Music

Show Dates

Synopsis

Colonel Fairfax, an alchemist and former soldier, is awaiting his unjust execution at the Tower of London for sorcery. When his hoped-for reprieve fails to arrive, Sergeant Meryll and his daughter Phoebe, who is secretly fond of the Colonel, plot his escape. They plan to disguise him as Phoebe's brother, Leonard Meryll who is shortly to join the Yeomen but whom no-one has yet seen. Unaware of their plan, Fairfax's last request is to die a married man. Without a wife, his estate will fall into the hands of the kinsman who brought the false charge of sorcery against him. A willing candidate is found in traveling performer Elsie Maynard. Although her companion, a doleful jester named Jack Point is initially worried at the proposal, his doubts are soon dispelled by the promise of 100 crowns and the assurance the Elsie will be a widow within the hour. They are therefore horrified when they hear that Fairfax has escaped. Jack Point and Wilfred Shadbolt, the head jailer and assistant tormentor, subsequently conspire to pretend that Wilfred has shot Fairfax and seen him drown, thereby releasing Elsie from the marriage contract. Fairfax, meanwhile, had discovered that Elsie is his wife (neither knew of the other's identity at the marriage ceremony) and is about to reveal this to her when the shot is heard and Jack and Wilfred spin their tale. Elsie is distraught at the news of her husband's apparent death but is comforted by "Leonard", alias Fairfax, who subsequently proposes to her. This enrages Phoebe who, in a jealous temper, confesses her feeling for "Leonard" to Wilfred realizing, too late, that she is thereby claiming to be in love with her brother! Wilfred quickly deduces the true identity of "Leonard" and, in order to silence him, Phoebe consents to marry Wilfred. When the real Leonard Meryll brings news of Fairfax's reprieve, Lady Kensington announces that Fairfax is not dead, and is coming to claim Elise as his bride. Elsie is initially distressed at the thought of leaving "Leonard" but overjoyed at the revelation that "Leonard" and Fairfax are one in the same. In vain, Jack appeals to Elsie to consider his feelings for her before falling broken-hearted at her feet.

Cast

Phoebe Meryll - Emily Baker, Morgan Koepke**
Wilfred Shadbot - Bart Smith (guest artist)
Sergeant Meryll - Brian Giovanni
First Yeoman - Scott Rogers
Second Yeoman - Steve Norris
Dame Carruthers - Tiana Gabriel
Leonard Meryll - Justin Lange
Lady Kensington - Emily Horabik, Jeryl Hayes**
Colonel Fairfax - Marten Carlson
Elsie Maynard - Elaine Marten
Jack Point - Mark Soloff
Kate - Meredith McCoy, Sarah Kronour**

** denotes 8:00pm performance

Production Staff

Director - Dr. Belinda Andrews-Smith
Assistant Director - Bart Smith
Accompanist - Kevin N. Wines
Stage Manager - Jennifer Darby Morris
Light Operator - Megan Long

Ensemble

Emily Baker, Lauryen Caryer, Lisa Gordon, Jenniger Gugliemi, Jeryl Hayes, Emily Horabik, John Kessler, Morgan Koepke, Sarah Kronour, Justin Lange, Caitlin McCown, Meredith McCoy, Carrisa Prosnitz, Marnie Robinson, Mary Sheridan, Cora Walsh, and Lindsay Webb

Dancers

Jennifer Gugliemi, Sarah Kronour, Carrisa Prosnitz, and Cora Walsh

Photos

Special Thanks

Jean McWhorter and the Licking County Players, Karen Miller and Costume Specialists, and a very special thank you to Doug Provost and our friends and colleagues at Opera Columbus for set pieces and properties