The Rabbit King

(Prologue) It is still night. A solitary Rabbit, Rafe Rarebit has wandered into The Outland to find a rare flower. It is dark and frightening. He hears the cackle of a witch and the roar of a lion and is amazed as the sun’s rays illumine a cold stone lioness. He finds the flower and gets out quickly. 

Back in his village, the Rabbits are getting up. Rafe’s mum is already busy baking (Bright & Early). Everyone heads off for school. On his way to school Rafe is accosted by Billy, who demands his homework from him. On his exit, Zizzi and her friend Zazza pass by. Rafe tries to express his feelings to her, but finds it too difficult. Especially as she is currently Billy’s girlfriend.

Late to school (School), Rafe is berated unfairly by his teacher, Mr. Hopper, for not doing his homework. The class are discussing the ongoing problem of The Lion Bhubesi, who threatens their livelihood. They are trying to develop lion avoidance tools, but none are successful. Zazza’s invention is not going to work! Billy continues to pick on Rafe but Mr. Hopper seems oblivious.  Rafe wonders why Billy is so aggressive towards him. A conversation with Zizzi then leads to threatening talk from Billy, but Rafe is in love  - (School Reprises).

Back at home Mrs. Rarebit, Rafe’s mother, is baking. Long-faced Rafe is with her when his teacher, Mr. Hopper, who has a crush on Mrs. Rarebit, appears at the door with important news. The Rabbit King has announced that he is too old to continue as leader and will be standing down. He has expressly asked that Mrs. Rarebit oversee the catering at the Handover Ceremony, the investiture of the next Rabbit King.

The conversation turns to why the King has no heirs and how the next King will be chosen. Mr. Hopper explains that the Lion has eaten all eligible heirs and that only a Rabbit capable of pulling The Giant Carrot from the Rabbit Patch will be named King. The myth of the giant carrot and the weak-willed Wabbit is explained to Rafe (One Deed, One Seed), outlining the ancient feud between a Witch and a Lion and the bewitching of a carrot seed – followed by a sceptical Mr. Hopper waxing lyrical on his more practical knowledge of carrots (The Wanganui Giant). Mrs. Hopper agrees to prepare the food for the Ceremony (Lets Bake) and Rafe is left wondering whether there is an element of truth in his mother’s stories.

Rafe heads off to the old cabbage patch before dawn (Just After You Open Your Eyes) to see if he can pull the giant carrot! Two owls, Twit & Twoo watch him try his luck with no success.

As the sun rises (Ancient Day) all Rabbits meet at The Cabbage Patch to be addressed by King Rabbit, who announces that whoever pulls the giant carrot shall be the new king. Mr. Hopper gives the Rabbits a lesson in how to approach the task. They try to pull it together, with no luck! Rafe picks his moment to have another chat with Zizzi but Billy tells him to back off. Just as they start to face up to each other Zazza screams that Bhubesi the lion is coming!!! Bhubesi enters and the Rabbits hide (King of The Outland).

King Rabbit faces Bhubesi and persuades Bhubesi not to eat them all now, but accept a sacrifice of one Rabbit a day from now on. Bhubesi agrees to the proposition. King Rabbit says all Rabbits must draw straws the next day to see who would have to be eaten.

Zizzi is very upset because she is worried that Rafe might pick the straw and she secretly loves him. She tells him (You Make Me Strong). The next day dawns and The Rabbits draw straws. Billy draws the short straw but makes such a fuss that King Rabbit agrees to draw again. This time, it is Rafe that picks the shortest one. King Rabbit commends Rafe for his sacrifice and Billy revels in the moment. Zizzi is very upset (Goodbye Now).

 Rafe wanders off into The Outland and thinks about his inevitable meeting with Bhubesi (Being Eaten). After walking for miles he rests by a pond. Tired and emotional he cannot help but cry. From the pond his own inner voice speaks back to him, offering advice. And suddenly a snake appears by the pond.  He confirms how Bhubesi hates Rabbits because it was a Rabbit that led the witch to his den, which in turn led to his present sadness. As Rafe sleeps the snake  whispers it’s song, that wisdom is more powerful than physical strength (The Why’s and Wherefore’s of Life).

Waking up, Rafe is full of hope for the task that lies ahead – having been inspired by his vision. The Owls follow him on his journey through the Outland.

Bhubesi is angry as his Rabbit is late! The Witch appears in his den and mocks him. Asking why she torments him, the witch tells her story (Nasty) and it becomes clear that the feud began due to jealousy. The Witch leaves as Rafe arrives. The angry lion wastes no time and is just about to eat him when Rafe apologises for being late, telling the lion he had been travelling with his brothers, but another lion had ambushed them and eaten them all. (Rabbit Rap)

Taken in by Rafe’s story and adamant that he is the one and only King of The Outland, Bhubesi demands Rafe take him to where he saw this ‘other’ lion. Rafe agrees to do so.

Back in The Rabbit Village, Billy argues with Zizzi that Rafe will never return. Zizzi still holds out for Rafe (Goodbye Now Reprise).

Arriving at the pond in The Outland (Rabbit Rap Reprise), Rafe tricks the lion into staring at his own reflection. Thinking his reflection is another lion, Bhubesi jumps into the pond to attack. Rafe watches him drowning and asks himself what the right thing to do would be. The answer comes and Rafe dives in and pulls Bhubesi from the water.

Saved by Rafe, Bhubesi is changed forever (The Way To Be). Offering Rafe a ride on his back they race through the forest back to The Rabbit Village (Kings Of Life). The Rabbits are still trying to pull the giant carrot when Rafe reappears...with Bhubesi. Chaos ensues but Rafe calms his friends down. Bhubesi explains how his heart was broken when his Lioness was turned to stone by the witch. He is sad that nothing can break the witches spell. Buoyed up by Rafe’s return, King Rabbit calls Rafe to pull the giant carrot. With the help of Bhubesi, the carrot is lifted from the ground (Kings of Life Reprise) and Rafe is crowned the new Rabbit King. The carrot being pulled breaks the Witches spell and from the Outland, The Lioness appears and is reunited with Bhubesi.  Rafe asks Zizzi to be his Queen; Mr. Hopper asks Mrs. Rarebit out on a date and finally Lions and Rabbits live in harmony once more.

Twit the owl has lost his bet with Twoo and appears as a dancing flamingo (Dancing Flamingos) before The Rabbits celebrate the crowning of their new Rabbit King - Rafe the Millionth...and one! (Every Rabbit Loves A Carrot Cookie).