Based loosely on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, in "Alice in Loudoun Land," Alice follows the White Rabbit down a hole and ends up in the County of Loudoun! The Rabbit, the Narrator, and a "Charm" proceed to give Alice a brief overview of the history of Loudoun and its various towns and villages. (I have a full overview of the plot at the end of this post)
Intermingled in the story are many songs. A Glee Club sang Indian Love Call, America the Beautiful, Wild Blue Yonder, Jacob's Ladder, Were You There?, and Old MacDonald Had a Farm. 2nd and 3rd graders sang Billy Boy, while 4th and 5th graders sang Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree. A boy named Stephen Foster had his own musical number of Camp Town Races. This production also featured many dance numbers, including an Indian Dance, a Milk-Maid Dance, a Virginia Reel, a parade of wooden soldiers, and a square dance. It was quite a production.
It was performed on May 13, 1955 at the old Hillsboro stone school, now the Hillsboro Community Center. It's a short script, only 5 pages long, although the show would have made up for time with all of the many songs and dances. It's... cute, in a sort of old-timey way. It's more a music festival with a script than a show with songs. And that's totally fine for that sort of thing.
My favorite stage direction was "Small children throw paper airplanes in audience." I wouldn't give kids the power to throw a projectile into an audience ("Oh god, they shot my eye out!")
Attached to the script was a note to then-Superintendent Oscar Emerick, asking if he, his wife, and/or his staff would like to attend.
A quick google search reveals this show has no online presence. I'm glad I could shine some light on this forgotten piece. Although, this will probably the first (and possibly) last post on "Alice in Loudoun Land," unless a revival happens in the future.
Sources:
LCPS Records
Loudoun Times Mirror May 1955
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The plot overview and other remarks are continued below:
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The Narrator tells the audience, "Alice decided to make a daisy chain, but would it be worth getting up to pick daisies?" (Lazy lazy lazy)
She notices a peculiar white rabbit with a watch and a waistcoat talking to himself. She follows him down a big hole. At last, she reaches the bottom and ends up in a place she's never been before. That is where the resemblance to Alice in Wonderland ends.
The White Rabbit asks if she is following him, which Alice replies she is lost and has never been here before.
White Rabbit responds: "What? Never been here before? My dear little girl, you are in the County of Loudoun. Why, we could call you "Alice in Loudoun Land" and these pretty Misses can be your Charms. (Motions for Charms to appear from behind trees. They dance.)"
(That is literally the line. Why does she get a title immediately? Did people back then address each other like that? 'Hello, A.J. in Loudoun Land! How's Mrs. Moony in Loudoun Land today?' And I don't know how the Charms fit in this story other than for another dance opportunity)
The White Rabbit suggests before he shows her around the County to tell her the County's history. They sit by the Potomac and the Narrator, Rabbit, and one of the Charms all tell Alice the story. (The Narrator flits in and out of being the storyteller and an actual character in the story other characters can talk to)
They start with the "Red Men" living on the land. Then they talk about who were the first settlers of each town, first Quakers in Waterford and Lincoln, then Cavaliers in Middleburg and Leesburg, and lastly Germans in Lovettsville.
During the Revolutionary War, Loudoun County supplied troops to the Continental Army, "even if some couldn't speak English and the commands had to be given in German." In the War of 1812, they mention how First Lady Dolly Madison brought important documents and a famous portrait of George Washington to hide in Leesburg while Washington DC was under attack. (I've never heard of the portrait coming to Leesburg as well. The only thing I can find on where it was hidden was in a farmhouse).
During the Civil War, the army of the Potomac crossed the river twice at Lovettsville, then Mosby's Raiders gave the Union soldiers headaches with their fighting techniques. They bring up that Hillsboro was the birthplace of Susan Koerner Wright, mother of the Wright Brothers. Regarding Purcellville, "One of the larger towns. It doesn't date back so far but its history is no less interesting." They go on to say it was created for religious reasons, particularly Bush Meetings.
The story ends and the conversation turns to current Loudoun, "known nationally and internationally too for its wonderful thoroughbred horses and fashionable fox hunts." The Narrator notes in a monologue that the county population was 21,147, and it's "chiefly an agricultural county producing dairy products, beef cattle, lambs, pigs, poultry, eggs, fruits, and hay and Tain." The Charm brings up Loudoun's beautiful apple and cherry trees, a perfect setting for romance.
Alice agrees, saying she's glad she visited in the Spring. Then with no plot warning, she says "I had such a lovely visit. I shall never forget your Loudoun Land, Mr. Rabbit, and before I go, will you please always remember me as your Alice in Loudoun Land."
(Why does she suddenly have to leave? Wasn't she going to look around the County after the story?)
The Rabbit responds: "Why Alice, it has been a pleasure to show you my land. I'm sorry that you couldn't meet some of the nice people, but then of course you understand that would be embarrassing for me as I'm just a plain old rabbit to them. So your sister won't be worried I'd better be showing you the way back ---- Come now -----"
(Was the Rabbit trying to tire Alice out with the story so he wouldn't have her meet anyone? Why didn't he bring up the fact that he was a regular rabbit to everyone else earlier? What world is Alice actually from if she can see rabbits with waistcoats? Where is Alice from where rabbits from Loudoun Land can talk to her? Why doesn't he say he will remember her as his Alice in Loudoun Land? So many questions.)
And so they set back to her sister. The end!
It's not a well-written script. I've only quoted the worst parts, so I've probably made it look worse than it is. It's informative at best. So many questions left unanswered! The weakest parts of the scripts are when a plot is needed to tie things together. They tried to merge a music festival to an idea of Alice in Wonderland, while also making it relevant and adding/teaching Loudoun County history.
But, again, it's a music festival. I, a theater major whose read many good scripts, am probably ripping apart some music teacher's masterpiece. It works for its purpose. It's not out to win any major awards. The script makes the songs fit in the story. It excels as a music festival for going above and beyond an ordinary festival. Chorus concerts have the possibility to be long (and tortuous). A little plot can make it more tolerable for the audience. I assume they'd also have costumes for the Indians, Quakers, Charms, etc that appear, which would be more interesting than the usual choir outfits. The humor, if acted upon by the characters, could make it more tolerable as well. It's a cute show, rated G for all audiences.
So, that's Alice in Loudoun Land!
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