howmau
Act 1
1 in which kitson tells of magic
(kitson narration and chorus mime)
2 in which eric reveals his kikuyu side and speaks of kioni
(kitson night drive narration - words come and go recitative)
k - how do you speak it
e - was told it as a child
k - by whom do you say you did
e - by the children of the servants
k - were you close
e - enough to breath, as could be, as much as could be...
SONG eric kioni
e - kioni, kioni has your form become bold
kioni kioni
she went by the railway
buds enough to travel
fare to be fare to be waged
k - went by the railway budding far enough to wage working when its hurting be about my age
e - was he tall and slender
k - he was just so pushy
e - do you work for us now
k - no i go my way now said good bye my last one
e - and she?
k - she has red eyes crying truly she has red eyes crying about a thing
e - about a thing?
3 in which kioni is seen in town with marion who tells of her husbands murder
SONG lights up on marion/kioni (partly recitative?)
m - I like to know he’s round the house - I’m humming simply humming by the sink and
SPLASH they’ve caught him by the arm
k - just a thing
m - now don’t make that silly FACE -
my god your just a THING
I’d say your tails out - he’d laugh and tuck it back -
now all tails all tails out no laughs
he’s picking and patting and coughing and sneezing and little bits of all four mixed up
my god your just a thing
as though he’d never find his key
now don’t make that silly FACE - my god your just a THING
and I was rushing rushing round for the GUN - it must be somewhere and there was a whooosh and a lovely, hot, BURST
m/k that silly FACE - my god your just a thing
m - flaming man falling down spitting smoking patting as though he’d never find his key now
don’t make that silly FACE - my god your just a THING
rushed out dont know what I looked like he was out like a dummy burnt his clothes orf - he was black just one red O and a sound such a sound
o a sound o such a sound o
he looked a fright a perfect fright
in my hands the heavy gun heavy pushed towards the perfect O and pulled
m/k - there there
let it off let it off
let it off let it off do for he what he could not do hisself there there
m/k - do for me what he could not do hisself there there let it off let it off
(at end of aria marion hands kioni the jacket belonging evidently to her husband which she has been handling in a tender manner - kioni carries this with her to (4) - meanwhile eric has arrived alone in car from (1) to observe from street)
4 kioni carries undertone shreds of this song thru dalliance over breakfast with her lodger matenjagua
5 eric feigns having a mechanical breakdown whilst eavesdropping and interpolating - the car acts as a hide
SONG kioni matenjagua eric chorus
k - dont pussy pat me
m / e- high jinks
k - take in boys and turn out men tis bizness by any other name
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - white shirt in the morning crisp and clean make it seem so lovely in the morning wake up furious come in me glorious
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - dont your not fat me
m /e - gristle and stinks
k - take in boys and turn out men tis bizness by any other name
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - white shirt in the morning crisp and clean make it seem so lovely in the morning wake up furious come in me glorious
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - dont u idolise me
m /e - marvellous lumber
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - white shirt in the morning crisp and clean make it seem so lovely in the morning wake up furious come in me glorious
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest to dig with your back
k - dont you dolls eye look me
m /e - high jinks
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest with your back to dig
k - white shirt in the morning crisp and clean make it seem so lovely in the morning wake up furious come in me glorious
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest with your back to dig
k -book your breakfast
my man
making a cake for you
my man
(diminuendo)
(during song kioni passes jacket to matenjagua who goes into street - marion enters upstairs clutching giant detergent packets)
SONG marion (being written)
- a a a a r r r g g h h a g h a r s t l e y thing
all comes out in the wash
crumple rumple
turnover pie
banana split yer angel cake
cornucopia
can u cope wiv er
all comes out in the wash
6 in which matenjagua helps with car and agrees to work for kitson - during marion song matenjagua is beckoned by eric, he takes off jacket to help with car and eric habds it back to him inside out.
e - over shot or under slung its all
marvellous lumber e/
m gristle and stinks gristle and stinks
m - get your oats
e - trolley under
marvellous lumber
m - rake your ashes
dish the dirt m/
k white shirt
d in the morning
m - slake your thirst
m/k crisp and neat
e - suck your fill
m/k waking in me glorious
e/m - trolley under
m/k coming up me furious
e/m/m/k - get me work
(starts eric and matenjagua under car marion kioni standing by - voices merge for last line as eric and matanjagua scramble out)
SONG kitson fat man chorus (rotating back to back along street as after pub squaddies song) breaks into song above?
