Zorro (musical)
Encyclopedia
Zorro is a musical
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

 with music by the Gipsy Kings
Gipsy Kings
The Gipsy Kings are a group of musicians from Arles and Montpellier, who perform in Spanish with an Andalucían accent. Although group members were born in France, their parents were mostly gitanos, Spanish Romani people who fled Catalonia during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. Chico Bouchikhi is of...

 and John Cameron
John Cameron
-Life and academic career:Cameron was born at Glasgow and received his early education in his native city. After having taught Greek in the university for twelve months, he removed to Bordeaux, where he was soon appointed a regent in the college of Bergerac. He did not remain long at Bordeaux, but...

, a book by Stephen Clark
Stephen Clark
- Government :* Stephen Clark , NYS Treasurer 1856–1857* Stephen P. Clark , Mayor of Miami* Steve Clark , Canadian politician- Arts and recreation :...

 and Helen Edmundson
Helen Edmundson
Helen Edmundson is a British playwright particularly well-known for her adaptations of various literary classics for the stage.Edmundson's first play Flying was produced at the National Theatre Studio in 1990...

, and lyrics by Stephen Clark
Stephen Clark
- Government :* Stephen Clark , NYS Treasurer 1856–1857* Stephen P. Clark , Mayor of Miami* Steve Clark , Canadian politician- Arts and recreation :...

. It is based on the 2005 mock biography Zorro
Zorro (novel)
Zorro is a 2005 mock biography and the first origin story of the pulp hero Zorro, written by Chilean author Isabel Allende. It is a prequel to the events of the original Zorro story, Johnston McCulley's 1919 novella The Curse of Capistrano...

, the first origin story of the pulp hero Zorro
Zorro
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by New York-based pulp writer Johnston McCulley. The character has been featured in numerous books, films, television series, and other media....

, written by Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

an author Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende
Isabel Allende Llona is a Chilean writer with American citizenship. Allende, whose works sometimes contain aspects of the "magic realist" tradition, is famous for novels such as The House of the Spirits and City of the Beasts , which have been commercially successful...

. It is a prequel to the events of the original Zorro story, Johnston McCulley
Johnston McCulley
Johnston McCulley was the author of hundreds of stories, fifty novels, numerous screenplays for film and television, and the creator of the character Zorro...

's 1919 novella The Curse of Capistrano
The Curse of Capistrano
The Curse of Capistrano is a 1919 story by Johnston McCulley and the first work to feature the fictional Californio character Zorro...

. It also contains numerous references to earlier Zorro-related works, especially the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro
The Mask of Zorro
The Mask of Zorro is a 1998 American swashbuckler film based on the Zorro character created by Johnston McCulley. It was directed by Martin Campbell and stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stuart Wilson...

. The original show did a trial run tour which proved to be successful. This led to the show being transferred to the West End. This transfer included some minor changes such as the recasting of the roles of Luisa and Ramon.

The musical originally opened at the Congress Theatre
Congress Theatre
The Congress Theatre is the principal theatre in Torfaen. It is located in Cwmbran Shopping Centre, Cwmbran in the centre's large Gwent Square. The front of the building is dominated by a large clock with two figures named Dai and Myfanwy.- Facilities :...

 in Eastbourne with a five night run between March 4–8 before moving to the West End in July.

The musical began previews at the Garrick Theatre
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster. It opened on 24 April 1889 with The Profligate, a play by Arthur Wing Pinero. In its early years, it appears to have specialised in the performance of melodrama, and today the theatre is a...

 in London on July 2, 2008, after the first few were cancelled due to technical problems. The official opening was July 15, 2008. Christopher Renshaw
Christopher Renshaw
Christopher Renshaw is a British theatre director. He was educated at Reading School in Reading, Berkshire, where his father taught German, and Magdalen College, Oxford....

 directed and Rafael Amargo choreographed. The cast featured Matt Rawle as Zorro/Diego De La Vega, Emma Williams
Emma Williams (actress)
Emma Williams is a British actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage....

 as Luisa, Adam Levy as Ramon, Lesli Margherita as Inez, Nick Cavaliere as Sergeant Garcia, and Jonathan Newth
Jonathan Newth
Jonathan Newth is a British actor, best known for his performances in television.Credits include: Emergency Ward 10, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Ace of Wands, The Troubleshooters, Z-Cars, Callan, Van der Valk, The Brothers, Softly, Softly, Poldark, Doctor Who, Notorious Woman, Secret Army , The...

 as Don Alejandro De La Vega.

