Jason Howland
An Operatic Tragedy
[Jo, spoken]
It's a mean and stormy night
The moors are bleak and bloody
Thunder claps! Lightning strikes!
The fair Clarissa, her clothes in disarray
Races across the wild coastal heath
(sung)
Now she stops, now she runs!
Will she escape, will she be caught?
(spoken)
With bold determination, the villainous aristocrat
Braxton Prendergast, lurches for her
(sung)
There's no escape
She's but a child
And yet she turns to fight
With eyes ablaze
This noble girl
Meets his gaze
Unafraid
She will not be defiled!
[Clarissa/Jo, spoken]
Keep away from me you wretch!
[Braxton/Jo, spoken]
I cannot keep away
Your beauty draws me
Your passion ignites me
[Braxton, sung]
I've got to hold you
[Clarissa]
I defy you!
[Braxton]
Got to have you
[Clarissa]
Let me by you!
[Braxton]
Come close-
[Clarissa]
Don't come too close-
[Braxton]
Come close-
[Clarissa]
Don't come too close-
[Braxton & Clarissa]
So close, so close to me
[Braxton, spoken]
I'll have her, and the mother too
[Jo, spoken]
And at that moment, Rodrigo appears in magnificent splendor!
[Rodrigo/Jo, spoken]
Unhand that woman, villain!
[Braxton, spoken]
Spoken: Who are you?
[Rodrigo/Jo]
I am your destiny, your bitterest foe
You stole what was rightly mine ten long years ago
You left me cold, alone and forgotten
Now I'm back to settle the score
[Professor Bhaer, spoken]
Miss March!