Flip Flop

FLIP FLOP

A Musical Play For Children

 Book, Music & Lyrics

By

Lawrence F. Bloom

Flip Flop

Copyright ©1965, 1999 by Lawrence F. Bloom.

All Rights Reserved

CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that FLIP FLOP is subject to a royalty.  It is fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America, the British Commonwealth, including Canada, and all other countries of the Copyright Union.  All rights, including professional, amateur, motion picture, recitation, lecturing, public reading, radio broadcasting, television, and the rights of translation into foreign language are strictly reserved. 

The amateur live stage performance rights to FLIP FLOP are controlled exclusively by Drama Source and royalty arrangements and licenses must be secured well in advance of presentation.  PLEASE NOTE that amateur royalty fees are set upon application in accordance with your producing circumstances.  When applying for a royalty quotation and license please give us the number of performances intended, dates of production, your seating capacity and the admission fee.  Royalties are payable one week before the opening performance of the play to Drama Source Co., 1588 E. 361 N., St. Anthony, Idaho 83445. 

Royalty of the required amount must be paid whether the play is presented for charity or gain, and whether or not admission is charged.  For all other rights than those stipulated above, apply to Drama Source Company, 1588 E. 361 N. St. Anthony, Idaho 83445.

Copying from this book in whole or in part is strictly forbidden by law, and the right of performance is not transferable.

Whenever the play is produced, the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play, “Produced by special arrangement with Drama Source Co.”

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Cast of Characters

(in order of appearance)

Narrator- Either gender, adult or adolescent, needs a good speaking voice and presence

Villagers- Either gender, any age

Exxagerata- Female, can be adult or adolescent—tells tall tales

Townsperson #1- Either gender, any age

Townsperson #2- Either gender, any age

Townsperson #3- Either gender, any age

Townsperson #4- Either gender, any age

King Vanity-Male, should be adult or adolescent; older than Ferocia; fussy, very vain

Servant #1- Either gender, any age

Servant #2- Either gender, any age

Servant #3- Either gender, any age

Messenger #1- Either gender, any age

Messenger #2- Either gender, any age

Animal Authority- Female, any age

Ferocia, The Daughter of the King- Female, should be an adolescent; bossy in nature

Thor- Male, same age as Ferocia, he-man type

Flub- Can be child or adolescent; should be same gender as Snub and Glub

Snub- Should be same gender and age as Flub and Glub

Glub- Should be same gender and  age as Flub and Snub

Dragon- Male; should be same age as Ferocia

Synopsis of Scenes And Musical Numbers

Act One

Scene 1- The Town Square of FlipFlopMiddleTopRiddleDiddleDoo, Morning

Overture

Song-  “Flip Flop”  -Sung by Villagers

Song-  “A Two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face, blue-in-the-nose, Fire Breathing Dragon”

– Exxagerata and Villagers

Scene 2-The Throne Room In The Palace of King Vanity, A Little While Later

Song-   “It’s Great To Be The King”  – King Vanity

Song-   “An Animal” –sung by Animal Authority

Scene 3- The Throne Room In The Palace of King Vanity, Later That Day

Son g-  “The Daughter Of The King”  -Ferocia and Servants

Scene 4- The Town Square of FlipFlopMiddleTopRiddleDiddleDoo, The Next Morning

Song-   “Out To Slay A Dragon” –Snub, Flub, Glub

Reprise- “Out To Slay A Dragon”- Snub, Flub, Glub

Act Two

Scene 1- The woods outside the town of FlipFlopMiddleTopRiddleDiddleDoo, A Few Hours Later

Entr’acte

Song- “No One Wants To Be My Friend”   -Dragon

Song- “Pals For Life”  – Dragon, Snub, Flub, Glub

Song- “Dragon Love Song”  -Dragon, Ferocia

Scene 2- The Throne Room In The Palace of King Vanity, One Hour Later

Dance Number- “FlipFlop Royal Dance”

Scene 3- The Town Square of FlipFlopMiddleTopRiddleDiddleDoo, The Next Morning

Finale-   Entire Company

FlipFlop

Act I

Scene 1

Narrator:  Good afternoon (evening) moms and dads, boys and girls, aunts, uncles, grandpas, grandmas,  friends, relatives and everyone else.  And welcome to our show.

You know, our show’s about a very special place. But why don’t I let the villagers of  town tell you about it.

