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A musical using traditional songs

(a work in progress)

 

by D. M. Larson

 

Copyright � 2005

All Rights Reserved*

Purchase a low cost PDF of this play at Sellfy.com

Cast of Characters

FATHER (EMMA�s father)

EMMA (young girl who is daughter of FATHER and MOTHER)

JOHN (young boy who is EMMA�s brother)

MOTHER (EMMA�s mother)

AUNT SUSANNA (EMMA�s aunt)

UNCLE JOE (EMMA�s uncle)

GRAMS (EMMA�s grandmother with an English accent)

GRAMPS (EMMA�s grandfather)

DOG

TURKEY (and other farm animals for dance)

CAT (and other CAT extras for dance)

SONGS from�

http://library.thinkquest.org/6400/songs.htm

http://www.contemplator.com/america/turkeyis.html

http://kididdles.com/mouseum/e015.html

Scene 1

SONG: �Home on the Range� (CAST sings)

(Lights come up on a cabin. It is a small cabin on the

in the late 1800�s. There are beds and stove. Everyone is

sleeping. The chickens start clucking wildly and DOG jumps

up and starts barking wildly. He wakes everyone up)

FATHER: What�s you barking at, boy?

EMMA: What�s wrong with the chickens?

FATHER: (Goes to door) A fox!

JOHN: A fox? What do we do?

FATHER: We�ve got to chase him off.

MOTHER: Or no Christmas chicken.

EMMA: I�ll get him.

FATHER: Emma, no.

EMMA: (Runs out door) Go away! Leave our chickens alone. (Screams)

MOTHER: Stop her, Henry. (FATHER is trying to get on his boots)

EMMA: (Runs back in) It� it� it�s cold.

JOHN: It snowed.

EMMA: I froze my toes.

MOTHER: Silly girl.

FATHER: But she chased off the fox.

JOHN: Her screaming did it.

EMMA: I screamed when I stepped in the snow.

MOTHER: Come over here by the fire.

JOHN: Sing us a song, Father.

(They all beg him)

FATHER: Okay. I think I even know one about a fox.

SONG: "The Fox (Went Out on a Chilly Night)"

[other actors dressed as animals can act out and sing the song]

The fox went out on a chilly night

He prayed for the moon to give him light,

For he'd many a mile to go that night

Before he reached the town-o!

    Town-o! town-o!

For he had many a mile to go that night

Before he reached the town-o.

Well, he ran til he came to a great big pen,

Where the ducks and the geese were kept therein

"A couple of you will grease my chin

Before I leave this town-o!

     Town-o! town-o!

A couple of you will grease my chin

Before I leave this town-o."

He grabbed the gray goose by his neck,

And flung a duck across his back;

He did not mind the "Quack, quack, quack!"

And their legs all dangling down-o!

    Down-o! down-o!

He did not mind the "Quack, quack, quack!"

And their legs all dangling down-o.

FATHER: Now back to bed.

EMMA: Good-night, Father.

FATHER: Good-night, Emma. Night, Johnny.

JOHN: See you in the morning. (JOHN and EMMA exit)

FATHER: I guess I better start my chores.

MOTHER: It�s not even light out.

FATHER: We live in the country now, dear. There�s more chores than sunlight now.

MOTHER: Be careful.

(FATHER exits and MOTHER watches him go worried. Lights go out)

Scene 2

(Lights come up. It is morning. JOHN and EMMA wait

for FATHER)

JOHN: Father has been gone forever.

EMMA: Where did he go?

MOTHER: Father is doing his chores. Winter is here so it�s getting much harder.

[Actors dressed as animals can act out the following as the children watch]

JOHN: Looks like Father is having some trouble.

EMMA: He�s chasing something.

MOTHER: Henry. What are you doing?

FATHER: It�s that darn turkey. I can�t get him back in his pen.

EMMA: Maybe if we sing him a song.

