Act I
Scene I
A royal Egyptian boat cruises down the Nile River, the oarsman melodically dip their oars and heave the boat along. The pharaoh HATSHEPSUT sits on the thrown in the royal hall near the front of the boat, kept cool by the large peacock feathered fans dipped methodically by muscular bronzed servants on all sides. The pharaoh waves off the beautifully adorned maid-servants bustling to and fro. They crouch down and away as the pharaoh rises and approaches the boat railing. The pharaoh is tired of the royal burdens and lack of free will that comes with being the mighty king of the world’s greatest civilization. (WHAT KING AM I?)
The Pharaoh’s daughter, Princess NEFERURE, is being dressed and pampered by her maid-servants in her royal cabin in the middle of the boat. She looks at her reflection in the shiny metal mirror then solemnly walks to the boat railing. She is young, lonely and bored, longing to make her own destiny. (CRY ME A RIVER)
In the rear of the boat, the pharaoh’s royal architect, SENEMUT, and TUTMOSIS III, Neferure’s step-brother, hover over drawings laid out before them on a table. They argue over the plans that Senemut has drawn for a new addition to the Karnak Temple. Tutmosis knocks everything off the table with one angry swing of his arm. Senemut bows and quickly backs away as he leaves to another part of the boat. Tutmosis trudges over to the edge of the boat in frustration that he has to wait his turn to be the pharaoh. (THRONE de NILE)
Senemut approaches princess Neferure and expresses his admiration of her beauty and grace. She returns her admiration for his devotion to the pharaoh. Senemut moves over and behind Tutmosis conveying his fear of this person who is a danger to the pharaoh and the kingdom. (TORN ALLEGIANCE) Tutmosis expresses his disgust at the lack of Senemut’s willingness to stand up to the pharaoh. The scene ends with an ensemble performance as the oarsmen below beat out a melodic cadence.
Act I
Scene II
The royal entourage disembarks from the boat at the Karnak Temple in Luxor in the midst of a massive construction project. There is a group of workers singing in powerful unison as they pull on ropes to raise a huge block stone on top of another, forming the beginnings of a large obelisk within the temple. They are being directed by the worker’s foreman, PAIRY, who is called over to the royal tent by Senemut. Senemut and Tutmosis argue about the plans laid out before them. Senemut tries to explain why Tutmosis’ plan cannot be implemented. He asks Pairy to help explain. Neferure approaches and watches the men as she is mesmerized by both the stature and unusual intelligence of Pairy. Pairy is also aware of her presence and tries not to be distracted by her beauty. Pairy boldly corroborates Senemut’s position. Tutmosis listens for a moment then draws his sword to strike at this commoner who would be so bold as to question royalty. Pairy does not flinch and stands his ground. Neferure steps between them. An argument ensues between the princess and Tutmosis. Tutmosis stomps away complaining that he gets no respect from his family. Senemut apologizes to Pairy and dismisses him. Pairy leaves but not before he and the princess capture one last gaze.
The pharaoh approaches the entourage and tells everyone it is time to enter the temple and pay homage to their god. The entourage heads off into the temple as the princess pauses to take a long look at Pairy as he continues his work. She is called to hurry and follow the rest of the entourage. Pairy amusingly watches her frolic child-like off into the temple prompting him to sing a song of forbidden love and entrapment. (PAIRY’S SONG) Tutmosis watches him from behind a pillar and slips away in anger.
Act I
Scene III
Hatshepsut and entourage enter Karnak Temple’s Great Hypostyle Hall in the Precinct of Amun Re. Priests in flowing white robes dart about holding shiny gold sheets reflecting rays of light as the maid-servants chase them. The priests disappear behind the massive decorated columns then reappear, shouting and startling the entourage. The Pharaoh and Senemut dance around trying to catch them as they sing of the beauty and wonder of the empire. (AMUN IS GREAT) Neferure catches up to them and joins them in song and dance. Tutmosis joins the ensemble, chasing them and challenging them as they run and hide to avoid him. The scene ends in a final ensemble of song and dance.
Act II
Scene I
Hatshepsut and Neferure along with their servants enter the palace residence. Hatshepsut grabs and rips off the fake beard then takes off the nemes headdress and throws it to the floor. The Pharaoh then releases and shakes the bundled locks of hair and lets them swing in the air to reveal herself as the woman she longs to make public. She expresses her angst of having to pretend to be a manly pharaoh in order to convince the priests and noblemen that she has the strength to rule the empire. Hatshepsut breaks the news to Neferure that she will have to marry her brother Tutmosis in order to secure the throne just as she has had to marry her brother. She points to a great wall mural in the background that beautifully depicts the royal succession plan. Neferure will also have to bear a child to be the heir to the throne. She is in total rebellion as she enumerates all of the grotesque reasons for which such an arrangement cannot be carried out. Hatshepsut tries to convince her it is for the good of all. She throws herself down professing her hate towards her mother and brother. (THE KINGDOM’S BURDEN)
Senemut enters, kneels and requests to speak to the pharaoh alone. Neferure complies and leaves but hides nearby to eavesdrop. As servants scurry around attending to the pharaoh, Senemut expresses his concern to Hatshepsut for her well being and that of the throne, threatened by the constant insubordination of Tutmosis. The pharaoh dismisses Senemut’s concerns and claims that Tutmosis is a good but impatient son. Senemut fears he can no longer hold off the demands of Tutmosis on the design of the temple and fears for the success of the project and for his life as well. Hatshepsut tries to convince him that Tutmosis is powerless and urges him to continue to press forward with her grandiose plans for Karnak. The pharaoh also recognizes Senemut’s devotion and how much it is appreciated. Senemut kneels and kisses the pharaoh’s hand. He expresses his suspicions that Tutmosis may know their secret. Hatshepsut waves her arm for the servants to leave and they scurry away. Hatshepsut and Senemut sing a duet of mutual love. (SECRET LOVE) Neferure listening nearby is surprised and confused. At the end of the duet, they hear someone approaching. Neferure runs away. Senemut tells the pharaoh to meet him later tonight and he runs away just as Tutmosis appears.
