LIBRETTO
MOOCHTHEMESSY
AnOperaforChildren
Basedonthebookby
MarjorieWeinmanSharmat
MusicbyMarcusDeLoach
LibrettobyMarjorieWeinmanSharmatandMarcusDeLoach
FirstPerformance:
September9,2010
ArtsCenterattheFederalBuilding,Greenwood,SC
Commissionedby:
GreenwoodMusicFestival
TheoriginalproductionofMoochtheMessyismadepossible,inpart,bycontributionsfrom
theGreenwoodMusicFestival,theGreenwoodCountyLibrary,
andtheFriendsoftheGreenwoodCountyLibrary.
Copyright2010byMarcusDeLoach
AllRightsReserved.
Marcus Carl DeLoach Enterprises
2
FirstProduction
MusicDirector:LynnBaker
StageDirector:MarcusDeLoach
Set,Costume,andLightingDesign:KeithJameson
(BasedontheoriginalillustrationsbyBenShecter.)
Mooch:KeithJameson
Father:MarcusDeLoach
Mail-Rat:AnnaleeLethco
CastofCharacters(inorderofvocalappearance)
Mooch(medium-highvoice),amessyrat
Mail-Rat(mediumvoice/actor),thepostman
Father(medium-lowvoice),Mooch’sfather
Synopsis
Arat’sholeinBoston,Massachusetts,(1976)–“Thereisnothingbetterthantobearat
andliveinaholeunderahillinBoston,Massachusetts,”saysMooch,ashefixeshimselfa
cup of hot cocoa. A minute later the Mail-Rat delivers a letter from Mooch’s father, saying
thatheiscomingforavisit.Moochisveryexcitedatthethoughtofseeinghisfatherand
showinghimhisplace.However,whenFatherarrives,heissurprisedandbotheredbyhow
messy Mooch’s home is. Mooch shows Father all around his various and favorite tunnels,
whicharefilledwithcheeseandplacestorest.ButFathercannotrestafterhetripsonan
old shoe Mooch left out. Mooch puts the shoe away and also cleans off his rumpled up
bedspread.Fatherispleasedandthetwogooutforapicnicinthepark.ButFatherdoesn’t
enjoyhimselfatthepicnicbecauseMooch’santscomealongandcrawlalloverhim.Later,
back at Mooch’s place, Father sneezes because of Mooch’s dust and accidently sits on an
uncomfortablezipper.Desperate,Fathersays,“IthinkI’llgobacktobedforaboutayear,”
and crawls into bed. That night, in hopes of making his dad’s visit better, Mooch secretly
cleans up his entire hole. When Father wakes, he’s so surprised at the sight, he assumes
thatMoochhasbeenrobbed.Moochcalmshimdownbyexplainingwhathedidduringthe
nightandFatherisverypleased.HetellsMoochhowproudheisofhimand,beforeleaving,
reveals a new tunnel he has secretly dug for Mooch as a present. Father then leaves and
Mooch is alone again in his newly-cleaned apartment. However, he cannot stand the
neatness, for he is not happy unless he can see all of his possessions around him. Mooch
beginsunpackingeverythingthatheputaway,includingthedust,andstrewshisbelongings
all over in order to make things the way they were before Father’s visit. Lastly, he fixes
himselfanothercupofcocoaandgetsintobedtowatchthelateshowonT.V.
In this story Mooch learns about neatness, love, and responsibility. He also learns to be
himself.
3
Theapproximaterunningtimeis30minutes.
MOOCHTHEMESSY
AnOperaforChildren
BasedonthebookbyMarjorieWeinmanSharmat
MusicbyMarcusDeLoach
LibrettobyMarjorieWeinmanSharmatandMarcusDeLoach
OVERTURE
Arat’sholeinBoston,Massachusetts,(1976)–ThecurtainrisestorevealMOOCH
fixinghimselfacupofcocoa.Theapartment,whichissituatedamongexposedand
rustysewerpipesisanutterandcompletemess.Clothespeekoutfromdrawers,hang
onlampshadesanddanglefromtheedgesofcrookedpictureframes.Candywrappers
andhalf-eatenboxesofcookiesareleftout,andhisunmadebedlookslikeagarbage
scowofusedplatesoffood,pencilsandtrash.Numerousitemsarestrewnrandomly
aboutonthefloorandonthechairs,leavingnoplacetosit.Thereisadusty-paned
windowtotherightofadoor(center-stage)thathasasignoveritwhichreads,
“HOMESWEETHOME.”
