This musical adaptation of Stephen Leacock’s timeless classic is set in the typical - but imaginary - Ontario town of Mariposa. The story takes place over the three days of the Dominion Day weekend in 1912.

Peter Pupkin, a young bank clerk, anticipates the return from a Toronto boarding school of Zena Pepperleigh, the girl he fell in love with last summer. (“Prologue”) He and his roommate, Mallory Tomkins - a newspaper reporter always looking for a “story” - head off to the station to meet the train. At the station, Peter tries to avoid Zena’s parents - her class-conscious and disapproving mother and her easy-going father, Judge Pepperleigh - who expect to meet their daughter.

Zena’s best friend, Myra Thorpe, is there and encounters a mysterious stranger as he gets off the train. (Repeated efforts by various people to discover the stranger’s purpose in coming to their town will prove unsuccessful.) The townsfolk extol the virtues of their town (“Mariposa”). As the stranger goes on his way, the Pepperleighs realize they have somehow missed Zena.

With only Myra left at the station, Zena finally appears. She and Myra compare notes on their long separation. Zena’s time in the city has exposed her to new ideas, including the women’s suffrage movement. As Peter returns to collect Mallory’s camera, he overhears Zena speak of her uncertain feelings about him.

Alone on the street, Zena wonders if she has outgrown Mariposa (“Have I Changed?”). In the local barbershop, Jefferson Thorpe cuts Peter’s hair while other men exchange news and views. Peter is teased about his feelings for Zena. Conversation turns to the upcoming excursion on Lake Wissanotti on the Mariposa Belle. Hotelkeeper, Josh Smith, will provide beverages. With help from the other men - and with no false modesty - entrepreneur Smith goes on to introduce himself (“Jos. Smith, Prop”). Two townsmen wonder whether Smith might be a suitable Conservative candidate in the coming federal election.

Mrs. Pepperleigh hosts a meeting of the Mothers Auxiliary (“Mariposa Mothers Auxiliary”). Anglican clergyman, Dean Drone, attends briefly to make an appeal for donations to the church’s building project. Zena and Myra join the meeting, and when Mrs. Pepperleigh mentions Josh Smith’s possible candidacy, Zena causes consternation by voicing her interest in politics.

At the hotel, as Dean Drone shares with Smith his worries about church finances, their conversation is interrupted by Mallory who comes to interview Smith about his candidacy. But Smith is not yet ready to make an announcement. As Zena’s friends, Lilian and Nora, speculate about Zena’s current feelings toward Peter, Mallory joins them. Together they recall how, the previous summer, Peter and Zena met (“He First Saw Her”).

Later, in their shared room above the bank, Mallory tells the discouraged Peter that, if he wants Zena, he will have to win her all over again (“That Must Count for Something”). But when Peter encounters Zena, he remains tongue-tied. Then, when Zena tells Mallory of her confused feelings about Peter, Mallory sticks up for him. Peter, having worked up the nerve to call on Zena, tries to rekindle her feelings from the previous summer by reminding her of an imagined similarity between their handwriting (“Penmanship”). At first, Zena merely humours Peter, but eventually she finds herself recalling the warm feelings she had had for him.

As the townspeople gather for the excursion (“What a Beautiful Day Today!”), they learn that Smith’s candidacy is official. Peter is prepared to board the boat, but Mrs. Pepperleigh makes it clear he is not welcome. On the Mariposa Belle, Peter’s absence prompts Zena to acknowledge her growing affection for him. In a flashback, the pair recall the previous year and the sadness of parting (“Whenever You Are Far Away”). As the boat is homeward bound, Zena finds an opportunity to demonstrate her political acumen to candidate Smith. Then, as the travellers reflect on the pleasures of the day, their reverie is interrupted by a thud.

The passengers realize the boat is sinking (“The Mariposa Belle”). But the prescient Josh Smith has brought along a rope with which to plug the beams, and the boat is re-floated. Smith is acclaimed a hero.

Meanwhile, feeling defeated, Peter decides he must leave town and writes Zena a farewell note (“Time to Say Goodbye”). Hearing suspicious sounds in the bank, he takes a gun and goes to investigate.

Dean Drone, knowing that his incompetence in arithmetic has created a crisis in the finances of the church’s building project, decides to resign (“Dean Drone’s Letter”). But as he writes, he sees that the church is engulfed in flames. The choir describes the fire that ravages the church but shares the good news that the building was insured for twice its value (“Fire”).

