The Prince and the Pauper

Two young lookalikes, Tom Canty, a poor lad from Pudding Lane, a London slum, and Prince Edward, son of the notorious Henry VIII of England, exchange places "for an hour or two." What was to have been a harmless jest turns into a grand, swashbuckling adventure in which Tom himself is nearly crowned king. This version is chock-full of great character roles for both men and women, including Lord and Lady Blackthorn, a pair of comic villains, a trio of bawdy ladies from Pudding Lane and singing and dancing Beefeaters. The score is a standout, tuneful and lively—best described as mainstream Broadway with an English air—featuring solos, duets, choruses and regal processionals. There are court dances and choreographed swordfight sequences. The show has had highly successful productions including off-off-Broadway and an Equity tour of the New York metropolitan area.