4th annual

you are cordially invited to attend
the Cheshire Rock Opera
on the evening of 1-27-2007
this is an annual celebration of
Lewis Carroll, his works &
his effect on popular music.
please attend as one of the
characters from wonderland.
bring tea & cakes to share
& bottles marked "drink me".
a song book & album will be
available to interested parties.
those attending may be asked
for a modest donation:
$5 for those in costume & character
$10 for those simply in costume
& $20 for those who can't
be bothered to dress the part.
the event goes from around 8 untill...

first show was january 27 2004@ Van Kleef's in Oakland.
It was quite a production inluding the queen's concert,
tea party trio, suitcase puppet show of walrus & carpenter
and the jabberwock monstermasks. twas a mad evening
of fun.
the next was a one man show for an intimate audience
of close friends.
it's third year running was the mad tea party with a book
& c.d. to accompany.
the 4th year is set to be in co-operation with
the lucid dream lounge.
this is the culmination of a lifetimes connection to
the writings of Lewis Caroll,
here was my original Idea :I'ts a glam rock opera,
Spacey sci-fi, I like ziggy style, and kabuki japanese
cats, bunraku, noh theatre. this is a description of
a young lewis caroll, in some fanciful asian opium den,
being served and having the hallucination that he
watered down to create alice's adventures in
wonderland. focusing on the bestiary of "Jabberwok"
, the white rabbit, the tea party, and a god-like
presence of the cheshire (cat).
seeking performers, puppet craft, and hosts for
this would bee epic of psychedelic performance art.
follow thee white rabbit...
the set so far
red queen (an original)
white rabbit(+new verses)
the walrus & the carpenter (to music)
I am the walrus (mutant version)
the humpty dump (mix of humpty dance with parts
of eggman & the original poem)
jabberwocky(grunge version)
to all tomorrows parties
the inverse set also features some surprizes from
the collective of songwriters (the likes of the hobo gobbelins,
sourmash hug band & accordion plague)

ttp://Cheshire-rockopera.tribe.net

AT THE START OF THE SHOW:
white rabbit makes an appearance & then takes us
"through the rabbit hole". when we hit the bottom
a red queen appears: I'm bored to tears with the likes
of you! I declare that there shall be a concert to
amuse me & my royal court."
at this point a page begins calling forth the appointed
acts,
***still looking for quick cabaret style performances
(2-3 songs) which can work with a wonderland style

when it comes time for the hatter to sing,
he does so off key & tempo, so badly that the
queen shouts: "stop him! he's murdering time!!!"
and a guard roughly ejects the hatter from the "stage".
perhaps a bit of mumbling as the court complains
of the hatter's ruination of the concert.
focus shifts to the tea party set.
mad hatter: Oh bugger! they've broken my watch!
march hare: let me see that watch hatter.
(smears it with a thick layer of butter)
that should do the trick.
hatter: (shakes watch & listens) nope, it's still broken
now, we'll be stuck in tea time forever.
dormouse: play us a song hatter, to help us pass the time
hatter plays white rabbit....
One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you
Don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall

/ F# - / G - / F# - / G - / A CD A - /

And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call
Call Alice when she was just small

When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know

/ E - / A - / E - / A - / F# - - - /

When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head

/ F# - / G - / F# - / G - / A CD A - / E A E A /

at the conclusion of the song the dormouse says
"feed your head"
hare: what'd he say?
hatter: I don't know, I can't remember.
mouse: feed your head!
hatter: well then, what ever are we to feed it?
hare: I've got an idea, let's feed it treacol
alice: where ever shall we find treacol?
hatter: why, at the bottom of a well, of course
another cup of tea?
alice: but if we were to fall down the well,
however should we get back out again?
hare: we shan't be able to get out, we'd be
stuck down there for the rest of time with
nothing but treacol to eat, pass the crumpets
alice: but if the moon could only see
down in the well, I'm certain she...
mouse:...would be so sad that she would cry
an clouds blot out the starry sky
alice: fill the well up with the rain
so we could get back out again!
hatter:..and float down to a salty sea...
hare: where maybe we could look & see
hatter: a bite of something good to eat
hare: a tasty dish!
hatter & hare together: A FISHY TREAT!!
at this point a mock turtle comes in with
a taureen of hot green soup, followed by a
gryphon.
hatter: I say there, mock turtle what's that
you've got?
mock: it is a most beautiful soup! try some
(ladles some into tiny cups passing some to the party)
hatter:delicious!
as the band strikes up the beautiful soup song
the soup service continues.

