Art Samples
Character Breakdown
Lyrics Samples
Music Samples
Scene Sample
Synopsis
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Principals
LILY GOODHEART/WILLING, a dreamer; later WILLIAM's wife
"PAPA" ROBERT GOODHEART, LILY's rule-minded father
RUMPELSTILTSKIN, a mischievous gnome
PRINCE WILLIAM WILLING, Prince of Riddleton and WILMA's son; later LILY's
husband; fair and understanding
QUEEN WILMA WILLING, self-centered Queen of Riddleton; WILLIAM's mother
Supporting Players
ATTENDANTS
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SYNOPSIS
Act I
Scene 1
Rumpelstiltskin introduces himself as a game-playing gnome with a
penchant for plaguing humans. Lily Goodheart, the target of his latest
scheme, enters singing a song full of “Folderol” which is cruelly cut off
when she collides with a list-studying Prince Willing (a meeting set up by
the gnome). Lily mocks the prince for his inattention (“Folderol” [Reprise])
and then treats him to a round of one-upmanship, displaying her quick and
clever mind (“I Had More”). As a parting shot, she claims that she can spin
straw into gold. Papa Goodheart arrives and apologizes for his daughter’s
rudeness. Queen Willing enters a few moments later and, learning of Lily’s
supposed skill with straw, she demands that Lily spin gold for the royal
family or be punished for fancifying. After all, the one rule of Riddleton
Realm is “Suffer Not the Liar!” Lily reluctantly agrees to take on the task.
Scene 2
That night, Lily finds herself in the West Wing of Riddleton Castle
surrounded by straw and great expectations. She laments that she’s being
cruelly put upon for “Yearning for a Dream.” Rumpelstiltskin appears and
offers to spin straw into gold for her if she will give him her ring. She
accepts and he complies (“The Weaver’s Work”), but Queen Willing demands
more gold when she sees the transformed straw. Lily offers Rumpelstiltskin
her necklace for a repeat performance and he gladly agrees to the terms
(“The Weaver’s Work II”). Queen Willing responds to the second load of gold
by dumping still more straw into Lily’s room and requesting a final exercise
in transmutation. With nothing tangible to offer the gnome, Lily contracts
with him to deliver her firstborn child into his hands if he will indulge in
one last round of magical spinning. He accepts her offer, spins the gold
into being, and vanishes. As a reward for her labors, Lily is engaged to
Prince Willing.
Scene 3
Papa Goodheart cares for his infant grandson, the “Little One” for whom
he has waited five years, in the Royal Bedchamber of Riddleton Castle. Queen
Willing enters and unintentionally antagonizes the child. His cries soon
have her leaving. Lily – now Princess Willing – enters and compliments her
father on caring for her son. Rumpelstiltskin appears and demands that the
child be given over to him. Using shameless flattery to best advantage
(“Magnificent Man”), Lily and her father manage to wheedle a new deal out of
the gnome: she must guess his name in three days’ time or lose her child
forever.
Scene 4
The Willings and Papa Goodheart search for names, but the first- and
second-day listings meet with failure. On the third day, the searchers rush
to investigate the Far Reaches and the beach caves for final name-givers.
Scene 5
Lily stumbles upon the secret cave of Rumpelstiltskin and hears him
gloating over the fact that she shall never guess his true name. Ferociously
overconfident, he sings his name to himself (“Rumpelstiltksin”). The princess
sneaks away with the precious information.
Scene 6
The name-searchers meet one final time and despair over the impending
loss of the royal baby. Rumpelstiltskin appears and asks for Lily, but she
has not yet arrived. Just before the gnome spirits away the child, she
enters and confronts him with his name. Banished by this utterance, the
little creature explodes away in a cloud of rage. Lily leads her family off
into the haven of happily-ever-after, but Rumpelstiltskin returns one last
time and promises to play many more games of mortal-meddling in the near
future (“The Spinning Ceases” [Finale]).
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LYRICS SAMPLES
"FOLDEROL"
THERE WAS A MAN WHO SOUGHT FOR CHEESE.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH. ON HIS HANDS AND ON HIS KNEES. FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH. HE CRAWLED AROUND FOR FIFTY YEARS. FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH. HE MADE MOO-COWS QUAKE IN FEAR. FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEE-OH-DEE-OL.
HE HAD A WIFE WHO COULDN’T MIND.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH.
SO HE LEFT HER FAR BEHIND.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH.
SHE WAS CRUSHED THE DAY HE RAN.
‘TIL SHE MET THE NEIGHBOR-MAN.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEE-OH-DEE-OL.
BUT ONE THING DOES TROUBLE ME.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH.
HE WAS MARRIED, TOO, YOU SEE.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH.
HOW HE COPED IS QUITE A FRIGHT.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEROL-DOH.
ONE FOR DAY AND ONE FOR NIGHT.
