BEAUTY AND THE BEAST AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL ADAPTATION MUSIC BY MICHAEL HEINZSCH LYRICS BY ANNE STANLEY BOOK BY ANNE STANLEY, ALEX H. URBAN, AND ALISON BRETCHES 1 ACT I Scene 1 The Prologue Invocation Overture Scene 2 The Marketplace Enjoy the Show Scene 3 Beauty’s Cottage Beauty Comforts Father/Lullabye Family Farewell Scene 4 The Forest Outside the Beast’s Castle Scene 5 The Dining Room of the Beast’s Castle Scene 6 The Forest Outside the Beast’s Castle What’s This I See? Scene 7 Beauty’s Cottage Beauty’s Farewell Scene 8 The Forest Outside the Beast’s Castle There’s Something Here ACT II Scene 1 The Dining Room of the Beast’s Castle Take My Hand (The Beast’s Lament) Scene 2 Beauty’s Bedroom Scene 3 The Bird Room Free Scene 4 A Hallway Scene 5 The Nursery The Soldier’s March Scene 6 The Battlement Someone Like You The Confrontation Scene 7 Beauty’s Cottage I Once Thought Love Would Be So Easy Scene 8 The Garden Outside the Beast’s Castle Finale 2 ACT I, SCENE 1, PROLOGUE NARRATION (VOICEOVER): (The PRINCE, GYPSY WOMAN, and HER CHILDREN, behind a scrim, pantomime the narration.) Once upon a time, in a far off land, in the middle of an enchanted forest, lived a strikingly handsome young Prince. The Prince was very wealthy and had everything he desired. However, he was selfish and uncaring, with a heart as black as night. One cold, dark night, an old gypsy queen came to the castle with her two children. They were seeking shelter from the raging winter snowstorm and hoping for a few crusts of bread to save them from starving. The Prince’s servants pleaded with him to save the gypsies. However, the Prince scorned them as vagrants and petty thieves and sent them back into the freezing night to die. (Thunder is heard and lightening crashes. BLACKOUT.) The ancient gypsy howled to the heavens. The sky became even blacker and the hidden moon turned a blood red as even with her dying breath she laid her curse: For the servants who refused to help them, they were doomed to be faceless spirits trapped for all eternity. And for the selfish and uncaring Prince, a life of suffering as a hideous Beast! (Lights up to reveal the BATTLEMENT. Tall and made of stone, it stands out against a midnight blue sky. Two motionless GARGOYLES sit on top. A tall, hunched figure, the BEAST, walks slowly across the battlement to the edge. He sings THE INVOCATION.) BEAST: BY ROSE AND NETTLE THORN, BY WINTER’S DARK AND ETERNAL FROST, BY BITTER COLD AND NEWBORN MOONLIGHT, BY WHISPERED WIND, THROUGH ANCIENT FOREST. OH, LET THE ANGEL VISION FLY. AND WITH THE DREAMER’S DREAMING BLEND. BEFORE THE DAWN HAS STAINED THE SKY. OH LET THE CURSED DREAM DESCEND! (During THE INVOCATION, lights slowly rise, suggesting the coming of dawn. As the BEAST raises his arms on the last line of the song, the GARGOYLES come alive. Lights then fade on them.) NARRATION: If the Prince could find another whose love for him would transcend his ugliness and agree to be his wife and true love, the spell would be broken. As years passed, the Prince lost all hope. Would anyone ever find it in their heart to love this creature? Or would he remain a Beast for all time? Our story begins… 3 (Lights die on the battlement and come up on a downstage scrim with the projection “BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”. Music segues into THE OVERTURE.) ACT I, SCENE 2 (The MARKETPLACE in Beauty’s dream. A troupe of wandering gypsies enters the town and dance about the stage. Members of the CROWD join them. JUGGLERS perform, SOLO DANCERS whirl and leap, people cheer. It is a frenzy of color and excitement. ELIPSIS, masked and wearing a Gypsy costume, enters.) ELIPSIS: Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the King and Queen of the Gypsies! (The GYPSY QUEEN and KING make a regal entrance as the CROWD “oohs” and “aahs”. ELIPSIS begins again once the QUEEN and KING have settled.) Welcome friends, and gather ‘round our merry band! For we bring marvels and delights! Dancing, singing, daring deeds performed by my dashing brothers. Charms! Cures! Love potions to heat the long cold nights. Strange beasts to amaze you! And…if you’re very lucky…the Queen of the Gypsies may tell your fortune! So drop what you’re doing and head over here. What have you go to lose? (He laughs.) ENJOY THE SHOW ELIPSIS: COME, NOW, AND SEE THE MARVELS BROUGHT FROM THE MISTY MOUNTAINS. BROUGHT FROM OUR HOMELAND FAR AWAY WHERE THE WILD WINDS BLOW. COME SEE THE GYPSIES, NOW RETURNED FROM