(FATHER chases turkey around and family ends up helping)

SONG: "Turkey in the Straw"

http://www.contemplator.com/america/turkeyis.html

(FAMILY ends up in a heap laughing at the turkey who got the best of them)

EMMA: Oh, father. Why do we need to catch the turkey anyway?

FATHER: We need something for dinner. The whole family is coming to visit.

EMMA: Dinner? You mean�

JOHN: We�re going to eat it. Mmmm� turkey.

MOTHER: Don�t tease your sister, Johnny.

EMMA: But we�ve had the Mr. Gobbles forever� how can we�

JOHN: Eat him?

MOTHER: Johnny.

FATHER: Mr. Gobbles. Emma, what did I tell you about naming the animals?

EMMA: But I love Mr. Gobbles. He�s my friend.

FATHER: Jane. Why don�t you take Emma inside� while I� finish up getting things for dinner.

EMMA: Mother, couldn�t we have potato stew instead� with potato pancakes� the family loves your potato pancakes.

MOTHER: Come along inside, Emma.

FATHER: Let�s go get the axe, Johnny. (JOHN and FATHER exit)

EMMA: I�ll be there in a minute, Mother. I dropped something out here I think.

MOTHER: Don�t be long. We need to let Father do his chores. (MOTHER exits)

EMMA: Here you go, Mr. Gobbles. (Pulls some food out of her pocket and holds it out for TURKEY. TURKEY runs up to EMMA and she leads it off). Good boy, Mr. Gobbles.

FATHER: (Enters with JOHN. Both are holding ropes) Now where did that turkey.

JOHN: (Starts swinging lasso) I�m ready. (Ends up hitting himself with rope)

FATHER: You okay, son?

JOHN: I think so.

FATHER: Jane? Have you seen the turkey?

MOTHER: (Comes outside. While MOTHER is outside, EMMA sneaks TURKEY into her room and hides it under a blanket) I haven�t seen it. And where is Emma?

FATHER: Oh, no.

MOTHER: What is it?

FATHER: I think I know where they both are.

MOTHER: You think?

FATHER: (Goes in house) Emma� come out here, dear.

EMMA: (Comes out. TURKEY follows with blanket over it) Yes, father?

FATHER: Do you know where the turkey is?

EMMA: The turkey? Which turkey?

TURKEY: Gobble, gobble, gobble.

FATHER: That turkey.

EMMA: (Throws her arms around her FATHER and gets overdramatic) Please, father. Please don�t cook Mr. Gobbles. If you do� I�ll never be able to eat again.

JOHN: (Gets rope around TURKEY) Got him!

EMMA: Stop that! (Bursts into tears. MOTHER hugs her. JOHN drags TURKEY off)

FATHER: Poor Emma.

MOTHER: I�ll talk to her. You go do your chores.

FATHER: Okay, Jane. Thanks. (Exits)

MOTHER: Oh, Emma. You love animals don�t you?

EMMA: More than anything.

MOTHER: What�s your favorite animal?

EMMA: I don�t know. Maybe cats?

MOTHER: And we have all kinds of cats don�t we? (CAT enters)

EMMA: Uh-huh. (EMMA goes and hugs the CAT)

MOTHER: It seems like every time we go to town you find a stray and bring it home.

EMMA: But we have a big farm� there�s lots of room for them. And they take care of all those mice you hate.

MOTHER: True. Have I ever taught you that song about the cat?

EMMA: No, teach me. Please.

SONG: "The cat came back" [MOTHER starts. EMMA and CATS join in signing. Dancing by extras dressed up as cats]

(Lights go black)

Scene 3

(It is later. There is more snow. FATHER is gone. JOHN is playing with wooden horse

and EMMA are playing with dolls)

MOTHER: It�s about to clean up your toys. Father will be home soon.

EMMA: How should I dress you for bed, Dolly?

JOHN: Make her a cowgirl. I�ll make her a little hat.

FATHER: (enters) Hey, little ones. I have a surprise for you.

EMMA: What is it? What is it?

FATHER: I brought home the bacon.

MOTHER: Bacon! How wonderful.

