This club play was written and devised as a group collaboration between the actors and the director, Trish Denton.
November 5, 2011
TREE-ESTRIALS IN THE HALLOWOOD
Starring:
A Solar Ray (Sylvan)
Sunchemist (Phinn)
Mother Tree-estrial (Lily)
Daughter Tree-estrial (Grace)
Tree-estrial Essence (Molly)
Tree-estrial Youth (Evie)
I. The year is 2050, when cars are powered by candy-corn. Far, far away from the chaos of traffic and rash decisions is The Hallowood, a forest protected by a small band of mystical beings known as The Tree-estrials. Mother Tree-estrial and her daughter take a walk to observe the state of the woods. These woods are no ordinary woods, they are very special indeed. For here is where all the Halloween snacks, treats and sweets are grown. Lollipops bloom by the bushel, caramel apples dangle from the trees and candy corn spills from the nooks and knots of them. Daughter Tree-estrial notices that one of their splendid trees has had its bark scorched. She runs over to the tree and finds a notice stapled to it: THESE WOODS HAVE BEEN SLATED FOR REMOVAL THIS TUESDAY NEXT. -THE CANDY CORN CAR CORP.
"Slated for removal?! Mother, what does this mean?" Daughter Tree-estrial bursts into tears. As Mother Tree-estrial tries to comfort her, she calls upon The Essence for guidance, "Essence! Please show us what this means!" In tap shoes and a dazzling suit of stars and stripes, The Essence springs forth bellowing:
"While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
God bless America, My home sweet home."
II. Atop the canopy of the trees is stationed the laboratory of the Sunchemist and his apprentice Solar Ray. The two work side by side mixing solutions and testing them. The Sunchemist makes a mixture that causes a tiny explosion. He looks to his apprentice to follow suit. Solar Ray makes his own mixture, resulting in a BIG explosion. The two lay twitching on the ground, somewhat mangled from the blast, as The Tree-estrials enter the lab. "Oh my!" The ladies drop their umbrellas in utter shock. "Sunchemist, are you okay?" He is barely phased, and invites the ladies in. Mother, Daughter and child tell of their dilemma in protecting the wood from the Candy Corn Car Corp. "They will remove all of the trees for fuel for their cars!" The Sunchemist has a hopeful wrinkle in his forehead. He is deep in thought. "I know just what we need. The solution for a protective shield... a force field around the wood. Solar Ray, please go to the look-out." The Sunchemist begins to feverishly mix solutions. "I see them approaching!" Shouts Solar Ray.
III. A terrifying army of Forgotten Halloween Candies marches toward the Hallowood. Hardened taffy, shattered lollipops, disintegrating and rotten candies slowly, but steadily storm toward the wood. "We have to act fast!" Shouts Mother Tree-estrial. "Let's begin the ritual..." Says The Essence to Sun Ray. The two begin dancing to incite the magic needed for the force field. As the others join in, The Sunchemist brings down his solution and begins to sprinkle droplets around within the dancing circle. As the dance generates more power, Sun Ray runs to the look out to see if the force field is working. He shouts down "It's working!! Dance faster!" The ritual begins to escalate... "They are approaching the force field!!" The Tree-estrials dance faster and sing louder... "They've stopped! They can't get in!" The dance is so wild that no one hears... "They're turning around!!" The ritual begins to wind down... "They're gone, " Whispers Sun Ray. The Tree-estrials look to one another with satisfaction. This is a victory that will never be forgotten by children on Halloween.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Masks of Magic
We spent July 5th-8th crafting the most mystical, magical likenesses of our faces. Using plaster cast and papier mache we crafted these pieces in the tradition of commedia del arte. Our pageant entitled The People of the Sun was an original play I created, but it was molded by the actors."The People of the Sun are very different from the people of the earth. For instance, the way that they eat. They only eat Hot Dogs for breakfast, drink hot water for supper and feast on Hot Buffalo Wings for desert. One thing that they would never eat is Chili.
You would also be surprised by the manner in which they groom. On Earth we use what is called "water", but the People of the Sun have a technique known as "sun bathing", which uses nothing but rays.
Most interesting is their method of travel. The People of the Sun only travel in Hot Air Balloons.
Day in and day out they practice these ways of life. And because the People of the Sun are a Utopian society, they enjoy quite a bit of togetherness. Each night they will gather around a flaming sun crater to share words. Usually these gatherings will begin with a joke. Followed by a story. And sometimes after the stories of morality and romance, they will indulge in a scary story. But not to send the young ones to bed feeling scared, the night always ends with a soothing bedtime story.
And night after night this is how they end the day.
And day after day, year after year, century after century, the have begun their day with The Dances of the Sun.
But on this day something was different. We see a young person noticing something unique about the sky. What is it? A comet! A comet headed straight for the sun! Panic ensues. The comet HITS THE SUN!
And when The People of the Sun come to, they find themselves wrapped within the coiled, rainbow tail of the comet. They are traversing through space to an unknown place. Then the comets tail uncoils and gently drops them into the lap of the moon.
The People of the Sun try to resume their ways of life on the moon. But it is very difficult. For one, the moon is cold. And because the moon is cold, their hearts grew cold. Not only was the moon cold, but its lands were crowded by the spirits of the extinct dinosaurs. The People of the Sun longed for a warm place, a place to call their own again. They looked to the sun knowing it was too far away to ever go back.
Only one moon being felt compassion for their dilemma: The Spirit of the Great Pterodactyl. The Spirit had a warm place in his heart, a memory of a warm place he had lived long ago. Knowing that this place was not the sun, but that its warmth might help the People of the Sun feel at peace again, The Spirit asks for the people to climb on his back. He flies them all the way to The Earth.
Once on The Earth, the People of the Sun become what we think of as "invisible", although they are a very strong presence. We feel their appreciation of our warmth in what you could call "small miracles". For instance:
When you have a really bad case of indigestion and they fight fire with fire.
When your bike is hurtling down a hill out of control and the brakes kick in better than ever.
When you are in your darkest, coldest hour of need.
The People of the Sun are with you bringing light."
No Club in July and August
Hi everyone -- Jane, Genese and I had a great time with you this year. Thanks for sharing your imaginations with us. We are going to take a break for the months of July and August. Go for a swim! Climb a tree! Make sidewalk murals! Eat strawberries!... We'll see you in September.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Play: TOOKITOOKIGAHMBALI
This club play was written as a group collaboration between the participants and the group leader, Trish Denton.
