Musical Theatre by Victor Davies
For all Musical Theatre works below contact us to obtain performance rights.
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BEOWULF (A musical epic) (1974) about 120’
A rock opera in two acts. Libretto by Betty Jane Wylie based on the original Anglo Saxon poem.
Originally done as a three LP set, now a 2 CD set. See: Beowulf
Produced off Broadway by AMAS Repertory Theater, New York, 1977, Voight Kempson – director/choreographer.
CAST
Beowulf, King Hrothgar, Queen Wealtheow, Grendel, The Poet, Wiglaf, Wulfgar, Unferth, The Coast Guard, Grendal’s Mother (Dancer - non singing), narration group of 4 rock singers (SATB), chorus (SATB) Beowulf’s men, Danish warriors, and members of Hrothgar’s court.
SYNOPSIS
HROTHGAR, King of the Danes, is in despair at the bloody attacks on his hall and people by the monster GRENDEL, which have destroyed his power. Having heard of the king’s trouble, BEOWULF, with a small band of men, comes from Geatland to help. Hrothgar welcomes the young man, hoping his reputed strength will be enough to conquer the fiend. After a feast, Beowulf awaits the monster in the hall.
Grendel kills one of Beowulf’s men but finds himself in mortal combat with our hero. Beowulf succeeds in ripping off Grendel’s arm and the monster creeps away to die. The Danes return to the hall to celebrate the hero’s victory, but the next night GRENDEL’s MOTHER comes to avenge her son, kills one man, and takes away Grendel’s arm. The king laments Wulfgar’s death and Beowulf assures the king of his continuing support. He follows the monster’s trail to the lake where, after an underwater fight, he cuts off her head with a giant’s sword and returns with his men to celebrate another victory. Then Beowulf takes his leave, including from the Queen, who would have had him stay.
Beowulf returns home and becomes king in his own land. After fifty years of peace, a DRAGON lays waste to the countryside and Beowulf, an old man now, prepares to do battle. He is valiant, but old. WIGLAF rushes to help him kill the dragon--too late. Beowulf bids farewell and dies. Wiglaf honours his dead king and orders the men to carry the body to a funeral pyre. The Poet sings of The Beginning, acknowledging the full, inexorable circle of life and death.
NOTES
The adventures of Beowulf ring as true with modern listeners as they did when minstrels told his tale 10 centuries ago. Courage, honor, loyalty to lord and comrade, and the firm resolve to do what is right in the face of life’s greatest challenges have never gone out of style. The original work was set in a sprung rhythm which offers a beat similar to that of rock music. And the images called kennings, descriptions of people and things in catch phrases, suggest the vitality of modern rap. Librettist Betty Jane Wylie has captured these effects in her translation and adaptation of the first poem ever set down in English. The dramatic tale involving mythic characters like Beowulf, the monster Grendel, Hrothgar, King of the Danes, and his Queen, and even a Dragon, appeals to an eternally young audience, but the moral and ethical sub text elicits reactions from today’s generation forced to accept responsibility for its behaviour and a reassessment of its values in a century which, though far removed in time, still faces the same moral dilemmas.
Visualize a dark stage on which appears a wagon of travelling players swirling through the mists of time to tell us a story of adventure, combat and endurance. Though music, song and dance they bring to life the great hall of King Hrothgar, the dark swamp of the monster, the Dragon’s lair and the shining courage of the heroes - all tumbling from this spellbinding wagon. At the end, the players pack up and continue on their way to another place and time, to create Beowulf again, as storytellers over the centuries have done each night in a new great hall for a new audience.
Instrumentation: 1111/4330/timp/1 perc/ drums/pno=synth/guitars (el. & acoustic)/electric bass/strings.
(Also small band arrangement available) (Call/write re scores and parts)
Listen To The Story Of By Gone Glory I Sing The Song Of Beginning
EARNEST, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING (2008) 120’
A full length operetta in two acts based on the play The Importance Of Being Ernest by Oscar Wilde.
Libretto: Eugene Benson.
For more information see Opera.
ESPECIALLY BABE (2010) 120’
This work is currently in preparation.
GO FOR GOLD (a mini musical about sport from the Pan Am Games Opening Ceremonies) (1999) 10’
A musical theatre tribute to the athletes
I’m Gonna Be A Champion Too – (Musical/Theatre - aspiring to stardom)
I’m The King Of Confusion – (Rhythm/Blues- Tongue in cheek about why we never succeed!)
Can't Give In – (Pop/Light Rock - overcoming fears)
Reach Out Go For Gold - (Pop Rock - a rallying cry to triumph in the face of adversity)
Piano rehearsal score. (orchestra parts - rental)
On the CD Music of the Pan American Games
THE CURSE OF PONSONBY HALL (1979) about 60’
Script: Victor Davies and Victor Cowie. Music and lyrics: Victor Davies.
CTV (CKY) 1 hr network special, Kim Johnston, producer/director.
