 |
| Bedbug |
| Bedbug is a musical written by Snoo Wilson with music and lyrics by Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt. It was first performed as part of the Shell Connections Festival in 2004 with a variety of productions around the British Isles between March and July and at the festival finale at the National Theatre in London.. Its story is based on a fable by Mayakovsky who acts as narrator throughout the piece. Bedbug tells the story of Ivan Varlet the mechanic. During his wedding to a hairdresser there is a fire and Ivan is trapped in the cellar and is frozen in a block of ice. The story then moves on 50 years when Ivan is thawed out and put on public display as an example of a pre-revolutionary man. |
| Zoya’s Song So sorry Zoya If I destroy ya Hopes for the future, but you’re an annoyance Class credentials take a battering, Pinstriped pants prove more flattering The bourgeoisies the new norm, This is how proles should reform. Ivan is dreaming his dreams of advancement, Turning his previous fiancée down flat. Changing his name, his cap for a top hat, Drink up to that brothers, drink up to that. Destiny beckons and Ivan’s arising. He’s got the bridegroom’s rights answer down pat – I do, I do, and the bride says I do too, Drink up to that brothers, drink up to that. The bourgeoisies the new norm, This is how proles should reform. Call me a fool, say that I will fall hard But the ace in this game is my red Party card. Dumped at the altar – world-shattering, No thought for me not a smattering. Carry on joking and chattering, This poor heart’s taking a battering. The bourgeoisies the new norm, This is how proles should reform. Ivan is dreaming his dreams of advancement, Turning his previous fiancée down flat. Changing his name, his cap for a top hat, Drink up to that brothers, drink up to that. Destiny beckons and Ivan’s arising. He’s got the bridegroom’s rights answer down pat – I do, I do, and the bride says I do too, Drink up to that brothers, drink up to that. I do, I do, and the bride says I do too, Drink up to that brothers, drink up to that. The Policeman’s Song Citizen’s please stop this ugly scene! Admit the law muts throw itself between. We arrest every action underhand. And if you’re drunk we’ll put you in the can. Citizen’s please stop this ugly scene! Now we know there is no God Post revolutionary mode. We seek the higher things in life, Come with us up the red, red road. |
| The Mechanic’s Song. The road to Utopia Is paved with blood and stone. There is many with me, comrades, I know I’m not alone. The godless Party promises A heaven for our eyes, But who will pay for this? We’re paying with our own lives. We’ve been building a road to a better world For nigh on seven years, But now the mists have moved away To show the path we steer – The road to Utopia leads straight to a wall, And our work was in vain, Cos the wall don’t want us, The wall don’t want us, The wall don’t want us at all. See how sleek our masters get While we sit in our dirt and sweat Still it isn’t finished yet, Our Utopia Our Utopia. Hark to what our masters said, Swing your hammer, swing with dread. Hit the rivet on the head. But the dream will fall, But the dream will fall. And the wall don’t want us, The wall don’t want us, The wall don’t want us at all. The Hairdresser’s Song There is a class or persons present, maligned, misunderstood, Who in this dawning new age can still do simple good. I sing in praise of hairdressers all around the world – It’s an international movement- Let’s hear it for them girls! We like to chat a little bit, it helps us pass the hours, You won’t believe the stories that we hear under the dryers. Oh dony’ you think we raise the tone And we deserve a union of our own. Don’t you think we raise the ton And we deserve a union of…… Hairdressers can change a woman’s thoughts about herself, Her hair done right, she’ll never stay fore’er upon the shelf. Why should Mother Nature rule and make us all unchanged Now the revolution’s come dear, Men! Don’t be ashamed. Admittedly beside the gossip other passion pales. We follow fashion fearlessly And do each other’s nails. Attending weddings is our bliss, We’ll give the bride a loving kiss. Oh don’t you think we raise the tone And we deserve a union of our own? Don’t you think we raise the tone And we deserve a union of our own? Don’t you think we raise the tone And we deserve a union of our own? |
| 9th August 2004 |