April 2, 2011
TOOKITOOKIGAHMBALI
Starring:
A Young Wizard, Alistonis (Nora)
A Space Wizard, Equanous (Phinn)
Zombie Agent (Taylor)
Skull of Ancestors Master (Matthew)
Corrupt Scientist (Emily)
Dr. Mourdosu (Isabel)
Intergalactic Herb Hunter, Rose (Olivia)
Alien Healer (Jordan)
Synopsis:
I. Equanous the Space Wizard holds his head in frustration. He is comforted by the sounds of his apprentice Alistonis, clanking about with beakers and test trays. They discuss their concerns about the wide-spread global epidemic: a sort of fungal infection that induces a Zombie State into those infected. It is highly contagious. "Those that are effected are everywhere!" Says Equanous as a Zombie walks by the front windows of the workroom. As the Wizards continue their conversation they are unaware as the zombie hides herself in the bushes and listens through the window. "The only explanation I can come too is that Dr. Mourdosu is behind this." The zombie takes a special interest in this information, "His company is the leader in research that will release the antidote. It is all too confusing. We must seek outside help..." Equanous and Alistonis fan out a color coded smoke signal with special movements.
II. Within minutes The Alien Healer and Rose the Intergalactic Herb Hunter appear in the workroom of Equanous. "We came as soon as we could. We have heard of the epidemmic on Earth and know your suspicions of Dr. Mourdosu. We also suspect that the Dr. has spread the infection in order to achieve wealth and recognition from its cure. He will stop at nothing to destroy all other remedies for the illness..." Explains Rose in a severe manner. The Alien Healer urges, "We must go to my planet, the star Dark Red Zaar, to find the last dense growth of herbal remedy. It is known to my people as Tookitookigahmbali." Alistonis blesses the pair with a sage bundle and sends them off toward the hanger. "You may use my Quantum Current Flyer," says Equanous urgently as he belts them into the space vehicle. Rose assures him, "I will preserve the herbs with all of my protective means and bring them to you." She ignites the engines as the Space Wizard says under the roar, "Godspeed."
III. Little did Equanous know that Dr. Mourdosu's Zombie Agent had been spying on the the whole exchange. The Agent returns to the lab where the Doctor and his top-notch Scientist are generating the spores that cause the epidemic. The Agent tells them a detailed account of the information he overheard in the meeting with Equanous, Alistonis, Rose, and The Alien Healer. "If they go public with their suspicions I may have to do something rash. For now, send a search and destroy mission to Dark Red Zaar immediatly. The Tookitookigahmbali must be completely destroyed." The Doctor orders The Scientist. "There is only one who can handle such a delicate mission: The Skull of Ancestors Master." All the Scientist had to do was say his name and The Skull Master appears. He has a patch over one eye, which is rumored to have a laser beam beneath, and holds a stained, thick, old skull in his right hand. As the Doctor explains his assignment, the Skull Master communicates with restless spirits of ancestors through the skull. "The ancestors will direct me to Dark Red Zaar through the heavens. They know where the Tookitookigahmbali grows. I will scorch the earth where it lies and destroy every last bit of it..." Hisses the Skull Master. "Thank you Skull of Ancestors Master. Please bring back one stalk of the herb for our testing. Then we will give you your payment." Says the Scientist. The Skull Master suddenly notices the Zombie Agent primping in the corner. He instantly gets a crush and gives a little dorky wave to her. He then switches tone, "I wish for one human head," he states flatly. "Will these gold coins do?" The Doctor opens a small chest full to the brim with all that glitters. "Yes," The Doctor and Scientist hear the word, but the Skull Master is already gone.
IV. On the star Dark Red Zaar, Rose is mesmerized by the wealth of flora. As far as the eye can see there is flourishing foliage of all different colors. She is overwhelmed by the powers of these foriegn herbs as The Alien Healer demonstrates them. There are herbs that make anything explode on contact, herbs that smell so amazing they make you want to eat the air, herbs that make your eyes change the color of their flowers, and herbs that can change stones into elephants. Rose is distracted but recalls, "We must find the Tookitookigahmbali right away!" And the two rush off into the woods. Meanwhile, The Skull Master has already found the patch of Tookitookigahmbali. He is writhing around in the grass and appears to be having some sort of metamorhasis. "The voices are different on this planet. No! They tell me to do the RIGHT thing. Argh! They tell me to decieve the doctor. They tell me the doctor is evil. Get a hold of yourself!" He jumps to his feet, slaps his own cheek and for the first time ever puts down his skull. He approaches the patch and bends down slowly to pluck a stalk of the yellow-flowered herb. Crouching down, The Skull Master slowly lifts up his eye patch. Suddenly, a laser beam streams out the eye and slightly chars the stalk in his hand. He puts the stalk in his coat, grabs the skull and leaves.
V. The Skull Master has returned to the lab of Dr. Mourdosu. He is even more interested in the Zombie Agent now that his senses have been reawakened. He is captivated by her, seeing her slumped over in the corner of the lab. He keeps his one eye on her as he speaks with the Scientist. "I have carried out the mission. Here is your proof." He pulls out the single stalk that is slightly charred. Grabbing a fist full of gold coins, he pushes past the Doctor and the Scientist to the Zombie Agent. She sits up and peers into his eye. She senses a message from him as their eyes meet. He then turns on his heals and leaves. In the streets, the Skull of Ancestors Master rushes to the workroom of Equanous. He does not know that the Zombie Agent is hot on his trail. In Equanous' workroom, Rose and the Alien Healer have returned and are unloading bushels and bushels of the Tookitookigahmbali. Equanous and Alistonis are processing the herbs into an elixir as fast as they can work. Sweet, thick vapors fill the room as the Skull Master enters. He has come to confirm the truth that they seek. But just as he opens his mouth to speak, The Zombie Agent bursts through the door. She is immediately struck by the vapors and the whole group watches with fascination as she begins to 'change'. She quickly changes from a decrepid zombie into a youthful, beautiful young lady. The Skull Master and Zombie Agent embrace and vow to help Equanous in the fight to save humanity. They all look to heavens and say, "There is hope."
April 2, 2011
TOOKITOOKIGAHMBALI
Starring:
A Young Wizard, Alistonis (Nora)
A Space Wizard, Equanous (Phinn)
Zombie Agent (Taylor)
Skull of Ancestors Master (Matthew)
Corrupt Scientist (Emily)
Dr. Mourdosu (Isabel)
Intergalactic Herb Hunter, Rose (Olivia)
Alien Healer (Jordan)
Synopsis:
I. Equanous the Space Wizard holds his head in frustration. He is comforted by the sounds of his apprentice Alistonis, clanking about with beakers and test trays. They discuss their concerns about the wide-spread global epidemic: a sort of fungal infection that induces a Zombie State into those infected. It is highly contagious. "Those that are effected are everywhere!" Says Equanous as a Zombie walks by the front windows of the workroom. As the Wizards continue their conversation they are unaware as the zombie hides herself in the bushes and listens through the window. "The only explanation I can come too is that Dr. Mourdosu is behind this." The zombie takes a special interest in this information, "His company is the leader in research that will release the antidote. It is all too confusing. We must seek outside help..." Equanous and Alistonis fan out a color coded smoke signal with special movements.
