The Revolution of Betsy Loring
Book and Lyrics by Noelle Donfeld, Music by Denise Wright, based on a story by Noelle Donfeld and Sue Warford
The Revolution of Betsy Loring
Set against the backdrop of America’s Revolutionary War, The Revolution of Betsy Loring follows a trail of romance and rueful treachery, as BETSY LORING, a Colonial Patriot, is torn between her love of country and her growing love for the enemy.
When Betsy’s husband, JOSHUA, sells her Boston area farm and collaborates with the British, Betsy seeks refuge with her best friend, REBECCA DAWES, whose husband, BILLY, is an actor and a rebel spy. Using his relationship with the dilettante playwright, GENERAL JOHN BURGOYNE, Billy introduces the beautiful and outspoken Betsy to GENERAL WILLIAM HOWE, Commander-in-Chief of British forces, who is intrigued by her beauty and spirit and who understands the rebels’ desire for independence even as he tries to defeat them. Betsy is able to use her relationship with Howe to spy on him, and despite strong misgivings, their mutual attraction and friendship grows.
General Howe’s rival, the hard-nosed GENERAL HENRY CLINTON, is angered over Howe’s continued meetings with a possible traitor to the Crown. Although Betsy’s spying skills are less than ideal, she succeeds in distracting Howe from his battle duties. Clinton and the jealous Joshua attempt to warn Howe about Betsy’s deception, yet the infatuated General Howe refuses to believe them, often returning from battles early to be with her. When Howe leaves for a battle on the outskirts of Boston, Betsy rifles through his papers and is caught red-handed by General Clinton, who immediately has her arrested.
In a Boston jail, Joshua, the new Commissioner of Prisoners, threatens Betsy with hanging. Rushing back from the battlefield, Howe allows himself to believe Betsy’s explanation that she was reading his fiancé’s letters and not battle plans, and Betsy realizes she does deeply love him. However, his quick departure from battle enables the rebels to secure Boston.
Clinton and Joshua persist in their accusations about Betsy, and Clinton finally convinces Howe to set a trap for her, leaving a letter with false information on Howe’s desk. Taking the bait and passing the false intelligence to Billy, Betsy discovers her deadly misstep and must confess her treachery to Howe. In an attempt to save Betsy’s life and the remnants of his honor, General Howe rides off to stop Billy and his rebels from riding into Clinton’s ambush. In the process, both Billy and one of Howe’s men are killed.
Upon Howe’s return, Betsy desperately tries to convince Howe of her genuine love for him. Despondent and outraged over Betsy’s deception and his own gullibility, Howe advises Betsy to return to her abusive husband, and leaves, handing her the deed to her farm. Although devastated by the loss of her true love, the unbowed Betsy remains determined to see America through to freedom.
Selected Lyrics
I HAVE THEM EATING OUT OF MY HAND
I HAVE THEM EATING OUT OF MY HAND
c) Donfeld/Wright
Ensemble
(Billy, Rebecca, the rebels and the unsuspecting Betsy attend General Burgoyne’s party for Lord Howe.)
HOWE(To CLINTON)
To borrow your unflattering analogy…
LOOK AT THESE PUPS! THEY’RE OVERAWED.
WAGGING THEIR TAILS, THEY ARE DOCILE AND BLAND.
REST ASSURED, HENRY, THE DOGS ARE DECLAWED
I HAVE THEM EATING
OUT OF MY HAND.
(Struggling to grin, as ordered, Clinton approaches Rebecca and asks her to dance.)
Billy
LOOK AT THEM BOW. LOOK AT THEM NOD.
OSTRICHES HIDING THEIR HEADS IN THE SAND.
ALL THAT THEY NEED IS A SMILE AND A PROD.
I HAVE THEM EATING
OUT OF MY HAND.
Clinton
(Widely grimacing)
THIS IS INSANE, FRANKLY REVILING,
WHIRLING AROUND WITH A PEASANT,
HIDING THE STRAIN, NODDING AND SMILING.
G-D, IT’S A PAIN TO BE PLEASANT.
REBECCA
How long will you be staying in Boston, Lord Clinton?
CLINTON
Not long, I sincerely hope.
Rebels
CLINTON IS STRANGE, TRULY QUITE ODD.
LOOK AT HIS SMILE. IT IS ALMOST OBSCENE.
