Hey this is a musical I'm writing based on the Hans Christian Anderson story "The Swineherd"
At the moment I just want to finish a rough draft and any feedback is welcome. I'm also looking for something a little more interesting to call it.
So this is the prologue and scene one. I copied and pasted from a word document so it's not set out here exactly as it is on the word document, but you get the idea. Thanks and enjoy!
The Princess and the Swineherd
Cast
Prince Henry
Princess Rosalind
Lady Amelia – Rosalind’s lady in waiting
Lady Margaret – another lady in waiting
Lord James
Princess Evangeline – Henry’s sister
Rosalind’s ladies in waiting:
Lady Mary
Lady Jane
Lady Anne
Lady Gwen
John – Henry’s only servant
Howard – Swineherd
King Horatio – Rosalind’s father
Guards
Peasants
Servants
PROLOGUE
#1 Once Upon a Time
MARY
ONCE UPON A TIME
THERE LIVED A KING AND QUEEN
ANNE
THEY WERE SO IN LOVE
THE HAPPIEST YOU’VE EVER SEEN
JANE
BUT THEY HAD NOTHING
THEY WERE AS POOR AS CAN BE
GWEN
THEY DIDN’T SEE
THE NEED FOR MONEY
MARY
BUT THEN ONE DAY, THE QUEEN PASSED AWAY
AND IT RIPPED THE KING APART
ANNE
HE WAS LEFT ALL ALONE
DYING OF A BROKEN HEART
JANE
AS HE LAY ON HIS DEATH BED
HE TOLD HIS HEIR
GWEN
SON, ALWAYS TRY
NOT TO CARE
ALL
DON’T FALL IN LOVE
TAKE MY ADVICE
BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN LIFE
COMES WITH A PRICE
HEED MY WORDS
IT’S NOT WORTH THE PAIN
PLEASE DON’T LET ME
DIE IN VAIN
MARY
AND WITH THOSE LAST WORDS
ANNE
HE LEFT HIS DAUGHTER AND SON
JANE
THE HEAD OF A KINGDOM
GWEN
THEY HAD TO RUN
ALL
A KINGDOM WITH NOTHING
A KINGDOM WHICH
IT WAS THE PRINCE’S DUTY
TO MAKE IT RICH
A KINGDOM YOU WILL SEE
THE FATE OF
IF WE MOVE ON
FIVE YEARS LATER
SCENE ONE: CEMETERY/VILLAGE
(Henry is kneeling at his father’s grave, which has a rose plant growing on it with a single rose in bloom.)
EVANGELINE
(enters SR, runs up behind Henry)
Henry!
(She throws her arms around Henry, he doesn’t move)
What are you doing?
(She drops her arms as he stands up and turns to face her, John enters SR)
HENRY
Evangeline, today is a very important day. Do you see this rose? It only blooms once every 5 years. I planted it the day our father died and this is the first time it has flowered since.
(Henry picks the flower)
EVANGELINE
(shocked)
What are you doing?
HENRY
This is for the princess.
EVANGELINE
What princess?
HENRY
A very rich princess. Princess Rosalind.
EVANGELINE
Why are you giving her our father’s rose?
Marry For Money
HENRY
THERE COMES A TIME
IN EVERY MAN’S LIFE
WHERE HE HAS TO MAKE A DECISION
AND HERE I GO
BECAUSE NOW I KNOW
I MUST FOLLOW MY FATHER’S ADVICE
BEFORE HE DIED
HE SAID TO ME, SON
DON’T MARRY FOR LOVE
MARRY FOR MONEY
HE SAID DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES I DID
‘CAUSE ALTHOUGH RIGHT NOW, LIFE’S PRETTY SUNNY
YOU CAN’T DO A THING IN THIS WORLD
WITHOUT MONEY
SO NOW I MUST FIND A RICH BRIDE
‘CAUSE I’M TAKING MY FATHER’S ADVICE
John, saddle up the horses! I’ll just get my things and then I’ll be on my way!
JOHN
My Lord, don’t you remember, you sold the horses last week because you couldn’t afford to feed them.
HENRY
Oh right. Well, I suppose I’ll just have to walk then.
(All three exit SR, grave is removed, peasants enter)
FEMALE PEASANTS
IF ONLY WE HAD A LITTLE MONEY
WHAT WE COULD DO WITH OUR LIVES
MALE PEASANTS
WE WORK SO HARD AND WE GET SO LITTLE
WE BARELY EVEN GET BY
BEGGAR
SPARE A COIN FOR THE NEEDY?