II. Within minutes The Alien Healer and Rose the Intergalactic Herb Hunter appear in the workroom of Equanous. "We came as soon as we could. We have heard of the epidemmic on Earth and know your suspicions of Dr. Mourdosu. We also suspect that the Dr. has spread the infection in order to achieve wealth and recognition from its cure. He will stop at nothing to destroy all other remedies for the illness..." Explains Rose in a severe manner. The Alien Healer urges, "We must go to my planet, the star Dark Red Zaar, to find the last dense growth of herbal remedy. It is known to my people as Tookitookigahmbali." Alistonis blesses the pair with a sage bundle and sends them off toward the hanger. "You may use my Quantum Current Flyer," says Equanous urgently as he belts them into the space vehicle. Rose assures him, "I will preserve the herbs with all of my protective means and bring them to you." She ignites the engines as the Space Wizard says under the roar, "Godspeed."
III. Little did Equanous know that Dr. Mourdosu's Zombie Agent had been spying on the the whole exchange. The Agent returns to the lab where the Doctor and his top-notch Scientist are generating the spores that cause the epidemic. The Agent tells them a detailed account of the information he overheard in the meeting with Equanous, Alistonis, Rose, and The Alien Healer. "If they go public with their suspicions I may have to do something rash. For now, send a search and destroy mission to Dark Red Zaar immediatly. The Tookitookigahmbali must be completely destroyed." The Doctor orders The Scientist. "There is only one who can handle such a delicate mission: The Skull of Ancestors Master." All the Scientist had to do was say his name and The Skull Master appears. He has a patch over one eye, which is rumored to have a laser beam beneath, and holds a stained, thick, old skull in his right hand. As the Doctor explains his assignment, the Skull Master communicates with restless spirits of ancestors through the skull. "The ancestors will direct me to Dark Red Zaar through the heavens. They know where the Tookitookigahmbali grows. I will scorch the earth where it lies and destroy every last bit of it..." Hisses the Skull Master. "Thank you Skull of Ancestors Master. Please bring back one stalk of the herb for our testing. Then we will give you your payment." Says the Scientist. The Skull Master suddenly notices the Zombie Agent primping in the corner. He instantly gets a crush and gives a little dorky wave to her. He then switches tone, "I wish for one human head," he states flatly. "Will these gold coins do?" The Doctor opens a small chest full to the brim with all that glitters. "Yes," The Doctor and Scientist hear the word, but the Skull Master is already gone.
IV. On the star Dark Red Zaar, Rose is mesmerized by the wealth of flora. As far as the eye can see there is flourishing foliage of all different colors. She is overwhelmed by the powers of these foriegn herbs as The Alien Healer demonstrates them. There are herbs that make anything explode on contact, herbs that smell so amazing they make you want to eat the air, herbs that make your eyes change the color of their flowers, and herbs that can change stones into elephants. Rose is distracted but recalls, "We must find the Tookitookigahmbali right away!" And the two rush off into the woods. Meanwhile, The Skull Master has already found the patch of Tookitookigahmbali. He is writhing around in the grass and appears to be having some sort of metamorhasis. "The voices are different on this planet. No! They tell me to do the RIGHT thing. Argh! They tell me to decieve the doctor. They tell me the doctor is evil. Get a hold of yourself!" He jumps to his feet, slaps his own cheek and for the first time ever puts down his skull. He approaches the patch and bends down slowly to pluck a stalk of the yellow-flowered herb. Crouching down, The Skull Master slowly lifts up his eye patch. Suddenly, a laser beam streams out the eye and slightly chars the stalk in his hand. He puts the stalk in his coat, grabs the skull and leaves.
V. The Skull Master has returned to the lab of Dr. Mourdosu. He is even more interested in the Zombie Agent now that his senses have been reawakened. He is captivated by her, seeing her slumped over in the corner of the lab. He keeps his one eye on her as he speaks with the Scientist. "I have carried out the mission. Here is your proof." He pulls out the single stalk that is slightly charred. Grabbing a fist full of gold coins, he pushes past the Doctor and the Scientist to the Zombie Agent. She sits up and peers into his eye. She senses a message from him as their eyes meet. He then turns on his heals and leaves. In the streets, the Skull of Ancestors Master rushes to the workroom of Equanous. He does not know that the Zombie Agent is hot on his trail. In Equanous' workroom, Rose and the Alien Healer have returned and are unloading bushels and bushels of the Tookitookigahmbali. Equanous and Alistonis are processing the herbs into an elixir as fast as they can work. Sweet, thick vapors fill the room as the Skull Master enters. He has come to confirm the truth that they seek. But just as he opens his mouth to speak, The Zombie Agent bursts through the door. She is immediately struck by the vapors and the whole group watches with fascination as she begins to 'change'. She quickly changes from a decrepid zombie into a youthful, beautiful young lady. The Skull Master and Zombie Agent embrace and vow to help Equanous in the fight to save humanity. They all look to heavens and say, "There is hope."
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Play: THE FEET OF DANCERS
This club play was written as a group collaboration between the participants and the group leader, Trish Denton.
March 26, 2011
THE FEET OF DANCERS
Starring:
The Pirates --
A Pirate (Ian)
A Pirate (Dustin)
A Pirate (Emma)
Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers --
Mr. Tootsies (Evey)
Tosie (Taylor)
Toe-Toe (Jordan)
The Gypsies --
Eleesia (Charlotte)
Rosalita (Sophia)
Rosanisha (Grace)
Synopsis:
I. We see three sneaky Pirates tiptoeing across the scene. We know that these Pirates are hunting. They peek under a bush "Arrrrr!", they peek behind a tree "Arrrrr!" and when we come face to face with them, the narrator says "These Pirates are searching for the most precious of things. What is it that Pirates find to be most valuable? Yes, of course, these Pirates are hunting for..." The Pirates snarl, "Feeeeet!" Narrator resumes, "Yes, feet. More than anything else in the world, Pirates want feet. And not just any feet, no siree, they seek THE FEET OF DANCERS." Suddenly from all around the scene, above, below and from the sides, feet pop out and begin to dance. "And in this particular case, these particular Pirates were hunting the feet of Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers..." Mr. Tootsies rises out of the floor and breaks into song: "Fabulous Feet... I love my fabulous feet...", and an old ragtime dance with flashes of fancy footwork follows. There is one patron present that never misses a show, The Ghost Fox. He sits transparently and watches.
