An original musical by Richard Lamming and John Bessant
The
Rude Mechanicals is a brand new musical comedy based upon William Shakespeare's
magical play A Midsummer Night's Dream (1596).
The
focus is on the antics of the six artisans who combine their theatrical
abilities and efforts to form the amateur dramatics group that the mercurial
fairy, Puck, calls 'Rude Mechanicals.'
The
show includes all of Shakespeare's lines for the six characters and some of
those for several others, including the mortal Duke Theseus and Queen
Hippolyta, and the Fairy King and Queen, Oberon and Titania.
Further,
new, dialogue is added, in the style of Shakespeare, to help the reduced storyline to make sense. The two sides of
the nature Oberon's famous sidekick are assigned to two characters: Puck and
Robin Goodfellow (the latter being the 'audience's friend').
The
nobles at Theseus court form a chorus (4-8, plus the master of revels,
Philostrate) with opportunities for dancing as well as singing. Later, the
chorus reappears as woodland fairy folk. It is possible to include further
fairies, perhaps with some interpretative dance.
The
songs range from rock to classical, from reggae to rumba.
All
music is entirely original and scored either for a piano or (up to) a seven piece band.
The
show requires twelve singing principals and a chorus of between four and eight.
As
with all Shakespeare, the genders of actor and characters may be varied to suit
preferences and accommodate practicalities.
