THE MAGIC FLUTE

by W. A. Mozart

with a new English libretto and production by Tom Boyd

Music director - William Bell

THE COTSWOLD PLAYHOUSE, STROUD, 16 & 17 Feb. / THE PLAYHOUSE, CHELTENHAM , 20 - 24 Feb. UK

Tamino's aria, the 3 ladies and the Queen xxxxxxxCLICK ABOVE to watch the Papageno/Papagena duet --

"...inspired production by Bel Canto...Tom Boyd's clever and reverential adaptation bristles with topical witticisms, pomp, sparkle....a stirring pageant which Emanuael Schikaneder and Wolfgang Amadeus would have doubtless approved. Delightful! " BBC Gloucestershire Theatre and Arts  "...director Tom Boyd has once again supplied his own brand-new, sparkling English libretto...spiced with plenty of humour...a refreshing take on Mozart and Schikaneder's masterpiece." OXFORD TIMES  Tom Boyd's production, like his topical libretto, is both accessible and full of imaginative flourishes. Gloucestershire ECHO  "Tom Boyd's new English libretto was a particular delight...a splendidly light-hearted version...Tom and musical director William Bell are much to be congratulated on their polished, talented and very clever production which kept the audience greatly entertained." Wilts. and Glos. STANDARD CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEWS

CLICK ABOVE to hear Pamina's Lament xxxxxxxx CLICK ABOVE to watch Tamino's escape from the paparazzi

Tamino - Alexander Anderson-Hall Pamina - Pamela Hay Papageno - Eamonn Dougan Sarastro - Deryck Hamon Queen of the Night - Mandy Watsham

THE CAST First Lady, Sue Black, Second Lady, Claire Johnson Third Lady, Maria Jagusz Monostatos - Michael Powell Papagena - Kate Bennett Archdruid (aka the Speaker) Robert Bateman

First Boy, Georgia Frances Second Boy, Charlotte Sommers Third Boy, Dan Holley First Knight in Armour: John Milford Second Knight in Armour: Edward Harper Chief Ovate: Tim Johnson Chief Bard: Tim Cranmore

CLICK ABOVE to hear the "charms" of music xxxxxxxx CLICK ABOVE to hear Monostatos' seduction aria

A DVD of this production is available for £20.00, which includes a booklet of Tom Boyd's English libretto. Libretto separately £6.00 ($12.00 US) + p & p

SEE AND HEAR OTHER CLIPS FROM THIS PRODUCTION ON YouTube (click links beneath pictures)

