Two sets, and two costumes.
The first act is set in a palm grove in the gardens of one King
Paramount, with the sea in the distance. Hot balmy weather. The
maidens laze luxuriously. The vice-chamberlain Calynx comes with the
news that King P's daughter, the Princess Zara is returning to Utopia
after 5 years' study at Girton college, England, and soon, with her
help, Utopia will be completely anglicised. How can Utopia be improved
upon? Why, with English customs, tastes and fashions. The language has
already changed to English.
In comes a curious character Tarara, the Public Exploder (?) Now this
office is second only to the Utopian supreme court, and thus its
incumbent is a very powerful man indeed. He explains that he has been
appointed by the two wise men, Scaphio and Phantis, with blowing up
anybody they may denounce. This even extends to the King, and having
come across a scandal sheet 'The Palace Peeper' accusing the King of
all sorts of things, he is enraged that he has not already been called
upon to blow up the king.
Phantis is 55 and fancies Princess Zara, Scaphio is 66 and has never
known what love is. Enter King P - with chorus etc., and proclaims
that Utopia is to be modelled on Great Britain. His daughters, Nekaya
and Kalyba have been 'finished' by an English lady, Lady Sophy. The
king is deeply fond of Lady S., and she cannot understand why such
scandalous things written in the Palace Peeper, are allowed to
continue. The king hums and has, since the Wise men have instructed
him to be the writer. He is not really a despot, but under Scaphio and
Phantis' thumb.
Enter Princess Zara, plus chorus and escorted by Captain
Fitzbattleaxe, a British warrior of great renown, and 4 officers of
the life-guards. Scaphio sees Zara and falls for her, and so Captain
FitzB claims that as the two gentlemen cannot decide which loves Zara,
until one of them blows his brains out, she shall be entrusted to a
British officer ie him. A likely tale, because SHE loves HIM.....
Zara has seen the Palace Peeper, and the king confesses to her that he
is not an autocratic monarch, but is completely controlled by the 2
wise men. The Princess tells him not to worry as she just happens to
have brought from England, to help her in her task of Anglicisation, 6
'representatives of the main causes that has made Britain great', and
all he has to do is put his country in their hands. The six men - the
'Flowers of Progress' come on in turn and tell us all what they can
do. To finish Act one, the King decides to take one advice at least,
and turn Utopia into a limited company, the 'Utopia, Ltd.' of the
title.
Act two is set in the Throne room of the Palace and Capt FitzB pouring
his heart out to Zara. Next the king (now dressed as a Field Marshal)
holds his 1st cabinet meeting with the six Flowers of Progress, rather
like a nigger minstrel song. This can be a showstopper if done
well.... The country is doing so well that they no longer need lawyers
since there is no crime, no military because there are no wars, no
doctors since there is no disease. Where have they gone wrong ? "I
know" says Zara, "we have omitted government by party. All will be
well, since one party will assuredly undo all that the other party has
done" Everything then ends happily.
This show could be difficult to cast - there are a lot of male parts,
if you see what I mean, the six men plus the king, the 2 wise men,
Capt FitzB and the 4 life guards. However the `Flowers of Progress' do
not have to be cast with men, at least one could be a woman. All have
to do some (but not a lot) of singing. The `nigger minstrel' song can
be a real showstopper though. Two completely separate sets would also
be required, to add to the expense. Also there would be two complete
sets of costumes required. Due to its expense and the requirement of
17 parts and bit parts, it has not been popular with either amateurs
or professionals, although it would have some rarity value especially
if marketed aggressively. Set in a South Sea island of Utopia.
