Zorro | |
---|---|
A New Musical by the Gipsy Kings | |
![]() Zorro Poster, 2008 | |
Music | Gipsy Kings and John Cameron |
Lyrics | Stephen Clark |
Book | Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson |
Basis | 2005 mock biography Zorro: A Novel |
Productions | 2008 Eastbourne 2008 West End 2009 Israel 2010 Paris 2010 Moscow 2010 Brazil 2011 U.K. National Tour 2011 The Netherlands 2012 Bulgaria 2012 Utah American Debut 2013 Atlanta, Georgia 2013 The Czech Republic 2015 Tecklenburg (Germany) 2017 Pittsburgh 2017 Winzendorf (Austria) 2017 Bremerhaven(Germany) 2020 London Concert 2022 Charing Cross Theatre |
Zorro is a musical with music by the Gipsy Kings and John Cameron, a book by Stephen Clark and Helen Edmundson, and lyrics by Stephen Clark. It is inspired by the 2005 fictional biography Zorro , the first original story of the pulp hero Zorro, written by Chilean author Isabel Allende (itself a prequel to the events of the original Zorro story which is the 1919 novella The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, but excludes the mute butler Bernardo). It also contains numerous references to earlier Zorro-related works, especially the 1998 film The Mask of Zorro . The original musical did a trial run tour which proved to be successful, and led to a transfer to the West End (which included some minor changes such as the recasting of the roles of Luisa and Ramon).
The musical originally opened at the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne with a five night run between 4–8 March 2008, before moving to the West End in July.
The musical began previews at the Garrick Theatre in London on 2 July 2008, after the first few were cancelled due to technical problems. The official opening was 15 July 2008. [1] Christopher Renshaw directed and Rafael Amargo choreographed. The cast featured Matt Rawle as Zorro/Diego De La Vega, Emma Williams as Luisa, Adam Levy as Ramon, Lesli Margherita as Inez, Nick Cavaliere as Sergeant Garcia, and Jonathan Newth as Don Alejandro De La Vega.
Zorro ran at the Garrick for almost nine months, with its final performance on 14 March 2009.
A new concert version, was produced by 'Take Two Theatricals' in February 2020. It was performed for one night at Cadogan Hall, in London. The cast was led by two of the original cast members, Leslie Margherita (who won an Olivier award for her role), and Emma Williams who was nominated for hers. This production had new compositions, orchestrations and arrangements by John Cameron. There was no set, however the actors had additional props and costumes. George Reeve designed and created the video projections. Lesli and Emma both said in interviews 'they were thrilled to be returning to this musical, and working together again, after all these years.'
Aria Entertainment began a revival of the show at the Hope Mills Theatre in Manchester in March 2020, but the run was cut short after just two performances due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show was transferred to London in 2022, but its scheduled reopening on 12 March was again delayed. [2] The show reopened at the Charing Cross Theatre on 2 April, running until May 28. [3]
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.
Don Diego de la Vega, a wealthy young caballero, is sent 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 ("Baila 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, unbeknownst to everyone, Don Alejandro is not dead and is being held captive by Ramon. Ramon demonstrates his cruelty by sentencing three men to death for stealing; the men had added rocks to their sacks of grain to gain extra money for their hungry families. 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 plans), Diego adopts a heroic alter ego, which the people name "El Zorro" (though Diego wanted to be called "El Puma" instead), 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 express hope that things will get better ("In One Day"). Before the noose can be tightened, Zorro makes a name for himself by saving the prisoners. Zorro swings in spectacularly out of nowhere and manages 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 room, having walked in on her while she is 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 second-in-command 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. However, 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 after but who hates everything that he has become. Zorro appears just in time to save Luisa and tricks Ramon into accidentally admitting that Don Alejandro is still alive. To show that he will always be watching him, Zorro forces Ramon to his knees and carves his signature "Z" into Ramon's chest, as Ramon screams in agony and anger.
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, Ramon reveals the full extent of his injury: he is permanently scarred 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 to stay in Los Angeles; 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; outside the cave, Diego 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 out where Ramon is keeping Don Alejandro. Ramon 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 executed by a firing squad 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 fatally shoots Inez. After she dies in his arms, 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 discover Inez's body and mournfully carry her 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. An emboldened Garcia and the other guards turn against Ramon, charging him with murdering Inez. Don Alejandro orders Ramon to be arrested, but Ramon says that he will kill Luisa if they try. The wedding proceeds, but just before Luisa gives her vows, the real 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 and charges at him. Diego evades the blade and causes Ramon to fall on his own knife. Ramon is fatally wounded and dies with his final thoughts being him, Diego, and Luisa as children.
