Hi, I'm a big fan of the musical Elisabeth, and I love Rudolf as a historical figure...so while I know the basics of what's going on and can get a general idea, I'd still love to know exactly what's happening in the show itself.

Is there anyone out there who's seen this, who speaks English, and can describe scene for scene what's happening? Or is there any sort of English script, libretto or detailed summary of the show out there? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
RN

I know this is a real shot in the dark, other than that you should ask at the Wildhorn site, but... here goes... send a question to Nan Knighton at her site. I know that's probably a hugely enormous task, on her behalf, but maybe she can give you a cool rundown on the story. Other than that I have no idea. There is an English version of the show, with Jack Murphy's lyrics, which we know because there was a New York reading. But none of that stuff is available

The interesting thing is, "Only Love" from Scarlet Pimpernel is in this. I think this was ACTUALLY WRITTEN for "Rudolf" in 1990, the same time as Nan and Frank were working on the original draft (Nan did not become involved later on because she was working on "Camille Claudel" with Frank). It was re-used, so to speak, in The Scarlet Pimpernel and then cut from the production. Now... its back in "Rudolf"

Ooooh, so Steinman isn't the only one who recycles, LOL. :D

Of course not.

There are musical references to "Jekyll & Hyde" in both "The Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Dracula". You can't really blame "Pimpernel" though, as they were written around the same time. Frankly, (lol no pun intended), I'm surprised Frank hasn't banked "Svengali". There were a lot of beauties in that one, apparently, and what I've heard is sensational. He should use it more often, "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" (or whatever it's called) could be the place for it. Anyway...

Yes, a lot of composers do it. Rodgers played a funny little tune in the rehearsals of "South Pacific". Mary Martin reminded him about it when he needed a song for Anna and the Children in "The King And I". The pleasant little tune became "Getting To Know You". Certain songs in the remake of "Cinderella", the T.V. musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein, can be traced back to cut songs from shows they'd done.

Andrew Lloyd Webber is notorious for it, not to mention stealing other people's work (but hey, it shows he has good taste ;) )
Some examples: The start of "Potiphar" in the early concepts of "Joseph" became the little piece of music that Pilate sings at the start of "Trial Before Pilate" in "Jesus Christ Superstar". A bridge in "Half A Moment" in "Jeeves" became "... I don't want to be alone / That's all in the past / This world's waited long enough / I've come home at last..." in Norma Desmond's big song "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from "Sunset Boulevard". The theme for "Sunset Boulevard" can be traced ALL THE WAY BACK to a 1970s movie score that Lloyd Webber did.

The verses of "Starlight Express" are the same as the verses in "On This Night Of A Thousand Stars" in "Evita". Certain parts of "Cats" can be heard all across Lloyd Webber's work. A lot of the music in "The Phantom of the Opera" was written for the much darker original cabaret version of "Aspects of Love". One song was called "Married Man", about an affair, which Sarah Brightman recorded with the London Philharmonic during Lloyd Webber's break-up with his first wife. Soon after, he married Sarah Brightman and the song was not released. The tune became "The Music of the Night".

"All I Ask Of You" was actually a song recorded on a PLACIDO DOMINGO or JOSE CARRERAS album, and it was called "I Don't Talk To Strangers" with lyrics by Tim Rice, so that was no obscure piece...

"Love Changes Everything" was a song in "Starlight Express" lol. It was briefly heard in a tour version before ALW promptly re-used the tune. Whole sections of "Aspects of Love" and "Sunset Boulevard" are recycles from a reunion show with Tim Rice that never got beyond a Command Performance for Her Majesty the Queen, a musical called "Cricket" :blink:

Lloyd Webber's first score with Tim Rice, "The Likes of Us", which finally got released in a 40th anniversary live concert album, has been re-used at some points across (basically) every project he's ever done. Go and listen to the album, it's quite funny if you're a major ALW fan.

