Sample Scene
Robin Hood (1891)
A Comic Opera in Three Acts
Libretto by Harry B. Smith
Music by Reginald DeKoven
Act I, Scene One (partial)
Broadway's Robin Hood (1891) -
and you thought your high school had bad sets?
The Setup: The scene is the old town of Nottingham, early morning on the first of May. Lady Marian Fitzwalter (disguised as a cavalier) wants to meet the young nobleman Robert of Huntington. The merry villagers have just exited, leaving Marian and Robert alone on stage. (By the end of Act One, Robert becomes an outlaw and changes his name to Robin Hood.) The stage directions are as they appear in the published libretto. Note the frequent use of the direction "Aside" – indicating the now unfashionable convention of characters addressing the audience directly, as if sharing a secret.
MARIAN
(Aside.)
So this is the future Earl of Huntington whom the king has
commanded me to marry. Well, he's not so bad after all. (Addressing Robert.)
Young fellow, can you tell one where one may find Robert who is to be Earl
of Huntington
ROBERT
Yes, young fellow; I can tell one, or, for that matter, I might tell two, for I am he.
MARIAN
Well, I suppose you know that you are commanded to be married?
ROBERT
Commanded to be married?
MARIAN
Yes; behold the King's command. (Produces parchment. Reads.) Robert, the future Earl of Huntington – marry – Lady Marian – daughter of Lord Fitzwalter – by order of the King.
ROBERT
And what have you to do with it?
MARIAN
Oh, I am the page who brings the King's message to Lady Marian's guardian, the Sheriff of Nottingham.
ROBERT
Look ye, young sir, Robert, Earl of Huntington, is not the man to marry the first girl that is offered to him. I am rather particular.
MARIAN
Oh, indeed. Well, you may as well understand that my cousin Marian is not the girl to marry off-hand. She's not easy to please, and I don't think you will Suit.
ROBERT
Oh, indeed? Is she a well-favored wench?
MARIAN
"Wench," sirrah? Wench me no wenches. I'll have you to know that my cousin is a high-born lady, sir.
ROBERT
Well, is she a well-favored high-born lady then; and has she a high-born temper like her cousin's?
MARIAN
If you want to know what she looks like, you might take a glance at me. We are said to favor each other.
ROBERT
Not a bad looking young fellow. So you favor each other, do you? Well, suppose you favor me by telling your cousin that I am not ready to marry, and therefore I respectfully refuse her.
MARIAN
What! Such impudence! You refuse my cousin who has had dozen of offers from the finest gallants in England? You refuse her indeed? She refuses you.
ROBERT
(Aside.) That was a regular feminine outburst. Why, this must be Lady Marian herself. Rather pretty-and clever, too. (To Marian.) Really, my dear boy, I was only teasing you. The fact is that I love your cousin, and I am delighted at the King's command.
MARIAN
What! You love my Cousin?
ROBERT
What man of taste could fail to be enamored of the famous beauty, Lady Marian Fitzwalter? (Aside.) That ought to help me out.
MARIAN
Ah, so you think her pretty?
ROBERT
Oh, she is adorable.
MARIAN
Why, where have you seen me? (Recollects herself suddenly.)
ROBERT
Aha! Caught by your own confession. And did you suppose that I did not recognize you from the first?
MARIAN
It was only natural that I should want to see the kind of man that I am commanded to marry. I took the place of the page who was to bring the order to the Sheriff, Sir Tristram Testy. He is the custodian of my fortune.
ROBERT
Sir Tristram has charge of my estates as well. This Sir Tristram seems very fond of being custodian of estates. I mistrust him.
MARIAN
And I suspect him, too. He has been pressing the suit of one Guy of Gisborne, whom he wishes me to marry. The two have some conspiracy afoot. Sir Tristram is likely to be here soon to attend the fair. I will dress as a village girl, take a place in yonder dairy booth, and try to learn his motive in wishing me to marry Guy of Gisborne.
ROBERT
Marry another! How can you speak of such a thing? Are you not plighted to me by the King's mandate?
MARIAN
But you refused me.
ROBERT
Refuse? No, never did King have subject who obeyed more willingly. (About to put his arm around her.)
MARIAN
(Repulsing him).
Not so fast. (Imitating his manner in the early part of the scene.) Look ye,
young sir, Lady Marian Fitzwalter is not the girl to marry the first man
who is offered to her. I am rather particular.
ROBERT
Believe me; I spoke the truth when I told you that at the court tourneys I have seen you and seen only to dream of your beauty for days. But I never thought that I should have the happiness of calling you mine.
(Duet)
ROBERT
THOUGH IT WAS WITHIN THIS HOUR WE MET,
I HAVE DREAMED OF SUCH A FACE AS THINE;
DREAMS I LOVE TO THINK OF EVEN YET
WHEN I HELD THY LITTLE HAND IN MINE
TO WAKE WAS FOR THAT DREAMLAND FACE TO PINE.
MARIAN
DREAMS WE MUST BY CONTRARIES DIVINE.
ROBERT
WILL THAT DREAM COME TRUE?
MARIAN
NO
ROBERT
LET ME DREAM ANEW.
MARIAN
NOT SO.
WHO KNOWS WHAT FATE
MAY THEE AWAIT,
IF THY CONSTANCY
TIME AND DISTANCE PROVE.
THIS HAND OF MINE
MAY YET BE THINE
IF FIDELITY DWELLETH WITH THY LOVE.
ROBERT
LONG, LONG AGO,
SOME TIME, I KNOW,
IN DREAMLAND FAIR WE MET.
MARIAN
IT MAY BE SO, BUT I FORGET.
I NEEDS MUST OWN
THAT THOU ALONE ART TO ME
MORE THAN ALL BESIDE.
ROBERT
WHAT JOY TO HEAR THOSE WORDS SO DEAR.
BOTH
LOVE EVER WILL BE OUR GUIDE.
COME DREAM SO BRIGHT,
MY HEART DELIGHT.
DREAMING ANEW,
I FIND 'TIS TRUE.
FAIR DOST THOU SEEM,
BEAUTIFUL DREAM.
AT LAST I SEE THEE,
MY DREAM HAS COME TRUE.
(They exit. Sheriff and Sir Guy enter attended by guards, foresters and villagers.)