Winner of a Golden Sheaf Award, Saskatoon Film Festival.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
CAST
Sir Rothermere de Ponsonby, Bertram (a minstrel), Olaf (servant to Sir Rothemere) Lady Gwendolen (the princess), Greenwart (The Dragon), 2 Children (Andrew and Katie), Grandfather Fidgit (narrator), Mrs. Quirk, and chorus of children or children and adults.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.SYNOPSIS
In The Curse Of Ponsonby Hall, the despot, Sir Rothermere de Ponsonby, at the death of the King has taken control of the kingdom, locked the Princess in a tower, and enslaved the subjects. But the kingdom has been cursed by some magic power at the death of the king. Sir Rothermere can’t find the cause of the curse and the magic powers needed to lift it. He frantically searches the books of the royal library with the help of Olaf, but fails to find the answer. As the curse takes effect the castle begins to disintegrate and other unforeseen things begin to happen. Guarded by a dragon, reputed to be fierce, in fact, Lady Gwendolen (the princess) roasts marshmallows on Greenwort’s fiery breath. Then Sir Rothermere discovers that he must marry Lady Gwendolen to lift the curse. There seems to be no escape for her, until a handsome wandering minstrel appears to rescue her, resolves the curse on the kingdom, and wins freedom for all, with hilarious results.
Numbers:
The Master Of The Greatest Hall
The Dragon, The Dragon, Stay Far Away From The Dragon
Virtue Is My Virtue
Hope Is
I’ve Got Magic Powers
Cheer For The Dragon, The Cheerful, Cheerful Dragon
FinaleScript for sale, piano vocal score for sale. (Can be done with piano or small orchestra)
Orchestra score and parts rental (flute=picc/trumpet/trombone/piano/bass/drums)
THE MAGIC TRUMPET (1969) about 60’
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Script: Victor Davies and Victor Cowie.
Music and lyrics: Victor Davies.
Premiere: 1969 at The Manitoba Theatre Centre, Roberta Dolby, director.
CTV (CKY) network special 1975, Eugene Packwood, producer/director.
Performances: Georgian Bay Theatre Festival (1997); Young People’s Theatre Toronto (1970); Kitchener-Waterloo Community Theatre; Bastion Theatre, Victoria B.C.; Young Peoples Theatre of Virginia; and Children’s Theatre Place, New York.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
CAST
Magic Maestro The Magnificent (the magician), Simon Small, Ellie (The Elephant), Ted (Bear), Terry (Tiger), Mrs. Mean (doubles The Talking Tree), Mayor Mumble (the Mayor of Grindstone) (optional chorus of additional children)
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.SYNOPSIS
In The Magic Trumpet the children of Grindstone become disenchanted with their boring lives during their summer holidays. But when lured to the Forbidden Forest, on the promise of being turned into wild animals to be in the circus of the magician, Magic Maestro the Magnificent, things go awry. All is made right when Simon Small rescues them by confronting the evil magician and blowing The Magic Trumpet found in the Talking Tree.
Numbers:
Hooray, Hooray, It’s Holiday, Holiday Time
The Circus, The Circus, The Circus Is In Town
I Like All The Animals It’s True
Honey and Peanut Butter (The Food Song)
It’s Fun To Be In The Circus
I’m A Talking Tree Here In The Forest
FinaleScript for sale - Turnstone Press; piano vocal score for sale. (Can be done with piano or small orchestra)
Orchestra score and parts rental (flute=picc/trumpet/trombone/piano/bass/drums)“Magic Trumpet” Dazzles…With a lively musical introduction..”The Magic Trumpet” captured every child’s interest from the beginning….the children were attentive throughout the performance. Songs … delighted the youngsters (and adults)…….Sure to please any child under 10 years of age”. Cathy Carlyle – Winnipeg Tribune.
THE MUSICAL CIRCUS (1981) 12-14’
A musical theatre entertainment for soprano, dancers, musician/actors as animals: violin (snake); viola (monkey); cello (elephant); guitar (peacock); horn (lion); percussion (bear); accordion (zebra); and harp. The musicians/animals stage a revolt against the ringmaster (conductor) (the soprano) but are charmed into submission by the mechanical harp.
Difficulty: university, professional.
Commissioned by Sound Stage Canada for the Zagreb Biennial, Lewis Lehman, director.
Performed in Toronto and on tour in Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Rumania and Austria
Rhombus Media CBC TV special.
Musicians play off score – rental.
“...it was a rarity, a contemporary piece with tunes one could whistle...entertainment for children of all ages...”
John Kragland - The Globe & Mail
REGINALD THE ROBOT (1971) about 60’
Script: Victor Davies and Victor Cowie. Music and lyrics: Victor Davies.
Premiere: 1971 Manitoba Theatre Centre, Tibor Feheregyhazi - director.
CTV (CKY) 1 hour network special - Gene Packwood – producer/director.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
CAST
J Mugatroyd Sourdops, Muff, Reginald, Mrs.Moneymuch, 2 Children.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
Premiere: 1971 Manitoba Theatre Centre, Tibor Feheregyhazi - director.