Africa my friend - full of big rude fruit yams to split mangos look the part
ah africa my friend makes you want to spit
big fruits makes you want to pop a split
poppa splits
the old slap and tickle - the old smash and grab - the old jungle juice
and theres a thing I wont re member when I held his bloody member
spot of bother no no we wont remember
7 kitson left alone on stage with marion for his narration of child killing
SONG marion (interpolates kitson narrative from up stage in judders)
m - a a a r r g g h a ghastly thing
kitson narration continues - chorus upstage round dead child becomes chorus downstage pushing to get on bus
kitson marion eric (signs of killers habits observed)
kitson I’m getting a feel for the traffic (being written)
8 in which matenjagua gets on bus
SONG chorus matenjagua
ch - driven to want we chose all our numbers end in 0 eastleigh 0 canal road 0 government road 0 quarry road 0 pull your tail in else you want your feathers plucked
m - top of the tree got property
ch - whats his face whats the flaming fuss
your late blame the flaming bus
ch - driven to want we chose all our numbers end in 0 eastleigh 0 canal road 0 government road 0 quarry road 0 pull your tail in else you want your feathers plucked
m - bottom filler garbage man
ch - can he pass whats the flaming fuss
your early blame the flaming bus
ch - driven to want we chose all our numbers end in 0 eastleigh 0 canal road 0 government road 0 quarry road 0 pull your tail in else you want your feathers plucked
m - going out tonight stretching for a fight
ch - turn a coat whats the flaming fuss
you lonely blame the flaming bus
ch - driven to want we chose all our numbers end in 0 eastleigh 0 canal road 0 government road 0 quarry road 0 pull your tail in else you want your feathers plucked
m - make your head feel tight every hand in sight
ch - turn a cheeks whats the flaming fuss
you stinking blame the flaming bus
ch - driven to want we chose all our numbers end in 0 eastleigh 0 canal road 0 government road 0 quarry road 0 pull your tail in else you want your feathers plucked
whats the flaming fuss blame the flaming bus
(cont.)
(at end only matenjagua left on bus)
(entrance of Fat Man & setting up of hooded men)
eric narrates - some devestating late night brit joker put informers into klu klux klan robes and had them give the nod when boys swept up in streets went by...
he was a large framed man with unnaturlly puffed up cheeks - he smelt of glue - his arms flailed like swatting flies - he was the chief torturer, he’ed come into the room in his dirty suit and take charge...right, let’s get on he’d say and put on stained gloves.
SONG Fat Man
o to be good, just, to be that
just a gesture monstrous gesture
just a gesture monstrous gesture
o to be good, just, to be that
why can no milk flow from these breasts
o to be good, just, to be that
just a gesture monstrous gesture
just a gesture monstrous gesture
o to be good, just, to be that
this tinking gong tinkle dong in here speeds me on
o to be good, just, to be that
just a gesture monstrous gesture
just a gesture monstrous gesture
o to be good, just, to be that
give me your LICE rub me with FACTS
o to be good, just, to be that
just a gesture monstrous gesture
just a gesture monstrous gesture
o to be good, just, to be that
tell me names
not finished
9 in which matenjagua in distinctive jacket stumbles into future through chorus line of hooded men, is recognised & taken aside
SONG (eric & kitson chat and filter detainees - * marks recitative kitson)
ch - pass im
pass im by
for the traffic a feel
for the situation a feel
* my reasoning was not confuted
k/e/fm - pass im
pass im by
dispose of chummy
ch - SEE AYE DEE
* he was carried in a makeshift litter
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest with your back
to dig
* they made use of every scrap of cover
ch - pass im
pass im by
for the traffic a feel
for the situation a feel
k/e/fm - pass im
pass im by
dispose of chummy
ch - SEE AYE DEE
KAYE ELL EFF AAYE
* usually taciturn he bore the marks of choler
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest with your back
to dig
pass im
pass im by
* my inclination was to kick him out
ch - SEE AYE DEE
KAYE ELL EFF AAYE
e/fm - pass im
pass im by
k - a feel for the situation
* finding him there i took him to the window seat
ch - pass im
pass im by
dispose of chummy
SEE AYE DEE
KAYE ELL EFF AAYE
* the neat way he exited the jeep impressed me
ch - off to the forest the furthest furry forest with your back
to dig
* troubled by my smile he leant across
pass im
pass im by
dispose of chummy
SEE AYE DEE
KAYE ELL EFF AAYE
*no lights showed as we crept forward
* he used to crook his little finger
(kitson starts to paint eric half black)
ch - off to the forest the furtherst furry forest with your back
to dig
pass im
pass im by
* the small amount he seemed to know was quite enough to hang him
SEE AYE DEE
KAYE ELL EFF AAYE
* i awaited his arrival with some impatience
10 in which we see vignettes of camp life - the turning trail - sun coming up on a boulders edge - the clatter of gunfire - those cookhouse smells - wild shaking laughter - untidy washing lines - the chiefs small dog then mood begins to strengthen and darken dancing to iron bar at same time as shadowy beatings wind blows sound this way and that like a playground - draughts, catapults, the dance darkening hectic mood - the whole of 10 should be like one time accelerated day.