The one that was the most controversial to me was "The Heart is Slow to Learn", written for the Phantom sequel, then musically recycled as "Our Kind of Love" in "The Beautiful Game", where it lost all its power and emotion IMO and is only a half-life of the grand aria it once was. Nevertheless, you can hear Dame Kiri Te Kunawa's thrilling rendition of the Phantom 2 song on the ALW Divas album.

Like I said, most composers do it. It's pretty natural. I haven't heard all of Frank's work so I can't place every little bit of recycling he's done.

Well, I can save you the trouble of writing in to Frank's site (I'm the same person you'd reach there). As Rockfenris says, the English script for the show has not been heard or seen anywhere outside of industry readings. So far, the public has only experienced the show in Hungarian. And I haven't actually seen a synopsis (detailed or otherwise) of the show anywhere.

I don't know if Nan Knighton would be able to help with this, since it's no longer her script (she and Frank started work on the show together, but she stepped back and Jack Murphy wrote a new script. A handful of Nan's songs are still there.)

I don't know Hungarian myself, nor have I seen the show, so I can't offer anything immediately. But I'll do some checking around and see if I can get some kind of synopsis.

Best,
Peter

Hey!

I've seen the show many times and would be glad to tell you the story in detail, but to brush up my memory, I'll go tonight and see it again and then I promise to tell everything that is to know about the script!

Cheers:
Iona

Thanks, this is hugely appreciated.

Welcome to the forum btw.

Okay guys, I put together the script for Act 1. I went into details as musch as I could, so if you don't wish to know about the storyline in great detail, please skip my post. I'll start working on Act 2 as soon as possible, so stay tuned! Sorry about any errors in grammar or spelling, it's already around midnight here... :)


ACT 1

Viennese Specialties
Pfeiffer, the puppeteer, fortuneteller and narrator of the story introduces us to Vienna, a city of magic, love, sin, intrigues and lies.

Curtain Up
The people of the city are celebrating the opening of the new court theatre. Emperor Franz Joseph, his son Crown Prince Rudolf, Prime Minister Taaffe, Countess Larisch and Baroness Mary Vetsera all attend the event along with the Viennese elite. There is a visible tension between Rudolf and Taaffe. The celebrations are interrupted by a demonstration of the poor. They are protesting against the luxurious lifestyle of the court and the wealthy. Taaffe disregards them, while Rudolf is clearly upset about his ignorance. Mary Vetsera is introduced to the Prince of Braganza by Larisch and they agree to meet again on the ball of the Prince of Edward.

The Men Who We've Become (You Never Listen)
Rudolf visits his father in his study the day after the theatre opening night. The emperor is overwhelmed with the rave reviews of the newspapers about the new theatre but Rudolf points out that the demonstration resulted in chaos and injuries. Their disagreement turns into a debate on politics and Franz Joseph is astonished to hear the liberal views of his son. Rudolf is desperate because his father never listens to him. He believes the monarchy to be an institution of the past that causes the people to suffer. The emperor is against change and believes in keeping the status quo of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He points to Emperor William of Germany as an example and tells his son to turn his attention to his family and the importance of fathering an heir.

Pretty Little War
Mary and Larisch are greeted by Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer makes a prophecy to Mary about her meeting a wealthy nobleman that will fall in love with her. Mary listens enthusiastically to his words. Larisch admits to Mary that his affair with Taaffe was a big mistake. Mary is surprised that Larisch chose Rudolf instead of Taaffe. Larisch claims that love is a pretty little war, in which nothing is forbidden.

Mary's Theme
Mary muses on love to Larisch pointing out that true love does exist.