After almost nine months in the West End, the final London performance of Zorro at The Garrick Theatre was on March 14, 2009.

Prologue

Deep inside a cave, a band of gypsies stop to rest for the night, while dancing and singing, they listen eagerly as their leader tells them about an old gypsy myth-the infamous story of the legendary hero, Zorro.

Act I

Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy young caballero, is set away from his California home by his father, Don Alejandro, to school in Spain. He is forced to leave his childhood love Luisa, who is also being sent away by Diego's father. At the same time, Don Alejandro announces that Diego and Luisa's childhood friend Ramon shall become captain of the army, which pleases both Diego and Luisa.

Later, in Spain, Diego has run away from school and joined a band of Gypsies who perform in the backstreets of the city ("Balia Me"). He is their star attraction, and after showing several tricks to an enthralled audience, he sees Luisa. Luisa persuades Diego to return to California to stop Ramon, who has become a tyrant. Inez, another gypsy, and evidently Diego's lover, is not pleased to see Luisa and decides that she and all the other gypsies must accompany them. In California, Diego finds that Ramon has stripped the people of their rights and has put himself in charge ever since Don Alejandro "died". However, Don Alejandro is not dead and is being held captive by Ramon. Ramon demonstrates his cruelty by sentencing a group of men to death for stealing. As the men are taken away, their women angrily declare their hatred of Ramon and his treatment of the people ("Libertad").

After witnessing the cruelty of his old friend, and with the help of Inez (the only one who knows his true identity), Diego adopts a heroic alter ego, Zorro, to defend the people of the pueblo ("Hope"). At the same time, to keep his identity secret he presents himself to Ramon as an idiot of no real threat. He offers himself to Ramon as a personal servant, a move that angers Luisa, who believes that she brought Diego back for nothing. The following day the three men, prepare to be hanged, as they are led to the gallows Luisa and the women of the pueblo lament over the way the pueblo used to be and how they still hope that things will get better ("In One Day"). Before the noose can be tightened, Zorro makes a name for himself by saving three men who were sentenced to hang for adding rocks to their sacks of food to gain extra money for their families. Zorro swings in spectacularly out of nowhere and managing to appear almost simultaneously as Zorro and Diego, so that no one will suspect Diego. After another spectacular rescue, Zorro flees from Ramon's guards and find himself in Luisa's bathroom, having walked in on her whilst in the bath. Embarrassed, he lets it slip that he knows her name, but his identity is kept safe from her, and she begins to fall in love with Zorro, just as Diego has always been in love with her ("Falling").

Meanwhile, the gypsies cause a stir in the pueblo by drinking and dancing together ("Bamboleo/There's a tale"), enticing Ramon's cowardly but warm-hearted Sergeant Garcia. Flirting and joking with Garcia, Inez soon finds a new admirer, and Garcia tries his best to act strong and brave like Zorro. But Inez still has eyes for Diego and finds Garcia merely entertaining. Ramon, initially intrigued by the idea of free wine, eventually turns against the gypsies and their radical ways and tries to prevent their activities. He finally attempts to exert his power by forcing himself upon Luisa, the woman he lusts over, but who hates everything that he has become. However, Zorro appears just in time to save Luisa. He forces Ramon to his knees and carves his mark, "Z" into Ramon's chest, as Ramon screams in agony and anger.