ch - pass im
pass im by
for the traffic a feel
for the situation a feel
* my reasoning was not confuted
k/e/fm - pass im
matenjagua narration
SONG chorus matenjagua not finished
monstrous forces strong like horses
pull apart pull apart
in your cups in your cups
minority
majority
blow nose
blod nose
no nose
god knows
your will bend your will bend your will...
hard cheese
hard choice
sour milk
sour grapes
take my pennies
tke my shilling
spend my penny
spend my shilling
kitson narration about matenjagua
SONG kitson eric matenjagua not finished
m - in my tongue
e - in your tongue
k - in his tongue
m - by your ear
e - by his ear
k - by my ear
m - from his brain
e - from my brain
k - from your brain
m - on my skin
e - on your skin
k - on his skin
m - thru your eye
e - thru his eye
k - thru my eye
SONG chorus fat man
ch so what did you see when you looked in the room and what
fm I saw a man a cross a broom
ch did he wear on his angel head and was the geezer dressed fr’ascot
fm a sand bag a sand bag
ch and did your man he have a shadow
fm in the water piping in the water piping... beaten black
fm against the wall
SONG (eric & kitson plunge into games mele)
k it flys - in the face - of reason - it flys by the light
ch flies naaffing flies naaffing flies naaffing flies flies naaffing flies-
ch we’re up to our nexin
ch naaffing flies
k of - sense - it flys - upside down - on our - heads
(crash!)
ch naffing flies - naaffing flies naaffing
ch officers arse-give it officers arse-give it Ch. the elbow -officers arse-give it the elbow officers arse
k but it works - ho yes it works
(crash!)
ch but it works - ho yes it works
ch mud in your eye bottoms up back ch on your heads
k (swear!) black is white white is black - it works
ch it works
(crash!)
11 in which eric kitson matenjagua & chorus disguise themselves to go on patrol
SONG chorus not finished
pat my pockets check my straps eat my cake o my hat stand my round - and like it
off the top of your head off the top of your head off the top of your head
of of of
call my cab ease my belt wrap my buns dog my steps - and like it
down the top of your head down the top of your head down the top of your head
on on on
stop my mouth take my time - and like it
up the top of your head up the top of your head up the top of your head
side side side
line up front of stage in disguise
ACT 2
1 in which the countergang patrol the forest and experience certain revelations, lot of music with islands of voice & silent action.
kitson narration
(cone of silence hiss of universe forest overture into which slowly voices) (prayers - miked up audience noise?)
