The Maledictions

**The Maledictions** was an opera in two (or more) acts composed by Gustav Monastine. It premiered in Spring of Three, Third Age of the Aristocrats in Nevermoor at the Nevermoor Opera House.

## Synopsis

### Act One

Queen Euphoriana (soprano) was a spoiled young princess, prone to mockery of others. A troubadour cursed her to be misunderstood by everyone she met following her rudeness to him. She grew bitter, hateful, and was feared by her subjects. One day she fell in love at first sight with a traveler called Happenchance (tenor). But in addition to not being able to make herself understood with words, her demonstrations of love also backfired. Against all odds, he fell in love and pledges his life to her. Their voices combine to a dramatic Act One finale.

## Music

The singers were accompanied by an orchestra of unknown size or instrumentation. It is unknown if a chorus was included for any scenes.

## Premiere and Reviews

Soprano Dame Chanda Kali and moosewun tenor Theobold Marek played Queen Euphoriana and Happenchance respectively for the opera's premiere. Their performance moved audience members to tears before Act One was complete. However, horsewun cast member Victor Oldershaw was infected by the Hollowpox virus and during his rampage he injured Dame Kali near the end of the Act One finale. A fire also broke out on stage at the same time. Subsequently, the opera's opening night was left incomplete.

All reviews focused on Victor Oldershaw's attack on Dame Chanda Kali rather than on the opera, the performance, or the music.

## Etymology

A **Malediction** is a curse, words that are intended to bring bad luck to someone.

**Euphoriana** comes from either directly from English *euphoria* meaning extreme happiness or from the orginal Greek εὐφορέω *(euphoreô)* meaning "to bear well, be productive".

## Behind the Scenes

* Queen Euphoriana had 12 costume changes in Act One
* The costumes were designed by famed designer Juvela De Flimsé including a crown of solid onyx hand-carved by the designer herself.

## Trivia

The Maledictions is an example of the *story-within-a-story* literary device. The story of Queen Euphoriana and Happenchance has many parallels to the story of Ezra Squall and Morrigan Crow. For example: Ezra and Euphoriana have very exclusive and prestigious roles in society, they grow bitter, and they fail to communicate with Morrigan/Happenchance effectively by words or demonstrations. The conclusion of Act One foretells the signing of the Wundrous Apprenticeship.

"*She imagined it was a bit like how an actor in the theatre must feel, perhaps how Dame Chanda felt when she put on the elaborate costume and mask of the villainess Euphoriana. She had the unsettling feeling that she’d stepped inside Squall’s skin, or he had stepped inside hers.*"
―Narration of Morrigan Crow's thoughts - comparing Ezra Squall and Euphoriana[src]
## Appearances

* *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow* (First appearance)

## Notes and References

1. ↑ *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 12 (*Happenchance and Euphoriana*)
2. ↑ MALEDICTION | meaning, definition in Cambridge English Dictionary
3. ↑ EUPHORIA | meaning, definition in Cambridge English Dictionary
4. ↑ User-submitted name Euphorion - Behind the Name
5. ↑ *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 12 (*Happenchance and Euphoriana*): "Juvela De Flimsé had singlehandedly designed every costume in the production."
6. ↑ *Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow*, Chapter 12 (*Happenchance and Euphoriana*): "...a tall, elegant crown that resembled a pair of horns, hand-carved from solid onyx by Juvela herself."