A country-folk musical in 2 acts
First performed at the Harkness Theatre, New York, 7 October, 1975 (15 perfs); Revived at the Biltmore Theatre, Broadway - 9 October, 1976 (145 perfs).
A folk legend from Mississippi involving the romantic 'Robin Hood-like' figure Jamie who saves Clemment Musgrove (the richest planter in the county) from the Harp gang and pursues and wins his daughter, the 'moon-sizzling' Rosamund. A rollicking, riotous romp from America's early history.
The Story
From Guide to Musical Theatre: To the sound of a country string band, the legendary characters of the Mississippi Territory are introduced. As the story begins a rich planter, Clemment Musgrove, is looking for an inn in the wild river town of Rodneys Landing. Jamie Lockhart, a gentleman robber, plans to relieve Musgrove of his treasure. Unfortunately, the wily Harp Gang is planning to do the same thing. The Harp Gang consists of Little Harp, the head of his brother, Big Harp and a talking Raven. Jamie Lockhart succeeds in getting rid of the Harps and gaining Musgrove's trust. He explains his methods of stealing with style.
Meantime, Musgrove's beautiful daughter Rosamund is daydreaming of love and fairy tales. Rosamund is despised by her jealous stepmother, Salome. Salome hires the local simpleton, Goat, to push Rosamund into a ravine while she is gathering herbs. Unaware of this impending disaster, Rosamund wanders through the woods complaining of the lack of excitement in her life. She meets up with Jamie Lockhart, disguised as the Bandit of the Woods. He steals her clothes. Both Rosamund and Jamie have been so taken by their first meeting that both come to the same spot the next morning in the hopes of finding one another again.
Clement Musgrove, meanwhile, has invited Jamie to dinner. Rosamund becomes totally dishevelled in preparation for the dinner and the two lovers do not recognise each other. The dinner is a shambles; Musgrove is trying to marry off his daughter, Jamie is trying to catalogue the household treasures, Salome has her own designs on Jamie and Rosamund is trying to look as unattractive a possible. Jamie leaves, vaguely promising to rescue Rosamund from the fiend in the woods and marry her, but he can't forget the girl he met in the woods. Rosamund sneaks away to her bandit's house. She arrives and settles in, but only after Jamie explains his unorthodox style of lovemaking to the audience.
Meanwhile, Goat is still looking for Rosamund. He meets up with Little Harp, who is also dying to get his hands on the girl. Salome figures out where Rosamund is and makes her way to Jamie's cabin. She tricks Rosamund into going out to gather the ingredients of a berry stain remover. Rosamund returns with her stain remover and sings Jamie to sleep while she applies it. Jamie and Rosamund each discover the other's true identity. This leads to an argument. They separate and then wander up and down the Natchez Trail trying to find each other.
Enormously pregnant, Rosamund hears Jamie is running a dry goods store in New Orleans and the company helps her get there. Rosamund bears twins, Clementine and Jamie, Junior and finally finds Jamie in New Orleans. All ends happily with a wedding.
The Cast
Jamie Lockhart, a gentleman robber . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Flower
Clemment Musgrove, a wealthy planter . . . . . . . . . . Michael Redmond
Salome, Musgrove's second wife . . . . . . . . . . Debbie Pickering
Rosamund, Musgrove's daughter . . . . . . . . . . Kate Williams
Little Harp, a robber . . . . . . . . . . Chris McCartie
Big Harp, the head of a robber . . . . . . . . . . Scott Gardner
Goat, a simpleton . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Ray
Goat's Mother . . . . . . . . . . Peggy Waterhouse
Airie, Goat's Sister . . . . . . . . . . Laura LeBlanc
A Raven . . . . . . . . . . Mia Moravis
Eudora Welty . . . . . . . . . . Nancy Coutts
Innkeeper . . . . . . . . . . David DeLollis
Caller . . . . . . . . . . Don Primrose
The Band
Sam Duffy (fiddle - 2nd week)
Chris Fox (electric bass)
April Hobart (guitar)
John Meehan (guitar/mandolin)
The Musical Numbers
Once Upon The Natchez Trace . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove,
Little Harp, Big Harp, Goat, Rosamund, Salome, Company
Two Heads . . . . . Little Harp, Big Harp, Company
Steal With Style . . . . . Jamie, Company
Rosamund's Dream . . . . . Jamie, Rosamund
The Pricklepear Bloom . . . . . Salome, Company
Ain't Nothin' Up . . . . . Rosamund, Company
Deeper In The Woods . . . . . Company
Marriage Is Riches . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, Rosamund, Salome, Company
Little Piece of Sugar Cane . . . . Company
Love Stolen . . . . . Jamie, Company
Kitchen Girl . . . . . Company
Poor Tied Up Darlin' . . . . . Little Harp, Goat
Goodbye, Salome . . . . . Little Harp, Salome, Company
Sleepy Man . . . . . Rosamund, Company
Where Oh Where . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, Rosamund
Finale . . . . . Jamie, Musgrove, Little Harp, Big Harp, Goat,
Rosamund, Salome, Company
__________
Performances are scheduled for
May 7, 8, 14 & 15, 2010
Doors Open at 7:30 p.m.
Curtain rises at 8 p.m.
AND
May 9, 2010
Doors Open at 1:30 p.m.
Curtain rises at 2 p.m.
$15 General Admission
$12 Seniors/Students
All performances are
At the Community House of Marlborough
Rte. 101, Marlborough, NH
Show Rated PG-13
To reserve tickets, call the BRT Ticket Line at 603-283-7538 or
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TICKETS will also be available at the door on performance nights.
THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019; Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684
