ACT 1
London, 1779. Sir Peter Teazle, a dour, fiftysomething bachelor, marries a simple girl from the country half his age, Lady Teazle, expecting that she will be docile and subservient. But when he gets her to the city, she spends all his money, won't do a thing he says, and gives him nothing but aggravation about how old he is.
OPEN UP YOUR PURSE (Sir Peter, Lady Teazle) Sir Peter has raised Joseph and Charles Surface, the two sons of his deceased friend, to manhood. Charles, the younger brother, is a handsome rake who squanders his fortune on wine, women and song. But he's the one with the good heart. He is beloved by Sir Peter's earnest young ward, Maria, who intends to reform him. The elder brother, Joseph Surface, is a "man of sentiment," who has a moral aphorism for every occasion. He appears to the world to be a moral pillar. In fact, he's the dirtiest of dogs, who conspires to seduce Lady Teazle for entertainment while trying to marry Maria for her money. In order to separate Charles and Maria, Joseph conspires with London's leading gossip, Lady Sneerwell, and her confederate, Mr. Snake, to spread a rumor that Lady Teazle is having an affair with his brother Charles. Meanwhile, Lady Sneerwell hopes to snare young Charles for herself, and adds to the mischief by having Mr. Snake forge a letter which will end up in Maria's hands, professing Charles's love for Lady Sneerwell instead of her.
SCANDAL (Mr. Snake, Lady Sneerwell) Lady Sneerwell marvels at Joseph's duplicity. He simply celebrates it.
THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS (Joseph) Meeting Maria at Sir Peter's home, Charles professes his love for her. But she's not entirely convinced he'll be true to her. He sings to assure her of his devotion.
NO OTHER LOVE (Charles, Maria)Lady Sneerwell's cabal of gossips, her "school for scandal," consisting of Mr. Crabtree, Sir Benjamin Backbite, and Mrs. Candour, fan the flames of the negative rumors about Charles.
IT MUST BE TRUE (Mrs. Cand., Sir Ben., Mr. Crab., Joseph, Maria, Lady Sne.)At that gathering, Joseph begs Maria to marry him, just as Lady Teazle enters from the next room and overhears. Joseph spins his twisted logic to convince her that she's really the one he wants.
GIVE IN (Joseph, Lady Teazle) Sir Peter laments to the old servant of the Surface family, Master Rowley, about the folly of marrying someone so much younger than himself.
A YOUNGER WIFE (Sir Peter) To return to the home page, click here.
Performer credits:
Sir Peter, Joseph, Charles, Mr. Snake, Mr. Crabtree, Master Rowley, Careless, Sir Toby,
and the Drinking Buddies..................................................................................................Jeffery Lyle Segal
Sir Oliver..........................................................................................................................John Reeger
Sir Benjamin.....................................................................................................................Arron Rothbart
Mrs. Candour....................................................................................................................Elise Dewsberry
Lady Sneerwell, Maria ("No Other Love", "Top of Your List")..................................................Yoly Tolentino
Maria ("It Must Be True"), Lady Teazle ("Give In").................................................................Linea Liu Dakin
Lady Teazle ("Open Up Your Purse") ..................................................................................Laurie Ferdman
Lady Teazle ("With All My Heart"); both Lady T. and Maria ("No Other Love - Reprise")............Stephanie Myre
Instrumental beds are computer generated by MusicWrite software. Arrangements by Mr. Segal
To go to the selected songs from Act II, click here.
Book, music and lyrics by
Jeffery Lyle Segal
Adapted from THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL by Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Scandalous Behavior! was first presented in a staged reading at the Academy for New Musical Theatre in 2006, directed by Mr. Segal, who also played Joseph Surface. It was invited to be part of the York Theatre Company developmental reading series in 2010, also directed by Mr. Segal. It is currently available for a full developmental production. Cast of 11 men and 6 women (with some doubling), unit set, period costumes. As a chamber piece, it can be accompanied by a single electronic keyboard, split as harpsichod and bass or as few as four players -- piano, harp, harpsichord, acoustic bass (or electronic keyboard for harpsichord and bass), strings and brass (or electronic keyboard for strings and brass). The computer generated tracks are available as well.