PRINCE TAMINO: (chased by the paparazzi, in despair) Do leave me, just leave me! For God's sake get off me! These vultures, these vipers, they snipe and they scoff me! Relentlessly prying and shamelessly spying, they're trying to break me! They stalk night and day... they twist what I say... I'm going mad, I swear to God I'm going mad Won't someone drive these vipers ...drive these guttersnipes away. (he collapses, unconscious, as the THREE LADIES enter and chase the paparazzi off)	FIRST LADY: A golden boy...a dainty dish. SECONDLADY: As dashing as a lass could wish. THIRD LADY: Alas, were I still twenty..ish... ALL: If I were still as young as he, he might agree to marry me!   CLICK HERE to see and hear TheThree Ladies rescue Prince Tamino from the paparazzi	PAPAGENO (the Queen's gamekeeper): When I pipe, the pheasants and the quail all come, They are charmed and treat me like a chum, I've a talent to be gallant to my flock of birds, but with a girl, I'm lost for words. I may like her face, and maybe she likes mine, But I've no grace, no chat-up line, And if I am shy and play my pipes of pan She'll flyaway to find a grander man. Bye bye...ta ta... I suppose I'm one of those ill-fated men A blighted cock who never finds his hen
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT: You, dear Prince, are fated to release her Free her from his depraved intent And if you find you love each other... She shall be yours with my consent. CLICK HERE to see and hear Tamino's aria to Pamina's picture, and "Tamino meets the Queen" on YouTube	THE THREE LADIES: Three lads so bright they might surprise you will come tonight to supervise you They're authorised to lead the way What they advise, you must obey.	PAPAGENO AND MONOSTATOS: A fiend! A beast! The devil's tool! An incubus... at least a ghoul! Demonic! Satanic! Irreverent! Malevolent! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! CLICK HERE to see and hear 'Monostatos captures Pamina and meets Papageno'
PAMINA: When cupid fires darts, fain hearts are affected, but whose he'll choose, no one can foretell. PAPAGENO: Though Eros brings solace to those selected, for beaux neglected, loveless is hell! BOTH: Tis nature's plan, assigned by fate, in time, each man will find his mate. Man and mate, when bound in love, reach the gate of heav'n above! CLICK HERE to see and hear the Papageno/Pamina duet on YouTube	TAMINO:What land have I come to? Some primeval nation with temples of boulders, as old as creation. But who dwells in these ruins? What tribe of ancient men,with vision and wisdom beyond modern ken? Whatever the danger, I'll do what I must. My purpose is noble, my mission is just. I'll fight Sarastro's wretched crowd to free Pamina... as I vowed.	TAMINO: From the way that I play I would say that it's clear I'd have been a keen musician. I can trill with skill just by blowing here, all by ear, without a lesson or tuition. This bravura tune tests how skilled I am, and proves that music makes hearts soften If the lion lies down with the lamb, I should play this tune more often. CLICK HERE to see and hear the charms of Tamino's magic flute on YouTube
PAPAGENO:Wait a tick...just the trick... I was told to ring these bells. They will conjure magic spells. MONOSTATOS AND HIS HENCHMEN: (compelled to dance) Why this music sedates me is frankly bizarre Lara la la la, lara la la la. Lara la! Captivates me, elates me, This sound from afar Lara la la la, lara la la la. Lara la! CLICK HERE to see and hear the charms of Papageno's magic bells on YouTube	PAMINA: Sir, you are due to punish me. You're angry that I ran away. But I had reason to absent That libetine who was my jailer became obscene with lewd intent.	SARASTRO: Arise Pamina, I forgive you. I understand your desperation Full well I know your situation I sense a heart that's yearning to be free... Hence, your vain attempt to flee. I sympathise with your frustration yet I have cause to keep you here with me My child, I have an obligation... thus I must decree you stay with me.
MONOSTATOS: Your majesty, I've caught a spy Decree if he should live or die. Sir, I will see this spy gets sorted... I'll have him flogged, hung, drawn and quartered. PAM INA: Tamino! At last you're here. TAMINO: Pamina, my dearest dear.	THREE LADIES: You need to heed our danger warning You're victims of Sarastro's spell If you're still here tomorrow morning They'll roast you in the flames of hell. PAPAGENO (to Tamino): The ladies have point, my friend. These bloody Druids may intend to slit our throats and sacrifice us...just like goats! CLICK HERE to see and hear this quintet rom ACT II on YouTube	MONOSTATOS: Like a satyr I am lusting This fair beauty makes me so Though she finds my face disgusting just because it's blue, you know, Woad is me, I'm indigo! I'm a Celt...blue is our fashion. She would spurn me if we kissed she's determined to resist she rejects my manly passion cause she's colour prejudiced blue and white should co-exist but she's colour prejudiced! CLICK HERE to see and hear Monostatos' aria on YouTube
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT: You don't know how I hate him! I so abominate him You must assassinate him or you will pay the price. I'll spurn you...renounce you...disown you my heart will turn to ice the heart that loved you will turn cold Be brave! Be bold! Sarastro must be vanquished Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill him quickly... Do as you've been told! CLICK HERE to see and hear the Queen of the Night's aria on YouTube	SARASTRO: So long as evil men and women live their spite will blight mankind, but God commands us to forgive and leave thoughts of vengeance behind. The man who seeks to retaliate is making worse the curse of hate. Such men as these do bring disgrace upon this realm, this blessed place. Only a man of love and grace is worthy of our noble race.	PAPAGENO: You're eighteen,eh? I expect you have a lot of boyfriends then? PAPAGENA (disguised as an old woman): Only one. We're engaged to be married. He's a gamekeeper. PAPAGENO: Oh really. What's his name then? PAPAGENA: Papageno. PAPAGENO: Pa-pa-pageno? You mean me? PAPAGENA: (chuckling) I do. PAPAGENO: Who are you then? PAPAGEA: Ha ha! You should know by now.