An Ordinary Man
Rudolf is working in his study. His servant, Bratfisch brings him a new medicine for his illness. Rudolf's wife, Stephanie enters the room and becomes upset upon hearing that her husband doesn't want to attend the ball of Prince Edward because he isn't well. She claims that anytime Rudolf goes hunting to Mayerling, he is everything but ill and only God knows what he is hunting for. She reproaches his husband for not being man enough to father an heir. Rudolf rejects Stephanie coldly. He is left alone with his conflicting emotions. He feels trapped in Vienna like a prisoner of the court bound by rules without purpose, hope, love or a future. He’s only wish is to be an ordinary man who can live a peaceful, happy life far away from the court.

Prince of Wales' Ball
Rudolf attends the ball of Prince Edward reluctantly. Upon meeting Emperor William he cannot disguise his negative opinion of the emperor’s politics that put war ahead of the welfare of people. Edward advises him to rather indulge in the ball with dancing and beautiful women while giving the impression to the outer world of a prince ready for the throne. Rudolf meets István Andrássy, a Hungarian nobleman and agrees to discuss a political offer with him later. Edward introduces Rudolf to Mary. It is love at first sight for both of them. Rudolf asks Mary to dance and the two enjoy each other’s company lightheartedly. Stephanie interrupts the unclouded moment stricken with jealousy.

Something More
After the ball Mary talks enthusiastically about Rudolf to her sister. In the meantime, Rudolf raves to Bratfisch about Mary. Both of them are uplifted by the meeting and fascinated with each other. They express their hopes for something more than a simple romance.

Finish What You've Started
Rudolf meets Szeps, the publisher of a newspaper in which he regularly expresses his political views on the empire and his father under a pen name. The office of the newspaper is in ruins after it was attacked on Taaffe’s orders. Rudolf is astonished to see the destruction and promises to tell about it to Franz Joseph. Szeps points out that the emperor not only had knowledge of Taaffe’s actions but approved it himself. He adds bitterly that Jews have been hated for centuries in Austria. Rudolf is shocked by his words and warns about the spreading of discrimination that could lead to the fall of the empire and catastrophe of the 20th Century. Their discussion is interrupted by the arrival of Andrássy, István Károlyi and Ferenc Lónyay, Hungarian noblemen who wish to win the support of Rudolf for the division of the empire and would like to see him as the king of Hungary. They ask him to think through the matter and make a decision before it’s too late.

How Will I Know?
Rudolf is terrified by the idea of turning against his father. His emotions regarding betraying his father and becoming a traitor to his country fill him with despair. He wishes to resolve the situation peacefully but envisions chaos, violence and battles for the throne.

Fear And Desire
Larisch and Taaffe meet at the church. Larisch is curious to see why Taaffe wanted to meet her. Taaffe wants to get to Rudolf with the help of Larisch, an offer the countess refuses furiously expressing disgusted with the prime minister wanting to turn her into a spy. Taaffe rejects the accusation claiming that he doesn’t need Larisch’s help, every citizen of the empire is at his disposal and everything that happens in the country is under his supervision. Their debate culminates in a passionate duet of fear and desire.

Tra-La-La Song
The people gather in the Prater, the fun-park of Vienna. Pfeiffer jokes about the joys of life, eating, dinking, dancing, amusing and love. Rudolf and Mary meet in secret.

The Moment I Saw You
Rudolf and Mary enjoy each other’s company carefree in the Prater. Willigut, a secret agent of Taaffe assigned to follow every step of the Crown Prince is spying on them. Rudolf and Mary agree to trick Willigut and act out a love scene as a joke to fool him.

A Better Life
Pfeiffer is acting out humorous scenes with his puppets, based on the articles written by Rudolf. The crowd cheers on during the performance. Upon reading out loud articles from various newspapers the crowd starts to stir. Their discontentment turns into a demonstration of nationalist ideas declaring the supremacy of the German race.

Bird Dog
Willigut reports to Taaffe about Rudolf and Mary’s relationship. The prime minister assigns the agent to not only follow Rudolf, but Mary as well. He suspects Mary to be more than just an affair and that she could endanger his plans with Rudolf and the empire. Willigut assigns Pfeiffer to report to him on Mary.