II. Well, after a long show, Mr. Tootsies and his dancers, Toe-Toe and Tosie need to take a load off. "Ugh! My feet are killing me..." The dancers sit rubbing their feet and grimacing. The narrator says, "Yes, there are many ways in which a dancer can pamper their feet. Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers are the biggest fans of the following. The first method is to lather the feet with shea butter and arnica." The dancers make dramatic faces of relief and moan and groan. "The second, a cherished practice, is the group foot rub" The three get into a funny, pretzel position and rub one anothers feet. One of Toe-Toe's feet is left out of the equation and she whines "Hey! What about me?!" The Narrator continues, "The most preferred method however, is the epsom salt foot soak." The dancers plunge their feet into 3 pots as their eyes roll into the back of their heads in ecstasy. "One thing that the dancers can't indulge in, even though everyone else is doing it, is to run over a bed of hot coals, when all their friends are having fun doing so." As everyone is captivated by the festivities of fire walking, nobody notices when Tosie is lured away by the Pirates. The Pirates make grand promises of whats to come if she will go with them...
III. The next evening, The Ghost Fox attend Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers' show and notices that Tosie is missing. He has an intuitive hunch that something isn't right. The Ghost Fox decides to investigate and hovers around after the audience leaves. After the show as Mr. Tootsie's and Toe-Toe are going through their feet pampering rituals, and The Ghost Fox observes The Pirate approach them. "Hello Dancers," Says one of the mangy pirates with wide eyes. "We know where your friend is. She made a decision to take the best care of her feet... If you come with us, we will show you where there is a spring-loaded dance floor that is waxed morning, noon and night. It is lined with fountains of Epsom Salts and Myrhh, and there beyond are plush recliners with ottomans' of satin." The dancers are hypnotized by these words. They follow the Pirates in a dream-like state, much to the dismay of The Ghost Fox. The Ghost Fox senses disaster, but knows that he must not go to the Pirates' ship alone. He will need help. "I must go to THE GYPSY CAMP to find help."
IV. The Ghost Fox approaches the Gypsy Camp and we hear mysterious music. Around a fire the Gypsies dance a highly organized ritual. When they are finished they greet The Ghost Fox. He tells them every detail of what he has seen and how he believes that the Pirates have ill intentions for the dancers. Rosanisha states flatly, "We will not stand for this. Our fellow dancers will not be had by some filthy pirates." The Gypsies all agree. "Yes, we must think of a plan to trick the Pirates," says Eleesia. "I have a plan, friends!" Rosalita offers. "Let us take off all of our jewelry and precious things. We will put them in this basket with gold coins and chalices." The Gypsies strip themselves of their gemstones, baubles and all that glitters and put the items into a basket. "These things mean nothing to us in comparison to a dancers' feet." Explains Eleesia. "Yes, but perhaps it will distract them..." The Ghost Fox follows as the Gypsies start off into the moonlight in an offering procession. Rosanisha holds the glittering basket above her head, guiding their way and protecting them as they navigate toward the Pirates' Ship.
V. Once on the ship, Rosalita yells, "Pirates, we have come to dance for you! Show yourselves!" The Pirates emerge from the depths of the Galley and see the Gypsies in an intriguing formation. The moonlight glints off their beaded shawls and their feet are bare with rare markings on them. They have the Pirates' attention. The music starts and the Gypsies dance a dance like no one has even seen. It is mesmerizing and the Pirates' are totally entranced as Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers are freed by The Ghost Fox. Mr. Tootsies, Toe-toe and Tosie join the Gypsies in the dance. The intensity grows until the dancers part to reveal a basket filled with precious objects. They all bow down, creating a passage way for the Pirates. The Pirates are completely distracted by the glittering golden treasures in the moonlight. They walk up the passageway through the dancers and their eyes light up as they sort through the basket of treasure. Completely transfixed, they are oblivious as the dancers slip away into the night.
Epilouge. And never again did Pirates hunt for the FEET OF DANCERS. Now, Pirates hunt for the a lesser treasure... and we are glad of it.
March 26, 2011
THE FEET OF DANCERS
Starring:
The Pirates --
A Pirate (Ian)
A Pirate (Dustin)
A Pirate (Emma)
Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers --
Mr. Tootsies (Evey)
Tosie (Taylor)
Toe-Toe (Jordan)
The Gypsies --
Eleesia (Charlotte)
Rosalita (Sophia)
Rosanisha (Grace)
Synopsis:
I. We see three sneaky Pirates tiptoeing across the scene. We know that these Pirates are hunting. They peek under a bush "Arrrrr!", they peek behind a tree "Arrrrr!" and when we come face to face with them, the narrator says "These Pirates are searching for the most precious of things. What is it that Pirates find to be most valuable? Yes, of course, these Pirates are hunting for..." The Pirates snarl, "Feeeeet!" Narrator resumes, "Yes, feet. More than anything else in the world, Pirates want feet. And not just any feet, no siree, they seek THE FEET OF DANCERS." Suddenly from all around the scene, above, below and from the sides, feet pop out and begin to dance. "And in this particular case, these particular Pirates were hunting the feet of Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers..." Mr. Tootsies rises out of the floor and breaks into song: "Fabulous Feet... I love my fabulous feet...", and an old ragtime dance with flashes of fancy footwork follows. There is one patron present that never misses a show, The Ghost Fox. He sits transparently and watches.
II. Well, after a long show, Mr. Tootsies and his dancers, Toe-Toe and Tosie need to take a load off. "Ugh! My feet are killing me..." The dancers sit rubbing their feet and grimacing. The narrator says, "Yes, there are many ways in which a dancer can pamper their feet. Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers are the biggest fans of the following. The first method is to lather the feet with shea butter and arnica." The dancers make dramatic faces of relief and moan and groan. "The second, a cherished practice, is the group foot rub" The three get into a funny, pretzel position and rub one anothers feet. One of Toe-Toe's feet is left out of the equation and she whines "Hey! What about me?!" The Narrator continues, "The most preferred method however, is the epsom salt foot soak." The dancers plunge their feet into 3 pots as their eyes roll into the back of their heads in ecstasy. "One thing that the dancers can't indulge in, even though everyone else is doing it, is to run over a bed of hot coals, when all their friends are having fun doing so." As everyone is captivated by the festivities of fire walking, nobody notices when Tosie is lured away by the Pirates. The Pirates make grand promises of whats to come if she will go with them...