SOMEHOW HIS GRIN IS REMARKABLY FLAWED,
MUCH LIKE A PUMPKIN’S ON HALLOWEEN.
(Howe sees Betsy and cuts in.)
BILLY
(Dancing with noblewoman.)
Perhaps I shouldn’t have taken you away from your husband’s side. I hope he’s not leaving soon.
NOBLEWOMAN
I’m not sure, actually. He said he may be leaving in a week, but one never knows.
BILLY
I hope to a more peaceful area of the colonies.
NOBLEWOMAN
I don’t know. Is Concord more peaceful than Boston?
BILLY
Concord? I hope so.
Besty
THIS ISN’T HARD BEING A FRAUD.
HOWE WOULD PAY COURT, IF I GAVE HIM THE CHANCE.
WHAT WILL I DO IF I’M SUDDENLY PAWED?
I’LL KICK HIS LORDSHIP RIGHT IN THE PANTS.
Billy and the Rebels
HOWE IS HER TOOL.
LOOK AT HIM DROOLING,
STRUTTING AROUND LIKE A PHEASANT.
HOWE IS A FOOL.
HE’LL GET A SCHOOLING
SEE HOW IT PAYS TO BE PLEASANT!
Nobles Rebels
LOOK AT THEM BOW. WHAT A FAÇADE.
TREATED LIKE G-D. KEEP NODDING.
THINGS ARE PROGRESSING THINGS ARE PROGRESSING
EXACTLY AS PLANNED EXACTLY AS PLANNED.
ALL THAT THEY NEED IS ALL THAT THEY NEED IS
A SMILE AND A PROD. A SMILE AND A PROD.
I HAVE THE EATING I HAVE THE EATING
OUT OF MY HAND. OUT OF MY HAND.
All
YES, I HAVE THEM EATING OUT OF MY HAND.
HAVING TEA
HAVING TEA
c) Donfeld/Wright
(Betsy meets with Lord Howe ostensibly to discuss the possibility of getting her farm back from her husband who has stolen and sold it. What she wants, in actuality, is to develop a relationship with Howe so that she can spy on him. All but the last line are sung as asides.)
Betsy
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT,
SITTING WITH A GENERAL,
SIPPING WITH A GENERAL
WOULD BE AMUSING?
NEVER GAVE A SINGLE THOUGHT,
NEVER THOUGHT THAT I’D BE CAUGHT
DEAD HERE.
INSTEAD, HERE
I’M SITTING WITH A GENERAL,
A BLOODY BRITISH GENERAL,
A RATHER CHARMING GENERAL
IT’S SO CONFUSING.
HAVING TEA WITH GENERAL HOWE,
HOW’S THAT FOR FATE? GREAT!
SHOULD I PUT SOME CAKE
OR POISON ON HIS PLATE?
Howe
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT,
SITTING WITH A COMMONER,
SIPPING WITH A COMMONER
WOULD BE SO THRILLING?
LOOK AT HOW SHE FILLS MY PLATE,
SEEMING TO APPRECIATE
MY TEA TIME.
YES, HERE I’M
SITTING WITH A COMMONER,
SIPPING WITH A COMMONER,
A QUITE UNCOMMON COMMONER
WHO SEEMS QUITE WILLING,
SHARING HER PERCEPTIONS OF
OUR AFFAIRS OF STATE. FATE
IS SMILING AT ME.
I’D BETTER CLEAN MY PLATE.
Both
WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT
HAVING TEA WITH SOMEONE WHO
HAS A POINTED POINT OF VIEW
COULD BE ENGAGING?
SUCH A PLEASANT INTERLUDE,
WAITING WHILE THE TEA IS BREWED.
PURE BLISS IS LIKE THIS IS
IS NOT A VERY COMMON SIGHT.
SOME WOULD SAY IT ISN’T RIGHT,
Betsy
WATCHING HIM TAKE SUCH DELIGHT
Both
WHEN WAR IS WAGING.
NOT TO BREAK THE MOOD OR BE RUDE
BUT IS THIS SANE?
PLAINLY,
SO IT APPEARS
WE MUST HAVE TEA AGAIN.
STAND
STAND
c) Donfeld/Wright
<em(Realizing that she has a chance to spy on Lord Howe and other British royalists at a party, Colonial patriot, Betsy Loring, tries to convince Billy Dawes, a Rebel spy, actor and friend, that she is up to the task.)