MYSTER’IOUS OUTLANDS. ROVERS ARE WE AND OUTCASTS… STILL YOU’LL ENJOY THE SHOW! ELIPSIS and GYPSY BROTHERS: CROWD: DANCING AND SINGING, LOVE SONGS, AAAHH--- CURES, TONICS, CHARMS AND POTIONS. WE’LL CURE YOUR ACHING BACK AAAHH--- AND GIVE YOU SOME NEW HAIR, TOO. COME SEE OUR SILKS AND SPICES AAAHH--- BROUGHT FROM ACROSS THE OCEANS. AND IF YOU NEED A NEW WIFE... WE CAN PROVIDE THAT TOO. HA! HA! HA! (Instrumental) ELIPSIS and GROUP A, B, C, D: COME NOW AND SEE THE MARVELS BROUGHT FROM THE MISTY MOUNTAINS. BROUGHT FROM OUR HOMELAND 4 FAR AWAY WHERE THE WILD WINDS BLOW. COME SEE THE GYPSIES, NOW RETURNED FROM MYSTER’IOUS OUTLANDS. OUTCASTS ARE WE AND ROVERS TOO... ELIPSIS: WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN. THIS DRAB LITTLE TOWN IS A RATHOLE LIKE NO OTHER. STILL, AM I SAD? THERE’S A FORTUNE TO BE HAD BY A CLEVER LAD IF HE’S GOT THE NERVE TO STEAL IT ELIPSIS: CROWD: HERE SIR, YOU’RE LOOKING ILL. ZZSHA! ZZSHA! ZZSHA! ZZSHA! I KNOW IT’S THE CROWD ZZSHA! ZZSHA! AND THE WEATHER’S HOT AS HELL! ZZSHA! ZZSHA! BUT IF YOU WOULD CARE ZZSHA! ZZSHA! TO SEE OUR DOCTOR OVER THERE ZZSHA! ZZSHA! HE’LL CLEAR UP YOUR HEADACHE... ZZSHA! ZZSHA! (AND YOUR PURSE AS WELL!) ZZSHA! ZZSHA! GOD WHAT A LIFE WE LEAD. AAAHH--- A GYPSY’S AN ORPHAN NO MATTER WHERE HE GOES TO. STILL, A “GYP” IS WHAT I’LL BE. THE ROVING LIFE’S THE LIFE FOR ME. AND WOULD I LEAVE THIS SWEET EXISTENCE? NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! OH... ELIPSIS and GROUP A, B, C, D: COME THEN AND RAISE YOUR VOICES, SING OF THE MISTY MOUNTAINS. SING OF OUR/YOUR HOMELAND FAR AWAY WHERE THE WILD WINDS BLOW. SING THEN OF WAGON WHEELS OF RIVERS AND LAKES AND FOUNTAINS. RAISE UP THE BANNERS AND START THE SHOW. ELIPSIS: OH... OH... OH... ENJOY THE... 5 ELIPSIS and GROUP A, B, C, D: SHOW! HEY! ELIPSIS: Yes, friends, come tonight to the edge of the Black Woods and our show will delight and amaze you! You see, tonight, and tonight only, our gypsy carnival will be open to all of the citizens of this village. Ah! The wonders that are in store for each person (catching their attention) brave enough to come into the forest tonight. ONLOOKER #1: Why? What’s wrong with the forest? ELIPSIS: (laughs knowingly) A monster lives there. (The CROWD reacts. Some scared, some in disbelief.) ELIPSIS: Our honored Gypsy Queen will tell you the story. GYPSY QUEEN: Well…I am not sure it will bring pleasant dreams. CROWD: Oh yes! Please! Tell us! Etc. GYPSY QUEEN: All right, huddle close together, and be prepared to be frightened! (All huddle in groups and prepare to hear the tale.) One dark and cold night, three children struggled to find their way through the enchanted forest. As they were about to give up all hope of ever being found again, they saw lights beaming from a castle on the hill. As they proceeded towards the castle, hoping to find shelter from the storm, they spotted, through the twisted branches, two enormous and spellbinding red eyes, beckoning them to their terrible fate! Then, the monster reached out and grabbed them! (The CROWD shudders in fear.) But that is enough. If I tell you more, you will all be too scared to come to our carnival tonight. CROWD: No we won’t! We’ll come tonight! Please, tell us more. Go on! I’m scared. More! Etc. GYPSY QUEEN: Very well, but don’t be frightened! The petrified children screamed in terror and begged the monster to let them go. The monster screamed back in rage, but before he could destroy them…(changing her tone) a brave Gypsy Prince scooped them up in his arms and carried them away to safety. (The CROWD, relieved, cheers and applauds.) 6 ELIPSIS: Now, friends, come tonight and we will display the magical and supernatural powers that we as gypsies possess. ONLOOKER #1: Gypsies are nothing but thieves and vagabonds! ONLOOKER #2: Yeah! Why don’t you take off that phony mask! ELIPSIS: I wear this mask because beneath it, I have no face. (The CROWD laughs at this nonsense.) CROWD: No! Ridiculous! Etc. ELIPIS: Would you like to see for yourselves? CROWD: Yes! Show us! (As the CROWD buzzes with anticipation, ELIPSIS grandly turns to them with his back to the audience and majestically lifts his mask. As he does, the CROWD falls silent, some faint.) ELIPSIS: I assume I’ve silenced any doubts. ONLOOKER #1: (now a believer) Show us a trick! ELIPSIS: (appeasing them) Very well. Our Queen will tell the fortune of one lucky person. And that person is… (ELIPSIS points around the crowd. People in the crowd raise their hands, desperately wanting to be picked.