ARTHYR: The Boy Who Would Be King • A Musical

ARTHYR: THE BOY WHO WOULD BE KING a musical

by C. Michael Perry and Coni Koepfinger

This story presents a unique take on the King Arthur legend where Merlyn is a boy from the 21st Century living backwards in time. Act One focuses on Merlyn teaching Arthyr, revealing his true parentage as the son of King Uther Pendragon and Igrayne, and guiding him towards his destiny. Key plot points include Arthyr’s apprenticeship to Sir Lionel, his mistreatment by Kay, finding the sword in the stone, and being proclaimed King of Britain at age 12. Act Two covers Arthyr’s reign, training under his father Uther, his first battle victory, and challenges involving the sorceress-nymphs Nimue, Morgan LeFay, Morgause, and saving Merlyn. The act culminates with Arthyr and Uther taking up residence at Caerleon, preparing to unite Britain. There are numerous musical numbers, prophecies delivered by Anna, and details about Keepers and Protectors who manipulate the details of the story to ensure Arthyr’s destiny and prevent others from discovering who Merlyn really is.

CAST: 6m, 6f, + ensemble
- ANNA, a prophetess out of time, a Keeper/Protector, daughter of Joseph of Arimathea, descended from King David; made a Keeper by Gildas around the same time as Merlyn was [can deliver the prophesies and even narrate/introduce, when necessary.] (f)
- MERLYN EMRYS [Emrys meaning immortal], the boy, now man, who lived backwards in time from the 20^th Century to Atlantis then forward again, Keeper and Protector of Arthyr, if he a carries a staff, he calls it Erwydd (air-oo-ith) (m)
- ARTHYR PENDRAGON, the boy King who was foretold from both the future and the past, age 12-14 Raised by Merlyn (who stole him away the morning after his birth) and a wet nurse, then at age 12 apprenticed to Sir Lionel. (m)
- SIR LIONEL, a Knight, loyal to Uther (m)
- SIR KAY, his son, young enough to only be loyal to himself, for the time being (m)
- UTHER PENDRAGON, Arthyr’s father, unknown to Arthyr until revealed by Merlyn, was born Romulus Augustus, the last Emperor of Rome, smuggled out by Merlyn to Britannia at a young age. High King of Britain. (m)
- NIMUE — a capriciously magical Cornish water nymph (also known as Elayne, the Lady of the Lake) charged with the end of Merlyn, oldest half-sister to Arthyr through Igrayne and Gorlois. As The Lady of the Lake she gave Excalibur to Arthyr and then imprisons Merlyn out of jealousy — because she can. (f)
- MORGAUSE — Nimués sister, a Cornish sorceress, charged with magically corrupting 14-year-old Arthyr, middle half-sister to Arthyr, sharing the same mother, Igrayne, her father is Gorlois. Later she is the wife of King Lot of Orkney and mother to Gawain, Agravain, Gaheris, Gareth, and Mordred, (Arthyr’s son). Her hatred stems from Gorlois’ death, the rape of her mother, and her resentment towards Uther, whom she believes was responsible for it. She also feels a deep sense of betrayal and anger by Arthur’s continuation of Uther’s rule. (f)
- MORGANA [Morgan LeFey—meaning Fairy] — Nimués sister, a Cornish sorceress, youngest half-sister to Arthyr, daughter of Igrayne, but not Gorlois, instead, an un-named wood nymph. She schemes to usurp Arthyr’s throne, much later indirectly becoming an instrument of his death. (f)
- GILDAS, a Keeper of the First Order, teacher to Merlyn, and Anna, a person of ultimate magical power, the only Keeper who knows that Merlyn was born in the present time and lived all the way back to Atlantis, where he gained his education and magical powers. (f)
- THE RED DRAGON [Kilgarrah] — a large puppet manipulated by several performers and voiced by ONE (or ALL) (gender neutral)
- OTHER KNIGHTS
  - MARC — a minor Cornish King sworn to aid ARTHYR (m)
  - LOT — King of Orkney, husband to Morgause, father of the following (m):
  - AGRAVAYNE — (“adopted”, skilled fighter known for malice and villainy, yet sometimes capable of heroic deeds, Igrayne’s younger full brother, Arthyr’s Uncle) (m)
  - GAWAIN — (heroic, compassionate warrior, nephew, becomes closest of companions to ARHTYR) (m)
  - GAHERIS — (nephew of, and exceptional skill in combat and unwavering loyalty to ARTHYR) (m)
  - GARETH — (heroic, loyal, brave and honorable, youngest and often most chivalrous of the Orkney princes, nephew to ARTHYR) (m)
- QUEEN IGRAYNE of Cornwall married to KING GORLOIS of Cornwall, is the daughter of Amlawdd Wledig, a king of Wales, and Gwenn, a princess of northern Britain. Her children are Nimue and Morgause through Gorlois, and Arthyr through Uther, and Morgana through a wood nymph. Agravayne is her brother, adopted after their parents were killed by the High King Uther Pendragon. Her father is a desdendant of the sister of Joseph of Arimithea, Enigeus (f)
- KING GORLOIS of Cornwall, a minor king who took affront from Uther Pendragon and Uther declared war on him. Gorlois died in battle, while Uther seduced his wife, Igrayne. He is the father of Nimue and Morgause. (m)
- SAXONS
- TOWNESPEOPLE
- ARTHYR’S SOLDIERS
Set around 500 AD in various locations in Britain.
About 90 minutes.