Song: “FlipFlopMiddleTopRiddleDiddleDoo”  (Villagers)

Villagers: Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo,

Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo.

Imagination that’s the way,

The road to our fair city.

If you got a whole lot of dreams

Then your sitting pretty..

In Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo,

Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo.

This is our Mayor,

Your honor, how are you?

We like the Mayor, the Mayor likes us too..

In Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo,

Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo.

This is our Doctor. We like the Doc of course.

Every day you see the Doctor travelling on his                                             horse

To Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo,

Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo.

What’s the name of our town?

It should be clear to you.

We’ve tried to tell you in this song,

With a hint or two…..

It’s Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo,

Flip Flop Middle Top Riddle Diddle Doo.

Narrator: Now FlipFlop was always a peaceful place until one day when one of the villagers came running into the town square with some big news to tell…..

Exxagerata:  Gather round everyone, gather round! I have something important to tell you….. I’ve just seen something unbelievable…

Townsperson #1:  What did you see?

All: Yes, what?

Exxagerata: I know that this is hard to believe, but I saw…a dragon.

All: A dragon!

Exxagerata: That’s right, a dragon. But not just an ordinary dragon.

Townsperson #2: Oh no?

Exxagerata: It was two-tone.

Townsperson #3: Two-tone?

Exxagerata: Speckle-colored.

All: What?

Exxagerata: But that’s not all. It was red-in-the-face and blue-in-the-nose.

Townsperson #4-  I don’t believe it!

Exxagerata: I saw it. I really did. Listen!

Song: “A Two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face, blue-           in-the-nose, Fire-breathing dragon”  -Exxagerata & Villagers

Exxagerata: I saw him.

A dragon.

A two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face

Blue-in-the-nose, fire breathing dragon.

He looked at me, I nearly died.

Imagine a dragon at my side.

I saw him.

A dragon.

A two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face

Blue-in-the-nose, fire breathing dragon.

Villagers: She saw him.

A dragon.

A two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face

Blue-in-the-nose, fire breathing dragon.

He looked at her,

She nearly died.

Exxagerata: Imagine a dragon at my side.

Villagers &

Exxagerata: (I) she saw him.

A dragon.

A two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face,

Blue-in-the-nose, fire breathing dragon.

(at the end of  the song offstage roaring is heard)

Townsperson #1:  There really is a dragon!

Townsperson #2- Oh what are we going to do?

Townsperson #3 – (thinking for a moment)- The King?

Townsperson #4- Yes, that’s it. We’ll tell King Vanity about the dragon. He’ll know what to do.

Townsperson #1- When King Vanity hears about the dragon, he’ll slay it himself. Why he’s not afraid of anything (offstage roaring is repeated)

Exxagerata- I’ll go and tell the King about the dragon. All of you run to your houses and hide. (all villagers exit. Next line is said to audience) Good King Vanity, he’ll know what to do. (she exits)

Act I

Scene 2

Narrator-  Yes, the people of  FlipFlop are concerned. A dragon had been sighted. But not to worry- no, not at all….because good King Vanity is the ruler of FlipFlop. He’ll know what to do. Let’s see what important work the great and glorious King is doing in his castle right now…..

(As the lights come up, we are in the throne room. The King is seated on his throne being attended to by his servants. Some of the servants are cutting his fingernails, others are cutting his toenails, and still others are combing his hair and brushing his clothes)

King: My mirror, my mirror. I want my mirror I-med-iate-ly.(one of the servants steps back and bows)

Servant #1: Yes, your highness, immediately.

King: (to the servants cutting his toenails) You there!

Servants: Yes.

King: How are my toenails coming?

Servants: Very good, your majesty.

King: They can’t be very good. They have to be excellent. They are my toenails, you know.

Servants: We know, your highness.

King: My hair; how is it?

Servants: Fine, King Vanity.

King: Fine? You mean marvellous.

Servants: That’s what we meant, your majesty- marvellous!

King: My hair is as beautiful as ever?

Servants: (sung) Marvellous! Beautiful! Wonderful! Exquisite!

King: Perfect. And my fingernails? How are they?

Servant #2: Look for yourself, your highness.

King: I must have my ruler and magnifying glass for this. (the servant takes these items out of his pocket and presents them to the King, who proceeds to examine his fingernails)

King: (after measuring his fingernails he reads off the measurement) 1/2 of an inch.

What?! My fingernails!

Servants: Yes?

King: They’re too long. They must always be ¼ of an inch. Do them over.

