Kidnapped in London
Corin is the son of two shepherds in sixteenth-century England. While visiting London with his parents, Corin watches The Players of Blackfriars perform the comedy The Dame’s Displeasure. Corin is distracted by the play and gets separated from his parents. Not sure of what to do, he sits down and starts to sing. A group of rogues discover Corin all alone, but he is able to defend himself with some graceful dance-fight combat. Burbage, the leader of The Players of Blackfriars, sees the whole scene unfold and helps break up the fight. He notes Corin’s natural theatrical talent and asks if he would like to join the players. Corin declines because he wants to find his parents and go home, but Burbage insists that he should come with them. Corin still refuses, so Burbage kidnaps him and takes him with them. While with the players, Corin meets Joseph, another young boy actor, who tells Corin that he should appreciate Burbage. However, Corin is still reluctant and wishes to go home. Burbage promises that if Corin performs for a while with the players that he will get to go home.
--
Originally produced in CTC’s 1969-70 season
Audience Recommendation: 6+
Run Time: 70 minutes
Click HERE to request a performance license.
“Timothy Mason’s ‘Kidnapped in London’ harkens back to the Elizabethan England when London’s streets were teeming with their own colorful theater, creating a sense of life that has been irresistible to us ever since.” -Minneapolis Star Tribune
Click »here for a PDF excerpt. (Adobe Acrobat is required)