Synopsis
Adaptation and Book by: Jan Lindvik
Based upon the Grimm’s fairy tale and Charles Perrault’s
Version of the story
Music by: Michael DeMaio
Lyrics by: Michael DeMaio
Additional Lyrics by: Jan Lindvik
Act I
The time is long ago and the place is far away.
Scene One: The first light of dawn illuminates a small, picturesque medieval village square. A Minstrel enters with his lute. He is followed by a colorful circus wagon that is being pulled by four Jugglers/Circus Performers. With some amusing
antics, the first Juggler attempts to entice some curious onlookers to come to the “fantabulous and stupendous” show later that day.
Another Juggler annoys the Minstrel, who is trying to supervise the preparations for the show. The Juggler wants to hear “the story” that the Minstrel promised to tell them when they finally reached this village. The Minstrel agrees to tell
the story, but only after the show is set up. The Jugglers/Circus Performers swarm over the wagon and get it ready immediately.
The Minstrel begins the story:
“…Once upon a time, the king of this kingdom who’s name is King Hannibald and his lovely wife, Queen Silkenshade were quite sad. For they did not have any heirs to the thrown. No children. But, believe it or not, there were many who claimed to be next
in line for the thrown: Evil doers to be sure. Anyway: For many years the king and queen longed for a baby. An official heir to the thrown. But, these things take time and patience…”
The Lord Chamberlain enters with three soldiers. He reads an announcement that a baby girl, Princess Aurelia, has been born to the King and Queen. And that the guest list for the official baptism celebration will be posted “on yonder pole”.
The Villagers are overjoyed at the news (“One Kingdom, One Child”).
The celebration is violently interrupted by the entrance of the Wicked Fairy and her entourage of four gargoyle-like figures. The Wicked Fairy is gracefully statuesque and clothed in black, dark blue and purple. She wears a large bonnet that
resembles giant horns. Her long flowing hair is a shining jet black and an evil glow gleams from her ice-blue eyes. She has a sinister, seductive beauty about her. Upon seeing that her name is not on the guest list, The Wicked Fairy becomes enraged
and vows revenge to the entire kingdom.
(“Kingdom of Evil”).
Scene Two: The great hall of the castle on the day of the royal baptism. Revelers and guests enter the great hall (“Processional”). As they enter, King Hannibald and Queen Silkenshade are bickering about the party preparations (“I’m the King”).
Coming to give his congratulations, is King Allejandro, the king of a neighboring kingdom, and his young son Prince Allejandro. A marriage between the Prince Allejandro and the Princess Aurelia has been arranged. The three
Good Fairies, Camelia, Mynthe and Rosalinde enter the festivities. They offer their gifts of Wisdom, Beauty and Cleverness to the Princess Aurelia (“All Good Wishes”). Suddenly the Wicked Fairy and her Gargoyles appear. She has come to take her
revenge (“The Gift of Evil”). The Wicked Fairy places a spell on the baby girl that on her sixteenth birthday she will prick her finger on a spinning wheel and die. The Prince Allejandro tries to stop the Wicked Fairy. He is then swept away by
the Wicked Fairy as she disappears in a cloud of red smoke.
The Good Fairy Camelia, believing that the Princess will not die, attempts to console everyone (“From True Love’s Kiss”). When the King refuses her help, the Good Fairies cast a spell and sweep the baby Princess Aurelia away. They will hide her in
the forest where the Wicked Fairy will not find her.
Scene Three: The Good Fairies escape from the castle with the baby Princess Aurelia.
Scene Four: The Village Square. The mood is dark and solemn. Soldiers are searching in windows and kiosks for spinning wheels. The King has decreed that all the spinning wheels in the kingdom be burned. The Minstrel sings: (“The Years Pass By”).
Scene Five: The forest several years later. The teenage Princess Aurelia laments over her bland life in the forest “(My Life”). The Good Fairies, now posing Princess Aurelia’s “Aunties” enter and scold Aurelia for always running off into the dangerous forest. They cannot have this, as they must be always looking after her safety. Aurelia insists that there is not any danger in the forest and darts off. The “Aunties”, panting and frustrated, run after her.
Scene Six: The Wicked Fairies castle. The Wicked Fairy has turned the Prince Allejandro into a raven so that she could send him to fly over the kingdom and search for the Princess (“Fly, Fly, Fly”).