Act II

The second act opens with the band of gypsies from the prologue reappearing on stage and performing a large song and dance routine. ("Entrada")
When the storyline continues, it begins with Ramon reveals the full extent of his injury. He is permanently branded with the mark of Zorro.
The gypsies and citizens mock him, and he angrily declares a curfew and that anyone out after the curfew will be shot. The crowd protests ("Freedom"). Inez tells Luisa that it is too dangerous for her. Luisa says that she knows a place where Ramon can never find her. Ramon orders the guards to shoot into the crowd. The people flee leaving Inez and Ramon alone. She tells Ramon that his empire is crumbling around him and that soon his greed will consume him ("Bamboleo" (reprise)). Ramon leaves in denial, but her words have a great effect on him. Diego tries to advise Garcia on how to express his love for Inez, but when she arrives, Garcia becomes embarrassed and runs off. Diego enquires about Luisa's whereabouts. Inez tells him and also admits that she understands that Diego loves Luisa. Diego (dressed as Zorro) finds the cave where Luisa is hiding. Luisa confesses her feelings to Zorro and the two dance outside the cave together ("Serenade"). The dance ends with Diego kissing Luisa but then pulling away. Luisa asks him why he's so afraid of his feelings, Diego (who is standing watch outside) sadly confesses that he wants to be with Luisa but is afraid that he risks putting her life in danger ("A Love We'll Never Live").

The following day Garcia tries to impress Inez ("One more beer"). Ramon, still distressed by Inez's words, goes to confession; he soon notices the priest is actually Zorro, who is trying to find Don Alejandro. He sets a trap for Zorro, but Zorro manages to escape. Luisa goes to the gypsy camp where Inez transforms her into a gypsy ("Djobi Djoba"). Ramon bursts in and arrests Luisa. Inez calls Garcia a coward because he does nothing to stop Ramon. Luisa is about to be shot when Zorro, accompanied by several other men dressed as Zorro, fights off the guards. Ramon puts a knife to Inez's throat and tries to make Zorro choose between Luisa and Inez, but Inez throws Ramon to the ground. She tells Ramon that the love between Zorro and Luisa is a love that he can never know. Ramon produces a pistol from his pocket and shoots Inez. A heartbroken Zorro surrenders and is dragged away by the guards as Ramon forces Luisa to agree to marry him. As Ramon leaves with Luisa, the gypsies appear and begin to mourn as they carry Inez's body away.

In his prison cell Diego laments his failure to protect the people and blames himself for the suffering of the ones he loves ("Hope" (reprise)). Garcia arrives and, admitting his cowardice, tells Zorro that he can take him to Don Alejandro. Meanwhile, Luisa is dressed by attendants for her wedding to Ramon. She wishes that she could have known the true identity of Zorro ("The Man Behind the Mask") and laments that in order to protect her love she must sacrifice it as well as her happiness. As the wedding begins, Zorro arrives, but this Zorro is revealed to be Don Alejandro, who confronts Ramon about his cruelty. The guards now turn against Ramon, and Don Alejandro orders Ramon to be arrested. But Ramon says that if they dare to arrest him, he will kill Luisa.

The wedding proceeds, but just before Luisa gives her vows, Zorro swings into the chapel. During the ensuing sword fight with Ramon, Zorro reveals his true identity to Ramon and asks him to stop fighting, saying that they are brothers. Ramon appears to agree but then draws a small knife. Diego evades the blade and causes Ramon to fall on his own knife. Ramon is fatally wounded and dies. Diego is distressed by what he has done, when Luisa and Don Alejandro reenter the room. Luisa, seeing that Zorro is unmasked, begs him to show her his face. Reluctantly he does so and Luisa is shocked by the discovery that Zorro is Diego, but still declares that she loves him. The two kiss and embrace. All rejoice ("Fiesta").

