As the war rages on, and the brave forces of Germany, Italy, and Spain face off against the absolutist regimes of Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Romania, on the home front, life continues on, and morale must be kept up! As such, the Hamburg Actors Cooperative Troupe is proud to present, a German Comic Opera in all its glory…
(Inspired heavily by Gilbert and Sullivan's comic operas, as well as the stage adaptation of Les Misérables)
In the city of Hamburg, revolution has broken out in the streets! The stage opens on a grand setpiece of a barricade, upon which the entirety of the opera will take place. The main cast all take their places atop it, a motley collection of revolutionaries, liberals, and citizens of Hamburg ("Red, Gold, And Black!"), including the Revolutionary Noble, the Radical Socialite, and the Liberal Soldier, who each take it upon themselves to be the 'leaders' of the militia. The Representative of the Confederation in Hamburg, a clear parody of the Hapsburgs, with prosthetic chin and a referenced related fiancee, appears at the bottom to try and convince them to stand down ("A Return To Noble Peace"), which only enrages the masses as he seeks to appease them through promising less representation and more power for the nobility, viewing their grievances as a result of 'over-democratization'. He is chased off-stage by the unnamed members of the revolutionary militia ("We'll Show You Democracy").
With the Confederation chased out of the city, this leaves the three leaders to argue amongst themselves. The Revolutionary Noble makes his case first ("The Guiding Of The Masses"), with backing by the socialists in the militia, arguing that his education and background give him the best claim to leading the cause to victory, the very picture of puffed-up self-seriousness. The Radical Socialite makes her case second ("To Love Lady Liberty"), with backing from the Social Radicals and Jacobins in the crowd, in a somewhat bawdy ballad allegorically comparing her style of leadership to wooing a fine woman. Finally, the Liberal Soldier steps up, making his case ("To March To The Tune Of The Market"), which, of course, finds backing from the liberals, talking about how the Liberal Party is the most militant and revolutionary of the lot of them, and thus is the natural leader of the Revolution. Just as it seems the three are about to come to blows, a diplomat from the Republic arrives ("A Friend From The West"), standing atop the barricade. She throws down arms to the militia, and urges them to stand steadfast ("Hold, Hamburg, Hold!"), as Prussian soldiers approach the city.
The Prussian soldiers appear at the bottom of the barricade, calling for Hamburg to surrender, led by the Representative from the Confederation ("Surrender And Die"). With the approach of the soldiers of Prussia, the militia flies into a panic, with the Revolutionary Noble and Liberal Soldier both falling into a deep depression at the sight of such disunity ("We're Doomed!"). However, the Radical Socialite rallies them, and the Militia, to the defense of Hamburg, at the thought of, for the Noble, his estate being despoiled by Prussian invaders before it can be expropriated to the people, and for the Soldier, the thought of Prussian invaders quartering in innocent private businesses ("The Sheer Indignity!"). In a grand all-cast display of technical work, with a real antique cannon used, the Hamburg defenders resoundingly defeat the Prussian regulars ("The United Front"), throwing them out of the city and capturing the Confederation Representative.
The Republic Representative arrives to congratulate them on their victory, as Republican Soldiers march into Hamburg, with a special thanks to the Radical Socialite ("To Love Lady Liberty (Reprise)", then spiriting her off-stage. The Revolutionary Noble and Liberal Soldier find consolation in their defeat at leading the city together, choosing to exit together and enlist in the Republic's army as comrades ("Find New Life In The Landwehr"). The show concludes with the cast returning to the stage as the Republic's flag is raised over Hamburg ("Red, Gold, and Black! (Reprise)").
