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Music by: Kurt Weill
Book and Lyrics by: Bertolt Brecht
Directed by: Peter Hunt
English Adaptation by: Marc Blitzstein
June 25th 2003 - July 6th 2003
Williamstown Theatre Festival
Williamstown, MA
SYNOPSIS
Hide your daughters! Mack the Knife is back! Set in the underbelly of London, ruled by criminals and corrupt police, populated by beggars, and entertained by prostitutes, The Threepenny Opera tells the story of the sly and debonair Macheath, his den of thieves, and his many women. Considered revolutionary in its 1928 premiere, Brecht and Weill's master work set the standard for a new kind of theatre with its innovative blend of operatic presentation and bawdy German cabaret.
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OPENING NIGHT CAST
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Jesse L. Martin
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Macheath
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David Schramm
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Mr. J.J. Peachum
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Randy Graff
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Mrs. Peachum
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Melissa Errico
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Polly Peachum
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Jack Willis
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Tiger Brown
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Karen Ziemba
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Lucy Brown
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Betty Buckley
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Jenny Diver
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Laurent Giroux
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Street Singer
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William Duell
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Filch
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Stephen Gabis
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Reverend Kimball
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Kenneth Garner
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Smith
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Jim Stanek
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Ready-Money Matt
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Jack Noseworthy
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Crook-Finger Jake
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Julio Monge
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Bob the Saw
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John Ellison Conlee
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Walt Dreary
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Kathy McCafferty
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Betty
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Sarah Knowlton
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Dolly
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Rachel Siegel
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Molly
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Kelly Brady
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Coaxer
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James McMenamin
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Constable 1
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Frank Faucette
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Constable 2
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Michael Crane
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Beggar
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BEGGARS
Matthew Bailey, Nikki Berger, Stefani Katarina Cvijetic, Gus Danowski, John Forest, Claire Turner French, Charlie Husdon III, Abby Huston, Bianca LaVerne Jones, Nancy McNulty, Ana Isabel Mercado, Susan Myhr, Jaquelyn Marie Phillips, Godfrey Plata, Amina Robinson, Jonathan Silver, Scott Sweatt, Nick Thomas, Baron Vaughn, Audrey Lynn Weston
ACT 1
In Soho, England, a beggar gives his introduction to the opera, by describing Macheath and his unlawful deeds. Macheath is the true villain in every sense of the word. He murders, thieves, rapes, and has no conscience: Ballad of Mack the Knife.
The set opens on Jonathan Peachum's store for beggars. Peachum, a fraud who uses the poor for his own profit, greets the new day: Peachum’s Morning. Filch enters Peachum's wardrobe and exchanges his old rags for new. Peachum assigns the lad to a street corner to beg and demands 50% of all of Filch's earnings. Mr. and Mrs Peachum, bemoan daughter Polly's involvement with the villain Macheath: Instead of Song.
In an unoccupied stable, Macheath announces to Polly that they are to be wed. Initially upset that he is starting their married life receiving stolen wedding gifts, she grows less shocked as the ceremony goes on: Wedding Song. Polly contributes to the singing and celebrating by telling a narrative about a poor washer girl who gets revenge on her oppressors by having them shot when her pirate ship comes in: Pirate Jenny.
When Sheriff Brown enters the barn the thieves are surprised to learn that Macheath's old Army buddy is there to pay respects to the bride and groom: The Army Song. He tells his cronies about the system where Macheath gives Brown 30% of his profits earned from stealing. The wedding guests depart and Polly and Macheath reaffirm their love: Love Song.
At Peachum's establishment, an excited Polly tells her parents of her recent marriage: Barbara Song. Peachum decides to threaten Brown with exposure if he doesn't arrest Macheath and sends Mrs. Peachum to Macheath's former whores, certain that they will help in his capture. They comment on the evilness in the world which hinders human hopes The World is Mean.
