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Overview

Synopsis

Taking place in South Africa, the opera/musical begins with the black priest, Stephen Kumalo, pining for his son Absalom, who has long since left home to earn money for his future education. Reverend Kumalo has had no word from Absalom in a year. Reverend Kumalo soon finds out that his son has been arrested and condemned for killing a white man. Before Absalom is hung for his crime, Reverend Kumalo and the murdered man's father, James Jarvis, begin a journey together towards compassion and understanding instead of loathing and retaliation.

Show Information

Book
Maxwell Anderson
Music
Kurt Weill
Lyrics
Maxwell Anderson
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1949
Genres
Time & Place
1949, south africa
Cast Size
large
Licensor
Concord Theatricals
Ideal For
Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast

Context


Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Rev. Stephen Kumalo

Lead

Male

Baritone

Absalom Kumalo

Lead

Male

Grace Kumalo

Supporting

Female

Spoken

John Kumalo

Supporting

Male

Spoken

James Jarvis

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Arthur Jarvis

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Edward Jarvis

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Mark Eland

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Matthew Kumalo

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Johannes Pafuri

Supporting

Male

Spoken

Alex

Supporting

Male

Soprano

Irina

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Paulus

Featured

Male

Spoken

William

Featured

Male

Spoken

Rose

Featured

Female

Spoken

Linda

Featured

Female

Spoken

Songs

Act I

  • "The Hills of Ixopo" – Leader and Singers
  • "Thousands of Miles" – Stephen Kumalo
  • "Train to Johannesburg" – Leader and Singers
  • "The Search" – Stephen Kumalo, Leader and Singers
  • "The Little Gray House" – Stephen Kumalo and Singers
  • "Who'll Buy?" – Linda
  • "Trouble Man" – Irina
  • "Murder in Parkwold" – Singers
  • "Fear!" – Singers
  • "Lost in the Stars" – Stephen Kumalo and Singers

Act II

  • "The Wild Justice" – Leader and Singers
  • "O Tixo, Tixo, Help Me!" – Stephen Kumalo
  • "Stay Well" – Irina
  • "Cry, the Beloved Country" – Leader and Singers
  • "Big Mole" – Alex
  • "A Bird of Passage" – Villager and Singers
  • "Four O'Clock" – Singers

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

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Scenes

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