PERUSAL SCRIPT (act one only)

LIST OF SONGS:

ACT ONE
Prologue — the mists of time
- MUSICAL #1a — THE NEVER-TOLD TALE OF ARTHYR — Nimue, Morgause, Morgana, Igrayne,
Scene One — a forest in Devon, about 480 AD
- MUSICAL #1b — CHANGE — Merlyn, Arthyr
PROPHECY 1 — ARTHYR’S DESTINY – Merlin
- MUSICAL #2 — IF THAT IS NOT A FATHER… — Arthyr
Scene Two — Castle Tintagel, in Cornwall
- MUSICAL #3 — MIGHT TO RIGHT — Merlyn & Arthyr
PROPHECY 2 — IGRAYNE’S CHOICE — Anna
- MUSICAL #4 — TWO ARE A PAIR — Anna
Scene Three — the mists of time
- MUSICAL #5 — KEEPERS AND PROTECTORS — Anna & Gildas
Scene Four — a forest in Devon
- MUSICAL #6 — TO BE BELIEVED — Merlyn
Scene Five — Glastonbury in Devon, Jousting Arena
- MUSICAL #7 — FOLLOW YOUR HEART — Merlyn
Scene Six — Glastonbury in Devon, towne square
PROPHECY 3 — RISE OF EXCALIBUR — Merlyn
- MUSICAL #8 — ONE TRUE KING — Townespeople & Merlyn
ACT TWO
Scene One — the mists of time
- MUSICAL #9 — PROPHECY 4: FROM ROME [MERLYN] — Anna
Scene Two — Caerleon, Wales
- MUSICAL #10 — IT IS THERE! — Arthyr and Merlyn
Scene Three — The Cave of the Red Dragon
- MUSICAL #11 — I SEE MYSELF — Arthyr & The Red Dragon
- MUSICAL #12 — A BOY AS KING! — Uther and Arthyr
Scene Four — Northumberland, A promontory with castle and moat
- MUSICAL #13 — WHERE TWO RIVERS MEET — Company
Scene Five — The mists of time
- MUSICAL #14 — PROPHECY 5: [LOVE OF A NYMPH] — Anna and Gildas
Scene Six — Broceliande Forest
- MUSICAL #15 —WHERE I STAND — Merlyn
- MUSICAL #16 — SING ME A REFLECTION — Nimué and Merlyn
Scene Seven — the mists of time
- MUSICAL #17 — PROPHECY 6: IMPEGGED [NIMUE] — Anna
Scene Eight — Castle of the Women, Edinburgh, Scotland
- MUSICAL #18 — PROPHECY 7: TAPESTRY [MORGANA] — Anna
- MUSICAL #19 — MAGIC IS — Merlyn, Arthyr
Scene Nine — Alderley Edge, Snowdonia, Wales
- MUSICAL #20 — THE QUEST — Merlyn, Arthyr
Scene Ten — Castle Caerleon, Wales
Scene Eleven — The Round Table, Castle Caerleon, Wales
- MUSICAL #21 — CROSSED SWORDS AND ROUND TABLE [FINALE]