THE THREE BOYS: This time will be our second meeting, First in the present, now in the past. Wise old Sarastro sends you his greeting, and a repast...which could be your last. Stick to your vows with dedication You'll need your flute and glockenspiel. They'll play you to your destination... They'll see you through your next ordeal. Stick to your guns! Be not deterred. Hark, Papageno, mum's the word! Hush, hush, mum's the word.	PAMINA: (spoken): I have lost his love. (sings): No one dreams that love can dwindle, when there seems no trace of doubt. Once it wanes, you can't rekindle flames of ardour dying out . All so sudden, unexpected, passion dies when love has fled. Worse than death is love rejected. Like those flames...the dampened flames Like those flames, my soul is dead. CLICK HERE to see and hear Pamina's Lament on YouTube	PAPAGENO: I shouldn't be complaining, I have a decent life, but there's one wish remaining: to find my kind of wife... a sleek and chic young wife...and settle down for life. Although I've the means to support her, I lack the demeanour to court her. I'd need to be suave and urbane... but I remain rustic and plain. A yokel. A yahoo. A bumpkin. I long for a lady with class but she'll think me an ignorant ass... much too boorish and crass... for an elegant lass.
THE THREE BOYS: The darkling sky is growing lighter The moon has slipped away The sun ascends, each moment brighter All hail the break of day. Praise Llud, the god of whom 'tis written was long ago the King of Britain. He leaves his astral home on high to guide the sun across the sky.	PAMINA AND THE THREE BOYS: True lovers' hearts are so designed by cupid's darts, to stay entwined. The gods decree that it should be. Two souls become one entity.	PAPAGENO: Do I really want to do it? If I do it, will I rue it? Like the Dane's soliloquy: "To be or not to be?" For me, or not for me? That's the question. Big dilemma! Life for me has soured but I'm such an awful coward Papageno, be a man! Finish off what you began. Papageno, go ahead. You'll feel better when you're dead.
PAPAGENO: Bells, perform your magic, as you did before Situation tragic! Help me out once more. I'm in desperation, Hear my anxious plea Last hope for salvation... bring my love to me. But I fear...the little dear...will not appear.	THE THREE BOYS: Hey, Papageno, look who's here!   CLICK HERE to go to theYoutube screen top of page to see and hear the Papageno/Papagena duet	PAPAGENO: From now on we'll be together Like two love birds of one feather In a dovecote made for two... PAPAGENA: Love in any cot will do. PAPAGENO: Come the Spring, it's time for matng. PAPAGENA: I can't see the point in waiting. Hanging on is too frustrating, Let's be gone for procreating. BOTH: A happy nesting should include lots of chicks...five or six...some of each, a balanced mix... and if we're blessed we'll fill the nest with quite a brood.
PAPAGENA: We'll breed with nothing to restrain us. PAPAGENO: Well need a mansion to contain us BOTH: with such a brood of Papagenas! PAPAGENO: But where's the money to maintain us? PAPAGENA: My wealthy Daddy will sustain us, BOTH: ...and all our brood of Papagenas. Papageno. Papagena. Papageno. Papagena. New blossoms on the family tree, and when they've flown the coop, you'll see we'll soon have grand-chicks on our knee and they'll be clones of you and me. Papageno. Papagena. Papageno. Papagena. Pa-pa-pa-papageno! Pa-pa-pa-pagena!	PRINCE TAMINO: I have no fear of dying If gods decree, I die complying I'll face all the trials that you devise So long as love will be my prize,	PAMINA: The flute, in case you didn't know it, calls forebears - summoned when you blow it. They come from bygone days to quell impending danger, with a spell. So let the flute invoke its charm, and they will keep us safe from harm. This ancient breed of kings and knights will lead us through these mystic rites. CLICK HERE to see and hear Tamino's ordeals by fire and water on YouTube
ORDEAL BY FIRE PAMINA and TAMINO: Not Satan's flames nor fiery furnace, Nor blazes from the bowels of hell could faze us, baffle us, or burn us when music casts its magic spell. The last ordeal need not concern us So let the flooding waters swell.	ORDEAL BY WATER PAMINA and TAMINO: Our lives are saved The waves recede, The magic flute has done its deed!	MONOSTATOS: Keep out of sight, they're quite suspicious... They might suspect our vengeful plot. QUEEN and LADIES: Sarastro's vicious and malicious We must dispatch him on the spot! THE THREE LADIES: Oh Queen of Night, so long reviled Oh Queen of Night, so rightly riled Death to the father of your child! CLICK HERE to see and hear the The Evil Ones defeated by Sarastro's overpowering virtue, on Youtube.
SARASTRO: The Queen's will is broken Your King's still alive! The gods here have spoken. Our Realm will survive!	ALL: Albion has triumphed Its treacherous foes put down Thanks to our gracious Sovereign Praise be to God, and to the Crown. CLICK HERE to see and hear the coronation of Tamino at the end of the opera, on YouTube.	ALL: Tamino, Victorious... Intrepid in trial Long may he reign o'er us in this Sceptered Isle