Caucasian Chalk Circle: Stagecoach Woking

The lines we (stage 3) have to learn for this production. Annotations (hopefully) have music on them.
this isn't for fun, it's to remind people of our lines... so I'd better learn mine... It's not meant to be funny or entertaining. "Though it's way outside my usual range, I'm going to do something serious for a change!" (Where's that from?... guess)
This also functions as telling people the story

Yeah, and I didn't make up the words, the plot or the play, though the words aren't copyright to anyone (music is however; see Nintendo and Sega)

Text (unfortunately it's too long for the description, so here it is from the Group 0 bit, with the rest in the comments section):
GROUP 0: The battles continued to roar, the blood continued to flow;
the ground continued to crumble, the rook continued to crow;
years left no shadows, they came and left without a trace;
the scars accumulated over a thousand years lay firmly in their place
GROUP 1: Ten years in all, the baby now a boy, the dukes own love, at any cost;
ten years of hoping, searching, trying to find the child he lost;
more heartache for the duke
ALL: Poor lamb...
GROUP 2: His wife now critically ill, her dying wish, she made him swear;
to find their offspring, search everywhere;
even if he could never return;
find him and be sure to make him learn;
that once he had another life;
loved and cherished, their hearts' delight;
but if he is happy and living then leave him be;
but be sure to remind him that he belonged to me
GROUP 3: So with this, the duke set out his plan;
sending men on horseback into every settlement, give him word, he ordered to every woman and man;
I offer wealth beyond measure or give all I can;
for my lost child's reveal - he wears a locket talisman;
all that I require is peace of mind;
to see my child and give thanks of kinds;
to whoever has reared him and given him life;
then I can go to my grave and honour my word to my wife
GROUP 4: One news was delivered, but two women came forth;
one for the duke's sanity and one for the reward;
DUKE: Two women?
GROUP 4: Said the duke,
DUKE: Now here is a dilemma;
I need to be certain, I have to be sure;
I need mother's instinct, I need to know more;
Give me your testimony (beckons GRUSHA and MOTHER 2 in)
GROUP 4: He ordered them both
DUKE: Give me your story and give God (sign of the cross) your oath
MOTHER 2: This child I found with a talisman around his neck, though the battle was in fury
ALL: City on fire
MOTHER 2: I've cared not for my own life, but only for the life of this sweet Bern. I've carried him with me against my husband's will, cast out and abandoned was I for doing what I thought right, left poor, starving and homeless to give him a life and now it's time to hand him back to you. I've done what I can and I've nothing more to say. Your reward will be most welcome and I'll be on my way
All: City on fire
GROUP 1: Grusha is next to step up to the duke, she gathers her self thoughts, and gently she speaks
GRUSHA: Sir this sweet child who stands before you here is yours, it pains me to admit;
but I love him as my own, every little bit;
the child is blind deaf and dumb;
the scars he bears from whence he did come;
for as the battle raged he was left in despair;
but he grew calm and happy in my home, I carried him there;
But throughout these ten years, I feel he's known the truth;
I ask no reward, though us I pray you'll not part;
you'll see he still wears his talisman close to his heart;
Ten years I have given him, healed him from war;
now I pray you'll let us leave and give him ten more
GROUP 4: The duke knew who he favoured but he had to be clear;
he had to be certain, the truth was so near;
He ordered a circle be drawn on the floor;
and the child placed within it, right at the core;
Each woman he requested to take each an arm;
he smiled to himself knowing the child faced no harm
DUKE: Now here on my order, pull for your life;
pull for your child, pull for my wife
GRUSHA: No
GROUP 1: Shouted Grusha
GROUP 3: God gave this child to Grusha
GRUSHA: I will not do it, I'll not even try, I haven't once saved him to now pull him apart;
To tear at this child would tear out my own heart
DUKE: Stop
GROUP 1: Cried the duke
DUKE: My mind is now clear;
bring him to me , I have to feel him near;
Thanks be to Grusha for you have shown love and compassion. You have given my life an ending and peace to the memory of his birth mother. I can never give thanks or words to express but you have my heart, my soul and my life there in your hands. I thank God for giving my child to Grusha
All: God gave this child to Grusha, God gave this child to Grusha, God gave this child to Grusha

END

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Caucasian
• chalk
• circle
• lines
• stagecoach
• woking
• grusha
• cypedant
• drama
• learn
• duke

[htkvngr]

Damn! Got confused again. I'm telling you Simon caucasian chick circle would be a much better idea for a video.

[cypedant]

Maybe, but this wasn't to entertain people, it's to help us learn our lines

[htkvngr]

LOL WUT!

[cypedant]

HUSBAND: - Loving, kind, stubborn (both laugh), the Grusha I married. From now on we shall set one more place at our table (puts arm round her and leads her back to place)

All: God gave this child to Grusha

And the rest is in the video description (sorry for splitting it up like this, but there's no other way to get all of the text down as ther's just so much of it)

[cypedant]

HUSBAND: Every day we bring home just enough food to keep the mouths of each of our children fed, every night we thank God that we have all stayed alive survived. Who knows what this could expose us to - this child could be born to an enemy tribe - what aggression this could bring to our lives?...

GRUSHA: What could I do?

HUSBAND: Exactly what you did. You are Grusha -

ALL: God gave this child to Grusha

[cypedant]

GRUSHA: Husband, I have walked many miles, yet never with a package so precious. It is this that brings my eye to cry and my heart to weigh more than a fruit tree swollen following a good harvest. (turns around) Husband , I hold here a child left to die, an innocent victim of the bloody battlefield

ALL: City on fire (GRUSHA swaps with next GRUSHA)

GRUSHA: A city on fire, the hate and fury stealing the chill from the crippled air. God gave this child to me

ALL: God gave this child to Grusha

[cypedant]

CHILD: (Kneeling in front of GRUSHA 1, echoed by all) O kind and gentle Grusha, God has delivered me to you (torches off)

HUSBAND: I have often watched you struggle with bags three times the weight of this little bundle, yet tears did not stain the linen of your cheek, nor did it quite disturb the evenness of your smile. (swaps with next HUSBAND)

[cypedant]

DUKE: (Stepping forward) Once peaceful tribes, fighting for supremacy

GRUSHA 2: (Stepping forward) In the midst of this chaos, the duke's only son

DUKE: Zachariah

GRUSHA 1: Zachariah

ALL: Zachariah, city - on fire

DUKE: was pulled from the hands of his fleeing parents

CHILD: Thrown to the ground, saved by God's mercy from the stampeding hooves of terrified horses

ALL: God gave this land to me, God gave this child to Grusha, (sung) God gave this child to Grusha

[cypedant]

ALL: This proud and ancient land; God gave this land to me (torches up, down, right, left, up)

CHILD: And when the morning sun reveals her hills and plains...

ALL: Then we shall see a land

CHILD: Then we shall see a land where children shall be free

ALL: City on fire (torches wiggle down) City at war (torches wiggle up) every man a warrior, everyone a thief; everyone believing (torches on side of face) in only their belief;

GRUSHA 1: (Stepping forward) The city was in chaos; anarchy reined

[cypedant]

The text (too big for description):

GRUSHA 1: Who needs a dream?

GRUSHA'S ECHOES: Who needs ambition?

DUKE: A country in pieces, a duke thrown from his position;

HUSBAND: Who will heal these troubled lands?

HUSBAND'S ECHOES: City (all turn left) on fire

DUKE: Who will deliver this lost child into these, these trembling waiting hands;

ALL: Who will deliver us? Who (all step forwards) will deliver us?

GRUSHA 2: This cherished land is breaking, aching for change