Scene Seven: The forest. Princess Aurelia is sauntering through the forest picking flowers. Suddenly, the Raven Boy, who has been flying about in search of the Princess, falls at her feet from a tree. The Princess accuses him of spying on her. The Raven Boy begs her forgiveness and is mesmerized by her beauty. He tells her that he is just out for an “evening stroll”. The Raven Boy tells Aurelia how beautiful she is and that where he lives there is no beauty at all. Aurelia suggests that he move to the forest. He cannot move to the forest and is unable to explain why. The Princess tells him that she is very excited that it is her sixteenth birthday tomorrow and that there is to be a wonderful party. The Raven Boy asks if he may attend the party. Aurelia excitedly agrees. She then realizes that her “Aunties” would not allow her to bring a stranger home. It is too dangerous. She becomes very sad because she now has become attracted to the young, handsome Raven Boy (“My Life, Your Life”). The Raven Boy begs to see her again. Aurelia tells him that she would like to see him again and that he may find her here in the forest any time. She darts off. The pastoral scene is interrupted by the booming voice of the Wicked Fairy. The voice seems to be coming from everywhere. She orders him back the castle immediately.
Scene Eight: The Wicked Fairy’s castle. The Wicked Fairy wants to know from the Raven Boy what he had found. He says that he has found nothing. The Wicked Fairy knows that he is lying and threatens to turn him into a raven forever if he does not tell her the truth. Becoming frightened, he tells the Wicked Fairy that he has met a young girl named Aurelia who lives in the forest with her three “Aunties”. The Wicked Fairy, not being taken in by the ploy, immediately surmises that the Princess is being hidden by the Good Fairies posing as her Aunties. She and the Gargoyles vow to carry out the evil spell. The Raven Boy realizes that he must try and save Aurelia (“My Life” reprise).
ACT II
Scene One: The forest. The three “Aunties” are attempting to bake a birthday cake for Aurelia’s party (“The Birthday Cake”). The Wicked Fairy’s voice booms in the forest. It tells the “Aunties that they have been found out, and that the
spell will proceed. The “Aunties” run off.
Scene Two: The great hall of the castle of King Hannibald and Queen Silkenshade. The castle is dark and run down. The “Aunties” enter with Aurelia. They have decided that the Wicked Fairy would never think to look for them there. The “Aunties” are angry with Aurelia when she tells them that she has told someone about the party. A guard in a rusty suit of armor stops them and tells them to leave. Aurelia slips away on her own. She is tired of being constantly looked after (“I Can’t Take No More”). Aurelia hears the voice of the Raven Boy singing. The Raven Boy, placed in a trance by the Wicked Fairy, leads Aurelia into a room where there is an old woman sitting at a large spinning wheel. It is the Wicked Fairy in disguise. Mesmerized by the sparkling wheel, Aurelia touches it and pricks her finger. She begins to fall asleep (“One Hundred Years’ Sleep”). During the song the “Aunties” reassure Aurelia that she will not die, she will simply go to sleep. Aurelia falls asleep on the large bed in the room.
Scene Three: The Village Square many years later. The Minstrel enters with his lute and the three Jugglers. They now have gray hair and long gray beards. The Minstrel sings of the sadness in the village (“Sadly the Years Pass”). The three Good Fairies (Aunties) enter. They are trying to find a solution to the evil spell. They know that the kiss of a Prince will break the spell, but there are “no princes available”. They have an idea that the Raven Boy could help (“How Stupid Can One Be?”)
Scene Four: The Wicked Fairy’s castle. The Raven Boy is preparing the chamber for a party that the Wicked Fairy is giving to celebrate her victory. At the window, in the shadows, appear the Good Fairies/ Aunties. They tell the Raven Boy that they have a plan to help Aurelia and that they need his help. They will disguise themselves as party guests and the Raven Boy will let them in. They will then cast there own spell on the Wicked Fairy and turn the Raven Boy back into the Prince. He will then kiss the Princess and break the evil spell.
Scene Five: The castle. The castle is now completely engulfed by the thorn hedge. The Raven Boy Prince wants help from the Good Fairies on how to go about saving Aurelia. They tell him that he and he alone must do it. Suddenly the Wicked Fairy appears with the Gargoyles. She tries to foil the rescue, but the Raven Boy Prince exclaims that his love for Aurelia will give him the strength he needs (“Love and Evil”). The Wicked Fairy is driven off by the Raven Boy Prince’s newly found strength.
Scene Six: The Raven Boy Prince kisses Aurelia and releases her from the evil spell (“The Awakening”).
Scene Seven: The Village Square. The square is bright and beautiful. The villagers revel in the marriage of the Prince Allejandro and the Princess Aurelia. And everyone lives happily ever after.