Tutmosis and Hatshepsut argue over the plans for the Karnak temple. Tutmosis doesn’t understand why she listens to Senemut’s advice and reminds her that although she is the pharaoh, he also considers himself a co-heir to the throne. And that he will not tolerate any talk of his half-sister sharing the throne. She tells him to be patient and that his time will come when it is ordained to be so. Neferure enters and is angry at their constant bickering and how they ignore her needs and concerns. Tutmosis is not sympathetic and tells her that he looks forward to bedding her soon when they are married. She slaps him. Hatshepsut intercedes, preventing Tutmosis from slapping her back. She tells Tutmosis that they must go to attend some royal duties. Tutmosis leaves in frustration. Hatshepsut tries unsuccessfully to calm Neferure before leaving. Neferure throws herself down in despair but with hope that she may have found true love at last. (LOVE’S INFATUATION) She convinces her servant to sneak her away to Karnak and rushes off.
Act II
Scene II
Hatshepsut and Senemut are carefully stepping their way down a long and steep switchback stairway leading into an unfinished tomb. Arriving in the beautifully adorned tomb Senemut shows the pharaoh how he has displayed his love and devotion to her in the paintings on the wall. She is moved by his devotion but is angry that he did something so stupid; risking their lives and the fate of the kingdom. (THE STAKES ARE HIGH) Tutmosis and a few soldiers appear at the top of the stairs with torches and begin to step their way down to the tomb. Hatshepsut and Senemut hear them approaching. Hatshepsut fears for their lives but Senemut is prepared and moves a stone in the wall to reveal a secret way out. They scurry out of the opening, returning the stone to its original place in the wall and leave by another set of stairs.
Tutmosis enters the tomb and he is shocked by the story he sees on the wall. He is enraged and orders the soldiers to go search for Senemut and arrest him for treason. He is tormented by this revelation and what it means he must do. (EMPIRE’S PLIGHT)
Act II
Scene III
Neferure arrives at Karnak at night in a felucca. Pairy is sitting alone by a fire next to the Great Hypostyle Hall. As she secretly approaches, he begins to sing about a new found love that he cannot embrace. (LOVE’S ANSWER) He sees that he is being watched and approaches the onlooker. Neferure runs into the temple. He follows and they play cat-and-mouse as they chase one another around the beautifully adorned columns until they come together and embrace in the realization they have both found their true love.
Act III
Scene I
The sun begins to rise over the great Karnak Temple to reveal Neferure and Pairy lying asleep by a burned out fire along the Nile. A felucca arrives at the bank nearby and Senemut disembarks. He sees the young couple and runs over, startling them awake. An argument ensues; how dare Pairy risk having the princess found sleeping with a commoner, how dare he put his project endanger and endanger Senemut himself. Neferure defends Pairy and professes her love for him and their plans to run off together. Senemut is horrified at the thought. Suddenly they are surrounded by soldiers with spears and swords drawn. Tutmosis appears with his own sword drawn and confronts them with treasonous accusations. He decides that he has the right to slay Pairy on the spot and raises his sword; Neferure steps between them. Tutmosis threatens he will kill both of them this time and raises his sword to strike. Senemut steps in and is struck down; Neferure takes the collapsing architect in her arms. Tutmosis is stunned by the impact of his rash decision and drops his sword. Pairy takes a spear from one of the soldiers and places it at Tutmosis’ throat. Neferure pleads for no more blood to be spilled. He backs away as he vows to return and rescue the princess then dashes off.
Act III
Scene II
Tutmosis returns to the palace residence with Neferure and lays the injured Senemut at the feet of Hatshepsut. Hatshepsut is enraged at Tutmosis’ actions. He accuses them all of treason and he tells them he is off to inform the royal council. Hatshepsut expresses her sadness and love for the pending loss of Senemut. Hatshepsut reveals to Neferure that Senemut is really her father. As Neferure comforts Senemut, she realizes that she is not bound then by blood to marry her brother and is free to be with Pairy.
Act III
Scene III
Pairy stands on a pile of stones at the Karnak Temple rallying the workers to rise up against Tutmosis. He convinces them that Tutmosis will make them and their families’ lives intolerable if he becomes the pharaoh. (LOVE’S TRIUMPH) The workers grab various tools and implements, and march off to fight.
Act III
Scene IV
Tutmosis enters the palace residence with guards to arrest Hatshepsut, Neferure and Senemut. Pairy appears with his men and they fight their way into the palace residence. Tutmosis holds Neferure hostage and proclaims he will kill her to ensure his right to the throne. Hatshepsut tells him that Senemut is Neferure’s father and that Tutmosis is the only true heir to the thrown and that it was her intention to have him succeed her all along. Tutmosis drops his sword and asks for his mother’s forgiveness. Hatshepsut also proclaims that Neferure is free to go with Pairy. Neferure runs into Pairy’s arms.
Act III
Scene V
In the final scene, Hatshepsut and the recovering Senemut wish Pairy and Neferure a great journey as they board and prepare to leave on a felucca. (LOVE’S FUTURE) Tutmosis appears and joins them along with maid-servants and temple workers in a grand ensemble finale.
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