Welcome to the Renaissance [Michael James Scott & Rotten Ensemble]
MINSTREL: War of the roses, Chaucer's tale The brutal feudal system Holy crusade, Bubonic plague Can't say that we've really missed 'em So dark and barbaric, So dull and mundane That was so Middle Ages That was so - Charlemagne
Welcome to the Renaissance With poets, painters, and bon vivants And merry minstrels Who stroll the streets of London A strummin' they lutes
TWO MEN: In puffy pants and pointy leather boots!
MINSTREL AND TOWNSPEOPLE: Welcome to the Renaissance Where we ooh and aah you with ambiance We're so progressive The latest and the greatest We bring it to you - with much ado Welcome to the Renaissance Where everything is new
MEN: Here we've made advances in the sciences
WOMEN: We have the latest gadgets and appliances
SOLO WOMAN: Are mugs are made of pewter
SOLO MAN: Our houses all are tudor
MINSTREL: Decorated with a modern flair
WOMEN; See us with our petticoats and Farthingales
MEN: Our trendy beards we trim to look l Like swallow tails
CROWD: We're called Elizabethans
BROTHER JEREMIAH: They're all a bunch of Heathens
BROTHER JEREMIAH/ PORTIA/ PURITAN WOMAN: Heathens heading straight for you Know where
MINSTREL: While witches are burning and Wars tend to start We bring you moments of culture And art
CROWD: Culture and art... Welcome to the Renaissance Well our printing press has the Fancy fonts That's right we're fancy And very literary, theatrical, too It's what we do Welcome to the Renaissance Where everything is new!
MAN ONE: Hey look it's Francis Bacon With a chicken
WOMAN ONE: What's he makin'
MAN ONE: Well i think he's found a way of Freezing heat
CROWD: That's new!
MAN ONE: Hey look it's Walter Raleigh Found a new world by golly
WOMAN ONE: And he's brought us all Tobacco, What a treat!
CROWD: Also new!
MINSTREL: And we have a list of writers who Are always writing something new
CROWD: It's true! We do!
SOLO MAN: Like who?
MINSTREL: Like who? Like Dekker!
CROWD: Woo!
MINSTREL: John Webster!
CROWD: Woo!
MINSTREL: Ben Johnson!
CROWD: UH-HUH. And Christopher Marlowe Thomas Kyd, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Moore
MINSTREL: And our brightest star
CROWD: Yo! - He's the bomb, The soul of The age The whiz of the Elizabethan stage He's incredible, unforgettable He's just so freakin' awesome Shakespeare! Shakespeare!
We love him, we love him, we love Him, we love him! We love him, We love him, we love him - We love him! His plays are so brilliant His writing first rate His acting's incredible
CROWD (GROUP 1) CROWD (GROUP 2) Isn't he great We love him We love him Isn't he great We love him We love him We love him We love him
CROWD: We love him! Welcome to the Renaissance Not the one in Italy or in France No the one in England The one where William Shakespeare Is the cream of the crop
MINSTREL: The one where William Shakespeare Is the top!
CROWD: Welcome to the Renaissance To a 16th century experience In the age that's golden The olden days are over, we bid Them adieu Well hal-le-lu! Welcome to the Renaissance where Everthing is new! Everything is new - welcome to the Renaissance Everthing is new
MINSTREL: (spoken) 'Cause Renaissance means rebirth!