Memories of a Donkey

 

 

play by Ruth Salles

This play is based on the book Memórias de um Burro, by the Countess of Ségur. The author was maidenly called Sophia Rostopchine, having been born in 1799, in Russia, in Saint Petersburg. She was the daughter of the governor of Moscow, who set fire to the city in 1812 to expel the French commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte. As his father displeased the Tsar, the family moved to France. Sophia married Count Eugène de Segür and had 8 children. At age 50 he began writing for his grandchildren.

This piece, despite being based on a story set in 19th century France, with characteristics of the place and time, was transposed to Brazil, with our own terms, such as cangalha, jacá and others. However, I kept the name Cadichon for the donkey, as it was already so well known by the students who read the book. Of this, I chose only a few episodes, because there are many. I made the music in a mixo-lydian modal scale. If necessary, the music teacher should change the key and tempo.

CHARACTERS:
Choirs 1 and 2 (everyone can be part of the choirs, and each one stands out when it is their turn to act in the front, returning later to the choirs)
Cadichon the Donkey
evil lady
boy helper
Dog
George
Jorge's grandmother
Your Jesuino
Tonic with his pony
Zeca too
Luiza too
Carmo too
four ponies above
Aunt Gertrude
The mayor
Four racing donkeys (may be the ponies with the longest ears)
Juca
Ladybird
Your father
(At the time of singing, if desired, the drover and other donkeys and mules can appear, and the godmother mule with a bell.)

 

Introduction

CHORUS 1 (along with Cadichon, who speaks in front, with donkey ears, tail, and yoke on his back):
– My little boy Juca
is a unique owner,
but one day he spoke badly
of donkeys and donkeys.
So to him I dedicate
these MEMORIES OF A DONKEY
written ONLY with my BRY!
HIN-HON!

CHORUS 2 (along with Cadichon):
- Know you very well
that the donkey is an animal
that there is nothing stupid.
He is even good and wise
if the owner treats you well.
But when you treat him badly,
kicks everywhere
and throws the owner to the ground.
But he's a dedicated friend
who has a good heart.

CADICHON (alone):
- I've had some bad owners...

TWO CHORUS:
- Underdog!

CADICHON:
– But I deceived them all!
'Cause they were just men
and that's why they couldn't
know as much as a donkey!
Hin-hon!
Don't be surprised by my bray!

TWO CHORUS (singing, while Cadichon trots with the yoke):
“Caçuá is a jackfruit
of vine all braided.
One on each side
on the hanging rucksack.
Take chicken to the market,
take corn and piglet,
and the donkey loaded
trotting smoothly.
Poc-poc-poc…
If the donkeys go in troops,
the tropeiro goes by the side,
carnauba hat,
well-paved espadrilles.
When the mule goes ahead
is called godmother.
Guide the entire troop
ringing the bell.
Blim-blim-blim…”

Scene 1

THE SCAPE
WIFE:
– Foolish ass, come now!
– Boy, hold the donkey! (the boy pulls Cadichon and holds it)
Put the load on the jack. (the boy fills the jacás too much)

CADICHON (complains about weight):
- Hin-hon!

WIFE:
– Wow!
I don't want to hear so much braying!
Okay, it's loaded.
Let's go to the market. (Cadichon starts kicking)
What is this, silly ass?
Kicking you bum?
Want whipping in the loin? (gives whips, gets kicked and sits down)
Oh, oh, I took a tumble!
(Cadichon goes to the river's edge and shakes the load in the water.)

BOY (calling the owner):
– Lady! He threw the load
all in the river!

WOMAN (desperate):
– Oh, my eggs! Oh my chickens,
my corn, my little pig! (Cadichon runs away.)
Boy, call the dog
and send the dog behind!
Bite your shin!
This donkey is too bad!

CADICHON (already trotting into the river):
– Hmm… Who goes into the water?
Dogs don't sniff anymore...

scene 2

THE RIDE TO THE BRIDGE
CHORUS 1 (as Cadichon paces):
“There goes Cadichon alone and without a master.
I think it feels abandoned...

CHORUS 2:
“All because I didn't want to go to the market.

CADICHON (looks around):
– I was stubborn and lazy and ended up whipped…
The drought is coming, I can feel it already.
I can't even find straw to sleep on.
I lost my owners. They were evil!
(lowers and raises head)
But I was also naughty.
I see a boy there! I'll give you a cuddle.
I'll put my muzzle on your shoulder.
(Cadichon approaches the boy and rests his head on his shoulder.)

