Based on the first book of the acclaimed
Redwall series, this adventure-packed musical tells the tale of a courageous mouse, Matthias, and how he saves the abbey from the cruel rat, Cluny the Scourge.
As the Redwallers gather to honor their abbot and remember their hero, Martin the Warrior, the mice sing about their happy life in "Brothers of Redwall." They are interrupted by the singing of the rats, bragging about their leader, "Cluny the Scourge," as the "scrappiest, scruffiest, rowdiest, raunchiest rat in history."
Cluny demands that the abbot give him the abbey, but little Matthias rips the articles of surrender. Cluny leaves but threatens to return as the mice sing "We Are Ready!" and the rats sing "We'll Be Back!"
Though the mice practice to defend themselves with sticks, Matthias knows that mice will need more than sticks to fight the rats and asks Warbeak, a sparrow, to help him find Martin's sword. Warbeak tells him that it was stolen by a giant snake, Asmodeus. With the help of the shrews, Matthias finds the sword, and when Asmodeus puts him into a trance with his evil eyes, the voice of Martin wakes him shouting: "Strike for freedom! Strike for Redwall!"
In the final battle with Cluny, Matthias wins by his wits, not by the sword, and Redwall is again "A Place of Peace."
REVIEWS:
"This is a story about heroes and warriors, loyalty, the strength in doing what is right and living lives of integrity...it speaks of worthwhile values in such a dramatic, mesmerizing way that the children in the audience were transfixed. Swensson has written another winner."
The Kennett Paper, Kennet Square, Pa.