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Overview

Synopsis

This all-sung, all-rhymed musical was championed by such notables as Al Hirschfeld, Harold Prince, and Leonard Cohen. It is uniquely educational in demonstrating all vocal types, as embodied by its “Circus of Voices.”

Set in Victorian England, Charlotte Sweet spotlights Charlotte, a girl with one of the highest & most beautiful soprano voices in the world. Because of her father's debts, she is forced to leave Ludlow Ladd (her Liverpool sweetheart) and join Barnaby Bugaboo's Circus of Voices: a troupe of freak voices including low-voiced Katinka Bugaboo, fast-voiced Harry Host, bubble-voiced Cecily Macintosh, and Skitzy Scofield (with dual personalities & voices).

Becoming the troupe's biggest sensation, Charlotte is mercilessly exploited by Barnaby until she has a vocal breakdown. Thereupon, Barnaby & his wife Katinka addict Charlotte to helium balloons in order to maintain her high notes. Only when Ludlow Ladd arrives in disguise, is Charlotte able to rescue herself, in a scene full of surprises.

Show Information

Music
Gerald J. Markoe
Lyrics
Michael Colby
Libretto
Michael Colby
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1982
Genres
Satire, Comedy
Settings
Unit/Single Set, Period
Time & Place
End of the Victorian era, England
Cast Size
medium
Licensor
Theatrical Rights Worldwide
Ideal For
Community Theatre, College/University, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Includes Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Charlotte Sweet

Lead

Female

Soprano

Ludlow Ladd Grimble

Lead

Male

Tenor

Bob Sweet

Supporting

Male

Bass-Baritone

Barnaby Bugaboo

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Katinka Bugaboo

Supporting

Female

Alto, Contralto

Harry Host

Supporting

Male

Baritone, Tenor

Cecily MacIntosh

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano

Skitzy Schofield

Supporting

Female

Alto

Songs

Act One

  • "At the Music Hall" — Harry and Ensemble
  • "Charlotte Sweet" — Bob, Charlotte, and Ensemble
  • "A Daughter of Valentine's Day" — Charlotte and Ensemble
  • "Forever" — Ludlow and Charlotte
  • "Liverpool Sunset" — Ensemble
  • "Layers of Underwear" — Bob, Katinka, Barnaby, and Charlotte
  • "Quartet Agonistes" — Katinka, Barnaby, Charlotte, and Bob
  • "Forever (Reprise)" — Barnaby and Katinka
  • "The Circus of Voices" — Barnaby, Katinka, Skitzy, Cecily, Harry, and Charlotte
  • "Keep It Low" — Katinka and Men’s Chorus (Harry and Skitzy)
  • "Bubbles In Me Bonnet" — Cecily
  • "Vegetable Reggie" — Harry
  • "My Baby and Me" — Skitzy
  • "A-Weaving" — Charlotte
  • "Your High Note!" — Charlotte, Barnaby, and Katinka
  • "Katinka/The Darkness" — Barnaby

Act Two

  • "On It Goes" – Bob and Ensemble
  • "You See In Me a Bobby" – “Patrick”, Barnaby, and Katinka
  • "A Christmas Bûche" – Charlotte, Cecily, Skitzy, and Harry
  • "The Letter (Me Charlotte Dear)" – Ludlow
  • "Dover" – Skitzy
  • "Volley of Indecision" – Skitzy, Harry, and Charlotte
  • "Good Things Come" – Cecily
  • "It Could Only Happen In the Theatre" – Cecily, Skitzy, “Patrick,” and Harry
  • "Lonely Canary" – Charlotte
  • "Queenly Comments" – “The Queen,” Barnaby, Katinka, “Patrick,” and Charlotte
  • "Surprise! Surprise!" – Ensemble
  • "The Reckoning" – Ensemble
  • "Farewell to Auld Lang Syne/Finale" – Ensemble

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Videos

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Themes, Symbols & Motifs

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher