Just So - Elephants

I'm in this play. It's not really my thing but I've had a lot of fun learning new things and meeting new people. Who knows, maybe I'll do it again next year (fat chance).


Here I've recorded my recollections of what I need to know about Elephant's songs and stage directions. With just two days to go I'm hoping that writing this down will help me finally remember it all. All the lyrics are here.

Just So elephants songs and stage directions

Key:

BOLD text - a scene with elephants

Skip text - a scene without elephants

Purple text - stage directions

ACT 1

1. Just so 
1. Come in during end of EM's intro
2. As chorus begins, king and queen get bags
3. Show "Elephant" to the audience
4. leave and change fast into suit as chorus begins (90 seconds)
2. Another Tempest
3. Skip - There's no Harm in Asking
1. Move up stage (away from audience)
2. act disturbed while EC sings
4. Silly Questions
5. The Limpopo River
1. Kit and Mike B build the Boat
2. Leave when around when the boat leaves
3. ADJUST THE SET
1. stage left box moved to center stage, remove cushion, 
2. Queen takes planter from tree box, 
3. and MIKE B takes the top from the tree box and turns on the tree
6. Skip Living on this Island
7. Skip Thick Skin
1. GET READY with Hawaiian shirt, take off jacket, put Hawaiian shirt on over grey under shirt.
8. The Parsee Cake Cake Walk
1. Freeze at the end. 
2. Fall down if Rino passes near you
3. leave stage
9. Skip The Crime
10. Skip The Chase
11. Skip We Want to Take the Ladies Out
12. Skip Pick up Your Hooves and Trot
1. GET READY: need jacket and grey hat, and leave for trees
13. Jungle Light / Just So (Reprise)
1. COME in when "That's right you know it must have been shadowy..."
2. put down leaves soon after IT's Brash It's BOLD it's Daring…
14. Limpopo River (Reprise)
1. Cross stage from left to right on first chorus
2. Sing the round with KK and other prey animals

ACT 2

1. Skip Just So (Reprise by EM)
2. Skip The Argument
3. Skip Wait a Bit
4. Skip Aboriginally I Came
5. Leaps and Bounds
1. Need outback hat instead of grey hat
2. Come on at start when Rock Concert music starts (clap to the beat)
3. Leave after "You can say that again...."
6. Ripe Bannanas/Just So Reprise (KK on BBQ)
1. Come in as BBQ leaves for Just So Reprise
7. Skip Does the Moment Ever Come
8. Skip Please Don't Touch My Stove
9. Little One Come Hither
1. Starts back stage : when piano plays LIMPOPO tune: speak:  "GREAT GREY GREEN …rest… LIMPOPO RIVER"
2. Ends with back stage : sing "SILLY QUESTIONS" repeated…3 times
10. IF - the Crab
1. Come on while singing "PAU AMMA PAU AMMA PAU AMMA PAU AMMA" x2
2. Leave 5th (after wildebeests), PUT BACK the STAGE to LIBRARY

Batman Massacre

As I'm sure everyone knows, there was a huge massacre yesterday. At a movie premier for a comic book super hero. Super heroes need villains and villains do exists. Why must comics be copied in real life? I can't make any sense of it really - it's just too mind boggling.

But amid all the grief and cries of why I'm thinking of how much energy and wealth we spend on military vs. spending on science, education, health care, and general well being. I'd refer us all to this video. 

Not because the "good ol' days" were better. Only to illustrate the thinking I have on the killings - people invested in their social group don't usually turn on the group. Inspiring people, setting bold goals (that by the way employ people), and working towards a common greater good, can only help get more people invested/included.

May the victims rest in peace. May the injured recover. May their friends and relatives find ways to peace. May we all find ways to stop bullying and aggravating each other, ways to inspire all to be productive, and ways to let things that bother us go. 


A little bit goes a long way.

passing

My grandmother Annie passed away today. She was and always will be an inspirational figure in my life. She chuckled easily and listened intently. Very sharp and witty. She will be missed. Here is a video I took just a couple days before she passed.

 

A great spirit to the last.

I'm fortunate that I went to visit this past weekend. I received (and gave) hugs and kisses. She was delighted to see me. As I was her. So many memories of holidays in her warm house on Long Island. Playing on that property are some of the best times I had growing up. She always had tots and fudgsicles  in the freezer. Makes me smile even today recalling those fun snacks.

Rest in peace Annie.

Update: if you have a memory of Annie you'd like to share please do add it to the comments. I'd like to have a collection of them. When I have some time, I'm going to collect some of the things people have posted on Facebook here as well. Especially the photos and videos.

Zach Wahls Speaks About Family

One feels like one is watching a movie star who had 50 takes to get this right. One take - he nails it. Great job. Important message.