 THOMAS AND THE KING
Music by John Williams, Lyrics by James Harbert, Book by Edward
Anhaltz
Her Majesty's Theatre - October 16, 1975
Synopsis
Act I
Thomas and the King begins with a pilgrimage and procession led
by Queen Eleanor on her way to Canterbury through a wooded area where
King Henry II has been pursuing peasant wenches. Henry tries to encourage
his friend Thomas Beckett to join him. Thomas meets Jennie, a peasant
girl who want to better herself even though it means giving up her maidenhood
to Henry. Thomas warns Henry that Jennie has brains, but this fails to
discourage Henry. Thomas reprimands him for his ribaldry and reminds him
that it is the King's responsibility to leave the world a better place.
Henry prefers to be remembered as a man of love.
Theobold, Archbishop of Canterbury, challenges Thomas's inability to
reform Henry's ways which leads to a discussion between Henry and Thomas
as to the true nature of love.
In the palace, Queen Eleanor finds Jennie on her way to Henry's bedchamber
and she tries to make Jennie unattractive to Henry by dressing her in
a royal manner. Thomas suggests that Eleanor will have done Jennie a favour
in keeping her from Henry's bed but whatever, Jennie is now unable to
return to her village and her previous way of life.
At a council meeting, in a challenge to the Archbishop, Henry makes Thomas
the Lord Chancellor, bridging the gap between church and state. This is
seen by Henry as a way to build a better England.
A jealous Eleanor reminds herself that she can handle Henry as well as
Thomas and Jennie who has, in a gesture of both lust and ambition, come
to Henry's bed again. Eleanor is a woman of power and masterminds a war
against France. The Archbishop is killed and Henry is defeated. Eleanor
is delighted. However, to gain popularity again wit the people of England
Henry decides to make Thomas the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas
pleads with Henry to reconsider realising that Henry will expect him to
speak for the King rather than for the Church. But Henry says that he
will go ahead with his plan but Thomas pledges that he will speak for
God.
Act II
The second act opens with the consecration of Thomas as Archbishop of
Canterbury but meanwhile, Eleanor is plotting to bring Thomas to trial
for his past misdeeds. But while Eleanor has been otherwise engaged Henry
has fallen in love with Jennie. Henry will not allow Thomas to be tried
by the Church Court but Thomas defies him by supporting the right of the
Church in this matter and he goes to Rome to see the Pope.
In Rome the Cardinals are not kindly disposed towards Thomas and privately
plot to have him excommunicated. The Pope is afraid that if he sends Thomas
to England, Henry will invade Rome, so, exile is the only solution. Thomas
ponders the challenge and the dichotomy with which he is now faced.
Back in England, Jennie suggests that Henry forgives Thomas and that
they should try to build their dream for England.
Thomas returns to England and he agrees to obey Henry in legal matters
but not on Church matters. Unable to compromise, Henry realises that he
will have to destroy Thomas in order to keep his kingdom.
While kneeling in prayer, Thomas is murdered. Henry finds that it is
in death that Thomas has achieved martyrdom and, from his grief, Henry
vows to build their dream for England.
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