Operetta Transformare
CURTAIN UP
(lights dim and then single spot on a hole in the stage)
14 cicadas and the tenor emerge onto stage
(fade spot, elevate limelight)
tenor advances stage right with cicadas meandering.
First cicada pauses stage left and looks at the audience
First cicada pauses stage left and looks at the audience
(spot tenor and first cicada)
First cicada and Tenor:
We are going to spend this season
We are going to spend this season
crawling out of the darkness
(blackout)
Stage is silent
(spot second cicada)
Second cicada:
We are going to spend this season
climbing, ascending, finding purchase
We are going to spend this season
climbing, ascending, finding purchase
(full light))
Cicadas all meandering
Cast: [basso]
We are going to spend this season
We are going to spend this season
breaking out of our old self
(blackout)
Tenor and first cicada to opening position
(spot tenor and first cicada)
First cicada:
We are going to spend this season
We are going to spend this season
tearing away, sprouting wings
(elevate limelight)
Cicadas all meandering
Tenor:[fioritura]: Annnnnnnnnd !
(full light)
(full light)
All cicadas: [basso profundo]
We are going to spend this season
using specialized abdominal muscles to sing.
We are going to spend this season
using specialized abdominal muscles to sing.
Cue: music
(limelight, roving color spots, spot tenor)
(limelight, roving color spots, spot tenor)
Tenor: [cantata] “You’d think the world
would’ve had enough
cicada poems,
I look around me
and I see it isn’t so
Oh. No.
What’s wrong with thaat
I’d like to know
Full cast: (arietta) cuz here I go
Full cast: (arietta) cuz here I go
agaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiinnnnn.”
(full roving color spots)
Cast begins meandering, hugging, twirling
CURTAIN DOWN
CURTAIN DOWN
7 thoughts on "Operetta Transformare"
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Bravo! That fat lady has sung! Or should I say the fat cicada?
Lololololololol.
Yes.
Ha! This is entertaining and that tenor makes a good point. Fantastic, Coleman!
That you worked in Silly Love Songs, oh man. This needs to be produced.
I am laughing long and hard while seeing the truth of now:
“We are going to spend this season
crawling out of the darkness”
The funniest poem on Lexpomo EVER! You crack me up, Coleman.
Maybe this is quite possibly the most original cicada poem ever. It has that self-referential wink and vaudevillian playfulness.