Canterbury Tales (musical)

Infobox Musical
name= Canterbury Tales
subtitle=The Musical


caption= Logo
music= John Hawkins
Richard Hill
lyrics= Nevill Coghill
book= Martin Starkie
Nevill Coghill
basis= "Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer
productions= 1964 West End
awards=

"Canterbury Tales" is a musical originally presented at the Oxford Playhouse in 1964, conceived by Nevill Coghill and directed by Martin Starkie. It was expanded into a full length musical and put on at the Phoenix Theatre, London on 21 March 1968. The music was written by Richard Hill & John Hawkins, with the lyrics by Nevill Coghill. It was considered to be very bawdy but appealed to the audiences. The Lord Chamberlain's censorship of the theatre had just ended, so it did not experience any censorship.

The musical took five tales from the Canterbury Tales and told them with song & humour. These were; The Miller's Tale; The Priest Tale; The Steward's Tale; The Merchant's Tale; & The Wife of Bath's Tale. In addition, Chaucer's Prologue & Epilogue were spoken.The purpose behind these stories was that Harry Bailey, one of the main characters, declares that each pilgrim should tell a tale on the way to Canterbury so that the ride is more enjoyable.

The Miller's Tale is about a man named Nicholas, who studied astrology and the art of love at Oxford. Nicolas boards with a wealthy man named John who has a very attractive eighteen-year-old wife named Alisoun. John is highly possessive and very jealous of anyone who even speaks to his wife. One day, Alisoun and Nicholas meet while the husband is away. Nicholas grabs Alisoun and asks her to sleep with him, at first she is reluctant, but after she realizes how sweet he is she agrees. However, Alisoun is afraid that her husband John might find out even though Nicholas acts like nothing bad will come of the affair. Unfortunately for Nicholas, he isn't the only one that fancies Alisoun. A very merry man named Absolon also desires her and serenades her and buys her gifts every day. Although Absolon showers her with gifts, Alisouns heart really belongs to Nicholas. So Nicholas devises a plan to get the husband and Absolon away from Alisoun. He fools the old man into believing that there is going to be a flood. However, when the time comes the old man makes a fool of himself and the whole town is there to witness.

The Wife of Bath's Tale is generally about a woman who magically transforms into an ugly shape and only can be transformed back by a magical kiss. This tale is very close to that of "The Frog Prince".

The Merchant's Tale is like a Fabliua. Here one can find Chaucer's most elaborate display of rhetorical art.

The London production played for 2080 performances. The Broadway version in 1969, only managed 121 performances due to the difference between the humour of Britain & the USA.

Characters:

ChaucerClerk of OxfordHostMillerNunPrioressSquireSteward SweetheartWife of BathAlisounCookFriorKnight May MerchantMollyPardonnerPriestRobinSummoner

Songs

# Overture - Orchestra
# Song Of Welcome - Host
# Canterbury Day - Pilgrims
# Darling, Let Me Teach You How To Kiss - Absalon
# I Have A Noble Cock - Nicholas
# Pater Noster - Nicholas, Alison, Carpenter
# There's The Moon - Nicholas, Alison
# It Depends On Where You're At - Nun, Wife of Bath, Chorus
# Love Will Conquer All - Prioress, Nun, Chorus
# Beer Is Best - John, Alan, Miller, Molly, Chorus
# Come On And Marry Me, Honey - Wife Of Bath
# Where Are The Girls Of Yesterday? - Host, Chorus
# If She Has Never Loved Before - January
# I'll Give My Love A Ring - Damien, May
# Pear Tree - May, Proserpina, January, Damian, Pluto
# I Am All Ablaze - Squire
# What Do Women Want? - Knight
# April Song - Village Girls
# Love Will Conquer All (reprise)

References

*"Guinness Who's Who of Stage Musicals" - Colin Larkin [ed] - ISBN 0-85112-756-8
*Original Cast CD notes
*Phoenix Theatre program