Servant #2: But your royal high….

King: Necessity demands that they be done over again.

Servant #2: Very well, Sir.

Servant #1: (he returns with a mirror) As you requested, King Vanity.

King: (he takes the mirror) Thank you. What is your name, o humble servant?

Servant #1: My name?

King: Yes, your name.

Servant #1:  It’s…It’s…My name is….

King: Come now, out with it.

Servant #1: It’s (he whispers his name to the King) Alouishus.

King: Alouishus! What a nice name.

Servant #2: Thank you, your highness.

King: But change it. Call yourself Vanity The Great’s Humble and Most Obedient Servant.

Servant #2: Isn’t there a shorter name I can call myself? Like Van??

King: Van?? Well! Out! Out! Get out of the throne room. Van! The very idea. (royal fanfare is heard from offstage and servants come in carrying a tray of fruit for the King)

King: Ah, fruit. How delicious looking. You have remembered to bring me grapes?

Servants: Yes, your highness.

King: Well,  then you may begin.

(the servants bow before the King, tie an enormous bib around his neck and begin feeding hin fruit from the trays)

King: (as he eats each piece of fruit, he makes a comment) Delectable. Most delicious.

How appetizing. Ah, what a life! (pause) I’ve had enough fruit, thank you.

(the servants remove the bib, take the fruit platter, bow and exit)

Servant #3: It’s time for your royal massage, King Vanity.

King: Later; I’ll have it later. (the King picks up his mirror) Oh Vanity, you’re so good looking; much nicer than your three brothers. There’s Quality- he always does things so right; there’s Quantity- he’s so fat; and then there’s Purity –he’s such a goody-goody.

But as for me…well…

Servants: (singing the same as before) Marvellous! Beautiful! Wonderful! Exquisite!

King: Perfect. You may go, servants.

(the whole lot of servants bow before the King and exit)

King: Ha, ha! Thoroughly satisfied. What a life, what a King! Why I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Song: “It’s Great To Be The King” –King Vanity

King- It’s great to be the King.

It’s nice to know everything.

What fun for you,

If you know how.

It’s great to be the King right now.

There’s nothing else that I’d rather be.

And furthermore let me say…

That it’s great, what a fate..

Not to be second-rate.

Oh it’s great to be the King.

(Dance interlude)

There’s nothing else that I’d rather be.

And furthermore let me say…

That it’s great, what a fate..

Not to be second-rate.

Oh it’s great to be the King.

(at the conclusion of the song and dance, the King returns to his throne, and looks at himself in the hand mirror he has)

King: Oh Vanity, you’re so good looking, so charming, so exquisite, so…(the royal fanfare is heard, and then two messengers enter the throne room)

Messenger #1:  There is a woman from town to see you, King Vanity.

Messenger #2:  What he’s trying to tell you, your highness, is that there is a woman from town to see you.

Messenger #1: I told the King that already.

Messenger #2: Oh.

Messenger #1: She says that it’s urgent.

Messenger #2: Yes, urgent.

King: Urgent?

Messenger #1: Yes, urgent.

Messenger #2: Yes, urgent.

Messenger #1: I told him that already.

Messenger #2: Oh.

Messenger #1: She asked that you….

(Messenger #2 begins laughing)

Messenger #1 and King: What’s so funny?

Messenger #2: (he still laughs)

Messenger #1: Well??

Messenger #2: I don’t know. 

King: Well, send the woman in. (Both messengers stand at complete attention and in silence). Well, what are you waiting for? Send her in. (Both messengers say “very good” and back out, bowing. They keep tripping over themselves and Messenger #2 continues laughing.)

King: I must get two other messengers. These two are terrible. 

(The woman enters from SL and bows before the King)

Exxagerata: Your Majesty…

King: You may rise. Who are you? And what do you want?

Exxagerata: My name is Exxagerata. And I am one of your loyal villagers.

King: Exxagerata? 

Exxagerata: Yes, your majesty. 

King: As in exxagerate?

Exxagerata: Yes, your highness. I’ve come to tell you about something I saw.

King: Well, Exxagerata. (he sits in his throne and looks like he doesn’t believe)

You may proceed.

Exxagerata: You may not believe me when I tell you this, but I was walking in the woods outside of  town and saw…a dragon.

King:  Exxagerata…A dragon….Hahahaha. You really expect me to believe that (he laughs. He doesn’t believe her.We hear the dragon’s roar we heard before)

King: Did I just hear something? (the roar repeats)

Exxagerata; Yes, your majesty. The dragon.

