Overview
Synopsis
In this community, the people have been left to live freely on the plantation where they were previously enslaved. Work and money are scarce, and the people are greatly influenced by superstitions, peddled by elderly men who call themselves conjurers.
Treemonisha has lived in this community her whole life, and is one of the few people who was able to have an education. Treemonisha was abandoned as a baby, and found under a tree by Monisha and Ned, who took her in and raised her as their own. They wanted the best for her, so exchanged their labor for her to receive an education from a local white family. Now, Treemonisha is eighteen, and is fighting back against the predatory conjurers and dangerous superstitions.
The conjurers decide to teach Treemonisha a lesson, and kidnap her, intending to punish her by throwing her onto a wasps nest. At the last moment, they are scared away by a terrifying figure running towards them, believing it to be the devil. It was only Treemonisha鈥檚 friend, Remus, dressed as a scarecrow, coming to rescue her. When they return to the community, the men have captured the conjurers, and intend to beat them, but Treemonisha stops them. She and Remus teach the community that nothing will be achieved in treating others badly. The community beg Treemonisha to be their leader, and she accepts.
Containing influences as contrasting as ragtime, jazz, and Wagner鈥檚 Ring Cycle, and story elements taken from both Joplin鈥檚 own life and African-American folk stories, Treemonisha is truly a masterpiece of a work. Written in 1911, it did not receive its first public performance until 1972, and only now is beginning to get the recognition it deserves.
Show Information
- Music
- Scott Joplin
- Libretto
- Scott Joplin
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1972
- Genres
- Drama
- Settings
- Multiple Settings, Period
- Time & Place
- Arkansas, Texarkana, A Liberated Plantation, 1884
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- College/University, Diverse Cast, Professional Opera, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Late Teen, Young Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act 1
- Overture
- 鈥楾he Bag of Luck鈥� - Zodzetrick, Monisha, Ned, Treemonisha, Remus
- 鈥楾he Corn Huskers鈥� - Treemonisha, Remus, Chorus
- 鈥榃e're Goin' Around: A Ring Play鈥� - Andy, Chorus
- 鈥楾he Wreath鈥� - Treemonisha, Lucy, Monisha, Chorus
- 鈥楾he Sacred Tree鈥� - Monisha
- 鈥楽urprised鈥� - Treemonisha, Chorus
- 鈥楾reemonisha's Bringing Up鈥� - Monisha, Treemonisha, Chorus
- 鈥楪ood Advice鈥� - Parson Alltalk, Chorus
- 鈥楥onfusion鈥� - Monisha, Chorus, Lucy, Ned, Remus
Act 2
- 鈥楽uperstition鈥� - Simon, Chorus
- 鈥楾reemonisha in Peril鈥� - Simon, Chorus, Zodzetrick, Luddud, Cephus
- Frolic of the Bears
- 鈥楾he Wasp Nest鈥� - Simon, Chorus, Cephus
- 鈥楾he Rescue鈥� - Treemonisha, Remus
- 鈥榃e Will Rest Awhile / Song of the Cotton Pickers鈥� - Chorus
- 鈥楪oing Home鈥� - Treemonisha, Remus, Chorus
- 鈥楢unt Dinah Has Blowed de Horn鈥� - Chorus
Act 3
- Prelude
- 鈥業 Want to See My Child鈥� - Monisha, Ned
- Treemonisha's Return - Monisha, Ned, Remus, Treemonisha, Chorus, Andy, Zodzetrick, Luddud
- 鈥榃rong Is Never Right: A Lecture鈥�- Remus, Chorus
- 鈥楢buse鈥� - Andy, Chorus, Treemonisha
- 鈥榃hen Villains Ramble Far and Near: A Lecture鈥� - Ned
- 鈥楥onjurors Forgiven 鈥�- Treemonisha, Andy, Chorus
- 鈥榃e Will Trust You As Our Leader鈥� - Treemonisha, Chorus
- 鈥楢 Real Slow Drag鈥� - Treemonisha, Lucy, Chorus
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth.
A genre of music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by syncopated rhythms, complex chords, elements of improvisation, and distortions of pitch and timbre.
Description of material not protected by copyright law.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.