The Pirate Queen
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| The Pirate Queen | |
 |
|
| 2006 Chicago Logo for The Pirate Queen | |
|---|---|
| Music | Claude-Michel Schönberg |
| Lyrics | Alain Boublil and John Dempsey |
| Book | Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg and Richard Maltby, Jr. |
| Based upon | Grania: She-King of the Irish Seas, a novel by Morgan Llywelyn |
| Productions | 2006 Chicago production |
The Pirate Queen is a musical based on the life of the 16th century Irish chieftain, adventuress and pirate Grace O'Malley, who was one of the last Irish clan leaders to resist the English conquest of Gaelic Ireland. The musical is written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, best known for their adaptation of Les Misérables. John Dempsey is the co-lyricist.
The Pirate Queen debuted at Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre on October 3, 2006, and ran through November 26, 2006. A Broadway run is planned to begin in 2007. Previews begin at the Hilton Theatre on March 6, with opening night on April 5. Tony Award winner Frank Galati will direct. Moya Doherty and John McColgan, creators of Riverdance, will produce.
Towards the end of the Chicago run, Miss Saigon co-lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. was brought on-board to work with Boublil on revisions to the book and lyrics in preparation for the Broadway opening. Additionally, Graciela Daniele will work on the musical staging. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Cast
Principals:
| Stephanie J. Block | Grania (Grace O'Malley) |
| Linda Balgord | Queen Elizabeth I |
| Hadley Fraser | Tiernan |
| Marcus Chait | Donal |
| Jeff McCarthy | Dubhdara |
| William Youmans | Bingham |
| Chase Krepp | Eoin (on alternate performances) |
| Brooks Marks | Eoin (on alternate performances) |
Ensemble:
Nick Adams, Richard Todd Adams, Caitlin Allen, Sean Beglan, Timothy W. Bish, Jerad Bortz, Troy Edward Bowles, Grady McLeod Bowman, Rachel Bress, Don Brewer, Kimilee Bryant, Alexis Ann Carra, Áine Uí Cheallaigh, Noelle Curran, Bobbie-Ann Dunn, Brooke Elliott, Christopher Garbrecht, Eric Hatch, Cristin J. Hubbard, David Koch, Timothy Kochka, Jamie LaVerdiere, Joseph Mahowald, Tokiko Masuda, Padraic Moyles, Brian O'Brien, Kyle James O'Connor, Michael James Scott, Greg Stone, Katie E. Tomlinson, Daniel Torres, Jennifer Waiser, Briana Yacavone
[edit] Creative team
| Mark Dendy | Choreography |
| Eugene Lee | Set design |
| Martin Pakledinaz | Costume design |
| Kenneth Posner | Lighting design |
| Jonathan Deans | Sound design |
| Julian Kelly | Orchestration |
| Tara Rubin | Casting |
[edit] Miscellaneous
During rehearsals leading up to the Chicago production, and continuing through the Chicago closing, daily video clips including interviews with the cast, crew, creative team, and audience members were posted on the "Castcom" page of the official Pirate Queen site. [2]
The play was announced in Chicago on November 3, 2005. At that time, Playbill wrote that Colm Wilkinson was in talks about the project. [3] However, when principal casting was announced on May 12, 2006, Wilkinson was not among the announced cast. [4]
The Pirate Queen marks the first time Boublil and Schönberg have created a musical with American collaborators.
[edit] Plot
The following text is based partly on the official synopsis included as a playbill insert during Chicago production. Changes are expected before the 2007 Broadway opening.
[edit] Act 1
The musical opens in Clew Bay, on the launching of Clan O'Malley's newest vessel, captained by Chieftain Dubhdara O'Malley (All Aboard the Ceol Na Mara). At a time when women on a ship are considered to bring bad luck, hidden among the crew is Dubhdara's young daughter, Grania (My Grace). With the help of her childhood friend Tiernan, Grania disguises herself as a boy, and when disaster subsequently strikes on the high seas, she proves her mettle and earns her place as one of the ship's crew.