EMMA: I love bacon.

JOHN: But bacon�s from a pig and you didn�t want to eat Mr. Oinkers.

EMMA: Bacon�s different. It�s yummy. Besides, Mr. Oinkers is out back eating my spinach.

MOTHER: Your spinach? Emma.

EMMA: He likes it better than I do.

FATHER: No, this bacon is from Uncle Joe and Aunt Susanna.

JOHN: Uncle Joe?

EMMA: Aunt Susie?

MOTHER: Are they here?

FATHER: Oh, yes. I nearly forgot about them. I was so excited about the bacon.

EMMA: Let�s go out and see. (Family rushes out and UNCLE JOE and AUNT JUNE enter with a trunk)

MOTHER: It�s wonderful to see you.

JOE: I wouldn�t have come if I�d known how heavy this trunk was.

JOHN: (Tries to lift it) What�s in here?

SUSIE: Just a few things.

JOE: I think she brought the whole house.

EMMA: I�ll help you Johnny. (JOHN and EMMA struggle with trunk and drag it into the house)

FATHER: This calls for a song.

JOE: Let�s sing our favorite, Susanna.

SUSIE: Let�s! (Everyone sings)

SONG: Oh Susanna

EMMA: Look! Someone else is coming!

JOHN: Grandpa! Grandma!

GRAMPS: (Enters with GRAMS) Howdy everyone.

GRAMS: (British accent) �Ello.

EMMA: (Hugs them) I�ve missed you so much.

GRAM: Is this my little Emma? All grown up now!

FATHER: You�re late. We expected you days ago.

GRAM: We had quite an adventure.

MOTHER: What happened?

GRAM: We passed through a little town near the state line and they thought the old man here was an outlaw.

JOHN: An outlaw! Cool! Who�d you shoot, Gramps.

GRAMPS: I didn�t shoot nobody. I didn�t do do it. Honest.

GRAM: So he says.

GRAMPS: You don�t believe me either?

GRAM: I�m just teasing you, dear.

FATHER: So tell us what happened.

GRAMPS: The town had just been robbed by some old coot�

GRAM: The old goat man is what they called him. Cause he always had his goat with him.

GRAMPS: The goat man pretended to be a helpless old man and when somebody took him in, he robbed them blind.

GRAM: And his goat ate their gardens and wrecked their homes.

GRAMPS: After a good week passed, the goat man had raided half the town.

GRAM: It was a small town.

GRAMPS: He skedaddled before they could catch them. Then we came into town only a few days later.

GRAM: He has the same gray hair, the same glasses and the same billy goat beard.

GRAMPS: And they arrested me!

MOTHER: They didn�t?!

GRAMPS: I was thrown behind bars.

JOHN: And Grams busted you out!

GRAM: No, no, no. We did everything legal. I didn�t need to be an outlaw too.

GRAMPS: Grams here showed up as my lawyer before the judge. She talked him out of a hanging.

MOTHER: A hanging?!

GRAMPS: It�s that English accent of hers. Makes her sound so smart.

GRAM: Very funny.

JOE: Hey, I know a song kind of like that.

FATHER: Is there any story that doesn�t remind you of a song?

JOE: Not that I know of.

GRAMPS: Let me guess. Old Dan Tucker.

JOE: Right on.

GRAMPS: That song was running through my head the whole time I was in the hoosegow.

EMMA: How�s it go?

SUSANNA: Something like this�

(Family sings)

Old Dan Tucker

(Version 1)

Written By: Daniel Emmett

Copyright Unknown

Come to town the other night

Heard the noise and saw the fight

Watchman was a-runnin' 'round

Said "Old Dan Tucker's come to town."

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

You're too late to come to supper.

Old Dan Tucker come to town

Ridin' a billygoat, leadin' a hound

Hound, he barked and the billygoat jumped

Throwed old Dan, he straddled a stump.

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

You're too late to come to supper.

