The magician Norando’s gift to the King of Serendippo almost leads to disaster when the evil Prime Minister uses it to impersonate the King, usurp his power, marry his betrothed – and turn the King himself into a stag! A living statue, a wise-cracking parrot, and a host of characters from commedia dell’arte join the action. Ultimately, the King’s young bride sees through the Prime Minister’s plot and returns her proper husband to the throne. A high-spirited romance enlivened by such colorful characters as the resourceful servant Truffaldino, the crotchety Pantalone, the boastful yet cowardly General Spavento, and the endlessly talkative Smeraldina, The King Stag is a delightfully fresh take on a theatrical classic