Le Chat Botté
• Based on story by Charles Perrault
• Music & Lyrics by Diana Cantrelle © 2008
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• 40 minute Opera
• For Children and the Young at Heart
• Piano or Jazz Combo
• Quartet of singers
Character Descriptions:
Narrator is Pianist or separate character - Folksy, Southern Charm
Le Chat Botté (Bootsy to her friends) –Mezzo-soprano, Feisty, fun, clever and a scrappy survivor with French accent
Old Miller (Angel-Daddy)/King Louis/Rougarou - Baritone
Old Miller –working class earthy, fatherly
King – lighthearted, kind, pampered and a wee ditsy
Rougarou – Ogre, big, scary, & arrogant
Le Mâitre (alias Marquis de Carabas) is Jean-Claude - Tenor Handsome, adventurous and romantique... We see a change in his spirit from down trodden, to hope, to victorious
Princess Sophie/Oldest and Middle Brothers - Soprano, As oldest and middle brothers (the middle being a hand held puppet) – snotty, typical sibling torture
Princess –innocently beautiful, curious and visionary
Le Chat Botté is an ensemble piece, where all the characters move in & out of roles and various townsfolk, animals, forest, stream, etc... Everyone helps create the world in which they all live. This theatrical device is fun to watch and sparks the imagination of both actor and audience.
And the story begins...
Narrator – Once upon a time, a little while ago, somewhere between now and then, in a land where you've probably been a time or two... There lived an Old Miller who had three sons.
Enter King as Old Miller, Princess as oldest "son" with puppet in her hand as the middle son & Jean Claude as youngest. All happy and interacting - quietly.
Narrator – They were a jovial little family, hardworkin', salt of the earth kind of folk...but as it is with all livin' things, it was the end of the Old Miller's season... his time had come. And so... he died.
Old Miller (surprised happy/matter of fact) - Au revoir!
Old Miller carried off stage by "sons." Narrator has head bowed and hand on heart.
Narrator - The Old Miller's Last Will & Testament read as follows: The oldest son (enter oldest) inherited the mill.
Oldest Son - Rock on! (Exits)
Narrator – The Middle Son (Puppet appears from around the corner) received the donkey. Now there is another way to say that animal's name, but since we have ladies and children present, I will refrain.
Puppet nods and makes "donkey" sounds then exits.
Narrator – And as for the youngest son, Jean-Claude...well all that was left was the cat.
Jean-Claude - A Cat! Quelle Situation. What am I going to do with a cat!!
Song - Last of the Litter – Jean-Claude with Old Miller (as angel) and two Brothers
*******
Jean-Claude – I’m the Last of the Litter, the baby, the Runt!
Hand me down clothes, older brothers on me thump.
[Woh, woh, woh], yeah.
They can earn a livin’ by workin’ both together.
Oh, I can eat the Cat….
Bootsie – Prrr?!
Jean-Claude – ...then make a hat or sweater.
Bootsie – Un, deux, trios, quatre…[Whiiii]!
Jean-Claude – Oh so tired of bein’ the sad little underdog.
For just once in my Life, to live High on the Hog!
No not yet, you’re too young, number three, what a Burn!
No more livin’ in the Shadows of a Life, I Yearn!
Trio section – Refrain – voices weaving simultaneously
Jean-Claude – I’m the Last of the Litter, the baby, the Runt!
Hand me down clothes, older brothers on me thump.
They can earn a livin’ by workin’ both together.
Oh, I can eat the Cat, then make a hat or sweater.
Brothers – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Those are my clothes!
Ha! Ho! [Du, du, du], I owe.
Tastes like chicken! Go knit yourself a sweater.
Angel-Daddy – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
(Old Miller) Mind your manners boys!
Thump, thump, [dum, da, dum, dum, dum].
Make a livin’, Makes you strong.
Tastes like chicken! Will keep you warm!
Brothers and Angel-Daddy retire behind scenery.
Jean-Claude – What now are my choices, oh where do I go from here?
Where do I see myself, in a day, week, month or year?
Come ‘ere kitty cat you got nothing to fear.
Bootsie – That’s okay mon Mâitre, think I’ll stay right Here!
Trio section – Refrain – voices weaving simultaneously
Jean-Claude – Oh, I’m the Last of the Litter, the baby, the Runt!
Hand me down clothes, older brothers on me thump.
They can earn a livin’ by workin’ both together.
Oh, I can eat the Cat, then make a hat or sweater.
Brothers – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Gimme my clothes!
Ha! Ho! [Du, du, du], You owe.
Tastes like chicken! Such a purty little sweater.
Angel-Daddy – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Now behave yo’selves.
Thump, thump, [dum, da, dum, dum, dum].
Make a livin’, Makes you strong.
Tastes like chicken! Will keep you warm!
Brothers and Angel-Daddy sneak back out…to surprise Jean-Claude and for more good
natured torment!
Jean-Claude – Oh so tired of bein’ the sad little underdog.
Brothers – [Ah (doggie howl) whuuuu]!
Angel-Daddy – [Ruf, ruf, ruf, ruf]!
Jean-Claude – For just once in my Life, to live High on the Hog!
Brothers – [Su-iii! Su – iii]!
Angel-Daddy – Here! Piggy, piggy, piggy, piggy pig!
Brothers – No not yet!
Angel-Daddy – You’re too young.
Brothers – Number three!
Jean-Claude – What a Burn!
No more livin’ in the Shadows of a Life, I Yearn!
Trio section – Refrain – voices weaving simultaneously
Jean-Claude – I’m the Last of the Litter, the baby, the Runt!
Hand me down clothes, older brothers on me thump.
They can earn a livin’ by workin’ both together.
Oh, I can eat the Cat, then make a hat or sweater.
Brothers – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Tacky old clothes!
Ha! Ho! [Du, du, du], I owe.
Tastes like chicken! Go sew yourself a sweater.
Angel-Daddy – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Be polite now boys!
Thump, thump, [dum, da, dum, dum, dum].
Make a livin’, Makes you strong.
Tastes like chicken! Will keep you warm!
Brothers – Boo Hoo!
Jean-Claude – Ah Pooh!
Angel-Daddy – Ah who?
Trio section – Refrain – voices weaving simultaneously
Jean-Claude – I’m the Last of the Litter, the baby, the Runt!
Hand me down clothes, older brothers on me thump.
They can earn a livin’ by workin’ both together.
Oh, I can eat the Cat, then make a hat or sweater.
Brothers – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Those are my clothes!
Ha! Ho! [Du, du, du], Ah oui!
Tastes like chicken! Such a purty little sweater that tastes like a chicken,
Angel-Daddy – Last of the Litter, Baby the Runt!
Mind your manners boys!
Thump, thump, [dum, da, dum, dum, dum].
Make a livin’, Makes you strong.
Tastes like chicken! Will keep you warm!
Brothers – Will keep you Hah!
Jean-Claude – Ah, Ah, Augh!
Angel-Daddy – Keep you, Oh so toasty son!
*******
Angel-Daddy pats Jean-Claude on head with fatherly affection before he exits, while Brothers leave laughing.
Bootsie – (french accent throughout) Tien, Mon nouveau Maître, there is another way to look at this situation. Two sides to every coin, the yin with the yang… one always has
choices. Alternatives are possible to pull you out of this despair!
Besides, I would be very tough to eat!
And the adventure continues...
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