Songs of a New Age

by Martin Coslett and David Lewis

Based on the Victorian Novel "Stephan Langton" by Martin Tupper of Albury, Surrey: The story of Stephen Langton, a 13th Century Hero, the Statesman who persuaded King John to sign the Magna Carta

Synopsis

The musical follows the life of Stephen Langton, who was Archbishop of Canterbury at the time of the Magna Carta. It begins with the battle of church versus state in a previous era - the murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket by the King's men.

Twenty years later, in a Surrey village the show traces the relationship between the young Stephen and Alice, his girlfriend. When Alice is brutally beaten by Prince John's men, Stephen believes her to be dead and vows revenge upon John and his tyrannical ways. He devotes himself to the church and flees to France. Alice recovers however, and is slowly brought back to health by nuns and similarly devotes herself to "God’s work".

Stephen, as an up and coming religious leader achieves "the ear" of the Pope, and with the help of powerful papal influence, totally against the wishes of King John and his "yes-men", eventually becomes Archbishop of Canterbury.

Despite many obstacles, Stephen returns to England and Alice. He reaffirms his vow to overthrow John and free England from his evil power.

With the help of the Barons a charter is prepared. This becomes the Magna Carta and is Stephen Langton's greatest achievement.

Casting - Total Cast 25+

Principals

STEPHEN LANGTON (Tenor) - a difficult and large part, demanding a good actor and singer required to show all levels of emotion. Needs to age from early twenties to an old man. Vocal Range:C to C (2 octaves)
ALICE (Mezzo- Soprano) - Stephen's love. A fairly straight part of medium size with four ballad type songs. Also needs to age. Vocal Range: G below middle C to E at top of treble clef.
PRINCE/KING JOHN (Baritone) - The "heavy" of the show required to be a nasty piece of work. Needs a loud, dominant but in the end sensitive performance.
POPE (Bass) - A dominating, angry but majestic character. Vocal Range:D below bass clef to D above.

Supporting Roles:

Fawkes de Breaute (John's man) (B/Baritone)
William Marshal (Baron ) (Baritone) - powerful old knight
John de Grey (Bishop) (Bass)
The Prior (B/Baritone)
The Nuns (4 or more) (Altos / Sopranos)
Abbess (Alto)
Soothsayer - The King's fool Peter De Pomfret (of Pontefract?) - devil's advocate (fortune teller/mad Jester - the polar opposite to the Prior)
Fontneuf - a French Herald (Baritone) -sings Letter from France)
The Serfs (3 + extra 'people') (Tenor/Bass/Soprano)
The Barons (3) (Tenors/Bass)
The Bishops/Monks (3) (Tenor / Bass) 2 comics - friends of the Prior with mixed loyalties.
John's Men (Baritone & Bass)
Peasants and People (Mixed voices)

Musical Numbers

ACT 1

Becket's death?
May Jig
Have you heard?
Men of Stone
Song of the New Age
John's Paranoia
Men of Stone pt 2
To be with you Stephen and Alice duet
Walk in the Forest/Attack
I'm Burning
The Vow
Sister,Sister
A Piece of the Cross
Monksgate
I've Forgotten how to Love (duet):
Monksgate
Prior and Stephen
Peel the Past Away
Vow 2
Silent Pool/Court Scene 1
What do they say about me? (John)
Have you heard? 2
Something Starts
Here is a man...
Who can rid me?
Flee to France (Have you heard? 2)
Letter from France
Court Scene 2/ Silent Pool/Court sc3
(John De Gray,What do you say?)
There's a feeling in my heart
The Man I Admire
Something Starts

ACT TWO

X Comm intro
Profit and Loss
Cat may look at a King-The Fool
X-Communication
I must be Strong-John
Meeting the people ( Silent Pool)
Nowhere to give a decent burial
In France (fast)-While you've been in exile
I Must Be Strong
You've Forgotten how to love(Nuns)
Prophet from Loss
(A Man of the Cross/Letter from France:OPTIONAL)
Prophet from Loss(with King John)
Let Him In!
Reprise: I Must be Strong
Cat may look at a King-The Fool
Stately Theme
The Country I Love/SONA
Stephen's Journey:
Charter of Words
- This Boy
- There for fortune..
- Charter of words
- March of the Barons
- King called Lackland
- Are you Crazy?
- If I could reach out and touch him
- Sign the Charter
Father,Father
(No I can't approve of this
Now you must admit you're Wrong John
Censored in no uncertain...
Sign the charter -inst)
Getting Closer (Trio-OPTIONAL)
(It's only a Job
There's no way...
You expect me to sign..)
Sign the Charter (Chorus)
Rap: I don't like these things/In every town
I'm not available/oh please listen
Let the people answer you now...
Sign the Charter
Give me a pen(John)
Richard knew just what to do
See the way the people move
Veni Sancte Spiritus
Man We Admire:
I never thought/I'd Forgotten/All of my love
Sing a New Song
Song of the New Age (Reprise)