FOL-FOLDEROL. FOLDEE-OH-DEE-OL.
"RUMPELSTILTSKIN"
TODAY I WAIT A BIT AND LET THEM STEW
AND THEN I TAKE AWAY THE ROYAL CHILD.
THEIR SHARE OF TIME IS DONE. IT SHRANK AND FLEW.
THEIR MOUNTING WANT OF NAMES MUST DRIVE THEM WILD!
I AM NO CASPAR, BALTHAZAR, OR HOB
OR HADRIAN OR HAROLD OR SPINDLESHANKS.
NOR AM I SHORTRIBS, PAUL OR WILL OR ROB
OR EVEN LACEY CRICKLEBACKERBANKS.
THE ONLY WORD ON WHICH I HANG MY LIFE
AND LUCK REQUIRES A TITLE MORE THAN TAME.
MY GIVEN NOMEN BITES AS DOES A KNIFE
OR BLADE, FOR RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS MY NAME!
THE “RUMPLE” MARKS MY WRINKLED CLOTHES;
THE “STILT” MY SUPPLE FINGERS NIMBLY LONG.
THE “SKIN” DENOTES THE FLESH I WEAR TO POSE
A SHAPE TO PLEASE WHERE SHAPE SHOULD NOT BELONG.
I AM A GOBLIN-GNOME WHO GETS HIS WAY
AND HAS MORE SMARTS THAN ANY HUMAN DAME.
SHE THINKS TO GUESS MY TAG. I SAY: BELAY!
BELAY! FOR RUMPELSTILTSKIN IS MY NAME!
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MUSIC SAMPLES
Piano-Vocals (Digitals Only)
"Overture"
"I Had More"
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SCENE SAMPLE
Act I, Scene 3
(Five years later. The Royal Bedchamber – consisting of a bed, a
wall mirror, and sumptuous drapery – in Riddleton Castle at midday. PAPA
GOODHEART sits in a chair next to the bed. He holds a swaddled baby in his
arms. This is LILY’s firstborn child. Both are frozen in time.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN enters and addresses the audience.)
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Five years have passed since last I made my pact
With silly Lily – she who loves her lies – And now I come to make her face the fact That one can never halt fair enterprise.
One magic spell exchanged for infant child. Those are the terms I gladly must enforce, And though I know she’ll name me fiend reviled, Escape will never be her last recourse.
She sought the easy way before, and ease Will now entice her being all anew. A girl whose words can change like puffs of breeze Shall not refuse to yield the gift I’m due.
The trait which marks a person who misleads Is how he will neglect the hardest deeds.
(He exits. PAPA GOODHEART sings to his grandchild.)
SONG: LITTLE ONE
PAPA GOODHEART
LITTLE FACE THAT LOOKS AT ME WITH ADORING EYES; TINY HANDS THAT GRIP AT MINE FEARLESS OF THE SIZE; TEENY FEET THAT KICK AWAY AT GROWING OLDER AND WISE.
YOU ARE MY LITTLE ONE.
YOU ARE MY PRIZE.
MINIKIN AND BITSY;
FRAGILE AND SMALL.
IT’S REMARKABLE
THAT YOU’RE THRIVING AT ALL.
LIFE ON SUCH A MINI SCALE
IS A MIRACLE MOST RARE.
IT MAKES ME FEEL HUMBLE.
IT MAKES ME RECALL
THE LITTLE ONE BEFORE YOU –
THE MOTHER THAT YOU LOVE –
AND HOW SHE WAS WEENSY AND WEE.
YOU’LL GROW AS SHE DID
BUT LIKE HER YOU’LL STAY
LITTLE AND PRECIOUS TO ME.
You have your grandmother’s eyes, little one.
(QUEEN WILLING enters as he speaks.)
QUEEN WILLING
You think he has my eyes?
PAPA GOODHEART
I meant Lily’s mother.
QUEEN WILLING
Let me see him. (She takes the baby.) Look at him. He’s such a golden boy .
. . in an awful blanket. I won’t have him in this rag.
PAPA GOODHEART
That’s the same blanket we wrapped around Lily when she was a baby.
QUEEN WILLING
Why don’t we at least put silk along the edges? Then he’ll be comfortable
and classy. Why doesn’t he ever look at me when I hold him? (The baby
cries and she promptly returns him to PAPA GOODHEART.) You take him.
(The baby quiets immediately upon being held by his grandfather. There is a
moment of tender tableau which the queen insensitively shatters.)
Look at you, Master Goodheart. You do make such a distinguished
grandpapa. If only we could get you to dress the part.
(She exits. PAPA GOODHEART hums a snatch of “Little One” to his grandson.
LILY enters dressed in full princess regalia.)
LILY WILLING
Papa?
PAPA GOODHEART Sh. He’s asleep.
LILY WILLING
You’re so good with him. I hope he grows up to be as wise and loving as you.
