Innovate Compel Collaborate Entertain Have a great time doing it!
MORALITY PLAY the Musical
Synopsis
It's winter in 14th century England when a starving troupe of actors enters a village where a murder has happened. No one is interested in seeing a morality play, so the troupe invents a new kind of play. In the process of creating it, they solve the murder. MORALITY PLAY features a deaf woman in a lead role. Play this video for more info.
Cast
Nicholas Barber: 20+, male, itinerant priest, Tenor
Martin Bell: 20+ male, leader of troupe, Baritenor
Margaret Cornwall 20+ female, part of troupe, Mezzo
Thorne 30+ male, member of troupe, Bass
Straw 20+ closeted male, member of troupe,Tenor
Springer 20+ non-binary, plays female roles, member of troupe, Tenor
Mistress Peachfield 40+ female, innkeeper, Alto
Jane Lambert 18+ female, accused deaf woman ASL*
Roles Available for Doubling:
Lord Richard De Guise /Townsman 40+ male, Baritone
William De Guise/ Flint 20+ male, Bass
Simon Damien/Townsman 30+ male, Baritenor
Justice/Priest/Townsman 30+ male, Tenor
Jailer/John Lambert 40+ male, Baritone
Nun/Gossip/Townswoman 30+ female, Alto
Priest’s Housekeeper/Kitchen Maid: 20+ female, Mezzo
Mother of Thomas Wells/Townswoman: 40+ female, Soprano
*It is suggested an ASL interpreter singing Soprano be cast
See Production Notes Below
Listen to Music from MORALITY PLAY
Lyrics by Janet Burroway, music by Curtis Edwin Powell
TOTAL UP Sung by the townsfolk
WE CANT PLAY DEAD & REPRISE Sung by the starving troupe of actors
PALE THE MOON A defrocked priest auditions for the troupe
MAKE BELIEVE Troupe teaches the priest acting
MARGARETS SONG Meets a man who might be her match
JANE'S DEFIANCE Signed by the deaf woman accused of murder, sung by an ASL Interpreter
I DARE NOT Two actors sing of forbidden love
I AM PRIDE Martin, troupe leader, unmasks the powerful
Production Notes
MORALITY PLAY received a staged reading at Athenaeum Theatre early in development. A singing ASL interpreter is recommended as part of the cast. Pit instruments are flexible, either including early instruments (lute, recorder, harp, tambor) or accomplishing those through synthesizer and percussion. A fully orchestrated soundtrack is also available blending period instruments with modern. The cast members in doubling roles sing choral parts throughout the show, including one that's sung in Old/Middle English similar to the time of Chaucer.