Scene I Sunday 27th Frost. The Proscenian side
of the portal to Calenture, early afternoon. Already present Border
Guards.
Enter All the Party with King Arturo, and
Courtiers, Servants, and Guards.
Serendipity explains to the border guards that King Arturo is actually
a dashing hero who is sneaking to the palace to rescue the princess
(who is disguised as a princess) and thwart the dastardly plans of the
tyrant who is disguised as the king. Arturo further distracts the
guards. The group wanders through town and into the country.
Braegon and Pent appear to believe that the rest of the party has gone
mad, and wonder if perhaps Dom Daniel has affected their companions in
some dire fashion, but after much persuading and arguments they agree
to follow the lead of those who have escaped Dom Daniel. Seren
and Amelia are disguised as servants (by the simple expedient of
wearing servants hats) leave for the palace bearing a message for the
princess.
[Exit Seren and Amelia]
To give them time to deliver their message the remainder of the party
accompany "our hero" on his quest. He overcomes a skeleton, a great
pit, an area of slowness, and a wall of thorns (all thoughtfully
provided by the party). Having whiled away some time we return to town,
gathering some guards and take a portal to the palace.
[Exeunt Omnes]
Scene II Sunday 27th Frost. The Palace,
Proscenia, late afternoon. Enter downstage left Braegon,
Roke, Dawn, Mortimer and
Pent, with King Arturo, and Guards. Enter upstage left Serendipity
and Amelia.
The groups meet up and enter the throne room. Enter downstage right Antelone
and Lackeys. Enter upstage right Princess and Ladys-in-waiting.
Amelia locks the door. Our hero kisses the princess and realises
that she is his daughter. Guards and lackeys fight. Braegon uses a wall
of stone to keep guards and lackeys away from Arturo and Antelone. They fight with
sword and scepter respectively, and sing a stirring duet as they
battle. Although Arturo is our hero and fights with right on his side
the evil tyrant appears to be winning. With sudden inspiration Mortimer
casts a great curse upon Antelone, causing his range to drop to a
baritone, and almost immediately Arturo runs him through. Antelone
sings a death aria and expires after only a single encore. King
Arturo knights some chairs, and Il Capitano reappears leading
Artistic Enforcers who set to rounding up other Artistic Enforcers.
[Curtain falls]
(Staging note: should the producer wish for an appropriate, theatrical,
but harmless curse -- to use in place of the real thing -- Mortimer
offers the following verse: "Usurper
you are, and Tyrant you be, a Villain's baritone voice for thee!").
Encore W'nsday 30th Frost. The Palace,
Proscenia, mid-morning. Already present The Party,
King Arturo, Arlechinno, Brighella, Il Capitano, Zanni, other named
actors, Proscenian Courtiers, Servants and Guards.
A royal court is held. The chancellor declares that the "coup was
unsuccessful", indicating that the last year did not occur. Servants
are rewarded. Changes to the court are announced; there are to be less
statues and more people. As there has been no coup, and hence
nothing for the party to do, we "guests" are given friendship rings:
silver rings with mime symbols and the royal seal, which are worth
about what one might expect, and are told that we are being sent, or
perhaps deported to the south coast.
[Curtain falls]
Epilogue
And thus good gentles our tale is
told,
Of villains vile and venturers bold.
We trust eight acts they did not bore,
Though from the rear we heard a snore.
We'd rather hoped your attention to hold,
But either way the seat was sold,
And for those who'd chance Proscenian shores,
We pray this tale did give you pause.
The Mummer's art's no harmless game,
Though nor perhaps a cause for shame,
But to those who'd wear motley in civilized lands,
Please do it in private and then wash your hands.
So greet all the mimes with a smile or a frown,
But run for your lives when they send in the clowns.
End Note: Il Capitano was less
than gracious and withheld a goodly portion of our reward, some of
which was made up by Columbina. At midnight on the 30th we were
deported and arrived home in the main square of Seagate.