III. The next evening, The Ghost Fox attend Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers' show and notices that Tosie is missing. He has an intuitive hunch that something isn't right. The Ghost Fox decides to investigate and hovers around after the audience leaves. After the show as Mr. Tootsie's and Toe-Toe are going through their feet pampering rituals, and The Ghost Fox observes The Pirate approach them. "Hello Dancers," Says one of the mangy pirates with wide eyes. "We know where your friend is. She made a decision to take the best care of her feet... If you come with us, we will show you where there is a spring-loaded dance floor that is waxed morning, noon and night. It is lined with fountains of Epsom Salts and Myrhh, and there beyond are plush recliners with ottomans' of satin." The dancers are hypnotized by these words. They follow the Pirates in a dream-like state, much to the dismay of The Ghost Fox. The Ghost Fox senses disaster, but knows that he must not go to the Pirates' ship alone. He will need help. "I must go to THE GYPSY CAMP to find help."
IV. The Ghost Fox approaches the Gypsy Camp and we hear mysterious music. Around a fire the Gypsies dance a highly organized ritual. When they are finished they greet The Ghost Fox. He tells them every detail of what he has seen and how he believes that the Pirates have ill intentions for the dancers. Rosanisha states flatly, "We will not stand for this. Our fellow dancers will not be had by some filthy pirates." The Gypsies all agree. "Yes, we must think of a plan to trick the Pirates," says Eleesia. "I have a plan, friends!" Rosalita offers. "Let us take off all of our jewelry and precious things. We will put them in this basket with gold coins and chalices." The Gypsies strip themselves of their gemstones, baubles and all that glitters and put the items into a basket. "These things mean nothing to us in comparison to a dancers' feet." Explains Eleesia. "Yes, but perhaps it will distract them..." The Ghost Fox follows as the Gypsies start off into the moonlight in an offering procession. Rosanisha holds the glittering basket above her head, guiding their way and protecting them as they navigate toward the Pirates' Ship.
V. Once on the ship, Rosalita yells, "Pirates, we have come to dance for you! Show yourselves!" The Pirates emerge from the depths of the Galley and see the Gypsies in an intriguing formation. The moonlight glints off their beaded shawls and their feet are bare with rare markings on them. They have the Pirates' attention. The music starts and the Gypsies dance a dance like no one has even seen. It is mesmerizing and the Pirates' are totally entranced as Mr. Tootsies Fabulous Feet Dancers are freed by The Ghost Fox. Mr. Tootsies, Toe-toe and Tosie join the Gypsies in the dance. The intensity grows until the dancers part to reveal a basket filled with precious objects. They all bow down, creating a passage way for the Pirates. The Pirates are completely distracted by the glittering golden treasures in the moonlight. They walk up the passageway through the dancers and their eyes light up as they sort through the basket of treasure. Completely transfixed, they are oblivious as the dancers slip away into the night.
Epilouge. And never again did Pirates hunt for the FEET OF DANCERS. Now, Pirates hunt for the a lesser treasure... and we are glad of it.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Play: THE FROSTING CALAMITY
This club play was written as a group collaboration between the participants and the group leader, Trish Denton -- ON HER BIRTHDAY!
March 19, 2011
THE FROSTING CALAMITY
Starring:
The Queen of Frosting Land (Aviva)
The Princess of Frosting Land (Evey)
Russian General (Micah)
King of the Nothing Doers (Augie)
Runaway Girl Disguised as a Boy (Charlotte)
President of the United States of America (Paulo)
Poseidon (Seth)
Poseidon's Daugther (Zoe)
Zeus (Davis)
Lily, a Dalmatian Puppy (Nora)
Premiere Puppeteer of Frosting Land (Ian)
The Frosting (Emma)
Synopsis:
Intro. In the lavish throne room of The Queen of Frosting Land, The Queen tells The Princess of how happy she is, "Frosting production is up, Princess! If we continue on like this, we can cover the whole world with Frosting, just like Frosting Land!" The Princess details all the new things she will buy with their profits. The Princess' Puppy wanders into the room and begs for food; the two women are so excited about their frosting takeover that they do not even notice the Puppies needs.
I. Zeus and Poseidon stand on opposite clouds. Poseidon is accompanied by his Hydro-Powers Head Technician, his daughter. Zeus yells across the sky, "Why do they need so much Frosting down there? Can't they be more like the people of Olympus?" Poseidon responds, "Yes, dear me, the people of Frosting Land are too decadent and rich..." They shake their heads in sync. "Perhaps, we should teach them a little lesson about needs?" Suggests Zeus. Poseidon agrees. "I will use lightning to make the frosting go away!" Zeus exclaims. Poseidon shakes his head, "No, use water!" "Lightning!" "Water!" "Lightning!" "Water!" ...They argue. "Hey! Who's the boss around here anyway!" Roars Zeus as he charges up his finest lightening rods and plunges them down into Frosting Land. Instead of the lightning disappearing, it is cooked into thick, sticky icing. "Now look what you have done Zeus! Let me and my daughter handle this..." And so, Poseidon uses the full force of all of his oceanic powers on the icing. It begins to wash over all the lands.
II. Meanwhile in Arizona, a descendant of the Hopi Indians takes a nap on a cliff's edge. With his hat over his face he hardly has time to see what hit him. A wave of gummy icing cascades over the rims of the canyon filling it to the brim. The napping man is trapped like an insect in amber. Within minutes, The President of the United States of America gets a phone call. "Yes? Our premiere tourist destination The Grand Canyon has been filled to brim with Icing? I know precisely how to handle this. I will call the Russian Military." Within seconds The Russian General steps into the Oval Office. He speaks loud, stilted Russian in the President's Face. "I see General. We have but one choice. We must call on The King of the Nothing Doers." The President and the General pause quite dramatically as The King of the Nothing Doers strides casually in the door. The King is accompanied by a Runaway. The President desperately describes the situation with The Grand Canyon to the King. He waits for a response. The King just stares blankly ahead. And so the President presses on, describing a multitude of approaches they could use. He waits for a response. The King just stares blankly ahead. The Runaway steps forward, "I will speak on his behalf. The King thinks that you should DO NOTHING to the Icing." The President cocks his head and looks at the King. "Thank you King! If this is your solution, then we will DO NOTHING to the Icing!"
