Scene Synopsis By Charles Darnay (the Minky)

So for those of you who came to see the show and still left confused - here is a brief synopsis of each scene, written by Darnay.

ACT ONE

Scene One - Introduction
Principals take to the stage. No furniture.

Scene Two – Paris, 1757
Silent scene, incidental music only. Rape and murder of Peasant 1. Murder of Male Peasant by Darnay's Father and Evremonde. Imprisonment of Dr Manette by Soldier 1 and Soldier 2. No furniture.

Scene Three – London, 18 years later
Mr Lorry, Lucie and Miss Pross introduce themselves. Setting the tone. No furniture.

Scene Four – Paris, a wine shop
Mr Lorry and Lucie go to get Dr Manette from Prison. Madame Defarge and Defarge wait in wine shop. Bench of many shows and barrels on stage right. Other shoemaker bench on backwards left for Dr Manette.

Scene Five – Paris to London, the journey home
Lucie and Mr Lorry take Dr Manette home, with Defarge and Madame Defarge commenting.

Scene Six – London, The Old Bailey, 5 years later
Stryver, Carton, Attorney General, Judge, Darnay in court in London. Chair for accused, bench and chair for lawyers, lectern for Judge. Lucie and Barsad enter as witnesses.

Scene Seven – London, a celebration
Courtroom removed. Lucie, Stryver and Darnay chatting and congratulating after trial with Carton upstage left. Servant delivers drinks to all. Dr Manette enters, Lucie, Dr Manette and Stryver exit, followed by Servant. Darnay and Carton discuss friendship and alcohol.

Scene Eight – Paris, Gaspard’s child
Slow Mo scene. Evremonde runs over kid, everyone distraught. Defarge and Madame Defarge tell Gaspard to kill Evremonde and Revolutionaries to prepare for the fight.

Scene Nine – London, Dr Manette’s house, Soho
Carton declares his love for Lucie. Mr Lorry, Dr Manette and Darnay discuss hand gestures at table while Miss Pross watches. Carton leaves followed by Lucie, Miss Pross and Mr Lorry discuss custard. Dr Manette and Darnay discuss how long scene is. Then rise and discuss Lucie. Dr Manetter leaves, Lucie comes back. Three chairs, small table, tray of drinks.

Scene Ten – Paris, the Nephew of the Marquis
Peasant 2 gets scared by Evremonde wanting to pull her hair out. She runs away. Gabelle comes on, followed by Darnay. They say hello. Gabelle leaves. Evremonde and Darnay discuss family and detestable people. Gabelle comes back, Darnay and Gabelle leave. Gaspard sneaks on drags Evremonde off for hot love.

Scene Eleven – London, The Wedding
Dr Manette and Darnay say time is up. Here’s the truth. Front stage left.

Scene Twelve – Paris and London, the Spy and the Shoemaker
Barsad has a drink with Madame Defarge and talks about Lucie's marriage. Mr Lorry and Dr Manette discuss the merits of shoemaking during a wedding. Back to Barsad and Defarge discussing Evremonde and Gaspard. Miss Pross comes on to discuss Lucie and Dr Manette with Mr Lorry. Back to Barsad, Defarge and Madame Defarge still nattering. Bar bench and barrels back on.

Scene Thirteen – London, the Recovery
Dr Manette has disappeared, but its breakfast time, so he’ll be back. Realises he drank too much and lost 10 days, some hangover.

Scene Fourteen – London, 1782 - 1789
Carton and Darnay become friends and call each other by their surnames. Carton leaves, Lucie comes on, Darnay and Lucie discuss Carton and the fact he’s a git. Darnay leaves. Miss Pross and Dr Manette come on, Lucie's up the duff, baby arrives. Miss Pross leaves. Mr Lorry comes on talking about how times have changed. Where’s the baby? Darnay comes back on. Everybody leaves.
Defarge, Madame Defarge and the Revolutionaries have arrived on the other side. They shout and scream and storm Titanic with guns and flags.

End of Act One.

