The Happy Prince
This musical drama was based on the short story of the same name by Oscar Wilde. Performed in the summer of 2015, The Happy Prince dealt with such themes as political corruption, self-sacrifice, tolerance, and standing fast in one’s beliefs. The musical featured all-original numbers by Jordan Brazeal and was the first production of Arkansas Christian Theater to rely less heavily on comedy and more heavily on drama.
Plot Synopsis
The Prince of Denmark was not exactly a sympathetic soul. Each winter he bundled up warmly while his people suffered greatly under the cruel, cold onslaught. As punishment for his stony heart, he was made into a statue overlooking the Copenhagen town square, and there he sat (or rather, stood) for 300 years. . .
It’s the late 1930’s and the long arm of Germany is reaching out across northern and eastern Europe, her iron fist poised to close around Denmark. Falko, a patriotic journalist for the city newspaper, secretly combats German sympathies with inflammatory pamphlets spread around Copenhagen with the help of Rise (pronounced REEZ-uh), a young Danish entrepreneuse-to-be with a strong dislike for Lady Aurelia, a personage of great influence in the Danish royal court—and Falko’s lover. With his clandestine endeavor taking him all over the city, Falko eventually collides (figuratively and literally) with Hiltrud, a young mother trying to make ends meet.
Meanwhile, The Happy Prince has problems of his own: Lord Mayor Morten of Copenhagen is conniving to have the prince removed and melted down for political reasons. And as if that isn’t bad enough, the poor prince’s heart is breaking at the sufferings of his people—and he has no way of alleviating them! Enter Swallow, the flighty little fellow with a penchant for Egypt, who somehow manages to solve everyone’s problems.
Starring…
- Jaron Brazeal as The Happy Prince
- Jordan Gottsponer as Swallow
- Abigail Parrish as Rise
- Jamison Brazeal as Falko Brennen
- Lauren Pharr as Hiltrud Vorgen
- Janae Brazeal as Lady Aurelia
- Nick Steinmetz as Father Jost
- Michael Baker as Hans
- Jake Steinmetz as Karl
- Kate Turner as Inge
- Daniel Parrish as Lord Mayor Morten
- Justin Brazeal as Town Councilman 1
- Josh Baker as Town Councilman 2
- Greg Pharr as Town Councilman 3
- Anna Pharr as Professor Oyvind
Arkansas Christian Theater 