The
Three Thieves
a light-hearted family musical
with book and lyrics by Jean H. Klein
and music by Fred Ewing
About the Play: The Three Thieves is a comical yet touching musical adaptation of several medieval French folk tales. It follows the escapades of a farmer in his attempt to pay back two former thieving companions who attempt to take advantage of him and his family in a mischievous romp through the forest, complete with disguises and skullduggery. It has been produced at the Center Theatre and Riverside Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia, and at the Kempsville Playhouse in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where critics described it as a “delightful romp.”
Time: The Middle Ages
Cast
List:
Travers: a farmer
Maria: his wife
Barat: a cunning thief
Haimet: his younger, clumsier brother
The Narrator
Place: The stage is divided into two parts. One section represents a forest and a smaller area on the right is the interior of the parlor of a peasant farmer’s home. The trees and several large rocks in the forest are suggested rather than realistic. Different parts of the forest can be suggested by simply moving or adding a rock or tree. The interior of the hut has only the barest necessities, a table and chair, a spinning wheel, and a cradle. There is also a fireplace, along with the suggestion of a roof and chimney. The distance between the forest and the hut may be suggested by a physical barrier, the use of scrim, or simply altering the lighting.
From
the Play:
Maria continues humming and spinning as the thieves inspect the interior
from their seats. She, however, quietly notices their interest. When Barat
and Haimet speak, they do so rhythmically and in a whisper.)
Haimet: That is a fine table
that sits there.
Barat: Too heavy to carry away. (pause)
Haimet: There are a lot of fine dishes in the cupboard.
Barat: Too many to carry away.
Haimet: (pause Haimet looks up at the rafter.) Barat! Do you see what
I see?
Barat (following the direction of Haimet’s eyes) It’s bacon.
It’s bacon. A nice piece of bacon.
Haimet: Enough for a few meals for us.
Barat: I can almost taste it. Putting that in our own pot would pay Travers
back for abandoning us. The two of us could carry it away.
Haimet: Then we’ll take it?
Barat: We’ll take it. We don’t need to sit here any longer.
(The thieves rise. Barat turns to Maria.)
Barat: We thank you my good
woman for the warmth of your fire, but it’s getting late. We have
to leave.
Maria: You won’t wait for my husband?
Haimet: We have business to tend to.
Barat: Don’t worry. We’ll see him soon again.
 Poster Art available for this play. Click on image above to see larger version |
About
the Playwright:
Jean Klein holds an MFA from the University of Iowa’s Writer’s
Workshop. Her plays have been produced at numerous theaters throughout
the country and have won awards. Her play Anansi won first place in the
Virginia Highlands Festival and her Reflections in a Stained Glass Window
was among the top plays in the Eugene O’Neill theater competition.
In 1976 with Kathleen Lockwood, she co-founded the Tidewater Dramatists
Guild, a playwrights cooperative which is still active in encouraging
the development of new plays. Her work includes translations, adaptations
and musicals. Over the past 20 years, she has taught playwriting and creative
writing at Lindenwood College, Carnegie-Mellon University, Norfolk State
University, and Old Dominion University. She also conducts workshops for
young writers.