Beautiful Soup
c g
Beautiful Soup, so rich and green,
c
Waiting in a hot tureen!
f c
Who for such dainties would not stoop?
c g
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
c g
Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup!
f c g c
Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
c f
Soo--oop of the e--e--evening,
c g
Beautiful, beautiful Soup!
f c
Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish,
g c
Game, or any other dish?
c g
Who would not give all else for two
g c
Pennyworth only of Beautiful Soup?
g c
Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup?
f c g c
Beau--ootiful Soo-oop! Beau--ootiful Soo-oop!
c f
Soo--oop of the e--e--evening,
c g c
Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!

at the end of the song,
hatter asks: I say, mock turtle, did you bring any
lobsters with you?
mock: no, (sadly) but they sent this message
(hands card to hatter)
hatter: (reading from card)
"dear sir
we thank you kindly for your invitation to the
cheshire rock opera, however we are already
engaged to attend the lobster quadrille.
best wishes,
the lobsters"
... ah, the lobster quadrille, what a lovely song
and dance!"
mock: (disagreeably) I always thought it was very sad
hatter: no, I assure you it is a delightful little tune,
listen to the way we play it.
(during the tune mock turtle moves to the dance floor
& a group of alices dance around and with her.
The Lobster Quadrille
interlude=g//f//a//d//x4
g f a d
"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail.
g f a
d
"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my tail.
g f a d
See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance!
g f a
d
They are waiting on the shingle - will you come and join the dance?
d f d g d f
g f
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
d f d g d f
d
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?

g f a d
"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be
g f a
d
When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to sea!"
g f a
d
But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look askance -
g f a
d
Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the dance.
d f d g d
f d g
Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join the dance.
d f d g d
f d
Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join the dance.

d f d f d f d f
"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied.
d f d f d f d g
"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side.
d f d f d f d f
The further off from England the nearer is to France -
d f d f d f
d
Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance.
d f d g d f
d f
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?
d f d g d f
d
Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the dance?"

at the end of the song, mock turtle returns to the
table, with a worried look on his face
mock: that's all well & good, but I don't really undestand
can you play it again?
hatter: but of course
instead they play "the voice of the lobster"
'Tis the Voice of the Lobster
Cm
'Tis the voice of the Lobster: I heard him declare
Fm
"You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair."
Cm
As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose
D G
Trims his belt and buttons, and turns out his toes.
Cm
When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark
Fm
And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark:
Cm
But, when the tide rises and sharks are around,
D G ~~~
His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.

I passed by his garden, and marked with one eye,
How the Owl and Panther were sharing a pie:
The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy and meat,
While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat.
When the pie was all finished, the Owl as a boon,
Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon:
While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl,
And concluded the banquet by--

on the last note of the song a tuft of feathers is
thrown in the air.
mock: I don't see what the point is of repeating
all this stuff over & over, if you aren't going to
take the time to explain it.
hatter: I tell you what, mock turtle, I've got a box here
which is sure to explain everything.
puts the box on the table & thus is the set up for
walrus & the carpenter
The Walrus and The Carpenter
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and
What Alice Found There, 1872)
the verses shall be noted as such
first verse noted is v1, & 2nd is v2
thus follows
Em Am
The sun was shining on the sea,
B7 Em
Shining with all his might:
Em Am
He did his very best to make
B7 Em
The billows smooth and bright--
B7 Em
And this was odd, because it was
B7 Em
The middle of the night.