SONG kitson eric matenjagua (being written)
shooting up the fundamental firmament
constellations consolations
immanent liquid pricks of light
hubbles bubble baubles bangalore
hear my cry
the great pretender
(kitson quote poem? “moth holed blanket of the tawdry heavens”)
SONG eric kitson matenjagua chorus (not finished)
ch .as your eye sees so smile as your hands feel so touch as your nose smells so breathe as your mind hears so say
all knowing is true - stand naked -
what did you see
k seen yawn seen bored seen easily see
m as a grave the earth shoulder torn number chalked up
k crawling seen yawn seen y a a w w n n
m people right legs a grave
k - am I the jewelled toad or are you the jewelled toad - do you have a head like a turnip
m - brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I smell brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I
e - Karsi dark slit wet pyjamas
ch .as your eye sees so smile as your hands feel so touch as your nose smells so breathe as your mind hears so say
all knowing is true - stand naked -
what did you smell
(verse)
k - or do I have a head like a turnip am I the jewelled toad or are you the jewelled toad
m - smell brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I smell brilliantine I smell
e - Karsi dark slit wet pyjamas Karsi
ch .as your eye sees so smile as your hands feel so touch as your nose smells so breathe as your mind hears so say
all knowing is true - stand naked -
what did you touch
(verse)
k - am I the jewelled toad or are you the jewelled toad - do you have a head like a turnip
m - brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I smell brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I
e - Karsi dark slit wet pyjamas
ch .as your eye sees so smile as your hands feel so touch as your nose smells so breathe as your mind hears so say
all knowing is true - stand naked -
what did you feel
(verse)
k - or do I have a head like a turnip am I the jewelled toad or are you the jewelled toad
m - smell brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I smell brilliantine I smell
e - Karsi dark slit wet pyjamas Karsi
ch .as your eye sees so smile as your hands feel so touch as your nose smells so breathe as your mind hears so say
all knowing is true - stand naked -
what did you say
(verse)
k - toad or are you the jewelled toad - do you have a head like a turnip or do I have a
m - brilliantine I smell naafi baccy I smell brilliantine I smell
e - dark slit wet pyjamas Karsi
2 in which the patrol makes camp for the night and is awakened rudely
kitson narration (leopard night)
SONG kitson (being written)
I woke up dreaming of light livers
(island floats away - lost boys)
(segue bass coming into leopard cough)
(flickering lights of fire widen out and animal figure transforms into waruingi)
3 in which is revealed the forest camp of rebel leader waruingi as he is in the middle of a speech...
… they have made a tap so the blood can come off their hands but for us blood and water are always flowing they know how to freeze but never knew or have forgotten how to flow between and thru states of matter...
SONG trio of rotating fighters with dummy
old slim he walks
your feet along
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
feet talkin’ socks talkin’ bums talkin’ knees talkin’boots talkin’
old slim he walks
your feet along
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
up comin’ jump comin’ sticks comin’ dark comin’
old slim he walks
your feet along
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
slip over top over under over crawl over cry over
old slim he walks
your feet along
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
marchin’
tell you bout marchin’
(waruingi narration burma & prison drifts in and out of above)
4 in which kioni bringing supplies to rebels alarms an unseen matenjagua.
(stream boulders dance)
SONG matenjagua kioni (not finished)
m - off the top of my head
I am become a man
jomos bosom
I sleep apart
k - lost your mist
off the shoulder
cheap cut
5 in which the camp is refreshed by goods & hommage paid to waruingi
SONG kioni chorus (not finished)
meat right and proper
horrible load
hurry the load
shoot the load
lost your mist
off the shoulder
cheap cut
broiling hut
chump chump chump
lazy beg
blazing leg
black leg
cut a cow
SONG chorus drone behind hommage
… honey bee honey bee honey bee honey bee honey bee honey bee
lickerbee lockerbee lickerbee lockerbee lickerbee lockerbee
honey abee honey abee honey abee honey
born born born...
SONG reprise kioni
… lost your mist
off the shoulder
cheap cut...
6 in which the camp rises as a sentence of execution is carried out
SONG waruingi chorus
w - lift me up when the wave comes high lift me up when the children cry
your hands your heart
beats
ch - pull him out his hole
w - lift me up when the show goes by lift me up when the dust clouds
your hands your heart
beats
ch - pull him out his hole take him out - dust him down - show me how - push me on
cry baby disgrace put his feet in his face put his neck in his tummy
pull pull pull pull him
out his hole
w - lift me up when the wave comes high lift me up when the children cry
your hands your heart
beats
ch - pull him out his hole
w - lift me up when the show goes by lift me up when the dust clouds
your hands your heart
beats
ch - pull him out his hole take him out - dust him down - show me how - push me on
cry baby disgrace put his feet in his face put his neck in his tummy
pull pull pull pull him
out his hole
7 in which the countergang except kitson at risk of being exposed by kioni infiltrates the camp in the excitement of the moment
SONG all
(downstage - two goups - gang and counter gang)
eric matenjagua marion waruingi kioni fat man
thru these muddy muddled maws by these bloody bloodied paws - futures forming!
each manna patch flagonarry each manna patch futures forming!
and thru eyelets of the flag still yet a tattered rag - sovereign selves!
each manna patch flagonarry each manna patch come our sovereign selves!
and the sky that stretches out see the stars and let us shout - futures forming!
each manna patch and flagonarry each manna patch futures forming!
and the arms of people rise sink or fall their awful cries - sovereign selves!
each manna patch flagonarry each manna patch sovereign selves!
