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The Tangled Web
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Act One is set in the Outer Courtyard of the Royal Castle at Phendaon. It is morning.
When the curtain rises young noblewomen are discovered, variously engaged in embroidery, tapestry work, weaving and spinning. They try without complete success, to look listless and preoccupied. One group begin to chatter and laugh, then, reproved by the others, they sigh and sink back into gloom. Among the ladies, working on a rather unwieldy piece of tapestry work, are Claire, Elinor and Blanche. Amnestra and Nancy are also present but stand, one each side, on the raised terraces at the back.
Opening chorus: "Lonely women, wives downcast"
Thoram enters and tells the ladies that the King will soon arrive to give a recitation of his poetry. They are not impressed. They are more interested in men, but there is a scarcity of them. Only Prince Philamir and Flairon are at acceptable. Philamir is betrothed to Princess Zeolide, and Flairon to Frances - who conveniently enters and sings about Love in a delightful waltz song.
Recitative and Song: "Love I'm told is mere illusion"
The ladies leave but Frances remains. An unattractive old man, clearly a distant ancestor of Victor Meldrew, enters, spluttering. Mephistogar is not keen on Philamir marrying Zeolide - but he's not keen on marriage at all.
Duet: "When Eve in bliss on joy did sup"
A march sounds in the distance. It is King Phaeto, preceded by a chorus of guardsmen, coming to read his poetry. He suddenly appears in the wings, taking everyone by surprise. He is clutching a mandolin and some manuscripts and introduces himself.
Song: "In time of war, a model king"
Flairon and Thoram enter, brilliantly dressed and in great spirits. Mephistogar also enters on the other side of the stage, but stands sulkily apart from the rest. King Phaeto performs his latest work:
Love's Marriage Hymn
Flairon and Thoram praise the poem to the heights. Mephistogar is considerably less impressed - "I think your poetry contemptible, and your melody a row beneath contempt!".
Queen Aspidistra, attended by Amnestra and Nancy, enters. The Queen is worried because she does not believe that Zeolide truly loves Philamir. The King and Queen join with Amnestra and Nancy to sing in a 5/8 metre about the difficulties of love.
Quartet: "When a maiden flies with enraptured sighs"
Everyone leaves - or attempts to. Just as Mirza is going, Zeolide arrives, agitated from her boating, and stops her. Mirza, who is secretly in love with Philamir, begins to praise him. She little realises that he has entered and overhears her words. Mirza leaves hastily.
Philamir attempts to get Zeolide to tell him that she loves him. Zeolide, however, disdains to show her love in the rapturous way he seems to think appropriate.
Duet: "Censure not my warm devotion"
Zeolide leaves, and Philamir is about to follow her when the King reappears. The King gives him a piece of advice "I swear the only time I ever see my Aspidistra is when I'm anxious to avoid her." True to his word, the Queen enters to tell him that old Benedict, the Steward of his summer palace, has just arrived.
Philamir leaves, and the King proceed to the explain to the Queen that the Palace is enchanted: "Everyone who enters there is bound to speak the truth". This is no bad thing in the Queen's eyes, so the King tries to make her see it his way by telling the story of Maisie Smith and the Prime Minister.
Song: "A rising politician in an amorous condition"
The Queen stops him. She's had an idea: "You said a truth-charm rules your Palace. Let's take our daughter there and see If love she feels for Philamir - or malice." The King agrees, and the Queen leaves.
The long-awaited Benedict appears and cautions the King about going to the Palace: "Think of all the secrets you'll reveal. You have been married twenty years. That's a long time". The King dismisses his concerns and reveals that he has a crystal box: "Whoever carries this within those fateful walls may overcome the magic influence and utter truth or falsehood as desired!" Unfortunately for the King, he has been telling this to Benedict unaware that Mirza has entered and has heard every word. She sees the box and pretends to be unaware herself of its real purpose.
Flairon rushes in: "Good news, my lord. Great news. The war is won! Our army is returning! We've sighted them not half a mile away".
Finale: "Forward, Knights! Brave men are voicing"
After the rejoining, the King goes on to tell the Court of their forthcoming visit to the Palace of Truth.
Finale: "Not twenty miles away from here"
Benedict, in an aside only heard by the King and Queen, confesses that he's not told everyone the whole truth about the Palace. Everyone else is looking forward to it.
Finale: "It is really rather shocking"
The King leaves and Zeolide enters. In formal tones she announces her pleasure that the war is over.
Finale: "Dear friends, receipt my own felicitations"
Flairon and Philamir adopt their usual tone and in flowery language express their pleasure that they are going to the Palace. Zeolide sings with them, but is rather more restrained: "These joys, my love, I'd hate to miss, Yet gushing praises such as this It's evident are still beyond my powers."
The King returns with Benedict and they sing secretively about the box: "We may remark that, if they knew, What trials they'll soon be going through They'd fast erase Their hasty praise And dread the place they're going to".
The Queen enters, carrying suitcases and with her crown packed in a hold-all.
Finale: " Oh Palace, grant our love the bliss"
In the closing chorus, the entire company gets ready to leave.
Finale: "Then off, then off, come all of our throng"
Act Two | Act Three
© Chris Goddard, 27 November, 2004