MOOCH:
Thereisnothingbetterthantobearat,
andliveinaholeunderahillinBoston,Massachusetts.
Withapieceofcheese,andalittledrink,
andmyownthingsaroundme.
Whatafineholetocomehometo!
[Hesitswithhisdrinkandopensanewspaper.]
Thereisnothingbetter…da-da,dum-di…[Hehearssomething.]
Oh!TheUndergroundMailDelivery!
[Afterlisteningthroughthedoortoseveralscurryingnoises,MOOCHopensittofind
theMAIL-RATstandingtherewithasatchelthatreads“UNDERGROUNDMAIL
DELIVERY.”HehandsalettertoMOOCH.]
MAIL-RAT: Letter!LetterforMooch.
MOOCH:
That’sme![Takingit.]
MAIL-RAT: Thereyouare.Goodday![Tippinghiscap.]
[Heleaves.]
4
MOOCH:
It’sfromFather.[Openingandreadingtheletter.]
[MOOCHcontinuestomouthalongwiththewordswhileFATHERsings,slightly
ominously,fromoff-stage.]
FATHER: DearSonMooch,
Iamcomingtovisityouinfourdays.
Ilookforwardtoseeingyouandyourhole.
MOOCH:
Love,Father
[Jumping.]Hooray!Hooray!
Icanhardlywaitforfathertoseemeandmyhole.
[Headingforhisdresser,MOOCHretrievesfourmismatchedsocks.]
I’llputonestockingonabedpostforeachdaythatpasses,
andwhenallthepostshavestockings,thenfatherwillbehere.
[MOOCHgoestobedandsleeps(snoring)butgetsupeachdayuntilallfoursockshave
placedonthebedposts.Hethenawakestothreeknocksatthedoorand,excited,opens
ittofindthatFATHERhasarrived.]
Hello.
FATHER:
[Warmly.]Hello.
BOTH:
Hello!
[Theyhugandkisseachother.]
MOOCH:
Comeintomyhole.
[FATHERseesclothinghangingondoorknobs,lamps,andpictureframesaswellas
foursocksonthebedposts.]
FATHER:
[Shocked.]Mooch!
Youkeepaverysloppyhole.
MOOCH:
[Innocently.]Iliketoseeallmythings.
Come,Ihavelotstoshowyou.
[Theyrunoutthedoorandintothetunnels.MOOCHisintheleadandFATHERdoes
hisbesttokeepup.]
Hereismyfavoritetunnel.[MOOCHscratchesandscrunches.]
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Scratchthosewalls.Scrunchthatmud.[Hedoesitagain.]
FATHER:
I’mscratching,I’mscrunching.[Followingsuit.]
Scratchthosewalls.Scrunchthatmud.
MOOCH:
Runandrun![Runningahead.]
BOTH:
Runandrun!
[Theyarriveatanopenchamberfilledwithlargewheelsofcheese.]
FATHER:
[Amazed.]Cheese!
MOOCH:
[Proudly.]Cheese!
BOTH:
Cheese!
MOOCH:
Thisismycheesetunnel.Sniff!
FATHER:
I’msniffing![FATHERbendsdowntosniffthecheese.]
[Impressed.]Mmm!
MOOCH:
I’msohappyyouarehere,torunwithandsniffwithandbewith.
[Againtheyenterthetunnelsrunning.]
BOTH:
Scratchthosewalls.Scrunchthatmud.Runandrun!Etc…
[Scratchingandscrunchingasbefore.]
[MOOCHleadsFATHERintoanotherhollow.]
MOOCH:
Hereismylying-downplace.
Liedown,Father.Stretch.Rest.[MOOCHliesdownontheground.]
FATHER:
Iwilldoallthree.[FATHERstretches.]
