Howling Twain

Based on Mark Twain’s novels
Pudd’nhead Wilson
and
Those Extraordinary Twins

Libretto, Music and Lyrics
by Robert Locke

Arranged by
Philip Howard and Rob Carli

Musical Direction by Philip Howard

Roxy ............. Susan Goodrich
Pudd'nhead Wilson ............. Philip Howard
Jasper ............. Robert Locke
York / Lancaster Driscoll ............. Rodney Kingsnorth
Manley Weston ............. Michael Kreutzberg
Hope Darling ............. Robin Kesich
Pembroke Howard ............. Howard Holt
"Tom" ............. Jacob Clark Blickenstaff
"Happy" ............. Cline Moore
Glory ............. Cheryl Locke
Rowena Driscoll ............. Pheonix Vaughn
Angelo Cappello ............. Lucas Harbour
Luigi Cappello ............. Jason Stevens
Delilah Delight ............. Michael Kreutzberg
Lou ............. Cheryl Locke
Sheriff Matthews ............. Michael Kreutzberg

Performed November, 2002, at California Stage, Sacramento CA
Recorded, mixed and mastered
by Philip Howard at The Right Music,
www.therightmusic.com

Song by Song Synopsis

Howling Twain cd available from Robert Locke

The songs: “I’m Headed West” and “Oh No!” can be downloaded as .mp3 files and take about a minute to download with a dsl connection.

1. Opening

100 years go by as an African chorus is overtaken by a white chorus and transformed to a slave chorus in Frontier Landing, Missouri, 1836.

 

 

2. Floatin’ and Dreamin’

Roxy, a slave who looks white, croons to two babies: the master’s baby Tom, and her own baby Happy. Jasper flirts with Roxy.

 

 

3. Oh, It’s Okay

Roxy assures Pudd’nhead that she is used to white men using her. Jasper is bitter while Pudd’nhead protests.

 

 

4. If Someone

Roxy looks for a way out. Jasper and Pudd’nhead know it’s useless.

 

 

5. I’m Headed West

A riverboat stops in Frontier Landing. York and Lancaster, twins who own Jasper and Roxy, try to get the passengers to stay. Pembroke helps; Pudd’nhead is ironic. A slave auction is held and Lancaster makes a great deal on a husband and pregnant wife. He will sell them separately down the river to the plantations where prices are high and life for a slave is worse than death. Roxy and Jasper mourn for the hapless slaves while the passengers resume their journey north and west.

 

 

Singers on the CD in order of appearance: Rodney Kingsnorth as first York and later as Lancaster Driscoll, Michael Kreutzberg as Manly Weston, Robin Kesich as Hope Darling, Philip Howard as Pudd'nhead Wilson, Howard Holt as Pembroke Howard, Susan Goodrich as Roxy, Robert Locke as Jasper.

 

 

6. Oh No!

Finding out Lancaster means to sell her own baby down the river, Roxy secretly exchanges Happy for Tom. From this point on Happy is known as “Tom” and Tom is known as “Happy”.

 

 

Roxy is sung on the CD by Susan Goodrich.

 

 

7. Go Off!

22 years pass. Lancaster dies, having freed Roxy in his will. “Happy” and his girlfriend Glory celebrate. Jasper, still a slave, makes plans to run off with Roxy.

 

 

8. In Love or Insane?

Rowena, York’s daughter, falls in love with Angelo, one half of conjoined twins who have arrived to give Rowena piano lessons. Luigi, joined to Angelo side by side, broods on his brother’s infatuation.

 

 

9. Yours Truly, Saint Looey

Delilah Delight, in blackface drag, lampoons St. Louis where “Tom” has taken Roxy, dressed like a white woman, for one night on the town before he sells her back into slavery. This sale is Roxy’s plan to get the money to pay her son’s gambling debts. “Tom” does not know that Roxy is his mother but accepts this sacrifice from his “old nurse mammy” happily.

 

 

10. Home

Jasper has run off and followed Roxy to St. Louis. Roxy tells Jasper to go home before it’s too late.

 

 

Lou, another slave on the auction block, reveals to Roxy that she has been sold down the river. The ironies of “home” swirl around all the members of the cast.

 

 

12. ACT II Opening

Three months have passed. The white and black people go to separate churches. “Happy” sings of losing Roxy while “Tom” and York sing of Amazing Grace. Roxy and Lou, down the river, bury Lou’s baby boy who has died of starvation. Jasper and Pudd’nhead lament Roxy’s absence.

 

 

13. Now Let’s Not Be Hasty

In spite of ever deeper love for Angelo, Rowena does have a misgiving about marriage with him. Angelo sees no problem; Luigi is stoic.

 

 

14. Half-Dogs

As Frontier Landing is about to become a city, Pembroke and the men want to run Luigi for mayor, Rowena and the women want to run Angelo the Angel, and “Tom” pushes for his uncle York. Pudd’nhead gets goaded by Pembroke into standing for mayor without hope of a single vote from any of them.

 

 

15. You Fight, Gal!

Roxy has fought her way to freedom and walked the hundreds of miles back up the river to Frontier Landing, bent on revenge on her son. Roxy reveals to “Tom” his identity and threatens to expose him if he does not get the money to buy her back.

 

 

16. Lynch Him!

Trying to steal the money from “his uncle” York, “Tom” accidentally stabs him to death, then accuses Luigi of the murder.

 

 

17. You’re Not Here Alone

Luigi (with Angelo) is put in jail. Rowena consoles them.

 

 

18. Hard Times

Slaves gather in the yard outside while Pudd’nhead prepares to defend Luigi in court. Going through his collection of fingerprints—a key reason why he is known as Pudd’nhead—he discovers the exchange of babies 22 years earlier. In a final swirl of ironies, “Happy” is restored to his rightful identity and forgives Roxy. “Tom” is claimed as property by Pembroke and sold down the river. Pudd’nhead, now a hero, will win hands-down for mayor. Rowena frees Jasper and Glory, and all vow to work together to end slavery.

 

 

19. ACT II Finale

Rowena, Angelo and Luigi, alongside Roxy, Jasper, “Happy”, Glory and Pudd’nhead urge the townsfolk to abandon slavery, but the townsfolk cleave to Amazing Grace. They all join in a war of melodies on the very brink of the Civil War. Roxy, Jasper and Pudd’nhead end with Dreamin’.

Howling Twain CD available from Lookout Press
Contact: Robert Locke

Copyright © 2004 Robert Locke
All Rights Reserved