Venus
- Venus
The Roles
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• MISS SAARTJIE BAARTMAN, A.K.A. THE GIRL, AND LATER, THE VENUS HOTTENTOT
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• THE MAN, LATER. THE BARON DOCTEUR
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• THE MAN’S BROTHER, LATER, THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN, LATER, THE GRADE-SCHOOL CHUM
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• THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
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• THE CHORUS as:
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THE CHORUS OF THE 8 HUMAN WONDERS,
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THE CHORUS OF THE SPECTATORS,
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THE CHORUS OF THE COURT,
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THE CHORUS OF THE 8 ANATOMISTS
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OVERTURE
VENUS clothed and facing stage right.
SHE revolves. Counter-clockwise. 270 degrees.
SHE faces upstage.
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
The Venus Hottentot!
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
The Venus Hottentot!
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
The Venus Hottentot! [End Page 301]
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(rest) VENUS revolves 90 degrees. SHE faces stage
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(rest) right.
CHORUS
The Chorus of the 8 Human Wonders!
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
The Man, later
The Baron Docteur!
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
The Negro Resurrectionist!
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
The Brother, later
The Mother-Showman! later
The Grade-School Chum!
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
The Negro Resurrectionist!
CHORUS
The Chorus of the 8 Anatomists!
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(rest) VENUS revolves 180 degrees. SHE faces stage
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(rest) left.
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
The Chorus of the 8 Anatomists!
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
The Man, later
The Baron Docteur!
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
The Negro Resurrectionist!
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
The Chorus of Spectators!
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST and THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
The Brother, later,
The Mother-Showman!, later
The Grade-School Chum! [End Page 302]
THE MAN and THE BROTHER
The Negro Resurrectionist!
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
The Chorus of the Court!
ALL
The Venus Hottentot!
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(rest)
THE VENUS
The Venus Hottentot.
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(rest)
(rest)
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
I regret to inform you that the Venus Hottentot iz dead.
ALL
Dead?
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
There wont b inny show tonite.
CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS
Dead!
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
Exposureiz what killed her nothin on
and our cold weather. 23 days in a row it rained.
Thuh Doctor says she drank too much. It was thuh cold I think.
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
Dead?
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
Deh-duh.
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
I regret to inform you that the Venus Hottentot iz dead.
There wont b inny show tonite.
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
Diggidy-diggidy-diggidy-diggidy [End Page 303]
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
Im sure yr disappointed.
We hate to let you down.
But 23 days in a row it rained.
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
Diggidy-diggidy-diggidy-dawg.
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
I say:
Perhaps,
She died of drink.
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
It was thuh cold I think.
THE VENUS
Uhhhh!
CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS
Turn uhway. Dont look. Cover her face. Cover yer eyes.
THE VENUS
Uhhhh!
CHORUS
(Drum. Drum. Drum. Drum.)
(Drum. Drum. Drum. Drum.)
CHORUS MEMBER
They came miles and miles and miles and miles and miles.
Comin in from all over to get themselves uh look,-see.
They heard the drum.
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
Drum Drum
CHORUS
(Drum Drum)
THE BROTHER/SHOWMAN CHORUS
DRUM (drum)
DRUM (drum)
DRUM (drum)
DRUM (drum)
THE VENUS
(I regret to inform you that thuh Venus Hottentot iz dead.
There wont b inny show tuhnite.) [End Page 304]
CHORUS
(Outrage! It’s an outrage!)
THE MAN, LATER THE BARON DOCTEUR
Dead?
THE NEGRO RESURRECTIONIST
Deh-duh.
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
Tail end of r tale for there must be an end
Is that Venus, Black Goddess, was shameles, she sinned or else
completely unknowing of r godfearin ways she stood
totally naked in her iron cage.
CHORUS OF 8 HUMAN WONDERS
Shes thuh main attraction she iz
Loves thuh sideshows center ring.
Whats thuh show without thuh star?
THE VENUS
Hum Drum Hum Drum.
CHORUS
Outrage! It’s an outrage!
Gimmie gimmie back my buck!
THE BROTHER, LATER THE MOTHER-SHOWMAN
Behind that curtin just yesterday awaited:
Wild Female Jungle Creature. Of singular anatimy. Physiqued
in such a backward rounded way that she out shapes
all others. Behind this curtin just yesterday alive uhwaits
a female—creature
an out—of towner
whos all undressed awaiting you...
