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ßtf* %/Á^J ?. NOAH'S ARK A Play by George Alexander with illustration by Jeemes Akers Music for the songs in this play is available on cassette tape. The author, when asked about musical transcriptions, said that it was really impossible to write down the musical notations as conceived in his rendering. He generously agreed to sing the songs for recording. Those interested in his rendering of the songs may write for information and cost. 44 Noah's Ark SjUi ¿¿niotemn Soldv&wtwKe With SiC ¿/??&??? iAleaiaae by George Alexander This play was first performed at Quiet Valley Historical Farm, near E. Stroudsburg , Pa., at their Harvest Festival celebrations in October 1979. M^ thanks are due to Alice Wicks of Quiet Valley for her inspiration and suggestions in the development of the script, and in the preparation and performance of this work. It is offered for use in Colleges, schools and clubs as a kind of "thank you" for the wealth ofexperience I gained as a visiting teacher in the Southern Appalachian region. I hope you will accept it in the spirit intended—as an unsolemn rustic venture with a solemn message! (Author's Note) CAST Narrator: The Reverend John Baptist, a mountain circuit preacher. Characters: Noah, Mrs. Noah, Shem, Ham, Japheth, and their wives. Creatures: A selection of farm animals and a few predators as mentioned in the script. These may be adapted or extended in number. (Children may be drawn from the audience to take these parts, each given a suitable mask to wear.) Hecklers: These also may be drawn from the audience, or the audience as a whole may heckle when cued in by an appropriate cue card. SETTING The original setting was in a woodland clearing, using an open fronted shingle-roofed log house as a focus. The boat form for the ark comprised two half-boat flats initially stacked against the log house front and hidden by drapes. When the ark was "built", the drapes came away, the boat front was extended 45 sideways and a ramp was set in place. Thus the log house formed the cabin to the ark. A sun banner was extended from the left side of the log house, and hung open as the play began. It was rolled up when required. The rainbow was a large folded "fan" fixed to the right side of the log house and let down when needed. The preacher-cum-narrator had his own log stump and rough-hewn lectern to one side of the acting area. His lengthy lines were concealed in an ancient copy ofthe Good Book. MUSIC There are eight songs in the play. All or some may be used in the performance . Tunes are available, and you may arrange them as you wish. In the spirit of the play, the simpler and more folkish, the better. Some form of "storm music" is required. In the original, an assortment of items—tuned bottles, tuned horseshoes (!), handmade Indian drums, maracas (fruit cans with cherry pits!), and a flexible metal wow-sheet were used. The wind was a whistling sound provided by the audience cued in when required. Preacher: How now, brethring? A twelve month more has rolled around sence we attended on this ground, and you-all heered the warning wisdom of OV John Baptis' here. And as I cast a roving eye over the multitude here assembled, I incline to ast m'self if any have tooken heed at all of my dire warning of the Wrath to Come. (And, perchance this roving eye should light upon jest one of you worth the saving—that young womanly woman jest there, all dolled up in the haberdashery of the wicked city—you, there, mam! I'll be seeing you in my rooms after this here con-fen-tion's done. Hit's time someone set you right on the straight 'n' narrer path!) And—as fer the rest ofyou—it behoves me to repeat that warning in the selfsame terms ofyesteryear. For, even as these workworn hands—weary in the work of the Lord—were a-fumbling through the leaves of this my own Good Book, what did they do but turn up that selfsame text...

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