Gypsy Dawn
 
 

ACT ONE

Scene 1


A gypsy camp in the kingdom of Montavia. It is just before dawn. On the backdrop we see a forest and way in the distance a castle. At rise a group of GYPSIES are dancing on stage very much as they would have done in an operetta in the teens. The dance lasts only for a few moments and is interspersed with shouts of "Hey!" and "Ho!". Then THEY disperse, and we see NIKKO, young and handsome, JOAKU, middle-aged, his woman, TAPIA, fat and jolly, and ANGELU and STEFANA, both exotic and volatile. They all speak with varying degrees of middle-European accents.
 
NIKKO
We go now into the village to read palms and steal fruit.

ANGELU

Where is Vasily? We cannot go without Vasily.

TAPIA

He is the best palm-reader and fruit-stealer of us all.

JOAKU

I saw him go off with Lena and Vladina.

TAPIA

Ah, if he is with Lena and Vladina, he will not get back till the cock crows…

JOAKU

The cock just crowed.

TAPIA

I mean tomorrow.

ANGELU

I will scratch their eyes out!

STEFANA

You will scratch their eyes out! I will scratch their eyes out!

ANGELU

What do you mean you will scratch their eyes out! What are you to Vasily?  (the fact dawning on her) You gypsy pig, I will scratch your eyes out!
  (The TWO go at each other, ferociously pulling and kicking and biting. At that moment, VASILY appears with VLADINA on one arm and LENA on the other. They are two very sultry, attractive girls, and VASILY is quite magnificent. THEY are all laughing until HE sees the two fighting.)

                                             VASILY

 Hey! What is this? What are Angelu and Stefana fighting about?

TAPIA

You, of course. What else?
  (HE separates the two as THEY are clawing each other.)
      VASILY We must stop this fighting amongst ourselves.  
TAPIA
Ha! The only way that would happen is if you wear a potato sack.

VASILY

We have enough to contend with from the outside world. Folks may call us common,
We sons of Roman-y!
The bourgeoisie---
We don't need 'em!
They envy us our freedom,
For gypsies must be free
Like you and him and me,
We sons of Romany! (As he swings into the rousing chorus, HE points to each gypsy representing the description in the lyric.) Gay gypsy,
Sad gypsy,
Good gypsy,
Bad gypsy---
No matter what may e'er befall.

Sweet gypsy,
Grim gypsy,
Fat gypsy,
Slim gypsy---
We're all for one and one for all!

We fight
With courage and with fire!
We love
With passion and desire!
There are no bonds,
There are no chains
When gypsy blood flows through your veins.

Wild gypsy,
Tame gypsy,
Lithe gypsy,
Lame gypsy---
At heart we have the same gypsy
Soul!
 

(GYPSIES dance around Vasily with passion and fervor. HE joins in the dance. During the number the moon vanishes from the backdrop, and the stage is suffused with a soft pink and amber light. When the dance ends, BETAMO, a gypsy of enormous size and strength, rushes on.)
 
BETAMO
Gypsies! King Gustavo is leaving the castle at this very moment!

TAPIA

King Gustavo!

VASILY

Is the Princess Maritza with him?

BETAMO

No. I overheard the guards. He is on his way to Paris to sign a trade agreement with the French.

JOAKU

We had better hurry or we will miss him!

TAPIA

To see the King in person---considering he's so seldom here.
  (All except NIKKO and VASILY follow BETAMO off stage right.)
 
NIKKO
Are you not coming?

VASILY

Not if the Princess Maritza is not with him.

NIKKO

What are you staring at? The castle again.

VASILY

Just wondering.

NIKKO

What it would be like…with a princess? Don't you have enough with every woman in the camp pining for you?

VASILY

They are not princesses!

NIKKO

You only saw her once and that was from a distance. Tell me, Vasily, have you ever really been in love?

VASILY

I dally with Anna,
Make eyes at Stefana,
And fiddle with Angelu---
I trifle with Lena,
Make love to Vladina,
       NIKKO But when it is through
You try to hide
Something lonely inside.


VASILY

Something lonely inside? You joke, my friend.

NIKKO

Without true love, life is lonely, my brother.

VASILY

True love, bah! There is no such thing. Have you found true love?

NIKKO

No. But I know that someday I shall… My love
Is like the waters of the moon:
They gleam
Somewhere way above the sky.
My love
Is like a runaway balloon,
It's there
But we cannot see it fly.
I play at romance
But my heart isn't in it,
And I pray any minute
My one true love will appear.
And when she is here,
We'll be singing together
Some undiscovered tune,
And then we'll go sailing
On the waters of the moon.
The waters of the moon.
 
 
 
LIGHTS DIM
 
 
 
 
 

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