III. Interrupted by the news of the relocated Frosting during an exhilarating performance by The Premiere Puppeteer of Frosting Land, the Queen of Frosting Land angrily calls The President of The United States of America. "Hello Mr. President. I realize that you now are in possession of all of my precious frosting. I want it back!" The President describes how unfortunate the Icing in the Grand Canyon is. He asks the queen to please take care it. "It is YOUR problem now Mr. President! Even though it is MINE, it is in YOUR country! Get it back to me at ONCE!" She insists, slamming down the phone. In a huff, she tells the Princess about the Frosting. The Princess faints. The Queen paces, muttering, "...my frosting, my precious frosting..." She is so wrapped up in her loss, that she hardly notices the hungry Puppy begging to be fed. When the Puppy tugs at her dress, she takes notice of her for once. Just then, the Queen has a life-changing moment gazing into the eyes of this hungry Puppy. Coming down onto one knee to pet her, The Queen inquires attentively, "What do you need, girl? You want something to eat?" The Puppy is ecstatic for the attention and jumps up, down and around. "Princess, get up! Go fetch this lovely little Puppy something to eat." The Princess brushes herself off, "But mother?!" Her mother shoots her a look she would never forget, "Now!" The Princess scurries off and fetches a Crystal Bowl of the Finest Frosting. She puts the bowl down in front of the Puppy and the Puppy turns her nose up to it. "Puppy! This is the Finest Frosting in all of Frosting Land! Eat it!" The Puppy refuses to eat the frosting. The Queen again comes down to the Puppy's level to figure out what she needs. "What do you want, sweetie? Do you want FOOD?" The Puppy wags her tale like crazy. The Queen instructs the Princess to go fetch some real food for the Puppy at once. She sits down to call the President, "President? I have decided to help you take care of the Icing. From now on the Frosting belongs to All Peoples. I will only produce FOOD from now on. Let's have a celebration and eat the Icing!"
Epilogue. There is a huge party at the Grand Canyon with all descendants of the Hopi Indians, The Russian Army, Puppies, The Nothing Doers, Americans, The peoples of Frosting Land and The Gods. They eat the whole grand canyon clean... and then they all have a tummy ache.
March 19, 2011
THE FROSTING CALAMITY
Starring:
The Queen of Frosting Land (Aviva)
The Princess of Frosting Land (Evey)
Russian General (Micah)
King of the Nothing Doers (Augie)
Runaway Girl Disguised as a Boy (Charlotte)
President of the United States of America (Paulo)
Poseidon (Seth)
Poseidon's Daugther (Zoe)
Zeus (Davis)
Lily, a Dalmatian Puppy (Nora)
Premiere Puppeteer of Frosting Land (Ian)
The Frosting (Emma)
Synopsis:
Intro. In the lavish throne room of The Queen of Frosting Land, The Queen tells The Princess of how happy she is, "Frosting production is up, Princess! If we continue on like this, we can cover the whole world with Frosting, just like Frosting Land!" The Princess details all the new things she will buy with their profits. The Princess' Puppy wanders into the room and begs for food; the two women are so excited about their frosting takeover that they do not even notice the Puppies needs.
I. Zeus and Poseidon stand on opposite clouds. Poseidon is accompanied by his Hydro-Powers Head Technician, his daughter. Zeus yells across the sky, "Why do they need so much Frosting down there? Can't they be more like the people of Olympus?" Poseidon responds, "Yes, dear me, the people of Frosting Land are too decadent and rich..." They shake their heads in sync. "Perhaps, we should teach them a little lesson about needs?" Suggests Zeus. Poseidon agrees. "I will use lightning to make the frosting go away!" Zeus exclaims. Poseidon shakes his head, "No, use water!" "Lightning!" "Water!" "Lightning!" "Water!" ...They argue. "Hey! Who's the boss around here anyway!" Roars Zeus as he charges up his finest lightening rods and plunges them down into Frosting Land. Instead of the lightning disappearing, it is cooked into thick, sticky icing. "Now look what you have done Zeus! Let me and my daughter handle this..." And so, Poseidon uses the full force of all of his oceanic powers on the icing. It begins to wash over all the lands.
II. Meanwhile in Arizona, a descendant of the Hopi Indians takes a nap on a cliff's edge. With his hat over his face he hardly has time to see what hit him. A wave of gummy icing cascades over the rims of the canyon filling it to the brim. The napping man is trapped like an insect in amber. Within minutes, The President of the United States of America gets a phone call. "Yes? Our premiere tourist destination The Grand Canyon has been filled to brim with Icing? I know precisely how to handle this. I will call the Russian Military." Within seconds The Russian General steps into the Oval Office. He speaks loud, stilted Russian in the President's Face. "I see General. We have but one choice. We must call on The King of the Nothing Doers." The President and the General pause quite dramatically as The King of the Nothing Doers strides casually in the door. The King is accompanied by a Runaway. The President desperately describes the situation with The Grand Canyon to the King. He waits for a response. The King just stares blankly ahead. And so the President presses on, describing a multitude of approaches they could use. He waits for a response. The King just stares blankly ahead. The Runaway steps forward, "I will speak on his behalf. The King thinks that you should DO NOTHING to the Icing." The President cocks his head and looks at the King. "Thank you King! If this is your solution, then we will DO NOTHING to the Icing!"
III. Interrupted by the news of the relocated Frosting during an exhilarating performance by The Premiere Puppeteer of Frosting Land, the Queen of Frosting Land angrily calls The President of The United States of America. "Hello Mr. President. I realize that you now are in possession of all of my precious frosting. I want it back!" The President describes how unfortunate the Icing in the Grand Canyon is. He asks the queen to please take care it. "It is YOUR problem now Mr. President! Even though it is MINE, it is in YOUR country! Get it back to me at ONCE!" She insists, slamming down the phone. In a huff, she tells the Princess about the Frosting. The Princess faints. The Queen paces, muttering, "...my frosting, my precious frosting..." She is so wrapped up in her loss, that she hardly notices the hungry Puppy begging to be fed. When the Puppy tugs at her dress, she takes notice of her for once. Just then, the Queen has a life-changing moment gazing into the eyes of this hungry Puppy. Coming down onto one knee to pet her, The Queen inquires attentively, "What do you need, girl? You want something to eat?" The Puppy is ecstatic for the attention and jumps up, down and around. "Princess, get up! Go fetch this lovely little Puppy something to eat." The Princess brushes herself off, "But mother?!" Her mother shoots her a look she would never forget, "Now!" The Princess scurries off and fetches a Crystal Bowl of the Finest Frosting. She puts the bowl down in front of the Puppy and the Puppy turns her nose up to it. "Puppy! This is the Finest Frosting in all of Frosting Land! Eat it!" The Puppy refuses to eat the frosting. The Queen again comes down to the Puppy's level to figure out what she needs. "What do you want, sweetie? Do you want FOOD?" The Puppy wags her tale like crazy. The Queen instructs the Princess to go fetch some real food for the Puppy at once. She sits down to call the President, "President? I have decided to help you take care of the Icing. From now on the Frosting belongs to All Peoples. I will only produce FOOD from now on. Let's have a celebration and eat the Icing!"
Epilogue. There is a huge party at the Grand Canyon with all descendants of the Hopi Indians, The Russian Army, Puppies, The Nothing Doers, Americans, The peoples of Frosting Land and The Gods. They eat the whole grand canyon clean... and then they all have a tummy ache.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Play: THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE TRASH AVALANCHE
This club play was written as a group collaboration between the participants and the group leader, Trish Denton.
