ALADDIN Adaptation and lyrics by Jim Eiler; Music by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy SYNOPSIS Set in ancient China, this children's musical from the Prince Street Players uses artful Chinese theatre techniques to sing that favourite tale of the poor boy, the beautiful Princess and that very large genie in that very tiny lamp. STORY Act One The Stage Manager enters. Striking a gong, he introduces the production-a fable from the book "Arabian Nights." Produced in the style of Chinese Theatre, this "Aladdin" takes place in Ancient China. With the aid of two assistants, the Stage Manager will tell the story, change scenery, and even play a few parts! The tale begins… In the great capital city of China, Aladdin lived with his father, a poor tailor. Aladdin had come of age and his father wished for him to learn the family trade. Aladdin did not share his father's wishes nor did he heed to his authority. Due to grief over his son's independence and disobedience, Aladdin's father became very sick and subsequently passed. In spite of the loss, Aladdin only wanted to continue his own pursuits and fly his kite. With no one to take over, Aladdin's mother has had to sell the family tailor shop. While out flying his kite one day, the wind carries it over the wall guarding the gardens of the palace. Not wanting to part with his companion, Aladdin finds a break in the great wall and climbs in to retrieve his kite. At the same time, Princess Mei-Ling and her attendant enter the garden. Neither expecting to have an encounter, they are both very startled. Aladdin quickly explains why he is there, but Mei-Ling informs him that her father has palace trespassers beheaded! Still, Mei-Ling is taken by Aladdin's bravery and reveals she never gets to speak to anyone. Sensing her sadness, Aladdin volunteers to stay and talk. Just as Aladdin and Mei-Ling begin a conversation about the lovely morning, the Emperor enters. Aladdin bolts behind a tree. When her father questions who she was speaking to, Mei-Ling says only herself. She attempts to cover by saying she was pretending that a handsome suitor had asked for her hand in marriage. Hearing this, the Emperor decides it is time for his princess to marry! As he exits, he informs her he will find the richest suitor in China to bring them the most precious gifts. Aladdin returns to find a very sad Mei-Ling. She does not wish to marry any of these wealthy men-they are all old and unattractive. Aladdin asks the princess if she would marry him if he were rich and could provide her expensive gifts. When she says yes, he explains that he is poor and can only offer his precious kite. When Mei-Ling asks if she can keep it, Aladdin agrees and exits. Sure that Mei-Ling will never see a poor man like himself again, Aladdin decides to give up his idle ways and pursue becoming the richest man in China. As Aladdin finds himself financially stooped, a magician from the far away land of Arabia enters. The magician is secretly on a mission to capture the power of the universe. He must find a boy to use in his plan, so the magician finds out Aladdin's name from the Stage Manager. Pretending to be Aladdin's uncle, the magician fools Aladdin that he has come to visit his brother and only just now found out he is dead. Aladdin brings his faux uncle to meet his mother and see his brother's home. Bitterly, his mother explains to her "brother-in-law" that Aladdin does nothing to provide for the family in his father’s absence. Aladdin then tells them both that on this very day he has decided to become the richest man in China! Happy to hear his youthful eagerness, the magician tells Aladdin that he will take him on a short journey the next day and promises that he will return a rich man! The next day, Aladdin and his "uncle" journey far from the city. Walking through gardens, over bridges,
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