CTV (CKY) 1 hour network special - Gene Packwood – producer/director.SYNOPSIS
Reginald the Robot is a story of technology gone bad. Reginald The Robot, is created by Sourdrops the evil candy store owner, as the perfect child, in his plan to replace horrible children. Things go wrong when Muff, Sourdrop’s incompetent helper, inserts a jelly bean into Reginald’s head at the moment of creation, rather than the final transistor. But all is made right when the children befriend Reginald and Muff solves Reginald’s craving for candy.
Numbers:
It’s Ultrasuper Happy Land
I’ve Always Hated Children
My Plan
I’m Fabulous
When We’re Drinking Orange Juice Under The Palm Trees
I’m Reginald The Robot
Eat, Eat, Eat, That’s All That He Can Do
FinaleScript for sale, piano rehearsal/vocal score for sale. (Can be done with piano or small orchestra)
Orchestra score and parts - rental (Violin/flute=picc/alto sax=clarinet /bass/drums/perc/piano)
PIRATES! (1994) about 60’
“A Swashbuckling Musical for Children of All Ages!”
Music and lyrics - Victor Davies and Janis Dunning.
Libretto - Janis Dunning & Victor Davies.
A lively show intended to inspire children to read.
Features singable songs for children of all ages. Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
Premiere: The Charlottetown Festival Young Company. Also, Canadian School For The Performing Arts, Victoria BC.
Suitable for an audience of children 4 and up and families.
CAST (Note doubling)
School: Three friends: Peter, Spike, Paddy. Children: Willomeana, Weezy, Sneezy, Bubblegum, Sockeye, Caroline, Bonney, Georgina, A Parrot, Miss Grumble (school teacher), Mr. Roberts (Librarian).
Storybook Land: Girl (one of Children), Black Bart the pirate (Mr Roberts), French Chef (one of Children), Poet (one of Children), Pirates: (Sockeye, Willomeana, Bonney), Princess (Miss Grumble).SYNOPSIS
The children are disenchanted with having to go to school and especially with reading. They would rather play outside pretending to be pirates. Their teacher Miss Grumble, tries to interest them in reading by reading them a pirate story. She asks them to use their imagination as Imagination (like a book) can take you anywhere. As she reads to them they are transported to Storybook Land, where they find that Black Bart, (based on an actual Nova Scotia pirate!) has stolen all the books. A girl who needs medical books to cure her sick mother, a chef who has no more cook books, and a poet, who laments that all the poems have been stolen, meet along the way to Black Bart’s castle going to try to get back their books. They band together to surmount the obstacles in their path, and attack the castle to retrieve all the books. They succeed in subduing Black Bart who admits, that although he knew books were a source of great power, he could not read, so they were of no use to him. He is overjoyed when the trio promise to teach him to read and all ends happily. Miss Grumble (now the Princess) again magically transports the children back to school, but with a renewed interest in reading.
Numbers:
Overture
I Don’t Want To Go To School Today
Peter’s Poem
Stories Of Gold
It’s All In A Book
I Can’t Get It Open
Imagination
Yo Ho Matey!
Somebody’s After My Treasure
The Windy Forest
Yum Yum Yummy!
Blub Blub Blub!
The Poet’s Lament
Incantation To The Birds
The Great Battle
What Ever Happened To Being A Pirate
Script, piano/vocal score and/or tape accompaniment available for performance on rental.
CD of the score - Pirates
“This musical is an exciting treasure trove, filled with lively dancing and wonderful music that stays in your head long after the show ends. …..a vivid and colourful story that will delight children and parents alike.” Kirstie McCallum – Confederation Herald
What a Great Day Stories of Gold
SEIZE THE FIRE (1976) about 120’
A dramatic work based on the writings of William Blake by Donald J. Unruh
Incorporates Blake’s Songs of Innocence and Experience and sections of the prophetic books.
Includes songs for chorus unison and two parts, with dances and interludes for piano, or chamber orchestra.
Premiere: Winnipeg Cubiculo Theatre Lab 1976. Kay Unruh – director.
CAST
SYNOPSIS
Jerusalem
Echoing Green
Children of a Future Age
The Land of Dreams (Awake, Awake)
A Divine Image (Cruelty)
Tyger Tyger
London (Chimney Sweeps)
Hear The Voice Of The Bard
The Morning Comes
I Saw A Chapel All Of Gold
The Poison TreeInstrumentation: 1220/0100/percussion/piano/cello.
Script and piano vocal score for sale.
Orchestra score and parts for rent.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
A full length musical in two acts with libretto by Eugene Benson
A brilliant adaptation of this classic Charles Dickens novel by Benson.
A tale of romance and intrigue, with a tragic ending of self sacrice for love.
Full of powerful melodies, and memorable lyrics.
(In preparation) (Inquire about its progress)
THEATRE SONGS
Victor Davies has written over 600 solo songs for the children’s CTV television series Let’s Go! and The Rockets in a wide variety of popular styles. Because they were composed to be acted and danced, most are theatre songs.
Golden Toad Music is arranging many of these for publication.
We also have a variety of songs written for revues and other musicals not listed. Please inquire.