Only Love
Rudolf and Mary meet in the park. Rudolf gives a ring to Mary as a token of his love with the engraving “In love, bound together until death”. He warns her about the risk they are taking by meeting but Mary is not afraid. Rudolf wishes he were an ordinary man who can love freely. Mary reminds him that he’s the Crown prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a title that he cannot just leave behind and that she loves him for himself no matter what his rank or title is. Rudolf promises to take Mary to Mayerling in the spring, a place away from the prying eyes where they can love each other in peace. Mary looks into the future with hope: it’s only love that awaits her and Rudolf.

Thank you VERY much for this! Looking really forward to reading Act Two.

Dear Iona, your script of Act 1 is EXTREMELY useful, many thanks, that is a service that every theatre should produce for non-local vieweres. Looking forward VERY MUCH to Act 2 for an appreciative friend of mine who does not speak Hungarian and is seeing the show in Budapest on April 15 from a seat where you cannot see the English captioning all that well..... so if by then you could post your Act 2 script it would be FANTASTIC. Congrats again on your sterling efforts, :-)Balazska

Sorry that it took me so long, but it's finally finished! Act 2 for your reading pleasure. ;) Hope you like it!

ACT 2

The Master Of The Strings
Rudolf is having a nightmare. He is surrounded by figures hanging on strings like puppets commanded by Taaffe. The puppets accuse Rudolf of being the author of the rebel articles and ending up in bad company of Hungarians and Jews. Taaffe has plans for Rudolf, he is the perfect subject for his plans and his secret agents attach him to the strings like the other puppets. Rudolf fights off the strings but the puppets enclose around him leaving him no escape. Terrified and shaken, Rudolf finally awakes from the nightmare.

It Will Be Me
Stephanie runs into Rudolf’s study hearing him scream in his sleep. Bratfish tries to calm down his master and gives him his medication. Rudolf, still shaken from the dream, muses on whether to live or die. Stephanie responds with cold irony. She admits that she has knowledge of Mary and their affair. Rudolf strikes back by declaring his love for Mary and that he will find a way to marry her. He shows his wife a letter meant to be for the pope asking for the annulment of their marriage. Stephanie can only laugh at this remark and tells her husband that there is no way out of this marriage. God has bound them together and only death can do them apart. No matter how many lovers Rudolf takes into his bed, it will be Stephanie and nobody else that the people of the empire will see by his side. It will be her sitting next to him on the throne and the one laying beside him even in the grave.

New Boy In Town
Rudolf is left alone with his desperate thoughts. To forget about his pain he goes to the brothel and numbs his pain with champagne. The girls start joking about the suicide wave in Vienna. One of them comments that she would gladly die for Rudolf but to no avail since he lives only to himself. Pfeiffer notices a new visitor in the brothel, a young boy excited and yet scared of the place. The girls take him with them and show him not be afraid of the pleasures they can offer him. The torrid dance is interrupted by a gunshot. Rudolf shoots at his own reflection in the mirror. Willigut runs into the brothel to see what happened and Rudolf points the gun at him. The secret agent is outraged but the men force him to leave. The girls discard Rudolf’s desperate attempt and continue their dance. Pfeiffer escorts Mary into the brothel to meet Rudolf.

Measure Of A Man
Mary is horrified to see the miserable state Rudolf is in. Rudolf tells her that the girls in the brothel don’t mean anything to him but he wanted to get away from all the matters and obstacles of the world. Mary reminds him of their hopes and dreams, the world and the empire. She tells Rudolf that as the crown prince he has to speak up for the good of the country instead of sitting around in bars and brothels drinking and shooting at mirrors while the world outside passes by. Her words fill Rudolf with determination and courage. He promises to stand up to the measure of a man.

The Steps of Tomorrow
Taaffe is at the Trade Fair in Vienna opening the event. Suddenly Rudolf turns up and wishes to make a speech. He tells the audience that the truth has to be told about the danger the empire is in. He declares that every nation has the right for sovereignty, its own language and politics, every person must have the freedom of religion, speech and privacy. The crowd is enthusiastic about his words and celebrates him happily. Taaffe listens to the speech with a malicious glee.

