TREASURES OF THE ORIENT Tales From the Far East A Musical Play Book and Lyrics by Cris Harding Music by Sandy Lantz Performance Rights It is an infringement of the federal copyright law to copy or reproduce this script in any manner or to perform this play without royalty payment. All rights are controlled by Eldridge Publishing Co., Inc. Contact the publisher for additional scripts and further licensing information. The author's name must appear on all programs and advertising with the notice: "Produced by special arrangement with Eldridge Publishing Company." PUBLISHED BY ELDRIDGE PUBLISHING COMPANY www.histage.com 2000 by Cris Harding and Sandy Lantz Download your complete script from Eldridge Publishing http://www.histage.com/playdetails.asp?pid=940
-2- STORY OF THE PLAY This musical play blends movement and melody, delightful characters who interact with inventive puppets, and imaginative scenery, transforming the stage into a garden, where enchanted stories bloom. Tikki Tikki Tembo is an old story of a young boy with a long name who meets with peril, falling into a well. Momotaro, Peach Boy is a folk tale from Japan. Forming an army of comical animals, the hero battles the Ogres, ending their reign of terror. In Water Dragon, the beneficent beast has ignored his duty, forgetting to send rain, leaving the land parched with drought. Lu and a magic Panda go on a journey to seek the dragon lord s favor. Their quest leads them to the Palace of Perfection. The play ends in a shower of rain, celebrating the garden s bounty. Highlighting the production is delicate music, using melodies based on traditional Oriental folk songs, enhancing the magical mood. Production notes at the end of the script provide suggestions for creating the props and movement. The cast is large and flexible. As many as 50 or as few as 15 actors may be used. Prop Assistants can double as dancers, singers, musicians, and play speaking roles. The animals can be double cast using headdresses and masks or other simple, suggestive costuming. (Running Time: 50 minutes)
-3- PROP MASTER PROP ASSISTANTS (6-9) FAN DANCERS (3) CAST OF CHARACTERS: (in order of appearance) TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO FLOCK OF GEESE (4-6) DANCING PEOPLE (3) FATHER MOTHER TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO CHANG DANCING FROGS (3-4) MOMOTARO, PEACH BOY VILLAGERS (7-9) OJISAAN (Grandfather) OBASAAN (Grandmother) MOMOTARO (Peach Boy) DOG MONKEY PHEASANT FISHERMAN ONI WARRIORS (9) ONI KING WATER DRAGON LU HER BROTHERS AND SISTERS (6-9) FATHER PANDA ORCHID FAIRY PHOENIX (wife of the Water Dragon) WATER SPRITE VOICE OF THE WATER DRAGON
-4- MUSICAL NUMBERS COME TO THE GARDEN Prop Master FLOWING STREAM Instrumental GEESE THEME Instrumental Danced by Flock of Geese FAMILY THEME Instrumental Danced by Mother, Father, Tikki Tikki Tembo, and Chang TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO Sung by Mother, Chang and Prop Master Danced by Father and Tikki Tikki Tembo FROG DANCE Instrumental Danced by Frogs RESCUE THEME Instrumental Danced by Tikki, Chang and Father OLD ONES Prop Master GIANT PEACH Obasaan MARCH TO THE DARK SEA Prop Master, Momotaro, Monkey, Dog, and Pheasant BATTLE WITH THE OGRES Danced by Oni, Monkey, Dog, and Pheasant VICTORY CHANT Entire cast LU S SONG Children WATER DRAGON Lu, Entire Cast ORCHID FAIRY Instrumental Danced by the Orchid Fairy
-5- Treasures of the Orient (AT RISE: A large pagoda is standing center stage. It has an opening in the center to provide for entrances and exits. Waiting on either side of the pagoda entrance are two PROP ASSISTANTS, each with a hollow piece of bamboo. The sound of three GONGS are heard and PROP MASTER walks through the entrance of the pagoda. Prop Assistants turn the bamboo sticks upside down allowing glitter, which represents water, to wash over the hands of the Prop Master. After washing his hands, the Prop Master walks forward, stands center, bows to the audience.) MUSIC #1: COME TO THE GARDEN PROP MASTER: (Singing.) COME TO THE GARDEN, COME. (DRUM echoes the rhythm of chant. PROP ASSISTANTS enter with trees covered with peach blossoms.) PROP MASTER: (Singing.) COME SHARE THE TREASURE, COME. (DRUM echoes the rhythm. FAN DANCERS enter and sit on apron. They carry large fans. The fans open. Painted on each is a chrysanthemum. The opening of the fans represents the blooming flowers in the garden.) PROP MASTER: (Singing.) COME HEAR THE STORY, COME.
-6- (The DRUM echoes the rhythm of the chant. PROP ASSISTANTS enter with origami birds on strings connected to dowels simple string puppets. The birds alight in the peach trees.) PROP MASTER: Welcome to our garden. This is a garden where stories bloom. Our first story is about two brothers, one with a short name, and one with a long name: Tikki Tikki Tembo. (The GONG sounds. PROP ASSISTANTS and FAN DANCERS disappear with scenery. PROP MASTER crosses left to narrate action. A traveler curtain is drawn in front of the pagoda.) (The action of Tikki Tikki Tembo is choreographed with stylized movement.) MUSIC #2: FLOWING STREAM (The play begins as PROP ASSISTANTS bring on the stream. The stream is a piece of blue material that stretches across the length of the stage. The Prop Assistants manipulate it gracefully, up and down, rippling the cloth.) MUSIC #3: GEESE THEME (A FLOCK OF GEESE dance Geese Dance and stand upstage of the stream.) MUSIC #4: FAMILY THEME (DANCING PEOPLE enter performing Step Lightly Dance and pantomime feeding the FLOCK OF GEESE. The Dancing People continue their movement as they exit.)
-7- MUSIC #5: GEESE THEME (FLOCK OF GEESE exit performing Geese Dance.) MUSIC #6: FLOWING STREAM (The PROP ASSISTANTS flow stream toward right, the stream cloth still covers half the stage. Prop Assistants bring on a well prop, placing it center stage.) MUSIC #7: FAMILY THEME (MOTHER, FATHER, TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO, and CHANG enter dancing Step Lightly, turn their backs to the audience as they take their places center.) PROP MASTER: This is a family that lives in a small village in China. The Father. (FATHER turns to face audience, bows.) The MOTHER (Imitates FATHER s action.) and their two sons. (TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO turns. When CHANG does not respond, he taps him on the shoulder to get his attention. Chang turns. They bow.) It was the custom, long ago in China, to give a long, important name to the oldest son and a shorter, less important name to the second son. The younger son s name was Chang. MUSIC #8: FAMILY THEME (CHANG steps forward with MOTHER They perform Mother and Son dance.) MOTHER: Which means, Little One. PROP MASTER: But, the first and honored son had a long, important name. MUSIC #9: TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO MOTHER: (Singing.) TIKKI TIKKI TEMBO
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