ACT 2
As Act II begins, Polly rushes to the stable to warn Macheath to escape but makes him promise to be true. Polly, now in charge of managing the gangster business, forces the men to accept her. When Macheath, impressed by her handling of his gang, tells Polly he plans on being faithful she is certain he will not be caught whoring and neglects to warn him about her Mother's plan: Melodrama.
Mrs. Peachum offers Macheath's favorite whore, Jenny Diver money if she reports his whereabouts to the police. Mrs. Peachum then comments on Macheath's promiscuity, which will ultimately lead to his downfall: The Ballad of Dependency.
Macheath breaks his promise and visits his harlot friends. As MacHeath reminisces with Jenny she signals the sheriff and Mrs. Peachum: The Ballad of the Fancy Man. The sheriff takes him to prison.
In the Old Bailey Prison, when Macheath gives Brown the cold shoulder the guilt ridden Brown cries. Macheath pays Smith, a jailer, to release his handcuffs and comments on the easy life: The Secret of Gracious Living.
An angry Lucy Brown, obviously pregnant, accuses Macheath of betraying his promise to her by marrying Polly. Macheath, in order to coerce Lucy into freeing him, denies his marriage and swears allegiance to Lucy. When Polly enters the two women argue and fight: Jealousy Duet. Mrs. Peachum enters and drags Polly out as Lucy helps Macheath escape. Peachum threatens Brown who sends a search party after his friend. Macheath sings a song about the art of survival, he is joined by Jenny: How to Survive.
ACT 3
Act III opens at Peachum's wardrobe room. He and Mrs. Peachum instruct the beggars on how to disrupt Victoria's Coronation by evoking pity in the wealthy aristocrats. Brown and his constables burst in to arrest Peachum for trying to disrupt the Coronation, but Peachum points out they would have to arrest all of the poor and handicapped. Peachum remarks about human failures and inability to attain goals: Useless Song.
Jenny, in front of a curtain, contemplates various famous historical persons whose best attributes seemed to cause their downfall. She concludes that wisdom, beauty, bravery, inquisitiveness, and emotion are hindrances to humanity: The Song of Solomon.
In Lucy's attic bedroom, Polly seeks information on Machheath. They are sincerely sympathetic to the other when they realize that neither one knows his whereabouts. Lucy reveals that her pregnancy was a fraud to get MacHeath to marry her. Mrs. Peachum arrives to announce MacHeath's capture, and tells her daughter to prepare to be a widow.
One hour before MacHeath is to be hanged and two hours before the Coronation, Macheath desperately asks two of his gangsters to buy his freedom: Call from The Grave. Everyone enters to say goodbye and MacHeath forgives them all: Call from The Grave.
At the last minute, a mounted messenger arrives, The Mounted Messenger, with the notice that MacHeath is to be released, raised into the ranks of nobility and given £10,000 a year by the Queen of England. Peachum comments that noble messengers only too rarely appear.
(Taken from Musical Notes, by Carol Lucha-Burns)
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SONG LIST
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ACT 1
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ACTS 2 & 3
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Overture
(Instrumental)
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Melodrama
(Macheath)
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Ballad of Mack the Knife
(Street Singer)
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Polly's Song
(Polly)
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Peachum’s Morning Anthem
(Mr. Peachum)
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The Ballad of Dependency
(Mrs. Peachum)
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Instead-Of Song
(Mr. Peachum & Mrs. Peachum)
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The Ballad of the Fancy Man
(Macheath & Jenny)
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Wedding Song
(The Gang)
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The Secret of Gracious Living
(Macheath)
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Pirate Jenny
(Polly)
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Jealousy Duet
(Lucy & Polly)
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The Army Song
(Macheath & Tiger Brown)
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How To Survive
(Macheath, Jenny & Company)
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Love Song
(Macheath & Polly)
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Useless Song
(Mr. Peachum)
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Barbara Song
(Polly)
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The Song of Solomon
(Jenny)
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The World Is Mean
(Mr. Peachum, Mrs. Peachum & Polly)
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Call from The Grave
(Macheath)
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Threepenny Finale
(Company)
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