Freedom Lost - A Modern Day Fairy Tale
Synopsis
Act One
Meet the Millis family
Eric and Beth, sixteen-year old twins, are sitting in the family room, waiting for the hammer to drop due to an unauthorized night out with the family car. In runs their six-year old sister, Mandie, who is frantically searching for her beloved Teddy Bear. Eric, never one to let an “opportunity to “tease” pass, holds up the Bear and begins a game of “keep-a-way.”
Enter Mom (Candace), who has had enough. An argument ensues. Dad (Chris), puts a stop to the noise by “cancelling” Friday night. Off to their rooms they go. Both parents and teens express their frustrations – “What Do They Want?”
Everything has been going wrong
The next morning, around the breakfast table. Everyone knows what’s coming. Mandie leaves for dance lessons, giving the parents the opportunity to address the issue. Evidence of drinking and driving is presented. A heated argument ensues. Both teens are grounded, and yes, their cell phones are taken from them.
That evening. The parents head out to a business meeting. Beth and Eric are on babysitting duty. To keep Mandie in line, Eric tells that he is her “Supreme Leader” and she is Beth’s. Everyone retreats to their rooms. Eric and Beth pour out their feelings in the song “Each New Day”.
Eric decides to find the hidden phones and persuades Beth and Mandy to help him. Meanwhile, at the restaurant, the teenagers’ phones are blowing up with messages. The parents are shocked by the cruelty of their children’s “friends.” A classmate of Beth’s arrives at the house and shows her and Eric what is happening on social media. Both are horrified.
Eric and Beth decide to run away
They decide that they need to runaway – RIGHT NOW!! – “Escape” – Plans are quickly made. Mandie, who believes that Eric is still her “Supreme Leader”, overhears, and is under the impression that she’s been invited. After their parents come home and settle in, the two teens sneak out the window, soon followed by Mandie.
Alone on the street, Eric and Beth are liberated – “Anything You Please”. They are walking along a set of railroad tracks, where they find an open boxcar. Beth decides it is time to rest and jumps inside, at the protest of Eric. As they take stock of their situation and lack of a plan, Beth begins to panic. She is quickly interrupted by Mandie, who is calling for them in the darkness. Shocked that she followed them, they pull her inside and try to think of what they should do. The train begins to move.
A Carnival: getting acquainted
The next morning they find their selves at a run-down Carnival, where the owner, George T. Crump, addresses the crowd – “Carnival Time”. Halfway through the song, Eric becomes enamored with a dancer named Robin. They share the same fantasy – “Angel” – and quickly fall for each other.
When “Carnival Time” ends, Beth and Mandie become separated, Beth panics and runs into the animal tent, searching for her. It is here that Beth meets Nova, a young woman who trains the animals. Nova has Mandie with her. Nova introduces Beth and Mandie to Sophia, the leader of the “Fabulous Five” Dance Troupe. Sophia spins her magic, putting Beth at ease.
Nova introduces the two girls to Lilly (the Pony) and Simon (the Tiger). She quickly forms a bond with Beth – “Dreams”. After the song, Sophia shows Mandie her Cuprite neckless and takes her off to find her some food and clothes. As Beth starts to follow, she sees Eric and Nova and runs after them.
Something is going wrong...
Later, in Crumb’s private tent, there is a meeting of the minds. George, Sophia, and Crumbs henchmen – Max & Mason – discuss the three run-a-ways, and what they should do with them – “The Perfect Scheme” – Nova joins the group. They decide to reach out to reliable contacts who will take them off of their hands for a sizable fee. Nova, who is Sophia’s apprentice, is very uncomfortable with the arrangement, but is manipulated by Sophia to comply. Beth has been eavesdropping and is shaken by what she hears.
Eric and Robin have discovered a quiet section of the Carnival, where they can let their young romance develop – “Angel – Reprise”.
An attempt to escape
Beth begins a series of actions to try to escape the Carnival before they are captured. She is finally able to find Mandie and Eric. Eric doesn’t want to leave Robin, but soon learns that both she and Nova are reluctant members of the plot. Plans are made on how to escape their fate, with Robin and Nova agreeing to help. They are discovered by Max and Mason. Fighting soon sets off a fire, that sets the tents aglow. Robin sacrifices herself in order for the children to escape.
“Freedom Lost” has gone through a major rewrite of the script and score. We are in the process of re-recording some of the musical numbers. Watch this site for updates.
