Belinda
BELINDA
A new musical adapted from the play Belinda: An April Folly by A. A. Milne
Adaptation and Lyrics by Alisa Hauser, Music by David Mallamud
Before A.A. Milne gave us Winnie-the-Pooh, he wrote a deliciously comedic and romantic play Belinda: An April Folly, which premiered on the West End in 1918. Belinda was ahead of its time, exploring the battle of the sexes set against the carefree English countryside, where lovers pine and romance renews each Spring. Fast forward to 2022 where Emmy-nominated Alisa Hauser (Book Adaptation and Lyrics) and David Mallamud (Composer) once again bring Belinda to life in this new musical comedy adaptation. In today’s fraught climate, couldn’t we all use a little frolic and folly?
CREATIVE TEAM
ALISA HAUSER (Book, Lyrics, Adaptation)
Alisa was nominated for a 2014 EMMY award for Outstanding Music and Lyrics for her song “No Trouble” from A Christmas Carol - The Concert (PBS). With music by Bob Christianson, she wrote the book adaptation and lyrics for this symphonic retelling of the Dickens classic. (achristmascaroltheconcert.com) Also for television she has written lyrics, with composer Stephen Sislen, for the Disney Channel's Johnny And The Sprites. For the theatre she has written the short musical The Weather Man with composer Philip Palmer, which had its world premiere at the New Works Festival at Clear Space Productions in Delaware. She also wrote an original song (music and lyrics) for the Weston Playhouse production of Stuart Little. Her cabaret songs have been heard in various venues around the country including the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Ars Nova and Joe’s Pub in New York City, and in Dayton, Ohio at the Encore Theatre Company’s Big Fat Concert Series. As an actress, Alisa has performed on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Grease, and the original cast of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. She is a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Member AEA, SAG-AFTRA, Television Academy and the Dramatists Guild. alisahauser.com
DAVID MALLAMUD (Music)
David recently collaborated with Playwright Philip Dawkins on Dr. Seuss’s The Sneetches: The Musical, which premiered in February at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. His musical Flight School, (written with Joshua Cohen and Cara Lustik) was produced this past spring in NYC (Vital Theatre) and is currently touring China and the US. His CD, The Wild & Whimsical Worlds of David Mallamud (Broadway Records) received a Broadway World Album Award for Best New Compilation. David also recently worked with Mike Mills (of R.E.M. fame), arranging and composing additional music for his Concerto for Rock Band and Violin (Orange Mountain Music). His current projects include a new adaptation of Treasure Island with Joshua Cohen, a new musical with Emmy-nominated Librettist Alisa Hauser, and Dangerous: The Pentagon Papers with librettist Len Schiff. His orchestral music has been performed by the New World, Harrisburg, and Albany symphonies, among others.
David was a 2016/17 Dramatist Guild Fellow, a MacDowell Fellow, recipient of two ASCAP Young Composer Awards, a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy of Arts And Letter,
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
(3M/3F - Belinda is written for 6 actors but can be expanded to included an ensemble.)
BELINDA, an attractive woman in her early 40's. While she is a grown woman she maintains
a very child-like view of the world, even though in the past it has cost her. She loves fun,
games and flirting.. She loves to feel loved, and yet the only true love she ever had walked out
on her 18 years ago. Perhaps it is time for her to grow up.
DELIA, Belinda's daughter, 19. A stunning young woman, who doesn't yet realize the power
of her beauty. She longs for adventure and possibly romance, but in that order.
BETTY, Belinda's maid, 30's. A true bookworm, slightly nerdy, and very sweet. She wears
glasses and secretly longs for love like she reads about in her books.
DEVENISH, a handsome poet. Early 20's. Claude Devenish is the utmost romantic poet, a
hippie of his time he wears his hair long in an attempt to express his contempt for "so-called"
society.
BAXTER, a statistician, Late 30's, bald. A stuffy, anxiety riddled man. Perhaps a physical
contrast to DEVENISH. He longs for a wife, but really just wants someone to take care of
him, doing his laundry and cooking his meals.
TREMAYNE, Belinda's former husband. Early 40's and of large, strong build. Intimidating
physical presence. Has been off hunting Lions and other adventures for the past 18 years
since he left Belinda.
Running time – approximately 2 hours with intermission.
SYNOPSIS
The story begins in beautiful Devonshire, England at Belinda Tremayne’s country estate. The time is April 1914. Our leading lady, Belinda, an attractive woman in her early 40’s enters to try out her new hammock and contemplate her latest dilemma: should she marry the poor but romantic poet, Claude Devenish, or the wealthy but stuffy statistician, Harold Baxter?
Her daughter, Delia, arrives home from boarding school in Paris. They have a cheery reunion and Delia is brought up to date on all her mother’s romantic adventures. Betty, Belinda’s bookish maid, informs Belinda that her two suitors are waiting. Suddenly, Belinda realizes that if they knew she had a grown daughter they probably wouldn’t want to marry her and all the fun would be over. So they make a plan. Delia will “pretend” to be her niece, “Miss Robinson.”
Belinda then concocts a plan. Devenish and Baxter are given a quest to find Miss Robinson’s father. The victor shall win Belinda’s hand in marriage. Of course this is impossible as Miss Robinson is fictional, but the quest will keep the men busy and make for a fun time. But what Belinda hasn’t counted on is the lost stranger who shows up at her garden gate and stirs up real feelings she’d long since forgotten.
What follows is an evening of hidden identities, illicit meetings in dark closets, and runaway lamb chops. Will Belinda really fall in love? Who is the stranger who appeared in her garden? How could Baxter possibly find Miss Robinson's father when he doesn't exist? Of course, being a true musical comedy, all questions are answered, mates matched, and lovers reunited in the end.
SONG LIST:
1. Something In The Air
2. In My Position
3. Let’s Pretend
4. Last Petal Picked
5. If I Were Romantic
6. Quest for the Robinsons
7. Closet Ballet part 1
8. Lamb’s Song
9. Eight More Hours
10. Dinner Song
11. Closet Ballet part 2
12. It’s Me or Devenish and Baxter
13. Made For More
14. Garden Ballet
15. Moonflower Song
16. In My Position Reprise/Finale
DEMOS
Ricky Todd Adams (Tremayne), Deniz Cordell (Baxter), Susan Haefner (Betty), Alisa Hauser (Belinda), Theresa Kloos (Delia), Kevin David Thomas (Devenish)
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
April 2015 Reading, Andover, VT (Featuring Susan Haefner as Belinda)
October 2018 - Public Reading at Williamston Theatre (Dark Nights in Billtown Series)
December 2019 - Reading at Williamston Theatre
CONTACT
For perusal material please contact Alisa Hauser: alisahauser@gmail.com