The Jester starts off this madrigal dinner by incorporating a volunteer into his new act — egg juggling. The King ends up with an egg in the face, and the Jester scrambles on out of the kingdom. His replacement, a female Jester, puts a new perspective on humor, though the King could live without her social commentary. Lady Abigail is betrothed, against her will, to Lord Boris, who takes a fancy to this new Jestress. Meanwhile, the Jester sneaks back to court and enlists the Town Crier’s help in getting his job back. Dressed as the Jestress to take her place, he is mistakenly wooed by Lord Boris. The Jester teaches Lord Boris how to treat a lady — sorta. This mixed-up comedy about fools in love is a favorite madrigal script.
Cast size: 4 Male, 3 Female, 1 M/F, 1-4 Extras
Audience interaction: 
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SAMPLE PAGES:
TOWN CRIER: Sire, may I present our new Jester?
JESTRESS: Jestress.
KING: Jestress? (Looks at her closely.) A female Jester? Well, this is highly-unusual.
JESTRESS: My King, I come highly-recommended from the Duke of Chesney.
QUEEN: My lord, may I suggest that she might be a refreshing change?
BORIS: (A bit love-struck.) I agree with the Queen, your majesty. She might be a refreshing change indeed.
QUEEN: Lord Boris, you forget yourself. You are betrothed to my niece, Lady Abigail. You’ve already got your refreshing change.
BORIS: (Eyeing JESTRESS.) ‘Tis easy to forget myself in the presence of such beauty.
QUEEN: Lord Boris! My niece sits right next to you!
ABIGAIL: Worry not, my Queen. I choose not this marriage. It was arranged by my father and your husband. Perhaps the Jestress is the better match for Lord Boris. One fool deserves another.
KING: (Attempting to regain control of his court.) Truly spoken, Lady Abigail. (She looks hopeful that the betrothal may be annulled.) I arranged this marriage. (He looks threateningly toward BORIS.) And I will brook no fools. (An uncomfortable silence ensues.)
QUEEN: (Changing the subject.) Well, good Jestress, perform for us. We could use some merriment just now.
KING: Yes, what is your specialty? Puns?
ABIGAIL: Oh, yes. Our last Jester was wonderful at puns!
JESTRESS: I never do puns.
KING: Really? Then, what? Juggling? Slapstick?
JESTRESS: Political satire.
KING: Political . . . what?
JESTRESS: Satire, my king. Let me demonstrate. How many kings does it take to put a candle in a sconce?
KING: I don’t know. How many kings does it take to put a candle in a sconce?
JESTRESS: None. Because in a totalitarian feudal system he can command an enslaved serf to do it for him.
(There is a dead silence.)
QUEEN: That was . . . interesting.
ABIGAIL: I liked it. I know just how that serf feels.
QUEEN: (Glances at ABIGAIL.) Quite.
BORIS: Yes, she told that joke quite fetchingly. It lifted my heart, like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. A cool breeze that tickles my skin and–
QUEEN: (Interrupting.) What else do you do, my dear?
JESTRESS: I sing.
KING: Wonderful. Give us a merry little tune.
JESTRESS: Sorry, I don’t do merry little tunes.
KING: An air? An anthem? A ditty?
JESTRESS: No, I don’t do those either.
QUEEN: What do you sing?
JESTRESS: Protest songs.
QUEEN: Protest songs?
JESTRESS: Protest songs. Let me demonstrate. (Clears her throat. This is sung to the tune of “Greensleeves.” Even though this is satire, it must be sung well in order to make the JESTER bit, which comes later, funny.)
Alas, my king, you do me wrong
To use my labor exploitively
For you have used me, oh so long
But now I have solidarity
Mean kings used all my toil
Mean kings used all my might
Mean kings are a loathsome boil
And who . . .
KING: (Interrupting, upset.) Hey, I’m not sure what that means, but . . .
QUEEN: (Attempting to keep the peace.) Uh, that was . . . interesting.
ABIGAIL: I loved it! I mean, that line about being used exploitively, I can so identify with!
BORIS: (Interrupting.) And you sing with such a beautiful voice. Like a song bird. A song bird just outside my window . . . in the dead of night, calling me to come join her outside to partake in the sweet beauty of a warm, summer night–
QUEEN: (Interrupting.) Yes, quite.