Musical numbers

Act I
  • Flamenco Opening - gypsies
  • Baila Me - Diego, Inez, gypsies
  • Libertad - Women of the pueblo
  • Hope - Diego
  • In one Day - Luisa and the Women of the pueblo
  • Feeling - Luisa
  • Bamboleo/There's A Tale - Inez, gypsies

Act II
  • Entrada - gypsies
  • Freedom - Inez, citizens, gypsies
  • Bamboleo (reprise) - Inez
  • Serenade- instrumental (the dance between Diego and Luisa)
  • A love We'll Never Live - Diego and Luisa
  • One More Beer - Garcia, Inez, women of the pueblo
  • Djobi Djobi - Inez and Luisa
  • Hope (reprise) - Diego
  • Man Behind The Mask - Luisa
  • Fiesta - Whole cast


Principal characters and original cast

  • Don Diego de la Vega/Zorro – Matt Rawle. He is the son of Don Alejandro, who initially heads the pueblo. He adopts a heroic alter ego to save the people of the pueblo who are being punished under Ramon's cruel leadership.
  • LuisaEmma Williams
    Emma Williams (actress)
    Emma Williams is a British actress. After, going to North Halifax Grammar School and studying at the Stage84 stage school in Idle, West Yorkshire, she has had a successful career in TV, film and on stage....

    . Luisa grows up with Diego and Ramon. She falls in love first with Diego and then Zorro, not knowing his true identity.
  • Ramon – Adam Levy. Diego's childhood friend. Ramon is jealous of the feelings Luisa has for Diego. He is made captain of the army and seizes power.
  • Inez – Lesli Margherita. The gypsy queen, Inez travels around the backstreets of Barcelona performing with Diego, with whom she falls in love.
  • Sergeant Garcia – Nick Cavaliere. Servant to Ramon, he is cowardly, yet likable. He falls in love with Inez.
  • Don Alejandro de la VegaJonathan Newth
    Jonathan Newth
    Jonathan Newth is a British actor, best known for his performances in television.Credits include: Emergency Ward 10, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Ace of Wands, The Troubleshooters, Z-Cars, Callan, Van der Valk, The Brothers, Softly, Softly, Poldark, Doctor Who, Notorious Woman, Secret Army , The...

    . He is Diego's father, and the rightful leader of the Pueblo.

Critical reception

Zorro opened at the Garrick Theatre in London to generally favourable reviews. The Flamenco
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....

-based score and choreography were especially praised, as were the fight scenes. Michael Billington of the Guardian wrote, "The show may not be high art but it's great fun and brings a refreshingly different, Hispanic sound to the jaded world of West End musicals." The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...

noted, "Stephen Clark's book and Christopher Renshaw's production have the merit of not taking themselves too seriously. However, that's a plus bought at a price, for narrative excitement is largely sacrificed. Imagine a mix of Errol Flynn
Errol Flynn
Errol Leslie Flynn was an Australian-born actor. He was known for his romantic swashbuckler roles in Hollywood films, being a legend and his flamboyant lifestyle.-Early life:...

 and Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...

, and you have the feel."

In its preview, the Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...

stated that whether the show becomes a hit or flop, "an eclectic combination of talents and influences will make Zorro the musical memorable." Since its successful opening, Zorro has announced that it is extending its contract into 2009.

Closing

It was recently announced that Zorro the musical would end its West End run on the 14th of March 2009. Eight other productions Of Zorro have been scheduled to appear in other countries such as Italy, France, Japan, Russia and Brazil. Overall the show has grossed over £11 million in ticket sales and earned several awards and nominations including the Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Actor for the show's star, Matt Rawle and for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical for Lesli Margherita.

International productions

A French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 production ran at Folies Bergère, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 from 5 November 2009 to 27 June 2010 produced by Stage Entertainment
Stage Entertainment
The musical production company Stage Entertainment is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It has a very successful subsidiary in Germany based in Hamburg which almost has a monopoly in Germany.- History :...

.

In Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, the musical ran from 2 October 2010 to 31 May 2011 at the MDM Theater (Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...

 Youth Palace).

In the Netherlands a Dutch production runs from April 2, 2011 until January 8, 2012, produced by Stage Entertainment
Stage Entertainment
The musical production company Stage Entertainment is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It has a very successful subsidiary in Germany based in Hamburg which almost has a monopoly in Germany.- History :...

.
The role of Zorro was cast through a television show 'Op zoek naar Zorro'.

In South Korea, Zorro will open on November 4, 2011, directed by David Swan.

Scheduled to make its U.S.A. debut on stage at the Hale Centre Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah ~ February 15 – April 11, 2012, directed by David Tinney.

External links

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