March 12, 2011
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE TRASH AVALANCHE
Starring:
Hibbish, The Crystal Mining Dwarf (Phinn)
Frederick The Hobo (Paulo)
Lila The Sun Faerie(Evey)
Dandelion The Wood Faerie (Ella)
Daisy The Flower Faerie (Giana)
Zarsha, A Witch of WenDrum (Zoe)
Jenny, A Witch of WendDrum (Olivia)
The Almighty Alchemist (Emma)
Synopsis:
Intro. Hibbish is busy mining crystals in the fruitful crystal caves of the Magical Realm. He is so accustomed to finding sizable, valuable crystals that he has grown bored with the hunt. "I wish I would find something really, really cool. When will something extraordinary happen to me?" He is most excited to find some sort of thread sticking out of the rocks. As he pulls on it he senses a gentle rumbling...
I. On the Earthen Realm, Frederick The Hobo is taking his afternoon siesta in his sun soaked junkyard. He has had an epic day of dumpster diving, retrofitting and redistributing goods. He sleeps soundly near a huge rubbish pile. Sensing a gentle rumbling, he awakens. "What is happening? An earthquake...?" And before he can even think a thought he finds himself surfing on a huge avalanche of trash. "What is happening?! Ohhhhh noooooo!" Frederick has to skillfully stay aloft as the avalanche cascades, down, down, down. Finally he feels his feet on solid ground. He takes a look around and is certain he is in a foreign land. He hears a muffled grumble and his attention turns to a pair of legs sticking out from under the trash avalanche. "Oh no! Someone is trapped under the trash! I will help you out!" Frederick begins to tug and pull at the legs to no avail. "You are too stuck! What can I do?" Straining to hear the voice, he decodes Hibbishs' instructions, "...follow the river to the Tree of the Elements. There you will find the Elemental Faeries. Bring them to me..."
II. Frederick skips across stones and balances logs, down, down, down the river bank he walks looking for any sort of tree that might be "The Tree of The Elements". By and by he comes to a tree that has the thickest, most scraggly branches he has ever seen. The tree shimmers like the surface of a swimming hole under the moonlight. "Hello?" One, two, three faeries appear in various branches high above the ground. "Hello... I am Lila The Sun Faerie." Says a glowing yellow Faerie. "And I am Dandelion The Wood Faerie," Says a Faerie that nearly blends into the tree. "Greetings! I am Daisy The Flower Faerie." Says a tiny Faerie that is lowest on the tree. "Hello good faeries! You need to come with me! Your friend Hibbish is trapped under an avalanche of trash!" He pleas loudly. Lila inquires, "Trash? What is trash?" As she flies down to meet him. "Oh, it's hard to explain. Just come with me!" The Faeries are so used to Hibbish getting into trouble that they calmly follow as Frederick leads them back up the river. Once they arrive at the trash heap, they are overwhelming alarmed to see the ugly, foreign, material trapping Hibbish. They combine their powers to try a vanishing spell on the trash. It just will not work. "I have an idea says Dandelion!" Then, she commands a giant dandelion to grow and lift the trash off of Hibbish. "It worked! I'm freeeeee!" Squeals the relieved little Dwarf. Hibbish does a high energy freedom dance that delights Frederick and the Faeries as they clap along.
III. Hibbish suddenly stops his dancing with an alarmed look on his face. "Well friends, I am free, but how do we free ourselves of my oppressor?" He says soberly pointing to the huge mountain of trash. "What is it? Where did it come from?" Frederick asks the gang to sit down. He tells them that he is from the Earthen Realm and that too much "trash" is a common problem on earth. "Fortunately I have made an honest living from other peoples trash and know a few tricks for getting rid of it... but a pile this size is alarming." Says the humble hobo. The Fearies look at one another in agreement. "Friends. We will visit the Witches of Wendrum for the appropriate magic to rid ourselves of this so called 'trash'." Says Lila with a quiet determination. "I will take this sample to show them..." She reluctantly picks up a piece of Styrofoam, holding out in front of her as if it is a dead rat. The group pays visit to the lair of the Witches of WenDrum, Zarsha and Jenny. The two comical characters are baffled by the piece of Styrofoam as they pass it back and forth, back and forth. "There is only one thing to do, Jenny." Zarsha states firmly. Jenny raises one eyebrow, "Vanishing spells?" They pull out their wands in sync. "Yes!" The Witches go to work passing the indestructible chunk back and forth between lighting bolts, sting rays, moon beams and jet streams of magic shooting about. It is very exciting to watch... yet, in the end the chunk still has not vanished. "What will we do, friends? The 'trash' will not vanish!" Whines Hibbish. The Witches seem to know just the thing. "There is only one thing we can do. Visit THE ALMIGHTY ALCHEMIST!"
IV. The crew gathers around the mezzanine protruding from the veranda of the fortress of The Almighty Alchemist. "Who comes to me?" Roars the stereo-surround voice of the Almighty amidst flashing lights. Frederick shouts, "I am a visitor from the Earthen Realm. I've accidentally brought with me a BIG problem that your people need help with!" The lights continue to flash for a moment longer, then cease as The Almighty comes walking down the winding stairs. "Ah,yes. An earth issue. What is causing the problem?" He asks in a fatherly tone. The group says together, "Trash!" The Almighty nods knowingly. "Yes, of course, trash. What have you tried to rid us of the problem?" The Witches of Wendrum step forward, "Why, Vanishing Spells, Almighty one." The Almighty reaches the bottom of the stairs and stands face to face with the group, "Sit down my friends," He instructs. The group sits cross-legged at his feet like children at story time. "Trash will not simply VANISH. This is the very reason why the earth is overflowing with trash... so much that it is spilling over into the Magic Realm. People on earth believe that when they 'throw it away' that it simply vanishes! What an illusion..." The Alchemist stops and shakes his head in sadness, until a look of hope washes it away. "My friends, what we need to do is to make the trash into something useful! We will TRANSFORM THE TRASH!"
Epilogue. The Almighty Alchemist wears his new "Lamp-shade hat" and looks on with pride as Frederick, Hibbish, Lila, Dandelion, Lily, Zarsha and Jenny model their trash transformations. Zarsha transforms an old ratty sweater into a hip, retro, re-make shirt. Lila plants old seeds that were saved into new growth. Hibbish bounces by on a pogo box he made from an old toaster while Frederick drops an anchor he redesigned from a refrigerator. Lily scrapes the calcium from old bones for houseplant fertilizer and Jenny melts down old candy wrappers to create a blingin' new grill for her teeth. Dandelion punts a kick ball around that was made from a combination of old rubber erasers. And so, even though it is only a start for ridding the magic realm of the Earthen Realm's trash, at least the magic is stewing for the anyone in the Earthen Realm to borrow for transforming trash in treasures.
