Georgian England.
They are THOMAS CORAM, a retired sea Captain turned businessman, WILLIAM HOGARTH a trendy artist and cartoonist and GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL a well-known musician.
Handel is beset by the failure of his latest work, Messiah, which he is trying to improve before he can show it again, but diva wrangling of his 3 singers, the famed sopranos FAUSTINA BORDONNI and FRANSCESCA CUZZONI as well as the Castrato FRANSCESCO BERNADI is making it an impossible task.
Meanwhile Hogarth is trying to complete his latest work, a cartoon he is calling a pilgrim’s progress, but isn’t sure the young lord he intends to base it on will pay for it. The young lord’s father doesn’t approve of Hogarth’s work.
Thomas Coram has just succeeded in his new project to have a royal charter for an orphanage for the abandoned street babies of London. He managed it via introductions made by Hogarth to 17yr old CHARLOTTE SEYMOUR, DUCHESS OF SOMERSET, one of QUEEN CAROLINE’s women of the bed chamber who had got the royal signature required.
The three friends decide to stage a concert to raise money for the orphanage. Handel can show his improved Messiah, Hogarth can use his art shows to sell tickets and Coram will persuade Charlotte to invite the royals and the court to attend the concert.
Easier said than done, but the three friends set to work and within the year, the concert is the social event of the season and when the doors open, the audience is stunned to see the King and Queen attending.