King: A dragon! (the King faints in his throne)

Exxagerata: (she helps the King come to) Are you all right, your highness.

King: Yes, I’m fine. I’m in tiptop shape. Why do you know that the royal doctor said that my blood pressure is almost…

Exxagerata: We don’t have much time, King. The dragon is heading towards the city.

King: Did you say a dragon?

Exxagerata: Yes, a dragon. As a matter of fact, it was a two-tone, speckle-colored, red-in-the-face, blue-in-the-nose, fire breathing one.

King: A dragon! (he faints again)

Exxagerata: Here, let me help you up.

King: Are you sure it was a dragon? It wasn’t a large tsetse fly, maybe?

Exxagerata: Nope, it was a dragon. It was a large dragon, too. It started roaring as I approached it, so of course I went back to tell everyone about it. (during this speech the King has been inching off the throne and is now hidden behind the throne)

Exxagerata: King Vanity?

(the King extends his head out from behind the throne)

King: Yes?

Exxagerata: What’s the matter?

King: Oh nothing. Just looking, that’s all. Nice day for looking, isn’t it?

Exxagerata: Yes, it certainly is.

King: Anything else about the dragon that I should know? (he takes his seat on the throne)

Exxagerata: Yes, there is. The people of FlipFlop want you to go out and personally slay the dragon.

King: Me? Slay a dragon? You know the doctor told me the other week that I’m not too well; I need to rest; Blood pressure, you know.

Exxagerata: The people don’t know who to turn to, except you, your majesty.

King: (he is delighted with that information) They want me, Vanity, King of FlipFlop to personally slay the dragon?

Exxagerata: They do. They certainly do.

King: They do? That’s wonderful. But I can’t.

Exxagerata: Why not?

King: Well, it’s a long story.

Exxagerata: Make it short.

King: I’m scared!

Exxagerata: Why should you be? You’ve never come face-to-face with one before.

King: And that’s another reason. I’ve never come face-to-face with one before. How do you know that he won’t eat me?

Exxagerata: Gee, I never thought of it that way.

King: I’m a King. Not a dragon slayer.

Exxagerata: But who else will help us?

King: Isn’t there a person who specializes in dragon slaying?

Exxagerata: Nope.

King: Have you looked?

Exxagerata: Well, no….but I don’t think that any such person exists. It’s kind of a tough job to do.

King: Oh dear me, this does present problems. Messenger! Messenger!

(Messenger #1 and 2 enter the throne room) Oh, it’s you two. (pause) Is there anyone in this kingdom who can tell me about dragons.

Messenger #1- I can look.

Messenger #2- So can I.

King: Good. Go look and come back and tell me what you find.

(the messengers run off and in two seconds they return)

King: Yes?

Messenger #2- Where do I look?

Messenger #1- And where do I look?

King: In the palace directory; where else?

Messenger #1 and 2- Yes, your highness.

(the messengers run off and are back in two seconds)

King: What is it now?

Messenger #1- What am I looking for again?

Messenger #2- And what am I looking for again?

King: An animal authority.

(a gong sounds and from SR a woman in a long robe, a pointed hat, carrying a large book, enters)

King: Who are you? I didn’t send for you.

Animal Authority: Oh yes you did. I am Whizzo, greatest authority on animals.

King: Amazing! But how did you know that I wanted an animal authority?

Animal Authority: The animals told me. (pause) Now, tell me what you want.

King: I want to know about animals, especially dragons.

Authority: Any particular reason why?

King: I have to slay one.

Authority: Oh! (she moves to DC) I’ll need a chair.

King: Servants! (all the servants enter) Attend to the Animal Authority’s wishes.

Servants: Yes, your majesty.

(the servants bring a chair for the animal authority, and she gets comfortable in it.

She fixes her hat, opens her book)

Authority: I’ll need the lights dimmed.

King: Yes, of course. Servants! (the lights on stage are dimmed slightly. The King and the servants are lined up for this number)

Song: “An Animal” – Animal Authority

Animal Authority- An animal,

    What makes an animal an animal

Is it his skin

Is it his gill

Maybe his head

Or even his bill.

An animal,

What makes an animal an animal

Perhaps his feet

Maybe his snout

But the more you think about it

The snout is out.

Since time began

Animal looked at man

And man did the same

But now there’s a question

W

Flip Flop

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