As they grow up Grania and Tiernan fall in love (Here on this Night) while being fully involved as Clan O'Malley goes about its business of pirating the seas, destroying many an English ship in the process (Battle at Sea). Grania becomes famous and feared as a proud defender of her country. In England, Queen Elizabeth I and her confidante, Lord Richard Bingham, weigh the news of this formidable woman. Elizabeth considers herself Queen of Ireland and will have no rival, least of all a woman! She orders Grace O'Malley destroyed (Rah-Rah, Tip-Top / Go Serve Your Queen).
Ireland finds itself in turmoil. As England's oppression grows, warring Irish clans are forced to unite. Although Grania is still in love with Tiernan, she is to be married to Donal O'Flaherty, heir to a powerful neighboring clan. Tiernan is heartbroken at the news. Grania, equally devastated, nevertheless accepts it as her duty and her father's unspoken wish (The Choice is Yours). She and Donal are married (The Wedding Ring), while Tiernan soliloquizes on his continuing love for Grania (I'll Be There).
Donal proves himself a womanizing, cowardly scoundrel (Boys'll Be Boys), and his marriage to Grania is a stormy affair (The Woman That I Am). Their union endures only out of Grania's everlasting respect for her father. Dubhdara is badly wounded by an English blade (Trouble at Rockfleet), and Grania, Donal, and the clan travel to see him (A Day Beyond Belclaire) before his death (Dubhdara's Farewell / Sail to the Stars).
[edit] Act 2
Amidst continued war with the English, Grania gives birth to a son, Eoin (Sons of the Irish Seas). Dubhdara's death and Grania's accession to Chieftain -- most probably the first and only woman in this position in Ireland -- change the rules of the game. Donal's cowardice in one crucial battle proves the breaking point for Grania. In the tradition of the Brehon Law, she "dismisses" him publicly, officially dissolving their marriage (I Dismiss You). Tiernan and Grania privately reflect on their feelings for each other (If I Said I Loved You). Emasculated and shamed, Donal colludes with Lord Bingham, betraying the Clan O'Malley and Ireland itself. Clew Bay is invaded. Grania is arrested. In the melee, Tiernan kills Donal and escapes with Eoin.
Grania is jailed. Tiernan, whose feelings for Grania have never changed, offers the English a trade -- his freedom for Grania's (Surrender/Each in Time). Elizabeth finds herself affected by this turn of events -- and reflects on her own life as a woman in power (She, Who Has All). To everyone's surprise she agrees to the terms. Grania is freed to care for her child, and Tiernan is imprisoned in her place. Reunited with her child, Grania's joy is tempered by the realization of how Ireland has changed during her imprisonment. The country has grown desolate, her lands are ravaged, her people are hungry, and injustice reigns (Lament).
Grania takes fate into her own hands (The Sea of Life) and returns to England to confront Queen Elizabeth. Granted an audience (The Queen Will See You Now), these two powerful women -- one reigning queen and another without a crown -- find themselves face to face (Woman to Woman), in a private conversation unheard by eager courtiers (Grania and Elizabeth in Private). The most unexpected truce is hammered out between them, freeing Clew Bay from the worst of English rule. Tiernan is granted his freedom and Lord Bingham falls into disgrace (Grania's Exit).
Grania and Tiernan find themselves reunited at last. Unencumbered now by war and previous alliances, they can finally pledge themselves to each other (May Long We Sail the Sea).
[edit] References
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Maltby and Daniele Will Swab The Pirate Queen’s Decks", Playbill, 2006-11-15. Retrieved on 2006-11-29.
- ^ "The Pirate Queen Castcom Goes Live September 12", BroadwayWorld.com, 2006-09-07. Retrieved on 2006-11-30.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Frank Galati Will Stage 2006 World Premiere of The Pirate Queen, by Les Miz Writers", Playbill, 2005-11-03. Retrieved on 2006-05-13.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Stephanie J. Block Is The Pirate Queen; New Show By Les Miz Writers Sets Sail in Fall", Playbill, 2005-11-03. Retrieved on 2006-05-13.