PAPA GOODHEART
There’s time enough for that later. Let him grow up as slowly as he likes.
(RUMPELSTILTSKIN pops up from behind the bed, frightening everyone. The baby
cries, but PAPA GOODHEART soothes him back to sleep as the gnome speaks.)
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
He’ll grow up how and where and when I please.
He’s mine to have and hold and raise by rights
Contracted long ago and moon-observed.
LILY WILLING
Oh, dear. I’d forgotten about you.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Convenient claim, my dreadful debtor-girl,
But there remains betwixt us two an oath
To be fulfilled because of labors done.
You may forget, but still I must be paid
In coin of mewling, milky sort – your babe.
PAPA GOODHEART
Lily, call the guards. This little man is crazed.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
I grant my smallness, sir. I am a gnome.
At least I have no barreled gut to lug
Around as sorely vexes larger men.
(He pats PAPA GOODHEART’s stomach.)
PAPA GOODHEART
(Irritated.) Go on, Lily. Call the guards.
LILY WILLING
I can’t, Papa. He’s right. This is the man I told you about – the one who
spun the straw into gold for me and saved my life.
PAPA GOODHEART
I thought that was just another story.
LILY WILLING
Maybe now you’ll see I was telling the truth. I’m a different person than I
was, and I keep my promises.
PAPA GOODHEART
You can’t give my grandson to this little maniac.
SONG: MAGNIFICENT MAN
LILY WILLING
He’s not little, Papa. He’s very brave and selfless. Giving up my
baby is the least I can do for someone as pure and honorable as this noble
creature. Just look at him!
LOOK AT THIS CHIN.
I GIVE IT A TEN,
OFFSET BY TWIN CHEEKBONES
ROMANTICALLY THIN.
ABOVE THAT A NOSE
THAT’S WORTHY OF PROSE
AND BIGGER IS BETTER
AS EVERYONE KNOWS.
WHAT A MARVELOUS, MASTERFUL,
TRULY MAGNIFICENT MAN!
(Beguiled by the praise, RUMPELSTILTSKIN loses himself in a moment of
reverie. LILY motions for her father to follow her lead.)
PAPA GOODHEART
I see what you’re doing, Lily, but I won’t lie. I didn’t do it for you
and I won’t do it for your child.
LILY GOODHEART
Then look in the mirror and talk to yourself. At least it’s behind him.
PAPA GOODHEART
I’ll try.
(He sings to his reflection just as RUMPELSTILTSKIN emerges from his bout
of introspection. PAPA GOODHEART starts off softly but ends explosively. It
seems there is a hidden vanity to his character.)
SUCH A PROFILE,
THE HALLMARK OF STYLE.
HE’S CHARMING AND HANDSOME.
ON TOP OF THE PILE!
HIS SHOULDERS ARE WIDE;
HIS ARMS CAUSE FOR PRIDE.
HE’S AMAZING, MAJESTIC,
A MIGHTY MAGNIFICENT MAN!
LILY WILLING
HE’S READY WITH AID
PAPA GOODHEART
THE SLOT FOR THE PEG.
LILY WILLING
A SUN-SHIELDING SHADE.
PAPA GOODHEART
A REALLY GOOD EGG.
PAPA GOODHEART AND LILY WILLING
WHAT A MAKE OF A MAN.
WE CAN’T TAKE SUCH A MAN.
WHAT AN AWESOME, INCREDIBLE,
SUPER-EXCEPTIONAL,
STUNNING, MAGNIFICENT MAN!
(RUMPELSTILTSKIN considers the praise carefully.)
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
I must admit that there might be a shred
Or two of truth in what you have to say.
It well could be that there has been a change
In character since when I went away.
The girl who once delighted telling fibs
Has now begun to deal the opposite.
Of course, you could but flatter high
And such is not a cause for sparkling glee.
You have impressed but not transformed my mind
Which stands to lean more cruelly than kind.
I offer deals in trade. I bargain hard,
So here I grant a deal in lieu of that
I made so long ago: In three quick days
You have to guess my name or else
I take my prize and leave you all the blame.
Accept the terms or go and turn away.
LILY GOODHEART
I accept.
RUMPELSTILTSKIN
Then look to see me back again upon
The sweep of night tomorrow. Bring my name,
But know that none have ever guessed it right.
(The lights shift to a red-and-strobe effect. Thunder sounds and there is
a quick blackout. When the lights rise, the gnome has vanished.)
LILY WILLING
Papa! Did you hear? I can keep my baby!
PAPA GOODHEART
Only if you guess his name.
LILY WILLING
That shouldn’t be too hard.
PAPA GOODHEART
I wonder.
LILY WILLING
Don’t worry, Papa. We’ll ask Willy and the Queen to help. We’ll ask
everyone. All I really need is a list.
(Blackout.)
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ART SAMPLES
Production Photographs
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