JORGE (puts his hand around Cadichon's neck and calls out):
- Grandfather! Grandfather! Look at a donkey here!
He is so affectionate and seems alone.

GRANDMOTHER (approaches and looks at Cadichon):
– You look hungry and thirsty, Jorge.
is skinny
Give him some hay and water from the trough.
(The boy obeys, and the donkey eats and drinks)

GRANDMOTHER:
– Try riding. (George mounts)
Look how gentle it is.
Go find out if its owner is in the neighborhood.

JORGE (mounts on Cadichon and meets his Jesuíno):
- Your Jesuino! Is this donkey yours?

YOUR JESUINE:
- No my son.
I've seen this donkey alone for a long time.

GEORGE (returning):
- Grandfather! Grandfather! He has no owner.
Shall we stay with him?

CADICHON:
- Hin-hon! Hin-hon!

GRANDFATHER:
- Clear! I won't let you go.

JORGE:
"Then he'll be called Cadichon!"

GRANDMOTHER:
- Look, call your cousins
and go for a walk nearby.
They have some ponies that are very smart.

JORGE (calls):
– Zeca! Luiza! Carmo! Tonic!
Bring your ponies! I got a donkey!
Let's go for a walk!
(The cousins arrive on their ponies.)

CARMO:
- But, Zeca! With this hot sun in the sky?

ZECA:
– Well, Carmô, just put on your hat.

TONIC:
- Look what a skinny donkey Jorge is
got it as a gift!

LUIZA:
– So what, Tony? That's not why he doesn't
go with us.

TONIC:
– Is it, Louisa?
But I guarantee my pony is the bravest little horse.

JORGE:
- I do not know. Donkeys are very smart.

CADICHON (to himself):
- I'm glad they gave me food and drink.
My strength returned.
I'm already in a good mood.
I will gladly take my new owner.
(everyone walks away)
Oops! A bridge! I think it's cracked.
I'll run and stay in the front stalled
to protect this girl.

JORGE:
“Come on, Cadichon, just go over the bridge.

CADICHON:
- Hin-hon! Hin-hon! Hin-hon!
(with himself) - I won't let
to do this stupidity.
Oops! Look what I said!
I cursed my own name!
That's not worthy of a donkey,
it's human nonsense.

TONIC:
– That donkey is not brave at all.
My pony is. And it's obedient.
Get out of there Cadichon! And let me through!
The stream is dry. Nobody will get wet.

CADICHON:
- Hin-hon! (with himself) – I will leave, but
I guarantee the bridge will break.
(He steps out of the way. Tonico passes and the bridge breaks. He and the pony roll on the ground.)

TONIC:
- Oh, Zeca! I'm all muddy.

ZECA:
- Hold my hand. Your pony is already up.

CARMO:
- So it is…
That was why Cadichon was stuck.

JORGE:
- He knew. How smart is my donkey!

LUIZA:
- We don't understand your braying.
(they walk back)

CHORUS 1 (grandmother is on one side waiting):
- Here comes the kids.
Grandma was already worried.

CHORUS 2:
– And Cadichon?

CADICHON:
– Hin-hon, hin-hon!

CHORUS 2:
- Comes braying with satisfaction.
because Tonico called him fearful…

CHORUS 1:
– How stubborn!

CHORUS 2:
– … And the donkey was right.

scene 3

DONKEY TALK WITH THE CHOIRS
CADICHON (always moving and gesturing):
– One day a bad boy set me up,
and I was whipped a lot.

CHORUS 1:
— Poor Cadichon!

CADICHON:
“But I shook him into the river!

CHORUS 2:
– That wasn't good.

CADICHON:
- The water was so cold,
that he got pneumonia.

CHORUS 2:
– That was no good.
Ç

ADICHON:
– Then I regretted it.

CHORUS 1:
– Oh, that was good!

CADICHON:
- But when he was cured
didn't want anything to do with me.

CHORUS 2:
– That wasn't good.

CADICHON:
– But one day I saved him from a dog
angry, and he became my great friend!

CHORUS 1 AND 2:
“Oh, that was very, very good, Cadichon!

scene 4

THE RACE OF DONKEYS
(Cadichon runs around the stage to indicate scene change.)

CHORUS 1:
– Why is Cadichon abandoned again?
For him, Jorge was a great owner.

