the mute prince

play by Maria de Belén Wedeltoft by Giustino

Adaptation by Ruth Salles

It deals with the struggle of a mute prince's parents to find his voice, and the help provided by the archangel Michael.

CHARACTERS:
Choir / King / Queen / Prince / Whisper and his assistants / Beltrão (servant of the King) / Those who form the mountain of echoes / Those who form the dragon called Noise / Archangel Michael.

CHORUS (sings):
“In a distant and beautiful country,
had a king his reign
and lived in a castle
all covered in moss.
Was John a wise king
and above all brave;
and the queen always walked
to help everyone.
Nothing, nothing they lacked.
Oh, but in spite of everything,
both of them were sorry
for her son was mute.
See the prince arrive!
You just can't speak...
When, when we all
shall we hear your voice?”

KING (walking around the scene):
— Ah, if our son's voice
we could hear!
But not!
Just by your look
we see what he feels
in the heart.

QUEEN (pointing to the prince):
– Not all the gold in the kingdom
can give you the gift of speech.
Oh why, why will it be
that your voice is silent?

WHISPERS (appear in gray veils, moving quickly):
- I'm Whisper, sssss,
and I can help.
I know where is the place
where do they all live
the voices of the world!
And your son's voice
I know! Sssss!

KING:
– Are you really
telling the truth?
Well show the way!
Have mercy!
i can give you
whatever you wish.

WHISPER:
- I want nothing in return.
I only know how to keep
secrets very well.
Ssssss,
and count them too!
I go from mouth to mouth,
with my helpers
always whispering.
I am the gossip,
the false witness,
I'm the joke.
however for me
I don't keep anything.
Whisper goes far,
like a wanderer.
Who listen without fear
you will know a secret!

QUEEN:
– Ah, how can I find my son's voice?
Say it, Whisper, I beg you.

WHISPER:
- The king must go to the valley
of the sound echoes
and choose the mountain
where the echo of your voice sounds more often.
When it sounds exactly seven times,
The mountain opens and a terrible dragon appears.
He takes care of a lyre.
It is in it that the prince's voice is hidden.
You'll have to make it sound,
until your fingers hurt from touching.
Only then will your child receive his voice.
But beware of the fierce dragonzzzzzz! (walks out, whispering)

QUEEN:
“Oh, my dear, will you have to leave then?

KING:
- Yes right now! – Beltrão!

BELTRÃO:
– Ready, Your Majesty!

KING:
– Prepare my silver horse!
I want your fur well brushed!
Put on your saddle, give him water and food
and bring him here racing!

BELTRÃO:
– Yes, Your Majesty!

(The queen prays. The king pats his son's head and leaves.)

CHOIR:
- There goes the king riding
on the silver horse,
forests and rivers passing
and flooded swamps.
Valente follows this man,
danger is on your side.
You will feel pain, thirst and hunger,
will swim across the river,
through the marshes ahead
will go the wrong way.
But with constant will,
your destination is reached.

KING:
– This is the sought after place.
There are mountains everywhere.
I'll try the echoes: Ôôôhhh...

(The echo sounds once, three times, six times, then seven times. The mountain opens. The king steps forward. There is a tremendous noise. The dragon appears.)

NOISE DRAGON:
– Who invades my domains?
I have the name of Noise!
I don't let anyone in.
What did the king come to look for?
Don't know that they end here
all the voices that still
no one listened on earth?

Even the mute giraffes
have your voice saved
in bamboo canes
there next to it.
What do you want, King John,
stepping on my floor like that?

KING:
- I came here to look for
the voice of my beloved son,
that in the lyre is kept.

NOISE DRAGON:
– Is it the lyre that the king pursues?
Even giants can't!
Your son's voice is beautiful
and it's very sweet to hear.
She sounds on my lyre
so I can sleep.
The voice that I keep in the lyre
no one can pull it off
behind the deep cave.
I am the Noise dragon!
And only I can cover
the beautiful voices of the world.
Go away! Hear what I say!

KING:
– I will fight Noise! (draws sword)

CHOIR:
- The dragon let out a howl,
and his sword is already down.
It sounds iron against iron,
and even the stone trembles.
Then the king lowers his arm,
exhausted from weariness.

(Noise laughs loudly)

KING:
- Only with heaven's help
can return my vigor.
O Archangel Michael,
help me please!

CHORUS (while the scene goes on):
– Light comes down from heaven,
of a shining sword.
It's Michael fighting,
helping the valiant king.

MICHAEL (stops in front of Noise, swings his sword in S, and the noises cease):
– Noise, you are strong,
but Silence will win!
That quiet their noises,
that torment the senses!
you must withdraw
and in the cave to hide!

(Michael makes another S-move of silence with his sword. Noise shrinks and disappears.)

CHOIR:
– The king then takes the lyre
and touch, touch without fear.
And the songs, like a treasure,
come out of the golden strings.
With the pain in your fingers,
almost stops playing.
But keep playing
and back to the castle.
Playing, the day is born,
ringing, the night already descends.
With your sore fingers,
King John is already suffering.
But keep playing
and the castle is coming...
Here comes your son talking!

PRINCE (runs to the king):
- Thanks to you, my father,
i am now talking.
I will take care of the wounds
from your dear hands.

KING (hugs son):
– To the Archangel Michael
we must thank.
he came from heaven
and helped me to win.

CHORUS (sings the song at the beginning, changing only the last quatrain; everyone sings along):
“In a distant and beautiful country,
had a king his reign
and lived in a castle
all covered in moss.
Was John a wise king
and above all brave;
and the queen always walked
to help everyone.
Nothing, nothing they lacked.
Oh, but in spite of everything,
both of them lamented,
for her son was mute.
But the archangel Michael
came down from heaven.
The good king wanted to help:
behold your son speaking!”

END