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").
|
|
Zorro opened at the Garrick Theatre in London to almost entirely favourable reviews. The Flamenco-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." He also noted, “The show is popular theatre that actually delivers the goods.” [4] Michael Coveney of What's On Stage wrote, “An onstage flamenco fiesta that sets feet tapping and blood racing round the stalls.” [5] Charles Spencer of The Daily Telegraph referred to Zorro as, “An insanely enjoyable musical.” [6]
In its preview, the Evening Standard stated that whether the show becomes a hit or flop, "an eclectic combination of talents and influences will make Zorro the musical memorable." [7] The play extended its contract into 2009. [8]
Zorro the musical ended its West End run on 14 March 2009. Since closing in London, Zorro has appeared in other countries such as France, Japan, China, Korea, the Netherlands, Russia, Bulgaria, Israel, and Brazil. Worldwide the show has grossed more than $70 million to date 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. [9]
In 2014, original star Lesli Margherita said that plans were in place to open a production of Zorro in New York in 2015. [10]
Chadwick School piloted the first North American High School production of Zorro from February 25–28, 2015 in Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA. [11]
The Italian theatrical company Compagnia Teatrale I Saltafoss will produce the first Italian version of “Zorro” from February 2021 in Milan. The new show will be directed by Adriano Tallarini. The Italian translation of book and lyrics will be edited by Matteo Magnaghi.
On April 2, 2022 the show debuts in Italy at Mirabilandia Parks under the name "Zorro Il Musical". The shortened Italian version was edited in collaboration with Stuntmanshow Production and Zorro USA LLC.
On 17 December 2008, the cast of Zorro performed on the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium. They did a medley of three songs from the show: "Bamboleo"; "Hope"; and ""Djobi Djoba". [12] The original cast recording was released in February 2009 and is currently available in stores. [13]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2009 | Laurence Olivier Award | Best New Musical | Nominated | |
Best Actor in a Musical | Matt Rawle | Nominated | ||
Best Actress in a Musical | Emma Williams | Nominated | ||
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical | Lesli Margherita | Won | ||
Best Theatre Choreographer | Rafael Amargo | Nominated |
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
French Albums (SNEP) [14] | 163 |
Zorro is a fictional character created in 1919 by American pulp writer Johnston McCulley, appearing in works set in the Pueblo of Los Angeles in Alta California. He is typically portrayed as a dashing masked vigilante that defends the commoners and Indigenous peoples of California against corrupt and tyrannical officials and other villains. His signature all-black costume includes a cape, a hat known as a sombrero cordobés, and a mask covering the upper half of his face.
The Mask of Zorro is a 1998 American swashbuckler film based on the fictional character Zorro by Johnston McCulley. It was directed by Martin Campbell and stars Antonio Banderas, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Stuart Wilson. The film features the original Zorro, Don Diego de la Vega (Hopkins), escaping from prison to find his long-lost daughter (Zeta-Jones) and avenge the death of his wife at the hands of the corrupt governor Rafael Montero (Wilson). He is aided by his successor (Banderas), who is pursuing his own vendetta against the governor's right-hand man while falling in love with de la Vega's daughter.
Henry Darrow was an American character actor of stage and film known for his role as Manolito "Mano" Montoya on the 1960s television series The High Chaparral. In film, Darrow played the corrupt and vengeful Trooper Hancock in The Hitcher. During the 1970s and 1980s, he was seen in numerous guest starring television roles. Darrow replaced Efrem Zimbalist Jr. as Zorro's father Don Alejandro de la Vega in the 1990s television series Zorro.
The Mark of Zorro is a 1940 American black-and-white swashbuckling film released by 20th Century-Fox, directed by Rouben Mamoulian, produced by Darryl F. Zanuck, and starring Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, and Basil Rathbone.
The Mark of Zorro is a 1920 American silent Western romance film starring Douglas Fairbanks and Noah Beery. This genre-defining swashbuckler adventure was the first movie version of The Mark of Zorro. Based on the 1919 story The Curse of Capistrano by Johnston McCulley, which introduced the masked hero, Zorro, the screenplay was adapted by Fairbanks and Eugene Miller.
