Since
2009, The
Emperor's New Clothes
The
Musical,
has been performed countless times by elementary to high school kids
across the country. The music was composed and lyrics written by
Bill Francoeur. Emperor
Plumptoe, two weavers, the empress, a jester, and a throng of
townsfolk sing and dance their way through this engaging musical
featuring seven original songs. When the emperor is tricked into
parading before his loyal subject's in his invisible suit, they break into the climactic song, “The Man in the
Underpants.” By all accounts, the kids love performing this new
take on the time honored fairy tale.
Many
plays are based on the story, translated into 100 plus languages, by
Hans Christian Anderson of Denmark. Nearly everyone knows the
timeless story of the vain emperor who is clothing obsessed to the
detriment of his kingdom. Two imposters convince the ruler that they
have made him a beautiful suit of clothes like nothing he has ever
owned. The magical cloth is invisible to the ignorant. Those who are
not fit to serve can't see a thing. Well, you know the story.
After
the emperor is paraded before his subjects in his fine new suit of
clothes, he is ceremoniously placed upon a royal pedestal to be
admired. In reality, he is wearing only his union suit. Soon, a kid
spills the beans by pointing out that their unadorned leader “has
no clothes.” He's standing there in his underwear!
Embarrassed
to be exposed, wearing nothing but a bright red union suit, the
emperor covers his face and turns away while enduring the song, “The
Man in the Underpants.”
Having
quite enough of the laughter and ridicule, the chagrined emperor jumps down off his pedestal and
attempts to run away.
But he is quickly turned back and forced up on his perch as his subject's resume their “praise.”
Noah, a 9th grader from Chandler, Arizona, does a great
job in his role as the emperor.
Following
is the video from their presentation...
In
this second video, another boy plays Emperor Plumptoe in boxer shorts
rather than the typical red union suit...
and in this last video, the little kids take their turn as an elementary student gives another performance as the Emperor...