Only Heroes Dare
Larisch is musing on Rudolf and the empire. She hopes freedom will win one day and the dream of a happier world will become true. She is amazed by the speech Rudolf made on the Trade Fair and how the crowd reacted to him. But no matter what, his bold attempts at changing the empire have no future. She believes that Rudolf will only be a fool of love who will eventually fail. She foretells the death of the crown prince envisioning his funeral.

Maintain The State
Franz Joseph demands to see his son. He is outraged by the rebel speech he gave and forbids him to make any public appearances. He has the letter of Rudolf sent to the pope and is shocked by its content. He reminds Rudolf of his duty and that he cannot divorce Stephanie. Rudolf wants to resign from his title and rank to be able to marry Mary. His father refuses even the thought of this. He declares Rudolf to be almost a traitor to the empire and warns him that if Mary is dear to his heart Rudolf does as he tells him to. Once Rudolf leaves, the emperor muses on his failure to earn the respect and trust of his son. His admonitions and lessons were to no avail. He wants to protect his son but sees no way to help him. As the emperor of the country he has to maintain the state and does not believe Rudolf to be worthy to become his successor.

The Writings On The Wall
Mary asks Larisch to lead her to the study of Rudolf. Larisch fulfills her wish but is scared of being detected. Mary tells her that it is a matter of life and death that she sees Rudolf. She has something very important to tell Rudolf. Larisch is shocked to hear her confession and leaves her alone. Taaffe enters the room and offers Mary money in exchange for leaving Rudolf. Mary is furious with the offer and declares that she is not one of Taaffe’s puppets that he can command as he likes and she is truly in love with Rudolf. Taaffe shows her letters of Rudolf written to his ex-lovers and remarks that she is merely a flame and Rudolf will eventually leave her. Mary does not believe him and fights back.
Suddenly Stephanie enters the room. She discards Taaffe and demands to have a word with Mary. Stephanie is aware of their affair and comments that Mary is a whore of Rudolf. Mary declares that she loves Rudolf but Stephanie reminds her that this has nothing to do with their roles. She has knowledge of the rumors about Mary’s alleged pregnancy and tells her to leave Vienna and never to come back. Mary runs away in tears.

Finish What You’ve Started
Rudolf meets again with Andrássy, Károlyi and Lónyai, the Hungarian noblemen. They encourage him to finish what he started and finally commit himself to their cause. Rudolf asks for more time to make his decision and wishes to meet with delegates of the English and the French who might support him in his aspirations. The noblemen reluctantly agree but ask for security as an earnest of his intentions. Rudolf hands over a box to them containing documents and with the engraving on the cover: “Rudolf, King of Hungary”.

Can I Say Goodbye?
Larisch visits Mary to talk to her. She tries to convince the young girl that her romance with Rudolf has no future. Rudolf is in great trouble, he could be set aside for defying the emperor. Mary is astonished to hear her words. She decides to do as Larisch proposed in order to save Rudolf. Although her heart is breaking, she agrees to leave Vienna.

A Leaf In The Wind
Rudolf and Bratfisch are looking for the doctor in the city. Rudolf has run out of his medication and is visibly not well. While waiting for Bratfisch to come back, Rudolf mingles with the crowd listening to Pfeiffer’s puppet play. Suddenly Willigut turns up and commands Pfeiffer to act out a scene with two puppets: one symbolizing Rudolf, the other a heavily pregnant Mary. Rudolf tries to get the puppets but the crowd does not let him. Pfeiffer changes the scene and brings along two puppets symbolizing Franz Joseph and Emperor William and starts playing with them. Suddenly, agents turn up and start beating Pfeiffer. Rudolf tries to help him but the agents beat him up as well. Luckily, Taffee turns up and his men save Rudolf. Bratfisch helps up his severely injured master and tells him that the doctor has vanished into thin air. Taffee comments that the doctor might have taken the wrong train and he will not come back until things go as they should. Rudolf stares at him in disgust.