I DREAM OF A LIFE SO GRAND
OLD WOMAN
OH HOW MY LIFE COULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT
I’D HAVE MARRIED FOR MONEY IF I’D HAD THE CHANCE
PEASANTS
DON’T YOU HEAR WHAT PEOPLE SAY?
NO YOU CANNOT LIVE A DAY
WITHOUT MONEY
(Henry, John and Evangeline re-enter)
OLD WOMAN
(Curtseying to Henry)
Your highness –
HENRY
Please, call me Henry.
OLD WOMAN
Yes, Prince Henry. I’m afraid I may not be able to pay my taxes this month. You see, my husband, he’s awful sick and can’t work.
HENRY
That’s fine, ma’am. Don’t worry about tax this month. Here’s some gold to get you through the month.
OLD WOMAN
I can’t thank you enough, your majesty.
(She wanders away)
HENRY
NOW I HEAR TELL OF A BEAUTIFUL PRINCESS
WHO LIVES BUT A KINGDOM FROM HERE
AND NOT ONLY IS SHE A BEAUTY
I HEAR SHE HAS GOLD UP TO HER EARS
SO I’LL MAKE THIS GIRL MY WIFE
BECAUSE, DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S NO LIFE
ALL
WITHOUT MONEY
(Peasants exit)
HENRY
So you see Eva, this rose is going to win the princess’s heart. I can’t afford jewels, but who could turn up their nose at such beauty?
EVANGELINE
Well, it is very beautiful, and I suppose it’s quite rare too…
HENRY
But?
EVANGELINE
If she is such a rich and beautiful princess, she probably gets millions of roses.
HENRY
But not roses like this!
EVANGELINE
No, but still I think you need to give her something else as well. Something utterly unique!
HENRY
I suppose you would know. So what do you suggest?
EVANGELINE
EVERY MORNING I AWAKE TO THE SOUND
OF A NIGHTINGALE’S BEAUTIFUL SONG
IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SUNRISE AND RAINBOWS AND SPRING
AND I SWEAR IT NEVER HITS A NOTE WRONG
HENRY
It sounds lovely my dear, but that would involve having to catch the bird and find a cage to put it in.
EVANGELINE
(She looks at John and then at Henry a little sheepishly)
Well… don’t get mad but… I already caught it. I’ve been keeping it in my room in a cage John found me. But I told him not to tell you.
HENRY
John, you knew about this?
JOHN
Yes, my lord, sorry.
HENRY
Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you two! But really, what would I do without you? Eva, are you sure you don’t mind giving up this bird?
EVANGELINE
I don’t mind, it’s for a good cause!
JOHN
I’ll go and get it, my lord.
(He exits, peasants re-enter)
PEASANTS
IF ONLY WE HAD A LITTLE MONEY
OH HOW WE COULD CHANGE THE WORLD
WE’D HAVE CASTLES AND SERVANTS AND RICHES
WE’D ADORN OURSELVES WITH DIAMONDS AND PEARLS
WITH MONEY SURELY OUR CHILDREN
WOULD HAVE LIVES BETTER THAN WE
WE KNOW MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING
BUT OH IT WOULD MAKE LIFE SO EASY
(John re-enters with a bird in a birdcage)
HENRY
Thank-you, John. Take good care of Evangeline while I’m gone. There should be enough gold to pay you and Eva’s maid. Wish me luck!
EVANGELINE AND JOHN
Good luck!
(Evangeline hugs Henry and John shakes his hand)
PEASANTS, EVANGELINE AND JOHN
IF ONLY WE HAD A LITTLE MONEY
HENRY
MY FATHER SAID
PEASANTS, EVANGELINE AND JOHN
LIFE WOULD BE DIFFERENT I KNOW
HENRY
LIFE ISN’T FUNNY
PEASANTS, EVANGELINE AND JOHN
WE COULD DO WHATEVER WE WANTED
HENRY
IF YOU HAVE NOTHING
PEASANTS, EVANGELINE AND JOHN
LIFE WOULD BE JUST ONE BIG SHOW
HENRY
SO MARRY FOR MONEY
EVANGELINE AND JOHN
SO HE’LL MAKE THE PRINCESS HIS WIFE
ALL
BECAUSE DON’T YOU KNOW THERE’S NO LIFE
DON’T YOU HEAR WHAT PEOPLE SAY?
NO YOU CANNOT LIVE A DAY
NOW EVERYBODY SING
YOUR LIFE IS NOT WORTH A THING
WITHOUT MONEY
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Points: 940
Reviews: 44