Discordia

Music by Linda Eisenstein; book & lyrics co-written with James A. Levin.

  

A nation at war. Greedy barons pursue their interests, knights enforce Homeland Security, and mesmerized shoppers buy Grails for sale at the castle mall. Welcome to the Dark Ages!

In this musical comedy mixing Arthurian legend with contemporary satire, the innocent Percival is swept up in a world of action and adventure as he goes on his quest to become a knight and do good in a confusing world.

Torn between King Arthur's Court and the mysterious dissenter Morgan le Fay, Percival searches for the Holy Grail - to bring healing, abundance, and a lost sense of purpose back to his troubled land.

CAST: 4f, 6m (minimum); optional choir

ORCHESTRA: Piano/vocal score. Orchestrations for keyboard, guitar, drums, woodwinds, cello, banjo.

PRODUCTION HISTORY:

  • Winner, Individual Artist Fellowship in Playwriting, Ohio Arts Council
  • Commissioned by Cleveland Public Theatre
  • Cleveland Public Theatre, Oct-Nov 2003; reading, CPT, Jan., 2002; workshop production, May, 2002

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

PERCIVAL: A well-meaning innocent.
MORGAN LE FAY: A mysterious dissenter.

All others double (3f, 5m minimum):

HERALD: A camera-ready talking head/babe for BNN (Benevolent Nation News)
KBN KNIGHTS: Knights of the Benevolent Nation: Arthurian security forces & patriotism enforcers.
MOTHER: Overprotective & full of advice.
KING ARTHUR: A king obsessed with good and evil.
QUEEN GUENEVERE: His First Lady.
SIR KAY: Arthur's nasty, manipulative Chief of Staff.
SIRS LANCELOT & BORS: Round table knights, good-time frat boyz & legends in their own minds.
ALLISON: A good-hearted serving wench.
RED KNIGHT: A threatening invader.
BARONS: The real powers behind the throne; greedy conspirators.
MERLIN: Wizard & armaments contractor

WORTHY MAN: A mentor and media handler.
GRAIL CASTLE KING: A mystical wounded king (doubles Arthur).
SIR MALVERN: A debauched, disillusioned knight
MISS SNOWBERRY: A petty maid supervisor
MALL BARON: A petty manager (may double Mother)
HOMELESS GUY: (may double Arthur)

PEASANTS, DAMSELS, KNIGHTS, 12-STEP DENIZENS, MALL MERCHANTS, SHOPPERS, etc.

SYNOPSIS, SONGS, & PHOTOS  

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