The action begins on a fish farm near your town and continues in Persia, around 2500 years ago.
Totum Bottom and Eileen March and their pets are strolling in a glade by a pond at the Fish Farm. They hear an odd voice, and Marv the Half-Bird runs in. He does not know where he is or what language to use so he communicates in German from Mozart (“zu Hülfe, zu Hülfe, sonst bin ich verloren!”). But the "dragon" from which Marv is fleeing is only Humbird, Eileen's pet Kingfisher, who appears, draggin' his leash behind him.
Marv speaks English anyway. He tells his story, lost in space and time, flunkt from his home in ancient Persia.
Sue, the Fish Farmer, arrives and recognizes Humbird as a fish thief, back again to her pond. Marv tells his story and asks for some help to get back to Persia. When Sue discovers another fish theft, she chases them all away.
There is a Hermit nearby with powers; he creates a magical ceremony for retransportation. Just as the incantations perfect themselves, Humbird jumps at Marv; the others jump at Humbird, and poof! They are all sent back in time and far away, arriving in ancient Persia. Marv, fearing more trouble, sends the children to find a certain Magus who can get them re-retransported home. While Marv takes a relaxed snooze, they mistake his directions and wander into a bad place, where Ahriman the Evil One passes the time as the Host and Bartender of the Lizard Leg Café.
Ahriman puts the other pet, the cute and funny frog Furbelow, in isolation. He then bamboozles the children into a quest, which, if fulfilled, would tilt the balance of power between good and evil toward his side. Furbelow, accused of being a transmigrated soul, is held as hostage.
It's curtains.
In the second act, the children are attempting to complete their quest: they must dose the guardian fish, Momma Kar, with a sleeping chip and take the seeds of the Tree of Life. Luckily for civilization, Momma is an alert guardian and the plan fails. They find their way back to Marv, help him to disguise himself as a baby camel, and begin plan B. Unfortunately before Marv can tell them the rest of plan B he snacks on one of the chips that Ahriman had intended for the Fish, and falls asleep again. Humbird eats one too, and falls asleep.
The Great King Darayavaush happens by on the way to the Great King's Pond. He takes a liking to them and agrees to help them. Back in Ahriman's prison, Furbelow meets Alice, the other Half-Bird. Even though she has only one wing, with the help of a friend Alice can fly a little. They escape together.
Ahriman thinks it is time for the great battle. He calls his lizards and attacks the King's forces. Alice and Furbelow arrive, the Half-Birds are re-united, good wins, Ahriman retreats. The Magus will send the kids back home. All is well today!
(Ah but in the near future, next opera, ask Bill the Bower Bird about that. Then check in with Grendel's mother for the end of the quartet of planned operas.)
A genuine historical Zoroastrian blessing is spoken, and the curtain falls.
Totum Bottom, a boy of about 12 (treble or mezzo-soprano)
Eileen March, a girl of about 12 (treble or mezzo-soprano)
Humbird, a Kingfisher (funny actor, silent role)
Furbelow, a large and cute Frog (funny actor, silent role)
Marv, the Half-Bird (tenor)
Bashbaha (mezzo or soprano), Bouncer [optional double]
Ahriman (baritone or tenor), Host and the Evil One [optional double]
Alice, the Half-Bird (soprano)
King Darayavaush, the Great and very large king (baritone)
Lizards (Monitor Lizards, Terpsi Lizards, and Seethers)
Monitor Lizards may help with management
Terpsi Lizards sing and dance in the Finales and Lizard Call
Seethers sing, hiss, roar, flash, and writhe
Fish Chorus including very high voices soli
Sue, a grumpy fish farmer (sing-shouts, acts)
The Hermit (mumbles and does some magic)
Baby Kar, a baby fish at the Pond of the Tree of Life (child, puppet, or prop, one line role)
The Momma Kar as big as a car (two-person action costume, silent)
Archers, Messenger, Soldiers
The underlying setting is a small Pond, up left, used as Sue's Pond, the Café Fountain, the Pond of the Tree of Life, and the King's Pond.
Scene 1 Sue's Pond, stage left, in a glade of trees. Entrances left and right. A scarcely noticeable door stage right for the Hermit's shack.
Scene 2 The Fire Temple, Ancient Persia. A simple backdrop or set piece of a Zoroastrian FIRE TEMPLE with a large open arched doorway, right, flown in or pushed on during the smoke and flash of the Hermit's magic at the end of Scene 1. Lighting on right only.
Scene 3 The Café in the Square. A FOUNTAIN (the Pond), a TABLE for three by the fountain, up left of center, a DOOR with a grate (the prison) at the left exit. Another exit up left, behind fountain, and an exit right. A small TABLE for one, behind bars, up center. The Fire Temple is altered to be the facade of another Café in the square, pulled up right and out of focus, a small unobtrusive SIGN on it, "Forget the Name". A SIGN down right center reading "The Lizard Leg" marks the café entrance.
Scene 1 The Pond of the Tree of Life, modified from the Fountain. Entrance up right, playing area for chase down left and center.
Scene 2 The Fire Temple. Marv has a POOL CHAIR and TOWEL.
Scene 3 the Prison, the TABLE behind bars in the Café from Act I, Scene 3, pulled down center. Alice's CELL down left or on a balcony if possible.
Scene 4 the Lizard Call. Same set as Sue's Pond, with a desert backdrop, no trees; the Pond lighting dimmed.
Scene 5 the King's Pond. Same set as Sue's Pond, with a desert backdrop, no trees. Lights for the Pond.
Scene 6 the Battle. Same set as Sue's Pond, with a desert backdrop, no trees; the Pond lighting dimmed.
TOTUM and EILEEN
Casual childrens clothing.
FURBELOW
Frog costume with cute blue ribbon.
HUMBIRD
Kingfisher costume, carries own leash.
MARV and ALICE
The half-birds; large birds with only one wing.
They must be able to sing, move, and lounge; when joined together they can fly.
SUE
Farmer overalls, heavy shoes; carries a bucket with fish;
one of them is large enough to be seen by the audience and tugged by Sue and Humbird.
HERMIT
Shabby cloak and pointed hat.
BASHBAHA
Gruesome make up, barmaid costume.
AHRIMAN
Gruesome, barman costume with apron.
KING DARAYAVAUSH
Crown, Balloon pants and sleeves, enormous wire-framed padding
LIZARDS
Dressed in simple costumes of three types: Monitor Lizards;
the Terpsi Lizards, in costumes for dancing;
Seethers with red lined capes that can be spread or closed.
FISH
Dressed in simple fish costumes, with small flapping fins.
English available
Deutsch - German available
Nederlands - Dutch available
Italiano - Italian available
Svenska - Swedish available
Español - Spanish coming soon