
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 |
---|---|---|---|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
Lead |
Male |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Supporting |
Male |
Soprano |
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
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
Scenes
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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