JACK AND THE BEANSTALK (Music by Jeanne Bargy and Jim Eiler: Book and Lyrics by Jim Eiler) SYNOPSIS A new twist on the old pantomime story wherein Jack climbs the beanstalk to find a good giant and a tapdancing Golden Goose. Along the way, he encounters his long-lost father (a victim of – what else? –amnesia) and a villainous Baron. This delightful zany cartoon adaptation of a favourite story will enhance the repertoire of any performing company and is sure to delight even the most jaded of audiences! STORY Act 1 Jack Sprague is milking his cow, Betsy, as his morning comes to an end. His mother joins him outside with some mending and, with their neighbours, they observe what a beautiful day it is. Moments later, the evil Baron shows up, asking for the Sprague's annual tax money. They reveal that they do not have it. He offers to assist them by proposing to Mother, who promptly spurns his advances, claiming her husband, and Jack's father, will eventually return. The Baron gives them until the next day to come up with the tax money or else he will throw the two into jail. When Jack tries to refuse, the Baron puts both Jack and his mother in a trance, revealing his magic powers. He releases them from the trance and leaves them to come up with the money. Jack and his mother are at a loss for what to do. They decide the only way to pay their taxes is to sell their cow, Betsy. Mother says goodbye to Betsy, and sends Jack and the cow to the market to get a good price. The Baron overhears their conversation and quickly forms a plan. He disguises himself as a peddler, approaches Jack and offers to sell him magic beans in exchange for the cow. The Baron explains that once planted and watered, the beanstalk will grow while Jack is asleep. He claims that atop the beanstalk there is a castle with a golden goose which lays golden eggs, and that this goose will make Jack rich. Jack accepts the trade. Back at the Sprague's house, Jack's mother is furious with him for trading his cow for beans. She is sure they will be thrown into jail. Jack tries to comfort her as he plants the beans. The next morning there is a beanstalk leading up to the sky; Jack and his mother are in disbelief but he decides to climb the beanstalk and get the goose. His mother desperately begs him not to go, worried he might never return. Jack bids his mother goodbye and assures her that he will return. Jack makes it to the top of the beanstalk into a strange land where everything is bigger. A housekeeper, assistant, and natives of the land find him and insist that he leave, for he is in the land of the giant. Jack, who insists he must find the golden goose, becomes trapped when the giant appears from inside of the castle. The Giant finds him hiding amongst the flowers. When Jack tries to explain his intentions, the Giant becomes infuriated. Act 2 Now, within the Giant's laboratory, Jack has been taken prisoner and strapped into an experimental chair. The Giant explains that he is not only a great Giant, but also a great scientific inventor. The Giant uses his inventions to calm Jack down, then injects him with Giant Truth Serum to learn if he is really a spy. Under the effects of the serum, Jack explains that he learned of the golden goose from an old peddler, and came
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