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Scene
1 - Prologue/Opening
Dorthesther
enters from one side of stage; Mother and Father enter from
other side of stage. Dorthesther throws down the books
she is carrying.
Dorthesther:
That’s it. I’ve had it with all this
studying and memorizing. I don’t want to go to Hebrew
School anymore… Not now, not never.
Mother*:
Now, now dear. You know it’s important.
It’s one of the ways that we pass our religion from one
generation to the next and anyhow everyone here in Judea has
a Bat Mitzvah.
*Mother is played
by actress who later appears as Witch of the East.
Dorthesther:
Well as far as I’m concerned, it’s about
time to have a generation gap… I don’t see
the point. I wanna be like all the other girls at my regular
school. They don’t have to learn Hebrew or study
Torah. They just want to learn how to do their makeup.
Father**:
Your mother is right, dear. We Jews have always
believed that studying torah is a great blessing. Besides,
you can’t have your Baa-aaat Mitzvah… I mean, Bat
Mitzvah… unless you study Torah.
*Father is played by actor who later appears
as Dr. DillyDally.
Dorthesther:
What happened to your voice just now?
Father:
What?
Dorthesther:
Your voice… you said Baa-aaat Mitzvah.
Father:
Oh, it’s just foreshadowing, dear. Don’t
pay any attention to it.
Mother:
Now march right into your room and start studying, young
lady…
Dorthesther:
(Exasperated) Mother… you can be such a witch
sometimes!
Mother
and Father exit. Dorthesther crosses stage and sings.
SONG: SECULAR
Dorthesther finishes song while spinning in
circles. She grows dizzy.
Dorthesther:
Ohhhhhhh… I shouldn’t turn around like that…
I’m really dizzy. Oy vey. The whole room feels
like it’s spinning.
She drops to her knees, holding her head.
MUSIC:
CYLONE
Scene
2 - Pershkinland
Lights
dim during cyclone music. Pershkins (Munchkins) enter
and circle around Dorthesther, waving their arms and shouting
out “Secular” intermittently in a barrage of sound.
All at once they stop – still in a circle around Dorthesther.
When the music and shouting stop, they back away upstage.
Dorthesther rises to her feet, looks to her left and to her
right.
Dorthesther:
Oh my. I’ve got a feeling I’m not in
Judea anymore. And it doesn’t look much like Boca,
either. Where am I?
Glashti enters and moves to center stage with
Dorthesther.
Glashti:
Why, you’re in PersOZ, dear. Anyone around
here knows that.
Dorthesther:
But that’s just the point. I’m not
from around here. Where’s the deli? Where’s
the butcher? Where’s the temple? And who are
you?
Glashti:
I’m Glashti. The Good Witch of the North.
Dorthesther:
You can’t be a witch. Witches are old and
ugly… But you’re beautiful.
The Pershkins laugh.
Glashti:
Thank you, dear. The King – who is also a
very powerful Wizard - used to tell me that, too, when I lived
in the Emerald City.
Dorthesther:
You lived with the King? How do you get a job like
that?
Glashti:
Well, the beauty part doesn’t hurt…
But it didn’t last. The King – his real name
is Ahashverosh, but hardly anybody can pronounce it - wanted
me to come down to the throne room to do some sort of silly
dance for him, but I was too busy doing my makeup, so I told
him no. Then he banished me and I had to come here –
to Pershkinland… which if you don’t mind my saying
so is a pretty big step down from the castle.
Dorthesther:
Oh, so that’s the name of this place. Pershkinland.
Glashti:
Right. So now that you know who I am, who are Jew?
Er, I mean, you?
Dorthesther:
Is it that obvious?
Glashti:
That six-pointed star you’re wearing on your jumper
is a pretty big clue. (Pause) You might as well
make yourself at home. I think you’ll find that
the natives are friendly.
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