1497: These Foolish Kings Remind Me Of…

Cast:

  • Royal Court
  • Jester(Male or Female)
  • Mertonsire (Male or Female)
  • Morgan Wherechild (A sorcerer or sorceress)
  • Barley and Stout (Two Thugs or Thugettes)
  • Bud (An Audience Thug)
  • Two Guards
  • Butch (An Audience Guard)
  • Chicken Person
  • Town Crier

Synopsis:

This script is not exactly over the edge, but don’t look down. As with other scripts, all dialogue is supplied from the opening words of the Town Crier to the farewell by the Jester. There is opportunity for some witty improvisation both from the actors and from the audience participants. Wow!

The story is divided into four acts, three of which occur during the meal. The plot begins with the Jester encountering Mertonsire who has just been fired by the King. Mertonsire decides to get revenge on the King and, would you believe, just at that time a Sorcerer, Morgan Wherechild, appears. Merton asks the logical question,

“Do you right wrongs?” to which Morgan responds, “I right the wrongs that makes the whole world ring.”

Merton asks to change places with the King, and together they leave to plan and plot.

In the second act, Morgan casts a spell on the King who turns not into Merton, but into a giant chicken. (Warning: Do not try this at home.)

In act three, Morgan lifts the spell on the King, who in an attempt to be safe from the sorcerer’s spells, changes places with the Jester. This turn of events provokes some of the greatest laughs in six centuries of Madrigal Dinner history. (Trust me on this.)

The final act uncovers a plot to kidnap the King. (Is this called “Kingnapping?”) Two thugs, Stout and Barley recruit a third thug from the audience, and in a rollicking case of mistaken identity, try to spirit away the King not once, three times, botching each attempt. The two Royal Guards recruit an audience guard and together bring the thugs to justice. Morgan disappears in a timely manner, Mertonsire gets his job back as Attaché of Etiquette, the King returns to the royal throne, and all live happily ever after. By all accounts this is one of the funniest and zaniest Madrigal Dinner scripts.