Zorro is an American action-adventure Western television series produced by Walt Disney Productions and starring Guy Williams. Based on the Zorro character created by Johnston McCulley in his 1919 novella, the series premiered on October 10, 1957, on ABC. The final network broadcast was July 2, 1959. Seventy-eight episodes were produced, and four hour-long specials were aired on the Walt Disney anthology series between October 30, 1960, and April 2, 1961.
Zorro is a 2005 novel by Chilean author Isabel Allende. Its subject is the American pulp hero Diego de la Vega, better known as El Zorro. He first appeared as a character in Johnston McCulley's novella The Curse of Capistrano (1919). His character and adventures have also been adapted for an American TV series, other books, and cartoon series.
The Mark of Zorro is a 1974 American Western television film which stars Frank Langella alongside Gilbert Roland, Yvonne De Carlo, Anne Archer, Ricardo Montalbán and Robert Middleton.
Zorro, The Gay Blade is a 1981 American swashbuckling comedy film from 20th Century Fox, produced by C.O. Erickson and George Hamilton, directed by Peter Medak, that stars Hamilton, Lauren Hutton, Ron Leibman, and Brenda Vaccaro.
Muñeca Brava is an Argentine telenovela, produced by Telefe in 1998–1999. The television series was broadcast in more than 80 countries over the world, enjoying high ratings.
The Legend of Zorro is an Italian-Japanese anime, based on the western character Zorro. The series was initially broadcast in Italy in 1994 before being broadcast in Japan two years later, albeit with some episodes skipped.
El Zorro, la espada y la rosa is a Spanish-language telenovela based on Johnston McCulley's characters. Telemundo aired it from February 12 to July 23, 2007. This limited-run serial shows the masked crusader as a hero torn between his fight for justice and his love for a beautiful woman. Telemundo president Don Browne called this show "without doubt the best production offered on Hispanic television in the United States today."
Olvidarte Jamas is a 2005 telenovela made by Venevision International in Miami that lasted 118 episodes. The telenovela starred Venezuelan-American actress Sonya Smith and Mexican actor Gabriel Porras. The telenovela was written by Veronica Suarez and Omaira Rivero. It was executively produced by Peter Tinoco and Ana Teresa Arizmendi. It aired on Univision in the United States. The theme song "Olvidarte Jamas" was sung by Mexican singer Pablo Montero.
The New Adventures of Zorro is an American animated television series produced by Filmation in 1981. The series, which has 13 episodes, is based on the fictional character created by Johnston McCulley. It aired as part of The Tarzan/Lone Ranger/Zorro Adventure Hour.
Zorro is an American Western superhero television series featuring Duncan Regehr as the character of Zorro. Regehr portrayed the fearless Spanish hero and fencer on The Family Channel from 1990 to 1993. The series was shot entirely in Madrid, Spain and produced by New World Television (U.S.), The Family Channel (U.S.), Ellipse Programme of Canal Plus (France), Beta TV (Germany), and RAI (Italy). 88 episodes of the series were produced, Raymond Austin directed 55 episodes and produced 37. There were 10 more episodes made than the first Zorro television series, which was produced by Disney in the late 1950s.
Zorro: Generation Z is an animated series that began in 2006, and produced by BKN International, BKN New Media and Zorro Productions. Former Marvel Studios development executive Rick Ungar developed the original series. The programming deal and concept for the new series was developed by Ungar, G7, and Pangea and underwritten partially by a master toy license with Brazilian toy company, Gulliver Toys. What made the show unique were the plethora of Pangea-designed high tech gadgets and the conceit of having the young Zorro ride his motorcycle named after his horse, Tornado.
The New Adventures of Zorro is the third animated television series to feature the character of Zorro. The show aired for two seasons in weekly syndication, from September 20, 1997 to December 12, 1998.
The Dream of Zorro is a 1952 Italian comedy adventure film directed by Mario Soldati and starring Walter Chiari, Delia Scala and Vittorio Gassman. The future star Sophia Loren had a minor role in the film.
Lesli Margherita is an American stage and screen actress. She is best known for originating the roles of Inez in the musical Zorro, for which she won a Laurence Olivier Award, and Mrs. Wormwood in the Broadway cast of Matilda the Musical.
Enamorándome de Ramón is a Mexican telenovela produced by Lucero Suárez for Televisa. It is based on the Venezuelan telenovela written by Doris Seguí, Tomasa Tequiero produced in 2009. Filming began on December 1, 2016, at Televisa San Ángel.