FOLLOW THE STAR

Music by Jim Parker

Libretto and Lyrics by Wally K. Daly

Westminster Theatre, London - 2 December, 1975

THE STORY

(Early New Testament) "Follow The Star" is a delightfully fresh retelling of how Christmas began. There are plenty of opportunities for audience participation; children especially will find it difficult not to become involved in the events enacted on the stage. Oily, in charge of the angels, gives Gabby (the Angel Gabriel) the task of going below to Nazareth where he must find a lady called Mary and tell her some news. Gabby is thrilled to have something to do because angels only grow taller if they do good work. At the moment Gabby is rather small. After finding Mary and telling her that she is going to have a baby, he does something he has been instructed not to do he lets Joseph see him. When Gabby reports back to heaven, Oily is annoyed with him for disobeying orders. However, he gives him another chance. Gabby is assigned the job of being the star that the Three Wise Men follow all the way from their lands to Bethlehem. Angy, Jelly and Lofty, three other angels, are told to make the Three Wise Men decide to follow the star. The vain and cruel Herod meets the Wise Men who innocently tell him that a Saviour is soon to be born who will be a king. Herod secretly determines that the baby must not be allowed to live. Mary and Joseph arrive in Bethlehem and because they are turned away by the Inn Keepers the baby is born in a stable. When Herod comes trying to find the baby, the crib is hidden by Oxy, Assy and Angel Chicago. Gabby has been so good at being a star that he finds himself grown noticeably taller. After Herod has gone Gabby comes to earth and goes to the crib to view the baby. Gabby is closely followed by the Three Wise Men who bring gifts. Suddenly, Herod returns. The angels hurriedly erect a small wall of cloud to hide Mary, Joseph and the crib. Herod and his soldiers are beaten back by Oxy, Assy and the weather (with some assistance from the audience). Finally Mary, Joseph and the baby are helped on their way with a happy song.

PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS (plus Chorus)

• Olly
• Gabby
• Mary
• Joseph
• Herod
• Angel
• Chicago

Musical Numbers:

1. Clap Your Hands and Be Cheery (Olly and Company)
2. Olly's Song
3. Ev'ry Time You're Good You Grow a Bit
4. I've Always Wanted a Baby
5. I'm Going To Be A Star (Gabby)
6. Nice Boys and Girls
7. Follow The Star (Three Wise Men, Gabby, Chorus)
8. Home (Mary, Joseph, Chorus)
9. We Won't Let the Baby Die
10. Careful, Carefree and Careless (Angel Chicago)
11. Let Him Come In
12. A Baby's Been Born (Angy, Jelly, Lofty, Chorus)
13. We'll Always Love Him
14. Clap Your Hands and Be Cheery (Company)

INSTRUMENTATION (Total number of books =15)