Act I, Scene 4, DOG from Animal Tales (2004-2008)

Libretto by George Plimpton
Music by Kitty Brazelton
Original concept, Dramaturgy & Direction by Grethe Barrett Holby

This performance of Act I, Scene 4, took place at our first workshop in January 2005 at Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna beach, Florida. Although it predates later revisions, this version is largely the same as the final 2008 version.

Recorded at Atlantic Center for the Arts

[scratch scratch scratch
sniff sniff sniff]

Now who will it be
Who's come to see me?

[scratch scratch scratch
sniff sniff sniff]

Do you know
Do you know
Do you know
what's the trouble
what's the trouble
about being a dog?

being a dog?
[woof]

being a being a being a
[woof]

[woof]

[woof]

[woof woof woof]

We're not the same!
Let me explain

I have a have a wolfhound cousin
With his with his his his paws out in front
His his tail stretched out behind
He measures five feet maybe more-re-re
Doctor McGee
Doctor He's five times me!

being a being a being a
[woof]
  [woof]
[woof]
  [woof]
[woof]
  [woof]
[woof]
[woof woof woof]

I have another cousin
A Great Dane
Who can carry me
Around in her mouth

You put a Scottie
Next door to an Elk hound
Or
A whippet
Or
A sheep dog
Or
A low-slung Dachshund

We're not the same!
We're all the same! NOT!
We're not the same!
We're all the same! NOT!

It's hard to be-lieve
We're all the same
I'm all for diversity
(But) This is quite an absurdity

I suppose I would agree
But of what service can I be?

Trouble is
trouble is this
The trouble
Trouble is
We little dogs
Have little voices
Yip yip yip Yap yap yap

[yip yip yip yap yap yap
yip yip yip yap yap yap]

A lot of high-pitched clamor
A different voice
That'd be my be my choice

And whose voice
Would be your choice?

A wolf's, that's what!
What I want to come out
When I ope my mouth wide
is the howl of a wolf on a moon-lit night
That's right
Why not?
No more, yap, yap, yap
Or anything at all like that
Or yip yip yip
Hardly hip
Or woof woof woof
I want to raise the roof
With the howl of a wolf!

[yip yip yip yap yap yap
yip yip yip yap yap yap
woof woof woof woof
woof woof woof woof]

Why so obvious?
Why not something more cacophonous?
Like the bellow of a moose
Or the sound of a jet
Or better yet a thousand yaks yaking?
[yak yak yak yak
yak yak yak yak
yak yak yak yak
yak yak yak yak]

Please sit down!
Quiet please!
If this keeps up I shall ask you to leave

I suggest what you do is
I suggest what you do what you do is
what you do is visit the zoo
is visit the zoo

[zoo zoo zoo zoo
zoo zoo zoo zoo
zoo zoo zoo zoo ]

A lesson would help
To consult
With a wolf
Could result
At the very least
In a wolfish yelp

[zoo zoo zoo zoo
zoo zoo zoo zoo
zoo zoo zoo zoo ]

A lesson would help

There's the Bronx Zoo!
The Whip-snade The Antwerp San Diego

A wolf?
Oh Doctor McGee

To consult
With a wolf

Not to mention Cincinnati

What a nifty recipe
What an opportunity

Could result

The Central

At the very least

The Lincoln

In a wolfish yelp

Now let me see
Which zoo should it be?

And the National Zoo in Washington

That's quite enough
Plea-se Plea-se

Don't worry Doctor
Doctor McGee I'll find my zoo
In which I'll rendezvous
And learn to shake my jowls
And let out howls
That 'll sca-re-re-re e-ven me!

[yip yip yip yap yap yap
yip yip yip yap yap yap
woof woof woof woof
woof woof woof woof]

Doctor McGee, Alfred J.
Has had his say
Doctor McGee
is through the zoo!
The hound is on his way
He's gone from here
And should he re-appear
Perhaps a grand surprise
If he should memorize
The wolf's great cry
At a moon-rise.
Baaa, baaa, baaa,
baaa, baaa, baaa, baaa,
baaa, baaa, baaa, baaa

all rights reserved
© & (p) 2004-2008, George Plimpton and
Catherine B. Brazelton & Snicim Vinahel (ASCAP).