Betsy
FIRMLY PLANTED
UNDER MY FEET
IS A LAND THAT CRIES FOR FREEDOM.
FIRMLY PLANTED
IN MY HEART
ARE A PEOPLE WHO LONG TO LIVE
AS AN EAGLE FLIES
THROUGH BOUNDLESS SKIES,
RISING, RISING.
I AM DETERMINED TO STAND
TALL AND STRONG AND FREE.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY, MY LAND,
A PART OF ME.
FIRMLY PLANTED
IN MY FIST
IS THE SEED OF MY OWN FREEDOM.
FIRMLY PLANTED
IN MY HEART
IS THE POWER TO LET IT GROW
LIKE THE WINTER GRAIN
THAT FILLS THE PLAIN,
RISING, RISING.
I AM DETERMINED TO STAND.
TALL AND STRONG AND FREE.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY, MY LAND,
A PART OF ME.
I AM DETERMINED TO STAND
TALL AND STRONG AND FREE.
THIS IS MY COUNTRY, MY LAND
AND MY DESTINY.
NOT ENGLISH
NOT ENGLISH
c) Donfeld/Wright
(In Howe’s quarters, the angered General Howe gives full vent to his frustration with the guerilla tactics of the rebels, and, after Howe leaves, Betsy expresses her resentment toward King George.)
Howe
I’D HOPED FOR CONCILIATION,
OR WAR THAT’S PLAYED BY THE RULES.
AN INDEPENDENT NATION… OF FOOLS!
I’D HOPED FOR NEGOTIATION
TO END THIS WRETCHED WAR.
AN INDEPENDENT NATION…WHAT FOR?
SHOOTING AT NIGHT,
ONLY IN STEALTH,
STABBING YOUR BACK
WHILE TOASTING YOUR HEALTH,
HOW DO YOU FIGHT A PHANTOM, A COWARD?
LYING IN WAIT,
HIDING IN TREES,
RUNNING BEHIND YOU
KILLING WITH EASE,
ONLY THE DEVIL’S MADE THEM EMPOWERED.
WHAT KIND OF WAR IS THIS?
WHAT KIND OF MAN
WOULD SHOOT SO BLINDLY, HIT OR MISS?
NOT ENGLISH.
WHAT KIND OF WAR IS THIS?
WHAT SORT OF CUR
WOULD ENTER SUCH A DARK ABYSS?
NOT ENGLISH.
PLANNING ATTACKS,
JUST BY SURPRISE.
HITTING OUR BACKS,
A SCHEME I DESPISE,
ONLY IN AMBUSH, MEN UNPROTECTED.
BLIND TO THEIR DEBT,
BLIND TO THEIR PAST,
TRAITOROUS SONS,
THE DIE HAS BEEN CAST,
TIME THAT THIS CONFLICT TRULY IS ENDED.
WHAT KIND OF WAR IS WAGED
FAR FROM THE FIELD,
BY HEATHENS WHO ARE SO ENRAGED?
NOT ENGLISH.
WHAT KIND OF MEN ARE THESE?
I’LL MAKE THEM YIELD,
AND THEY WILL LEARN THEY MUST APPEASE
THE ENGLISH.
(Howe leaves for battle, as Betsy looks for information in his desk.)
Betsy
WHAT KIND OF WAR IS THIS?
GO ASK YOUR KING.
CAUSED BY HIS AVARICE,
IT’S ENGLISH.
WHAT KIND OF MEN AR THESE?
RIGHTEOUS AND BRAVE
WHOM YOU WILL NEVER SEE APPEASE
THE ENGLISH.
ONWARD
ONWARD
c) Donfeld/Wright
(The road to Trenton, the Dawes Home. The dramatic climax of the story is captured in this quintet. When Betsy unknowingly passes on false intelligence to Billy,, General Howe, in an attempt to save his reputation and Betsy’s life, rides off to stop the Patriots from ambush. Waiting at home, the women face their own night of desperation. The piece interweaves several previous songs from the score in a thunderous ride toward destiny.)
Billy and the Patriots
INTO THE PINES,
SKIRTING THE HIGHWAY,
THREADING THE FOREST AS SILENT AS AIR,
SEARCHING FOR SIGNS,
LEAVING THE BYWAYS,
LOOKING FOR TROOPS AND AVOIDING THE SNARE,
ONWARD,
PUSHING THE HORSES,
EVER ALERT WHILE AVOIDING THE FOE,
ONWARD,
SEEKING THE FORCES,
TIRED AND DIRTY YET
ONWARD I GO.