Taffee introduces Lónyai to Franz Joseph. The nobleman hands over the box given by Rudolf to the emperor. Franz Joseph demands to speak with Rudolf immediately.

I Was Born For You
Mary is escorted to the railway station by Bratfisch. He hands over a letter to her saying: “It is from him.” Mary says goodbye to Bratfisch and reads Rudolf’s letter. She breaks out in tears upon reading his lines. Suddenly, Rudolf turns up. He does not approach Mary, only watches her from a distance getting on the train. The train leaves and Rudolf waves her lover goodbye. As the smoke of the train vanishes, Mary appears on the platform. Rudolf is overjoyed to hold her in his arms again. Rudolf promises to take her to Mayerling. They agree to go to the Fourth Dimension Ball that night and dance in front of whole Vienna one last time.

The Fourth Dimension Ball
The scenery of the ball is that of a world upside down, white is black, night is day. Rudolf and Mary’s dance is interrupted by the mysterious dancers pulling them away from each other. Larisch calls Rudolf aside. Rudolf tells her that he is to meet the delegates of the English and the French at the ball, but Larisch reveals to him that the delegates will not come. The emperor knows about his plans and he has no options left. Rudolf remarks bitterly that he does have one last option. He and Mary are just about to leave, when Franz Joseph, Taffee, Stephanie, Emperor William, Lónyai and others, like the puppets on the string turn up and close upon the couple leaving them no escape.

Only Love (Reprise)
Rudolf and Mary emerge from the grasp of the puppets. They hold each other close once again, Rudolf holding a gun in his hand when suddenly shots are fired. Holding each other’s hand, they collapse dead. The ball goes on as nothing had happened.

Viennese Specialties (Reprise)
Pfeiffer appears and muses on Vienna again. The puppets stand up in a circle around him. “It’s only theatre. Vienna is Vienna”.

This looks like Frank's BEST MUSICAL YET. :blink: God IF ONLY IT WAS IN ENGLISH. Can't wait for the Hungarian CD

Rock~ If Frank's shows keep following suit...the American audience will need intrepreters for his shows for quite a while.

It's a shame though. "Rudolf" sounds like a damn good show, maybe his best yet.

We'll be in Budapest in the fall and have just ordered tickets to see Rudolf, so I went searching for info and ended up here. I'll stop back to let you all know how we enjoy the show.

Thank you very much, Iona, for providing the story line - it's a great synopsis.

Thank you so much for writing that detailed synopsis! Listening to the English demo, it is very hard to decipher a storyline out of the whole thing. After reading this I realize now that's because the tracks are very very out of order (http://www.castalbums.org/recordings/6526). Not that this is uncommon with demos of course, but here's how the tracks really should go:

1. Curtain Up/ The Last Waltz
2. Mary's Theme *See below*
3. The Men Who We've Become (You Never Listen) *AKA "Why Don't You Listen?"*
4. Pretty Little War
5. An Ordinary Man
6. Something More
7. Finish What You Started
8. How Will I Know (Fly)
9. The Moment I Saw You
10. It's Only Love
11. The Master of the Strings
12. New Boy In Town
13. The Measure of a Man
14. The Steps of Tomorrow
15. The Writings On The Wall
16. Can I Say Goodbye
17. I Was Born For You
18. Curtain Up (Reprise)

According to the official tracklist (http://www.frankwildhorn.com/projects/rudolf/songs.shtml), Mary's Theme is possibly track two instead of four as listed in the synopsis.

Also "I Was Born For You" is refered to as "I Was Born To Love You." However, since this is also a title of a completely different song from Dracula, I can see why the song's title is altered slightly.

WEll that explains it... :P