About

A romantic coming-of-age story set “back then-ish,” Unlock’d fuses baroque and classical with contemporary pop musical theatre in a tale about unlocking the chains that bind us to become our true selves. The story takes us on a journey through the twists and turns of four mortal and six immortal beings—all about to fall in love.

Alternately, lush and ridiculous, playful and passionate, it tells the interwoven tale of four young people who travel to the Queen’s Palace for a day at Hampton Court while three sylphs (fairies) look on and battle three mischievous gnomes over the mortals’ fates. Unlock’d is loosely based on Alexander Pope’s humorous, classic poem “The Rape of the Lock."

Belinda, the most beautiful girl in the land, is committed to herself, her hair, and singlehood, while every male in the kingdom vies for her hand. She adores the adoration but has no intention of returning it. Belinda’s real love is her favorite lock of hair. Clarissa, Belinda’s intellectual stepsister, longs for the romantic attention that comes effortlessly to Belinda and for the chances at love that her sister repeatedly rejects.

In an effort to get Belinda married (and out of the way), Clarissa schemes to make Belinda notice the dashing Baron Windsorloch, who has just returned from war and is on quest to marry Belinda, though they have never met. The Baron seeks, with Clarissa’s help, to win Belinda’s favorite lock of hair and seal his engagement to Belinda. Along for the ride is the Baron’s bookish brother, Edwin, who scoffs at any romantic flights of fancy and seeks only the comfort of the Hampton Court library. In a “Midsummer Night’s Dream” like fantasy, three sylphs (fairies) work to keep Belinda pure and unattainable, while the gnomes help the Baron pursue his seduction.

Frenzy ensues when Clarissa snips off Belinda’s beloved lock of hair. Each Pandora’s box springs open with the self-absorbed Belinda re-examining her life, the hyper-intellectual Edwin experiencing passion, the romantic Baron rethinking romance, and the jaded Clarissa learning to love. Everyone must readdress their relationships, untangle their entanglements and unlock their hearts to become their true selves.