Tag Archives: Original musical scripts

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists – An original musical

ORIGINAL MUSICAL

THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS – AN ORIGINAL MUSICAL ABOUT THE WORKING CLASS

(In no particular order) William Easton, Frank Owen, Philpot, Harlow, White, Linden and all of the other working class men of Mugsborough must face everyday knowing one strange yet familiar truth: it is unlikely they will inherit the earth. Work it? Yes. Barter it? Perhaps. Own it? Never.

In The Ragged Trousered Philanthropist, a musical dramedy in three acts, the relationship between occupation and labour is explored in an atmosphere of the possibilities that socialism might present to the working class. Every man struggles to provide for himself and his family and they are pushed to eliminate thoughts of self-improvement in favour of the ideals of all socialist manifestos i.e. The Greater Good.

In between, they freeze to death, never really have a satisfying meal and contemplate – even commit – suicide. It is all about money and the lack thereof until it turns into a tale of humanity and the prospect of living without that too. All the while, the owners, proprietors, capitalists, your (in no particular order, at all) Sweater’s, Rushton’s and the like laugh all the way into their first-class graves… but where does the difference lie really? A grave is still a grave; first class or not.

Here’s to you, the average man, you who work to live and live to work!

The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists was originally presented Off- Broadway by The Labor Theater in 1979, directed by C. R. Portz

Author: James Campbell

Genre: Musical, Drama

Type: Three Act Play

Main Characters: 8 –M, 1- F (Total cast 15M, 2F)

Ages of the actors: Adult and older

Suitable for: All can watch, but aimed at adults

Length: Two and a half hours

Level of difficulty: 8/10 – accents and ability to sing as well as act

Read a Sample of the script

Read an example of the music from the show




Cost is $6.50 for the digital script




Cost is $5.50 for the original handwritten score

Contact Off The Wall Plays with any queries about The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

Copyright © March 2017 James Campbell and Off The Wall Play Publishers

Like this original musical? Other original musicals that we stock:

Hang Ups – zany musical set in a not so ordinary office
Brookland’s Bloomin’ Cats – original children’s musical
Enter Love – modern musical set in an airport