The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"
B7 Em
The sea was wet as wet could be,
B7 Em
The sands were dry as dry.
B7 Em
You could not see a cloud, because
B7 Em
No cloud was in the sky:
Em Am
No birds were flying overhead--
B7 Em
There were no birds to fly.
v1
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
v2
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
v1
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
v2
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
v1
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
v2
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.
v1
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
~~~~~~~
v1
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
~~~~~
v1 (or2)
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
v1
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
v2 (or1)
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?
v2 (or1)
"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
v2(or1)
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
v2
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
v1
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

during the last verses of the song trays of hors devors
(smoked oyster on a slice of french bread with a dash
of pepper & vinegar) are passed around.

I Am the Walrus

I am he
As you are he
As you are me
And we are all together.
See how they run
Like pigs from a gun
See how they fly. I�m crying.
Sitting on a cornflake - waiting for the van to come.
Corporation teeshirt, stupid bloody
Tuesday man you been a naughty boy
You let your face grow long.
I am the eggman oh, they are the eggman -
Oh I am the walrus GOO GOO G�JOOB.
Mr. City policeman sitting pretty little policeman in a row,
See how they fly
Like Lucy in the sky
See how they run. I�m crying - I�m crying I�m crying.
Yellow matter custard dripping from a dead dog�s eye.
Crabalocker fishwife pornographic
Priestess boy you been a naughty girl,
You let your knickers down.
I am the eggman oh, they are the eggmen -
Oh I am the walrus. GOO GOO G�JOOB.
Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun,
If the sun don�t come, you get a tan from
Standing in the English rain.
I am the eggman, oh, they are the eggmen -
Oh I am the walrus. G�JOOB, G�GOO, G�JOOB.
Expert texpert choking smokers
Don�t you think the joker laughs at you? Ha ha ha!
See how they smile,
Like pigs in a sty,
See how they snied. I�m crying.
Semoline pilchards climbing up the Eiffel Tower.
Elementary penguin singing Hare Khrishna
Man you should have seen the kick in Edgar Allen Poe.
I am the eggman oh, they are they eggmen -
Oh I am the walrus GOO GOO GOO JOOB
GOO GOO GOO JOOB GOO GOO
GOOOOOOOOOOOJOOOOOB.

at the end of the song humpty dumpty arrives.
& 1mb+ plays humpty song, during which the
jabber wocky creatures head off to get their masks on.
at the end of the song...

humpty: hello every body, since we've been
through the looking glass & back, I can tell before
we get there that you wont be able to understand
these next verses so, I'll do a bit of explaining in
advance.
he attempts to explain (with help from alice) the
1st & last verse (same) of jabberwocky at the end,
the soundtrack starts & the creatures emerge.
**these roles still need to be filled**
tove, dressed in grey does a sufi style spin dance
borogove, dressed on dark colors, bird mask with pvc
legs & claw shoes
momerath, green pig mask with built in mic for
" outgribbling"
jub jub bird, hand held axe bill, red black & yellow
bandresnatch (potentionally cast) monster face with
long fingers
jabberwocky (2 person) monster mask with body
attached.

at the the end of the peice, the band plays one last song
to all tomorrows parties...
D C D
And what costume shall the poor girl wear
G Em A
To all tomorrow's parties
D C D
A hand-me-down dress from who knows where
G Em A
To all tomorrow's parties

G A
And where will she go and what shall she do
G A~~~
When midnight comes around
D C D
She'll turn once more to Sunday's clown
G Em D
And cry behind the door

And what costume shall the poor girl wear
To all tomorrow's parties
For Thursday's child is Sunday's clown
For whom none will go morning

A blackened shroud, a hand-me-down gown
Of rags and silks, a costume
Fit for one who sits and cries
For all tomorrow's parties




www.myspace.com/cheshirerockopera