Music Theatre Works for Children

The Mimi and the Kangaroo Begin backing track 1 Narrator: (Electronic sound effects in the background) Earth without shape Earth without light Earth without colour Earth without water (pause) Into the shapeless darkness move the Mimi spirits (Sticks begin slow rhythm. Mimi wait for stick cue) 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 X XX X XX Mimi enter from behind covered rocks as the deep electronic sounds begin Dance of the Mimi When the stick rhythm stops, the narrator continues and the Mimi freeze Narrator: Out of the dust the Mimi shaped the earth Mountains, rocks, rivers, plants, Kangaroos and all the animals (Music begins again) Dance of the Mimi Creating the Shapes of Earth In this dance the Mimi shape, in dance-like manner, mountains, rocks (uncover cut-out rocks), rivers, plants, trees and the kangaroo. Narrator: (on cue as wind begins to blow) With the blowing of the wind into the rocks go the thin bodies of the Mimi Musicians: (All other players except Mimi dancers) The Mimi stagger in the wind and finally hide behind the cut-out rocks giving the effect of going into the rocks. The wind dies down – silence. The Kangaroos occupy the stage (The selected group of children represent the animals). They take up various positions of the feeding herd. Kangaroos move about, taking up new feeding poses and changing positions. All this is done over atmospheric electronic sounds. Musicians: Following the cue the stick players perform the following rhythm over the kangaroo feeding music 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 X XX X XX When the stick rhythm begins a group of hunters enter and try to catch a kangaroo. The kangaroos flee to safety. End backing track 1. The hunters gather in a huddle wondering how they might hunt kangaroo for food. The Mimi come out of the rocks. The hunters are motioned to sit, listen and watch. The Mimi show the hunters how to hunt the kangaroo Song of the Mimi Appendix 1 Three Mimi do the actions for this song with spear, womera and boomerang. The other Mimi sing- 1. Hide in the shadows of the trees Move like spirits against the breeze Close in quickly on your prey Fix one animal with your eyes Use the boomerang and spear Not a sound the herd to hear. 2. See now how to make the spear Stone for tip we bind just here Womera is held like this Stand stick-still so not to miss Boomerang you throw this way Aim to fly right to the prey. 3. Markings on the weapons here Sing these songs with dreadful fear Dreaming fills each one with power N-yah-a-a-a-a-a (very nasal) N-yah-a-a-a-a-a N-yah-a-a-a-a-a. 4. Hunt the roo until it feeds If your step it suddenly heeds Still as rock stop where you stand Move not leg nor foot nor hand Hunt and hunt and hunt all day Turn not back this is the way. Mimi return to the rocks and aborigines move off stage. Kangaroos return to feed. Hunt for the Roo Appendix 2 (Song and Dance) Introduction: Musicians count to 6 twice then sing and play rhythm as before 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 X XX X XX 1. Hunt for the roo, hunt for the roo Hold high your spears, we have no fear Hunt for the roo, hunt for the roo. 2. See there he goes, where the river flows See there he goes, where the river flows There he is still, we have to kill. 3. Move against the breeze, slip through the trees Move against the breeze, slip through the trees We’ve got the roo, we’ve got the roo. One kangaroo is felled during the song hit by a (cardboard) boomerang and carried to the camp. Exit All the cast gather around the campfire, some with fire sticks to be used in sound making, other with song sticks. The roo is placed on a prepared fire pit (theatrical). Narrator: In the days of the dreaming The Mimi taught all the secrets of living How to keep the sticks to make the fire How to cook the yams, the kangaroos and all the food How to find water beneath the earth To only hunt what is needed for the day. (pause) This way the earth, the mother of all people And all animals and all plants is one. Song and Ceremonial Dance Appendix 3 (All) (4 beats intro) Rub fast the sticks See the smoke rise Blow on the grass Now the spark flies (Sing four times) Hunt for the Roo (Two verses only danced by selected dancers) Song continues: Food that we gather Roos that we kill We eat here together The earth watches still. Hunt for the Roo (Two verses danced and sung) Hunt for the roo, hunt for the roo, Hold high your spears, we have no fears Hunt for the roo, hunt for the roo. Move against the breeze, slip through the trees, Move against the breeze, slip through the trees, We’ve got the roo, we’ve got the roo. Food that we gather Roos that we kill We eat here together The earth watches still. Hunt for the Roo (Two verse danced and sung) Song of Reconciliation Appendix 4 Let us give to one another with the love of a brother Let us share the sacred water with the love of a daughter Let us treat our Mother Earth with all the love she’s worth Let us reverence the sky, the Father of our birth. Chorus: Reconciliation is the quest of every nation Reconciliation will save our generation The pride, the fear, the ethnic hate Reconciliation, before it is too late.