(more verses)
Act 3
1 in which we hear the radio traffic of a bomber - no one on stage - a cone of noise is created out of which recorded voices from above:
SONG eric chorus (being written)
impatient swot
itsa bomb wot makesa diff’rence
ch - diddy bomb diddy bomb da da fort da da fur
SONG eric chorus
vroom vroom
glitter & charm
snakes breath
poison eye
2 in which a rain of leaflets falls as cast enters for debate (verbatim section prayers oaths songs)
the magical skill of the analphabetic
the anti literacy heresy - that thing in the head of someone else
mysterious commands of gods replaced by perverse authors “those cripples”
armie names acronyms (from Njuma)
a bomb falls some way off
red cardinal clerking
pens shoes stcks watches
record books
shiney sides sticky wrap lick red stamp
scrubs of stick giv’m name (armies)
castle of cards made with exercise books
m - no yea as a soldier
ch - aall reddy ded memorial hall
m - for your childrens children
m - see a picture forming
all reddy ded memorial hall
all is bright and lovely
ch - all reddy ded memorial hall
love children smiling
m - far orf in the future
SONG matenjagua waruingi marion fat man (being written)
eat your words
swallow your tongue
mangle tongue
your half digested forms
maceration
paper pulp
if our goal is beyond where injustice is resolved how can we meet to plan that way
whilst we are chasing your wild senses you are chasing our biro pens and exercise books
you have made a monster which many are ready to believe in
to put the fygure in the carpet requires strength and clarity held over time since you cannot stop the weaving ever
if you take a book you’ll never get to the bottom - there is always another book behind it
you pretend another time than now to act in
each creature embodied from then on the idea of direct action - the laborious personality grating fatiguing nature of the political process is set aside in favour of raids for food and direct action
SONG
you take my land I take it back
tall green cows water trees tin
short green cows water trees tin
short white cows water trees tin
short white man water trees tin
short white man water trees land
some short white man takes trees land
and a man takes my land
(every now & then a cow is killed and eaten & wounded carried past)
3 (whole battlefield scene to insert here)
a bomb nearby
SONG eric kioni & marion (being written)
red blood wash white black
4 in which a bomb falls directly
SONG fat man and chorus
fm - I-----------------am-----------dep----------------ar----------------ted
ch - squeamish squander squellette
squiggle squelch squeeze
squirm squalid squat
squeak square squirt
fm - I-----------------am-----------de----------------par----------------ted
ch - blat blabber black
block blunder blob
bluff belabour blab
blurt blotter blade
fm - I-----------------am-----------de----------------part----------------ed
ch - gogga globule
goggle
globbit gubba
gobble
globber garble
giblets
glug gluff
gibbet
SONG kitson washing song (being written)
one thin leads to another
sluff off sluff off the skins
one pin leads to another
sluff off sluff off the skins
tending eric
5 in which a sweep is conducted by troops and women
kitson narrative
… have you ever climbed into the back of a lorry with others? You”ll know what it feels like to be in a gang - where we would once have draped round us the same animal hide now its khaki canvas...
… a delivery of men, just give me the numbers, climb up there with the others...
… four limbs and a maggot brain bent round a trigger..
SONG chorus
in a lorry or a van we’ll hurry on along to the rend - ez - vous
by fixing several points our man we’re sure to find at the rend - ez - vous
in you pile all the same - take a number - give a name - to the rend - ez - vous
Ch. who called the driver a (crash!)
who called the (crash!) a driver
6 in which waruingi is killed by advancing women
SONG marion kioni (not finished)
looking for new game
get a whiff
no bolder pilates than me
conscious pontious
man suck
hoover eat dirt
Kleen Kill
in my Box
all dragged up for blood hand clean kill till it do till it do till it do till it do
cry die lie fly
he’s a man finger put up his arm and cry then it come on his face to day o as I
help
blow it in he’s not holding in his belt he’s letting out his blood he’s crying
ho faster faster
up
me help me stress me bless me
SONG whole cast (being written)
ends
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