the new house

play by Ruth Salles

This play, about building a school, uses the theme of professions. At the end, the children sing “Mudança”, by Caroline von Heydebrand, with my version in Portuguese.

CHARACTERS:
Trees, birds, grass, two boys, two oxen, the architect, the engineer, the creators of the school, contractor, bricklayers, carpenters, glaziers, plumbers, electricians, painters, cleaning women

CHORUS OF TREES:
– On this ground, I heard
that something will happen...

LITTLE BIRDS:
– Tweet, peep, peep… Peep, peep, peep.

CHORUS OF TREES:
– The birds sing happily.
But your language who understands?

GRASS CHORUS:
– We here, from the kingdom of Capim!
The birds say this:
“When do the kids arrive?
And the girl? And the girls?

CHORUS OF TREES:
– But children here in the woods?
I only see two boys making a fuss.

BOYS (shooing the oxen):
– Shoo! Shoo! Hey! Hey!
Hey, boizama! Hey, ox!
Go graze on the other side!

OXES:
– But I want to eat my grass!

BOYS:
“There's better grass on the other side!

OXES:
- And even! What a beautiful grass!
I obey what was said. (the oxen go to the side)

CHORUS OF THE TREES (while the architect paces):
– Who walks around so restless?

GRASS CHORUS:
– It is the architect, thinking about the project.

CHORUS OF THE TREES (while the engineer draws):
– And who draws on the drawing board now?

GRASS CHORUS:
- It's the engineer. Let no one get involved!
He is tracing a blueprint,
for that is the only way the house rises.

CHORUS OF TREES:
- The House?! For what?

GRASS CHORUS:
– To the school they are going to build.

CHORUS OF TREES:
– Ah… That's why children come,
girl, girl…

CORO DO CAPIM (while the contractor comes with the workers):
– The engineer brought the contractor
to direct the various workers.

CHORUS OF THE TREES (while the landowners enter):
– And the landowners arrived. I know.
Is it already the beginning?

CHORUS OF THE GRASS (while the scene goes on):
– Look! The cornerstone they cast.
And the foundations will be laid,
because then the house doesn't rock
and up grows.
(Workers begin work, with rhythm.)

BROKERS:
- We, the masons,
with stones and bricks,
we build the walls
above the ground.

WOOD WORKERS:
- We carpenters
we take care of the roof,
of linings and stops,
of doors and windows,
side frames.

GLAZERS:
- We glaziers
we fit windows.
So the strong wind
it doesn't go through here.

PLUMBERS:
- We plumbers
we put pipes for everything.
kitchens and bathrooms
deserve good study.

ELECTRICIANS:
- We electricians
We handle the wiring.
It's wires and more wires
our function.
When the light turns on,
everyone will see.

PAINTERS:
– With rollers and brushes,
we are the painters.
we will paint the house
with the most beautiful colors.

CLEANERS:
– We, the cleaning ladies,
we leave everything clean
washing, scrubbing,
sweeping, waxing.

WORKERS TOGETHER:
– School house
it's already finished.
Come on, employees!
Come, teachers!
And let the children come,
the girl, the girl!

ALL (sing; think of wreath arrangement)
“Pass, pass through the entrance
of this good house,
and entwined flowers
weave the crown.
Everything, everything it contains
come see too!
That this house here on Earth
please them well!”

End