Theseus

For the very first time in the history of this dimension of the known universe, we bring you: Theseus, a sci-fi opera in three acts. Set in the year 2525, the thrilling tale of the hero Theseus, who roams the stars and planets conquering monsters, saving innocents, and going head-to-head with sturdy Amazons.

Act I:

At the prompting of his mother, Theseus moves a giant boulder and discovers the magic sword and sandals left behind for him by his father, King Aegeus. He is to take these articles to his father’s kingdom and claim his birthright. But first, he decides to take his spaceship with a hand-picked crew to set out through the Six Worm Holes in order to rid the planets of their plague of genetically engineered monsters, such as the horse-human Centaur, the bull-human Minotaur and the snake-human Medusa. Theseus encounters space pirates who have been the curse of the ether for millennia, and quickly annihilates them.

1 - The Flaming Sword - Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra – 1940

2 - Sword Dance - Jenny and Jacca Hay (Scotland) - 1940s

3 - Pirate Song - Reinald Werrenrath - 1925

4 - Pirate Jenny - Lotte Lenya (Germany) - 1930

5 - Don't Give Up the Ship - Dick Powell – 1938

Act II:

The planet Barcelona: The half human/half bull Ferdinand the Minotaur lures people into his maze and then devours them as a human sacrifice. The guardian of the maze, Ariadne, falls in love with our hero Theseus, and teaches him string theory in order to navigate the labyrinth. He gets to the center where he engages in a pitched bullfight with Ferdinand the Minotaur. Ariadne leaves Barcelona to travel with Theseus on his adventures. Theseus gets her in the family way, and she develops space-sickness, so he deposits her on the planet Naxos and takes off. The Act ends with her aria of abandonment.

6 – When Venus Smiles - Helge Rungwald with Louis Preils Danseorkester (Denmark) - 1930s

7 - My Cretonne Girl - Bob Haring Orchestra – 1923

8 - I'll String Along With You - Milton Brown and his Brownies - 1936

9 - I'll String Along with You - Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae with Paul Weston And His Orchestra – 1936

10 - Mazie - Green Brother's Novelty Band – 1920

11 - Ferdinand the Bull - The Merry Macs - 1938

12 - Ferdinand the Bull - Hans Bjerkeling med Egerstams Orkester (Sweden) - (Date Unknown)

13 - Bull Fiddle Blues - Johnny Dodds Washboard Band - 1928

14 - Bull Fiddle Boogie - Pee Wee King and his Golden West Cowboys – 1948

15 - Touradas em Madri - Carmen Miranda with Bando de Lua e Garoto (Brazil) – 1939

16 - Bull Fight Bull-Ero - Rex Irving and his Orchestra - (Date Unknown)

17 - E-String Rag - Hank Garland – 1951

18 - G-String Boogie - Frank Nelson with Alvino Rey and his Orchestra – 1948

19 - Honeymoon on a Rocket Ship - Big Jim de Noone – 1953

20 - Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss)- Lotte Lehmann – 1928

Act III:

Theseus joins forces with the Amazons and marries their queen. They land on Athens and establish an advanced civilization.

21 - Message From Mars - Ambrose And His Orchestra (England) - 1937

22 – Il Duce Dons his Uniform - Sofia Vembo (Greece) - 1940s

23 - Dreamy Amazon - Paul Specht and His Orchestra - 1926

24 - An Amazon Goes A-Wooing - Sidney Phillips and his Orchestra – 1938

25 - Ship From Chios - Unknown artists from Greece - 1918

26 – How Things Are in Athens - The Kordt Sisters with Teddy Petersen and his Orchestra (Denmark) – 1940

27 – Wedding Boogie – Johnny Otis’ Congregation – 1950

Radio Drama:

28 – The Sullivan Kidnapping – Dragnet - 1949