The Bremen Town Musicians

Description  

An operatic version of The Town Musicians of Bremen with music by J. Offenbach, G. Rossini, G. Donizetti, A. Sullivan and G. Verdi. 

Eddie Pensier, a rooster with operatic aspirations, is chased away from his farm for waking the entire barnyard singing tenor arias (songs). He decides to look for some pirates, who he thinks will be his friends and help him to survive. On the very same day, Barcarolle the dog, and Dorabella the cat, are cast out by their owners for being too old to catch rabbits and mice. As Barcarolle and Dorabella make their way through the woods near the road to Bremen, they meet General Boom, a retired army donkey, who is marching along playing his drum. After hearing the reason they were forced to leave their homes, the general awards medals to them for being nice to rabbits and mice. In further appreciation of their kindness, General Boom also invites them to come to Bremen to play in his new band. Dorabella and Barcarolle are overjoyed at the invitation, but must decline because they have promised to open a retirement home for old dogs and cats.   

Eddie, who has now joined the Sea-sick Pirates, has been hiding and watching General Boom, Barcarolle, and Dorabella. When Dorabella and Barcarolle leave, Eddie draws his sword and startles the general with a big shout, “Cock-a-doodle-doo! ARRRRRRRRRRRRR!” General Boom, after calming himself, asks Eddie to stop trying to frighten him and invites the singing rooster to Bremen to join his new band. Eddie declines the invitation because he has promised to never think for himself and will only do whatever the pirates command. So the general bids Eddie farewell but suddenly realizes his drum is missing! Eddie confesses that the pirates commanded him to distract the general so they could steal the drum. General Boom vows to get his drum back and recruits Eddie to help.  However, Eddie does not pay attention to where General Boom is marching and heads off in the wrong direction. 

Meanwhile, Dorabella and Barcarolle have gotten lost and start to blame each other angrily. They spot Eddie and demand to know who he is. Eddie demands to know who they are and all three animals begin arguing so loudly that General Boom hears their shouting. He tells them that they should learn to get along and extends another invitation for them to join his band. With the woods surrounding the Bremen Road filled with uncertainty and rumors of pirates all about, they decide that it is best for them to stick together. Therefore, Dorabella, Barcarolle, and Eddie agree to join the general’s new band and march with him to Bremen. Eddie warns everyone that the house belonging to the Sea-sick Pirates is on the way to Bremen and that General Boom’s drum is probably there. Working together as a team, the four create a plan to scare the pirates away from the house disguising themselves as a big noisy monster! Their plan succeeds and Eddie is able to return the drum to its rightful owner, General Boom. As they make their way to their new home, the newly-formed Bremen Town Musicians celebrate the idea that friendship, cooperation, and respect for others is far better than facing problems alone.