List of Scenes for Song of the New Age(c1999)

AT LEAST 4 ADAPTABLE SCENES ARE NEEDED:

1.CHAPEL/CHURCH/CATHEDRAL/VATICAN
2.MARKET/VILLAGE
3.CASTLE
4.FIELD/SILENT POOL

ACT ONE

SCENE 1: MURDER IN THE CATHEDRAL

1a - Becket's death -In Silhouette

SCENE 2: THE MARKET PLACE

1b - Have you heard?
2. - Men of Stone - Prince John's men attack but are driven off by villagers surrounding Fawkes the leader(?)
3. Song of the New Age

SCENE 3 : PRINCE JOHN'S CASTLE

4. John's Paranoia/ Men of Stone pt 2

SCENE 4A: THE MARKET-FOREST PATH LEADING TO ST MARTHA'S CHURCH

5.- To be with you
6. - Attack
7a.- I'm Burning for you - Stephen sees Alice on the ground and carries her "body" to St Martha's church during instrumental-puts her on altar.

SCENE 4B INSIDE ST MARTHA'S

7b The Vow
8. Sister,Sister -Stephen leaves Alice when he sees the nuns arrive

SCENE 5:BISHOP'S MEETING PLACE

9. Piece of the cross - The Prior is the only one who is not persuaded that De Gray has the answer.

SCENE 6:-2 CHAPELS SPLIT STAGE-Stephen and Alice are ordained

10. I've Forgotten How to Love: Monksgate

SCENE 7: CHAPEL:PRIOR and STEPHEN

11b. Prior and Stephen / 11b Cat

SCENE 8: MARKET PLACE

12. Peel the Past Away a) Vow 2/

SCENE 9 (13) SILENT POOL/COURT SCENE (SPLIT)

SCENE 10: MARKET PLACE+JOHN'S CASTLE (time passing)

14. Have You Heard?(pt 2)
(b)Something Starts

SCENE 11:Clergy meeting place

15. Letter from France

SCENE 12:COURT SCENE 2 (BARON'S BANQUET)/BY THE SILENT POOL

16. Court Scene 2/The Silent Pool /Court Sc

SCENE 13:THE VATICAN and ENGLAND.

17. The Man I Admire
18. Something Starts (All characters and groups are seen)nbsp;

ACT TWO

SCENE 1: JOHN'S CASTLE

19. Profit and Loss

SCENE 2: SPLIT:The Vatican,ROME v JOHN'S CASTLE

20. X-Communication
21.I Must Be Strong/Cat

SCENE 3: THE HORRORS OF WAR (A & S) (at the SILENT POOL)

22. Meeting the people

SCENE 4: MARSHAL & STEPHEN IN FRANCE/Barons and people in England

23. In France

SCENE 5: ST CATHERINE'S NUNNERY (CHAPEL)

24. You've Forgotten how to love.

SCENE 6: BARON'S AND BISHOPS MEET (CASTLE)

25. Prophet from Loss

SCENE 7: AN ENGLISH FIELD (Dover)

26. The Country I Love

SCENE 8: STEPHEN'S JOURNEY

27.Stephen's Journey,Charter of Words etc }
28. March of the Barons
29. Father,father

SCENE 9: (30) Conference #1 (CASTLE)

SCENE 10: (31) Getting Closer (3 split)

SCENE 11: (32) Conference #2 - The squeeze (CASTLES)

SCENE 12: RUNNYMEDE FIELD

33.Magna carta
34.Give me a pen

SCENE 13:ST CATHERINE'S CHAPEL

35.Veni Sancte
36.The Man We Admire/I'd forgotten How to Love (People outside chanting Langton's name)

SCENE 14: RUNNYMEDE FIELD SONA/ANNOUNCING CHARTER

37.Sing a New Song/From Heaven
38.Song of the New Age (reprise) King John reads Charter - people rejoice.

For further information about this show, contact:

MartinCoslett@ukgateway.net
Agent:Kim Ferguson