Old Dan Tucker was a fine old man

Washed his face in a frying pan

Combed his hair with a wagon wheel

And died with a toothache in his heel.

So, git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

Git out the way, Old Dan Tucker

You're too late to come to supper.

MOTHER: Speaking of supper� anyone hungry?

FATHER: Joe and Susanna brought some bacon.

EMMA: And I�ve made potato soup.

GRAMS: My favorite.

JOHN: Let�s eat!

End of Scene

SCENE 4

(Family is inside and the cabin has some festive decorations. Everyone is talking loudly. Someone is playing an instrument in the background)

JOE: (Blows horn and everyone stops to listen) Time for some dancing!

SONG: �Buffalo Gals�

(Lots of dancing during song featuring GRAMS and SUSANNA. There is a dance challenge of GRAMS from SUSANNA)

SUSANNA: I wish to challenge you to a dancing dual!

GRAMS: I have to watch dinner.

ALL: (Ad lib) Come on, Grams. You can do it. Etc.

SUSANNA: Are you afraid I'll beat you?

GRAMS: Not likely.

SUSANNA: Let dance.

(Music. They dance (clogging or some other type of active dancing). SUSANNA starts to get tired)

ALL: (Ad lib) You can beat her, Susanna! Etc.

MOTHER: Grams will never lose.

SUSANNA: (finally) I'm beat!

(Everyone cheers)

MOTHER: Let's eat!

(More cheers)

EMMA: (Sits by GRAMPS) Wow, Grams is such a great dancer.

GRAMPS: She�s the second best dancer I�ve ever met.

EMMA: Who�s the first?

GRAMPS: I once knew this gal named Clementine. But she is lost and gone forever.

EMMA: (Laughs) Oh, Gramps. That�s not a person. It�s a song.

GRAMPS: Guess we better sing it then.

EMMA: Let�s!

(EMMA and GRAMPS start and others join in)

SONG:

Oh My Darling Clementine

GRAMS: Get in here before dinner gets cold.

Scene 5

(Lights come up. It is very snowy. JOHN and EMMA sit sadly)

EMMA: I wish everyone didn�t have to go.

JOHN: It�s been so fun. All the dancing and singing. Mmmm� all the food.

JOE: You better watch all the food. I think Emma grew an inch taller while we were here.

JOHN: What about me!

JOE: I think you grew an inch wider.

JOHN: Hey!

EMMA: He�s just teasing you, Johnny.

JOHN: How come you don�t tease, Emma?

JOE: I don�t want to make her cry.

EMMA: I wouldn�t cry.

JOE: You sure. That�s what your mother always did when I teased her.

MOTHER: I did not.

SUSANNA: It�s been wonderful seeing all of you.

FATHER: We need to do this more often.

EMMA: How about next week?

JOE: But it takes us a week to get home.

EMMA: Then you�ll just have to stay.

SUSANNA: I wish we could. But somebody has to feed my new race horse.

EMMA: Race horse!

SUSANNA: Maybe when you come this summer to see us, I�ll teach you to race.

JOHN: And me too!

SUSANNA: And you too.

GRAMPS: See you again soon I hope.

GRAM: If they don�t throw you in jail again.

GRAMPS: We�re taking a different way home.

EMMA: Please everyone. One more song before you go.

JOE: Another song. But I�m fresh out.

FATHER: I never thought that would happen.

GRAM: Maybe I got one for you. It�s one I learned as a little girl in England.

Goodbye song (Grandma from England � sings an old family song)

SONG: Early One Morning

Anonymous

Traditional English Folksong

Early one morning,

Before the sun had risen,

I heard a bluebird

In the fields gayly sing,

"South winds are blowing,

Green grass is growing,

We come to herald the merry Spring."

One Autumn afternoon,

Just as the sun was setting,

I heard a bluebird

On a tree pipe a song,

"Farewell! we're going;

Cold winds are blowing;

But we'll be back when the days grow long."

http://kididdles.com/mouseum/e015.html

(Whole cast comes in and sings it a second time)

END OF PLAY