Bostonissuchafinecitytoliveunder.[Takingoffhissuitjacket.]
MOOCH:
Yes,[Jokingly.]thereissomuchtoscratchandscrunch.
[FATHERgoestoliedownaswellbut,intheprocessofdoingso,tripsoveranoldshoe
thathasbeenleftoutbyMOOCH.]
FATHER: [Annoyed.]Andtripover.
Let’sgohome.
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[FATHERisnotamusedandthetwoquicklyheadbacktoMOOCH’shole.]
[Backinthehole,FATHERsniffsaroundsuspiciouslyasifthereisacuriousorfoul
aromaintheair.]
Maybeyoucouldpickuponecoat,
oroneshoeoroneshirt?
MOOCH:
[Contemplating.]Maybeonething…choose.
FATHER:
[Sharply.]Ichooseashoe—theoneinthemiddleofthedoorway.
[MOOCHguiltilypicksuptheshoeandgoestoplaceitonthetable.]
[Stoppinghim.]MayIalsochoosewheretheshoegoes?
MOOCH:
[Hesitatingly.]Yes.
FATHER:
Ichoosethecloset![Withaharrumph.]
MOOCH:
[Aimingtoplease.]I’lltakeawaytwoshoes.
Thatwillmakeyouhappier.
FATHER:
[Pleased.]Goodboy.Goodrat.
I’llseeyouinthemorning.[FATHERgoestobed.]
MOOCH:
[Pensively.]IwanttomakeFather’svisitperfect.
Icouldstartwithmybed.
[MOOCHgetsupontothebed,liftsthespread,andshakesoffallofthegarbageand
crumbs.]
There,there.
WhenFatherwakesuphewillseethatIamaneatsleeper.
[Tuckinghimselfin“smoothlyandneatly.”]
[Repulsed.]Howsmoothitfeels,howneat.
[Burstingout.]Howhorrible!
[Hecatcheshimselfbeingtooloudandgoestosleep(withoutsnoring).]
[Lightsdown.]
[Lightsup.AnalarmgoesoffandFATHERstopsit.]
FATHER:
[Heyawnsandstretches.Then,shocked
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atseeingMOOCH’scleanbed.]Mooch!
Yourbedhaslostitsbumps!Howwonderful!
Whatwillbenext?
MOOCH:
[Standinguponthebed.]Alloftodaywillbegreat!
FATHER:
Alloftodaywillbegreat!
[MOOCHgrabsasackoffoodandthetworunoutthedoor.Theysingahappysong
whilescurryingthroughtunnels.]
MOOCH:
Ipackedasack.AsackIpacked.
FATHER: Whatdidyoupackinsidethesack?
MOOCH:
Abreakfastforthefield.
FATHER:
Abreakfastsack!
MOOCH:
That’swhatIpacked.
FATHER:
Butwhatisthereinsidethesack?
MOOCH:
Ipackedsomemilkandoatmeal.
Cheeseandsnailsandsourcream,oh,theyaresoperfect!
Andjamsandwiches,yourfavorite.
FATHER:
Cheeseandsnailsandsourcream,howperfect!
Andjamsandwiches,youknowtheyaremyfavorite.
MOOCH:
Ipackedasack.AsackIpacked.
Ipackedabreakfastforthefieldwithmyfather.
Withsnailsandsourcream.Jamsandwiches!
FATHER: Youpackedasack!Asackyoupacked.
Jamsandwiches!Jamsandwichesforthefield!
MyMoochpackedusabreakfast!
Jamsandwiches!
BOTH:
Jamsandwichesforbreakfast.Whataperfectbreakfast!
[Theyarriveatashadedpicnicspot(outside)wheretheysitdownonthegrassand
openupthelunch,admiringtheselectionoffood.]
FATHER:
Mmm.
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MOOCH:
Mmm.
FATHER:
I’dlikeajamsandwich,please.[MOOCHgiveshimone.]
MOOCH:
Pleasepassthesnails.[FATHERpassesthem.]Thankyou.
FATHER:
You’rewelcome.
