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A truly romantic musical - Abelard and Heloise are nearly as famous a pair of tragic lovers as the fictional Romeo and Juliet; their shared passion for knowledge, religious faith, and one another sealed their destiny. Abelard was a well-respected, 12th-century Parisian scholar and teacher, and Heloise was his talented young student. These two worlds collided with a forbidden lust which resulted in a pregnancy and secret marriage, and when their union could no longer withstand the challenges in its path, each lover sought refuge in the church--Abelard became a monk and Heloise an abbess. The musical is told through Abelard's point of view - (Taken right out of his letters "History of my Calamities")
Music By Stephen DeCesare
Lyrics By Stephen DeCesare
Book/Libretto by: Stephen DeCesare
Synopsis
Our story begins in Paris where the lovers meet. Heloise notices Abelard and hears his teachings and falls for him immediately. Abelard notices Heloise and he decides to take her as his lover. He has his servant Guibert offer a business proposition to her uncle Canon Fulbert that in exchange for board, he would teach Heloise. Fulbert, very anxious to see his niece move ahead educationally, agrees. The lessons turn into scenes of love and Abelard and Heloise spout more words of love than of the lessons. Rumors start flying about Paris of the young lovers, but Canon Fulbert does not believe them because of Abelard’s reputation of being celibate and of his seriousness to philosophy. The ones who suffer most out of all this, are Abelard’s students. When Abelard does end up teaching, it is usually about words of love. His students think it’s great that he’s “sowing his wild oats”. All except one, Alain. When he confronts Abelard about the disgrace he is bringing upon them and philosophy, Abelard in so many words, tells him that is none of his business. Alain, infuriated with him, believes this is the last straw and swears revenge. Alain then bribes Guibert to spy on Abelard to try and get some dirt on him. Guibert agrees. He ends up seeing Abelard and Heloise making love and just when he was about to tell Alain, he bumps into Heloise’s servant, Aveline. Guibert, who is very horny, decides he wants Aveline. As he tries to pursue her, Canon Fulbert walks in on them. Fulbert angrily storms into Heloise’s room to tell Abelard of his servant’s atrocity, when he catches them in the act. Abelard, now banished, tries to figure out what to do to keep seeing Heloise. Guibert tells him that Heloise is pregnant. So that night, Abelard hides Heloise at his sister’s house. Fulbert, furious with rage, is confronted by Abelard saying that he will marry Heloise in exchange that the marriage be kept secret. Fulbert agrees, but not for long. He and Alain start telling everyone they know about the marriage. Heloise quickly rebuts anything they proclaim. Fulbert beats down on her. Abelard, on hearing of the abuse that Heloise is experiencing, sends her to the convent of Argenteuil. Alain, hearing of this plot, informs Canon Fulbert. Fulbert thinking that this is Abelard’s way of ridding himself of Heloise, decides to take matters into his own hands. Fulbert, his family and Alain, then arrive at the monastery where Abelard is lodging. They bribe Guibert into letting them in. They sneak up into Abelard’s room and punish him where he had sinned (Castration). A few days later, Aveline and a monk are taking care of him in the monastery and Aveline informs him that Guibert and Alain were caught by his students and they were also castrated, blinded, and left for dead. The monk tries to convince Abelard that now he can be a philosopher for God, now that he is not inhibited by the flesh. What convinces Abelard, is a letter by Heloise when she tells him that it is the right thing to do. The final scene is when Abelard is dying. Heloise, who has now been made Mother Superior, goes over with some of her cloister to see the dying Abelard. They exchange a few words of love, and then he dies.
Song List
- Gregorian Chant
- Paris
- You Have To Believe In Yourself
- Heloise
- Instructions On Heloise
- I Want A Man
- Heartstrings
- The Wonderful Me
- Bell' Amour
- Come Fly With Me To The Casbah
- Alain's Epiphany
- Kiss Across The Ocean
- Beauty
- Only He/Only Him
- How Can I Live Without Her
- Feast Of Fools
- Fulbert's Awakening
- There's Something 'Bout A Woman
- Wedding Processional
- Wedding Song (Through The Years)
- Everybody Loves A Scandal
- Stay With Me
- Angel Without A Halo
- Now Is The Acceptable Time
- Eternal Light
- Saints Of God
Cast List
Abelard, Heloise, Fulbert, Guibert, Aveline, Alain, Gerard, Gilles, Louis, Philippe, Calvin, Olianna, Boulanger, Daniel, Jean
(2 votes)
Submitted by: sdecesare
Hits: 9
Added: Fri Apr 21 2006