British Soldiers
PISTOLS ARE DRAWN,
WAITING THE HOUR,
COILED UP AND READY TO STRIKE LIKE A SNAKE.
WAITING ‘TIL DAWN,
SET TO DEVOUR
ANY PREY MAKING A FATAL MISTAKE,
Patriots
ONWARD,
HUSHING THE HORSES,
EVER ALERT WHILE PURSUING THE FOE,
ONWARD,
SEEKING THE FORCES,
TIRED AND DIRTY YET
ONWARD WE GO.
Howe
SEARCHING THE BRUSH,
FIGHTING THE CURRENT,
GRIPPING THE SADDLE AND WHIPPING THE REINS,
FEELING THE RUSH;
FEAR NO DETERRENT!
HEARING THE BLOOD CHURNING HARD THROUGH MY VEINS,
HOW LIKE A LAMB I WAS LED TO THE SLAUGHTER.
HOW LIKE A FOOL I WAS EAGER TO TRUST.
WHAT CAN SHE SAY NOW HER LIES HAVE CAUGHT HER?
I SHOULDN’T STOP THEM, BUT STILL I MUST.
AND ALL THESE MONTHS HAVE, INDEED, BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
AND ALL THESE MONTHS HAVE, INDEED, BEEN A CURSE.
I HAVE BEEN BLIND WHEN THE TRUTH WAS RIGHT THERE.
SHE IS A TRAITOR, BUT I AM WORSE.
ONWARD!
Betsy
EVERY TOMORROW I PRAY FOR A WAY TO BE NEAR HIM,
PRAY HE’LL FORGIVE ME,
NEVER LET ME GO.
I DIDN’T KNOW I’D BE FORCED TO CHOOSE.
NOW THAT I LOVE HIM I KNOW I’LL LOSE
EITHER WAY
Howe
I AM BETRAYED!
Rebecca Billy
IT’S KNOWING THAT YOUR LOVER HAS
A ROLE HE MUST PERFORM, ONWARD!
SEWING WOOLEN TROUSERS AND A
CLOAK TO KEEP HIM WARM CHARGING ONWARD!
PRAYING G-D WILL SAVE HIM AS HE
RIDES TO MEET THE STORM.
Betsy HOWE
EVERY TOMORROW. TRAITOR!
British Soldiers
WILL THERE BE TOMORROW? HUSH THE HORSES!
Billy and the Patriots
BUT STEADY, ONWARD
THERE IN THE DISTANCE,
DUST ON THE HILLSIDE, THE POUNDING OF HOOVES.
ONWARD,
THERE IN THE DISTANCE
CLOSWER AND CLOSER, HOW QUICKLY HE MOVES.
Howe
WHETHER TO HALE THEM…
HOW SHALL WE MEET?
WILL THE NIGHT END IN
LUCK OR DEFEAT?
British Soldiers Patriots
WHAT IS THAT POUNDING? WHETHER TO CHALLENGE?
I HEAR THEM AT LAST. WHETHER TO AIM AT THE RED
OF HIS SUIT.
AND ON WE GO. AND ON WE GO.
Betsy Rebecca
EVERY TOMORROW. BY THE WINDOW, WAITING THERE
PATIENTLY.
WAITING, ALWAYS WAITING.
All
ONWARD,
FACING THE MORNING,
RACING TOWARD DESTINY SHARP AND ALIVE.
ONWARD,
WAITING FOR SUNRISE,
WHO WILL BE SLAUGHTERED AND WHO WILL SURVIVE?
Patriots British Howe
NOT SO FAST. ONWARD… WHAT WAS THAT? ONWARD… CAREFUL NOW. ONWARD…
Rebecca Betsy
HURRY BACK. ONWARD… TOMORROW. ONWARD…
All
ONWARD, ONWARD, ONWARD, ONWARD, ONWARD.
HOWE
It’s a trap!
(A shot is heard, followed quickly by two more shots.)
A published songwriter, Donfeld is a member of the Dramatist Guild, ASCAP, ALAP, and on the Board of the Academy for New Musical Theatre, Los Angeles.