[Theysitandmunchhappily(andaudibly,with“Yums”)butFATHERhasagrowing
feelingthattheyarebeingwatched.MOOCH,oblivious,keepsmunchingwhen
FATHERsuddenlyjumpsup,horrified.]
Ugh!Ants![Furiouslyshakingthemfromhisjamsandwich.]
MOOCH:
[Calmlyandproudly.]Ileavemyjamjarsopen.
Theantstheyeatandplay.
Andtheygetstickyandhappy.
[AnantcrawlsupFATHER’slegandtorso,andacrossthebridgeofhisnose.]
FATHER:
Ugh!Mynose!Myclothes![Stampinghisfeetandshakinghisarms.]
MOOCH:
[Abittakenaback.]Youdon’tlikemypicnic?
FATHER:
[Decidedly,whilepackingupthelunch.]No!
[TheantsrecedeandFather’sgazefollowsthemout,inordertobesurethattheyare
gone.Thetwopackuptheirlunchandquicklysetoffforhome.]
MOOCH:
[Somewhatexasperated,nowtryingtokeepupwithFATHER.]
Iwillputcoversonallmyjarsofjam.
[FATHERopensthedoortothehole,enters,andquicklyandneatlyputsthelunch
awayinthecabinets.Hethencollapsesonachair,notnoticingthatMoochhaslefta
jacketthere.]
FATHER:
[Exploding.]Yikes!Azipper.
MOOCH:
[Shyly.]Sorry.Iwillputitinthedrawer.
[MOOCHpicksupthejacketandputsitawaywhileFATHERtentativelysitsbackdown
inthechair.] [Dreamily.]Whenitwasonthechair
IonlyhadtoremembertowearitwhenIwascold.
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Lifewaseasy.[MOOCHslumps,sittingdownonthebed.]
[FATHERburstsoutsneezingseveraltimes.]
MOOCH:
Doyouhaveacold?
FATHER:
No…no…Dustmakesme…
[Tryingtoholdback,helosescontrolandsneezesagain.]
…sneeze.
MOOCH:
[Lovingly.]Dustisnicetowritewordsin.
[MOOCHwriteshisnameonthedustywindowpanewithhisfinger.]
FATHER:
[FATHERgroansmiserably.]
[Givingup.]IthinkI’llgobacktobedforaboutayear.
MOOCH:
[Concerned.]Ayear?
FATHER:
Yes.
[Desolate,FATHERgoestobedandpullsthecoversoverhishead.]
MOOCH:
[Thinking.]DustmakesFathersneeze,soIwillgetridofmydust.
[MOOCHtakesahankyfromhispocketandslowlywipeshisnameandthedustoffof
thewindowpane.]
Goodbyedustmessages.
[Finishing,heabsentmindedlyfoldstheclothandstartstoputitinhispocket.Atthat
moment,MOOCHgetsanidea.]
AndFatherwillfeelmuchbetterifIcleaneverything.
[Excited,MOOCHcleanstheentirehole,makingitspotless.Heseemstoenjoythe
cleaning,anddancesandjuggleshisclothingwhileputtingitaway.FATHERsleeps
throughallofthecommotion(Heisaheavysleeper.).Havingfinishedcleaning,
MOOCHproudlycomesdownstagecenter.]
Itlookssodifferentnowthatit’sclean,
andFatherwillbesosurprisedwhenhesees.
“Moochhasacleanhole!”iswhathewillsay.
Andwewillscratchandscrunchandrunalltheday!
10
[MOOCHturnsupstageproudlytakinginhismasterpiece.Afteramomenthesitsdown
onthefloor(stillfacingupstage)tryingtokeepuphisenthusiasmforbeingneat.]
WhenFatherwakesuphewillshout,“Neat,neat,hooray!”
[Acidly.]Thisplacelookstooneat.
IamsomadI’dliketotearallmyhairout!
[Hetousleshishairfuriouslywithbothhands.]
ButwherewillIputitifIdo?[Resigned,MOOCHcrawlsintobed.]
[Lightsdown.]
[LightsupasFATHERturnsoffthealarm.Hestretchesandyawns.]