CHORUS 2:
– But he moved with his grandmother
to a distant city,
and the donkey was sold to another farmer.
Instead of sarong with jacás on the sides,
he had to pull a cart to go to the market.

CADICHON (walking a bit despondently):
– An old wagon, with heavy loads…
I think the wheels were kind of square.
When there was a way, as soon as the sun rose,
I gnawed the rope and escaped.

CHORUS 2:
– And the owner, Mr Janjão,
didn't you get angry with this vagrancy?

CADICHON:
- He was in the greatest rage
with my cleverness.
And the whip on my back sang and sang.
So I disappeared from there, but then I reflected.
After all, a donkey always has
to carry someone on the back,
or else the jacás, or else pull a cart.
Everyone has something to do in life.
Whether easy and small… hard or long…
It's not worth staying loose in the bush
but starving.
I think I even forgot my name.

CHORUS 1:
- It's Cadichon!

CHORUS 2:
– Do you know there's going to be a donkey race at the fair?
But you're thin. It's going to be tiring.

CADICHON:
– None of that! wait and see
whether or not I will run!
(Cadichon takes a long walk and finds Aunt Gertrude and Jorge's four friends.)

AUNT GERTRUDES:
– Oh, if I had a donkey in my life,
he would already be entered in the race.

LUIZA:
– Look at Cadichon, Jorge's donkey!
TONIC:
– Oh, how thin you are. This one cannot run.

AUNT GERTRUDES:
– And what are the conditions to compete?

TONIC:
– You, Aunt Gertrude?

AUNT GERTRUDES:
- Not me, boy! Cadichon! Don't you think straight?

ZECA:
“You have to give the mayor a coin.

CARMO:
- And if your donkey wins,
the coins of all subscribers are yours.

TONIC:
- And another silver watch!

AUNT GERTRUDES:
– I have almost nothing, Tonico…
but I'll give you a coin
and register this donkey.
In fact, I never owned a watch,
let alone a silver.
If Cadichon wants…

CADICHON:
- Hin-hon! Hin-hon!

LUIZA:
– Look, Aunt Gertrude, Cadichon wants to run.
That's why he brayed now.

AUNT GERTRUDES:
– I'm running to sign up because it's time.
Bring him some oatmeal before he runs.
(She gives coin to the mayor, and the boys feed Cadichon.)

CADICHON (to himself):
– Poor Aunt Gertrude. I'm going to join the race.
I want to help someone in this life,
even if you only get the oats in return.

AUNT GERTRUDES:
“Come on, Cadichon, and take heart!

CADICHON (to himself):
- This! Courage instead of trickery.
(puts himself in the line of donkeys)

CHORUS 1 AND 2 (while donkeys run around the stage):
– Hey, Cadichon, can you do it?
beat Thunder and that other donkey,
and more the Stubborn and more the biter?

CADICHON (when Biter bites its tail):
- Hin-hon! Hin-hon!

AUNT GERTRUDES:
- That's not fair! this is thievery
just to have some advantage!

ZECA:
“It's quite the Biter thing.

ALL FIVE:
- Alive! Cadichon is the winner!

MAYOR:
– Who owns the donkey,
to receive the double award,
the watch and the money?

TONIC:
– No one, your mayor.
This donkey just showed up.

AUNT GERTRUDES:
– But I was the one who signed it up!
And I paid for it.

CADICHON (to himself):
- I'll take care of it. (takes the money bag and the watch in her mouth and hands it to Aunt Gertrude)

AUNT GERTRUDES:
- Alive! Alive! Thank you so much, Cadichon.
I want you to find a really good owner!
I can't support a donkey,
but I enjoyed hearing your bray.
Goodbye!

CADICHON: – Hin-hon! (everyone leaves)
Everyone left...
But at last I did good for someone
and with nothing to gain.
Poor Aunt Gertrude now checks the time
and he has some money to feed himself.

JUCA (arriving there with her sister Joaninha and her father):
– Look, Daddy, a single donkey.

DAD:
- Looks like he doesn't have an owner, Juca.

JUCA:
– Oh, I so wish I had a donkey…

LADYBUG:
– Shall we take him home, Daddy?

DAD:
- It's ok. Get on it, Juca. mount,
Ladybird. (the two assemble)
He's really gentle. And let's go.

CADICHON:
- Hin-hon! (I really can):
– I gained new owners in good time,
and I feel so good… as I always wanted.
I'll be the best donkey in the whole country.

 

 

End