March 12, 2011
THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE TRASH AVALANCHE
Starring:
Hibbish, The Crystal Mining Dwarf (Phinn)
Frederick The Hobo (Paulo)
Lila The Sun Faerie(Evey)
Dandelion The Wood Faerie (Ella)
Daisy The Flower Faerie (Giana)
Zarsha, A Witch of WenDrum (Zoe)
Jenny, A Witch of WendDrum (Olivia)
The Almighty Alchemist (Emma)
Synopsis:
Intro. Hibbish is busy mining crystals in the fruitful crystal caves of the Magical Realm. He is so accustomed to finding sizable, valuable crystals that he has grown bored with the hunt. "I wish I would find something really, really cool. When will something extraordinary happen to me?" He is most excited to find some sort of thread sticking out of the rocks. As he pulls on it he senses a gentle rumbling...
I. On the Earthen Realm, Frederick The Hobo is taking his afternoon siesta in his sun soaked junkyard. He has had an epic day of dumpster diving, retrofitting and redistributing goods. He sleeps soundly near a huge rubbish pile. Sensing a gentle rumbling, he awakens. "What is happening? An earthquake...?" And before he can even think a thought he finds himself surfing on a huge avalanche of trash. "What is happening?! Ohhhhh noooooo!" Frederick has to skillfully stay aloft as the avalanche cascades, down, down, down. Finally he feels his feet on solid ground. He takes a look around and is certain he is in a foreign land. He hears a muffled grumble and his attention turns to a pair of legs sticking out from under the trash avalanche. "Oh no! Someone is trapped under the trash! I will help you out!" Frederick begins to tug and pull at the legs to no avail. "You are too stuck! What can I do?" Straining to hear the voice, he decodes Hibbishs' instructions, "...follow the river to the Tree of the Elements. There you will find the Elemental Faeries. Bring them to me..."
II. Frederick skips across stones and balances logs, down, down, down the river bank he walks looking for any sort of tree that might be "The Tree of The Elements". By and by he comes to a tree that has the thickest, most scraggly branches he has ever seen. The tree shimmers like the surface of a swimming hole under the moonlight. "Hello?" One, two, three faeries appear in various branches high above the ground. "Hello... I am Lila The Sun Faerie." Says a glowing yellow Faerie. "And I am Dandelion The Wood Faerie," Says a Faerie that nearly blends into the tree. "Greetings! I am Daisy The Flower Faerie." Says a tiny Faerie that is lowest on the tree. "Hello good faeries! You need to come with me! Your friend Hibbish is trapped under an avalanche of trash!" He pleas loudly. Lila inquires, "Trash? What is trash?" As she flies down to meet him. "Oh, it's hard to explain. Just come with me!" The Faeries are so used to Hibbish getting into trouble that they calmly follow as Frederick leads them back up the river. Once they arrive at the trash heap, they are overwhelming alarmed to see the ugly, foreign, material trapping Hibbish. They combine their powers to try a vanishing spell on the trash. It just will not work. "I have an idea says Dandelion!" Then, she commands a giant dandelion to grow and lift the trash off of Hibbish. "It worked! I'm freeeeee!" Squeals the relieved little Dwarf. Hibbish does a high energy freedom dance that delights Frederick and the Faeries as they clap along.
III. Hibbish suddenly stops his dancing with an alarmed look on his face. "Well friends, I am free, but how do we free ourselves of my oppressor?" He says soberly pointing to the huge mountain of trash. "What is it? Where did it come from?" Frederick asks the gang to sit down. He tells them that he is from the Earthen Realm and that too much "trash" is a common problem on earth. "Fortunately I have made an honest living from other peoples trash and know a few tricks for getting rid of it... but a pile this size is alarming." Says the humble hobo. The Fearies look at one another in agreement. "Friends. We will visit the Witches of Wendrum for the appropriate magic to rid ourselves of this so called 'trash'." Says Lila with a quiet determination. "I will take this sample to show them..." She reluctantly picks up a piece of Styrofoam, holding out in front of her as if it is a dead rat. The group pays visit to the lair of the Witches of WenDrum, Zarsha and Jenny. The two comical characters are baffled by the piece of Styrofoam as they pass it back and forth, back and forth. "There is only one thing to do, Jenny." Zarsha states firmly. Jenny raises one eyebrow, "Vanishing spells?" They pull out their wands in sync. "Yes!" The Witches go to work passing the indestructible chunk back and forth between lighting bolts, sting rays, moon beams and jet streams of magic shooting about. It is very exciting to watch... yet, in the end the chunk still has not vanished. "What will we do, friends? The 'trash' will not vanish!" Whines Hibbish. The Witches seem to know just the thing. "There is only one thing we can do. Visit THE ALMIGHTY ALCHEMIST!"
IV. The crew gathers around the mezzanine protruding from the veranda of the fortress of The Almighty Alchemist. "Who comes to me?" Roars the stereo-surround voice of the Almighty amidst flashing lights. Frederick shouts, "I am a visitor from the Earthen Realm. I've accidentally brought with me a BIG problem that your people need help with!" The lights continue to flash for a moment longer, then cease as The Almighty comes walking down the winding stairs. "Ah,yes. An earth issue. What is causing the problem?" He asks in a fatherly tone. The group says together, "Trash!" The Almighty nods knowingly. "Yes, of course, trash. What have you tried to rid us of the problem?" The Witches of Wendrum step forward, "Why, Vanishing Spells, Almighty one." The Almighty reaches the bottom of the stairs and stands face to face with the group, "Sit down my friends," He instructs. The group sits cross-legged at his feet like children at story time. "Trash will not simply VANISH. This is the very reason why the earth is overflowing with trash... so much that it is spilling over into the Magic Realm. People on earth believe that when they 'throw it away' that it simply vanishes! What an illusion..." The Alchemist stops and shakes his head in sadness, until a look of hope washes it away. "My friends, what we need to do is to make the trash into something useful! We will TRANSFORM THE TRASH!"
Epilogue. The Almighty Alchemist wears his new "Lamp-shade hat" and looks on with pride as Frederick, Hibbish, Lila, Dandelion, Lily, Zarsha and Jenny model their trash transformations. Zarsha transforms an old ratty sweater into a hip, retro, re-make shirt. Lila plants old seeds that were saved into new growth. Hibbish bounces by on a pogo box he made from an old toaster while Frederick drops an anchor he redesigned from a refrigerator. Lily scrapes the calcium from old bones for houseplant fertilizer and Jenny melts down old candy wrappers to create a blingin' new grill for her teeth. Dandelion punts a kick ball around that was made from a combination of old rubber erasers. And so, even though it is only a start for ridding the magic realm of the Earthen Realm's trash, at least the magic is stewing for the anyone in the Earthen Realm to borrow for transforming trash in treasures.
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