terrible mistake. All I knew of my father six months ago was that his name was Sir John Falstaff and that he was supposedly of very high station. Mother had kept him quite a secret. Now I know that in all the hundreds of pictures I drew of him in my mind, I’d never even come close. I’ll never forget my first sight of him—there he was in all his glory at the Boar’s Head. It was the beginning of Twelfth Night and father was bound to intoxicate the whole tavern… FLASHBACK: Lively music builds under and the lights on the Boar’s Head Tavern quickly fade in.