At his campaign rally, Smith appeals for votes (“Will You Believe in Me?”). Aware of his relative ignorance of political matters, Zena offers to work on his campaign.

Mallory, Lilian and Nora recount the story of a robbery that Peter appears to have thwarted (“The Bank Robbery”). When she hears the news, Zena agrees that Peter is a hero. The stranger finally discloses his mission: to give Peter the first annuity cheque from his father’s law firm in Halifax. Judge Pepperleigh realizes that he and Peter’s father were roommates at law school, and Mrs. Pepperleigh suddenly reverses her attitude toward Peter. Zena is touched by the fact that Peter has renounced his privileged position in order to make his own way in life. It appears that they will marry and make their home in Mariposa (“The World is Changing”).

Zena Pepperleigh - young woman just back from boarding school

Peter Pupkin - young bank teller

Mallory Tompkins - young newspaper reporter

Josh Smith - hotelkeeper

Judge Pepperleigh - town judge

Martha Pepperleigh -‍ president of Mothers Auxiliary

Myra Thorpe - young woman, best friend of Zena

Lilian Drone - young woman

Nora Gallagher - young woman

Stranger - just off the train

Miss Cleghorn - telephone operator

Rev. Dean Drone - clergyman

Mrs. Trelawney - member of Mothers Auxiliary

Mrs. Gingham - member of Mothers Auxiliary

Mrs. Thompson - member of Mothers Auxiliary

Jefferson Thorpe - town barber

Billy - Smith’s right-hand young man

John Henry Bagshaw - long-time Liberal member of parliament

Christie Johnson -‍ captain of the Mariposa Belle

Dr. Gallagher - town doctor

Golgotha Gingham -‍somber town undertaker

RECORDINGS →

1. Overture - Mariposa Jig

2. Prologue - Peter

3. Mariposa - Ensemble

4. Mariposa Incidental - Instrumental

5. Have I Changed? - Zena

6. Jos. Smith Proprietor - Men

7. Jos. Smith Incidental - Instrumental

8. Mariposa Mother's Auxiliary - Women

9. He First Saw Her - Lilian, Nora, Mallory

10. That Must Count for Something - Peter, Mallory

11. That Must Count for Something Incidental - Instrumental

12. We Fell in Love Incidental - Instrumental

13. Penmanship - Peter, Zena

14. Penmanship Incidental - Instrumental

15. Mariposa Jig - Instrumental

16. What a Beautiful Day Today - Ensemble

17. Beautiful Day Incidental - Instrumental

18. Canoe Music - Instrumental

19. Whenever You Are Far Away - Peter, Zena

20. Mariposa Incidental - Instrumental

21. O Canada - Ensemble

22. Entr’acte - Mariposa Waltz

23. The Mariposa Belle - Ensemble

24. Whenever You Incidental - Instrumental

25. Time to Say Goodbye - Peter

26. Time to Say Goodbye Incidental - Instrumental

27. Dean Drone's Letter - Rev. Drone

28. Fire - Ensemble

29. Beautiful Day Rag - Ensemble

30. Will You Believe in Me - Smith, Ensemble

31. Will You Believe Incidental - Instrumental

32. The Bank Robbery - Mallory, Lilian, Nora

33. Mariposa Incidental - Instrumental

34. The World is Changing - Zena, Peter, Ensemble

35. Exit Music - Instrumental

Act I ‍

Prologue – Peter and Mallory’s room
1. The Mariposa Train Station
2. The Mariposa Train Station
3. On the street
4. Barbershop
5. On a bench in town
6. Pepperleigh house
7. Smith’s Hotel
8. Park bench
9. Telephone Exchange
10. Peter and Mallory’s room/out in the street
11. Pepperleigh Piazza - afternoon
12. Pepperleigh Piazza - evening
13. Telephone Exchange
14. Wharf - the excursion - July 1
15. On the Mariposa Belle, the wharf, canoe
16. On the Mariposa Belle

Act II‍ ‍

1. On the Belle
2. Peter and Mallory’s room
3. The Rectory
4. The Church Fire
5. Smith’s Hotel
6. Park bench

AVAILABLE NOW
Script

AVAILABLE SOON
Conductor Score
Piano/Vocal Score
Vocal Score
Piano
Reed (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Sax)
Violin
Accordion
Double Bass
Percussion
Artwork for covers and posters
Set of production slides
Sound effects mp3s

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