ACT TWO

Scene One – Paris, 1789
Defarge, Madame Defarge and Revolutionaries still storming Titanic, taking their time about it. Eventually they find what they are looking for, Defarge climbs up gets paper they all leave.

Scene Two – Gabelle’s Letter
Darney enters with chair. Sits down, reads letter. Gabelle comes on with Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 2, gets chucked about and booted. Darnay continues reading letter. Lucie comes on, Darnay and Lucie discuss a holiday, Lucie says she doesn’t like flying. She leaves. Darnay decides to go on his own. He leaves, Gabelle speaks, Darnay watches. Everyone leaves.

Scene Three – Paris, Place du Carrousel
Mr Lorry, Miss Pross, Lucie and Dr Manette have all gone to France. They discuss Darnay's holiday. Defarge comes on, followed by Darnay, Revolutionary 3 and Revolutionary 4. Defarge tells Revolutionaries to go. Defarge tells Darnay about his mum, the guillotine. Defarge pushes Darnay off.

Scene Four – Paris, La Guillotine
Executioner climbs up to Guillotine, Defarge and Madame Defarge watch with the revolutionaries and they all kill 22 people to nice dance music.

Scene Five – Paris, Madame Defarge pays a visit
Madame Defarge tries to go and see Lucie, but Miss Pross says she’s out. Eventually Lucie arrives and she and Madame Defarge talk about Darnay and his French letter. Madame Defarge leaves, Lucie and Miss Pross discuss Madame Defarge.

Scene Six – Paris, The First Trial
Dr Manette and Darnay sit on bench surrounded by Revolutionary 1and Revolutionary 4, with revolutionaries watching. French Prosecutor says Darnay is foreign, Darnay says sod off. Dr Manette backs him up. The revolutionaries say Ho!!!! Lucie comes on followed by Miss Pross. Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 3 come back and drag Darnay off. Lucie screams and faints.

Scene Seven – Paris, an Encounter
Barsad is followed by Carton. They talk about Barsad being a git. Barsad agrees.

Scene Eight – Paris, a Hand at Cards
Mr Lorry joins Carton and Barsad, Mr Lorry agrees Barsad is a git. They decide he should help. Barsad leaves. Carton says he’s going away, Mr Lorry says don’t leave me. Mr Lorry leaves. Carton leaves.

Scene Nine – Paris, the Second Trial
Madame Defarge, Defarge, French Prosecutor stand at the front, Dr Manette, Lucie and Mr Lorry sit down on bench and chair with Carton behind them. Revolutionary 1 and Revolutionary 3 stop Darnay from going to the bar. Revolutionaries all watch. French Prosecutor says Darnay is a git. Defarge says Dr Manette said Evremonde was a git. Madame Defarge says everyone is a git. French Prosecutor agrees with some of it and says Darnay should get a haircut. French Prosecutor, Defarge and the revolutionaries leave. Madame Defarge says she hurt her finger, she leaves. Darnay says I’m going away, Luice cries, Dr Manette cries, Carton says yes!!!! Revolutionary 3 and Revolutionary 1 take Darnay away. Lucie knackers her knees and Dr Manette carries her off. Mr Lorry is upset, but Carton consoles him. Mr Lorry leaves. Barsad comes on, Carton and Barsad leave together.

Scene Ten – Paris, the Conciergerie
Carton and Barsad come on, Barsad says you do it alone. Darnay sees Carton, Seamstress is asleep. Carton and Darnay talk about drugs and erotic literature. They change clothes. Carton drugs Darnay, Barsad and Revolutionary 2 take Darnay off to the bar. Revolutionary 2 say its time. Carton and Seamstress get a headache.

Scene Eleven – Paris, the Duel
Madame Defrage visits Lucie, Miss Pross says she’s out. Madame Defarge gets upset, Miss Pross says look you’re French, I’m English, means I win. Madame Defarge dies from the shame of being French.

Scene Twelve – Paris, Redemption
Executioner stands with big knife, Revolutionary 2 brings on Carton and Seamstress. Carton and Seamstress snog, Seamstress says goodnight, loses head. Carton says he’s never done anything like this before, but its good. Carton has subtle lighting.

End of Act Two.