FATHER:
[Shocked.]Mooch![RunningtoMOOCH’sbedside.]
[Shakinghimawake.]Mooch!
[Twitteringinatizzy.]Wakeup,Mooch!
Wakeup,son!Youhavebeenrobbed!
Somebodyhasstoleneverything!
Yourshoesandyoursheets!
Yourtowelsandbelts,yoursweatersandshirts!
Pillows,neckties,andyourcandles,
Myson,youhavebeenrobbed![Shakinghisheadindisbelief,and
pressinghispalmtohisforehead.]Theyeventookyourdustmessages!
MOOCH:
[Sweetly,whilestillwaking.]No,Father,Ididit.
[Withsomewhatlessconfidencethanbefore.]
Iwantedyoutoshout,“Neat,neat,hooray!”
FATHER:
[Shockedanddelighted.]Mooch!
[Proudly.]Itisaneathole.
Goodboy.Goodrat.[PattingMOOCHonthehead.]
NowIreallyfeelathomehere.
Let’shaveagoodbreakfast,andthenrunandrun,[Pretendingtorun.]
andscratchandscrunch.[Hescratchesandscrunches.]
I’mhavingaperfecttime.
Idon’ttrip.Idon’tsneeze.
Idon’tsitonzippers.
Nowit’stimeformetogo.
Butfirst,Ihaveagoodbyepresentforyou.Look!
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[FATHERdrawsbackacurtainonthewall,revealinganewtunnel.]
MOOCH:
[FullofWonder.]Oh!Anewtunnel!
FATHER:
Idugitwhileyouweresleeping.
MOOCH:
[Readytodigin.]Oh,it’sdarkandit’smuddyandterrific!
[FATHERputsonhisjacketandpicksuphishatandsuitcase.]
FATHER:
Iwillrememberourvisit.
I’mproudofasonwhohashisownhole.
AndIwillrememberitjustthewayitlooksnow.
MOOCH:
I’mglad.
FATHER:
IlovemyMooch!
MOOCH:
IloveyouFather!
[Theyhug.]
FATHER:
Goodbye![Puttingonhishat.]
MOOCH:
Goodbye!
BOTH:
Goodbye!
[TheywavegoodbyeandFATHERexits.MOOCHshutsthedoorbehindhimandlooks
around,tryingnottoburst.]
MOOCH:
Neat![Heseestheneatbed.]
Neat![Heseesthecleantable.]
Ihateneat!
[MOOCHlaunchesintomakingagiantmess.Heemptieshisdrawers,closets,tunnels,
etc.,throwinghisbelongingsEVERYWHERE.]
Hello,shoe.Hello,othershoe.[Hesnugglestheshoeandthenchucksit.]
I’vemissedyou!
Hello,belts.Hello,shirts.
Welcomehome,socks![Thereisanexplosionofcolorfulsocks.]
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Sweaters,jerseys,towels,blankets,sheets!
[Heunfurlsasheetlikeabattle-flag.]
Sandals,t-shirts,shortsanddenimjeans,Iwelcomeyou!
[Whippingitemsoutofhisdresser.]
Hello,tie!Hello,pants!Hello,hat!
Iseeyou!Iseeyou! [Hestirsupacloudofdustupfromthefloorandintotheair.]
Whee,dust!Whee,dust!Whee![Watchingthedustgentlyfallallover.]
[Self-satisfied.]There!There!
[Hechecksthetablewithhisfingertobesurethatithasagoodcoatingofdust,which
itdoes.]
That’sthewayitwasbeforeFathercame.
NowI’llmakeacupofcocoa,Ithink.
[MOOCHfixeshimselfacupofhotcocoaandgrabstheremnantsofacandybar.He
comesdownstagecenter.]
Thereisnothingbetter,thantobearat,
andliveinaholeunderahillinBoston,Massachusetts.
[MOOCHstartsforhisbed,takinghismugwithhim,butleavingtheemptycandy
wrapperonthetable.Hegetsintobedandturnsonthelateshow.]
[Blackout.]
MarcusCarlDeLoachEnterprises
(917)969-8825
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Copyright2010byMarcusDeLoach
AllRightsReserved.