TWO FAMILY PLAYS

MARIA AND THE COMET

VENUS            We STARS think that earthlings are strange..
                        Earthlings call themselves different names,
                        Like first americans, europeans, african americans, asians,
                        mexican americans, south pacific islanders, catholics, protestants,
                        muslims, jews, quakers - Maria Mitchell is a quaker.
                        In the nineteenth century quaker girls - dress very plainly - are not
                        supposed to sing or dance - or make loud noises -
                        But Maria Mitchell is what we STARS call
                        A REAL earthling.  She KNOWS who she is
                        And she KNOWS that she is related to US
                        And we LOVE her because she is natural and free

MARIA
                        I am a sky-watcher!
                        I love the earth and the people on it
                        But when I study the sky,
                        I see the moon and the stars go by.
                        I see such marvels with my naked eye!
                        And when I take up a telescope
                        I see the UNIVERSE!

COMET           We travel the solar system
                        In our very own way,
                        But those Earthlings are so intelligent
                        And so smart –

                        From that tiny little planet
                        That tiny little planet earth
                        They survey the universe,
                        They name the solar system
                        They understand how it works!
                        Almost -
                        And what a wanderer Maria is.
                        Every night she’s out there with her telescope,
                        Searching, probing, watching with a hopeful eye.
                        She’s sure there is something new that she will see
                        But as long as I play the game, she can’t be sure it’s me!
                        Because I am elusive, I go my own way,
                        I dance my own dance, I play my own play!!

BRO. EDWARD
                        I hear music coming from your house

MITCHELL     Yes, Brother, my daughter Maria has a piano....
                  Maria comes on stage laughing

MARIA            Good morning, Brother Edward

BRO.EDWARD
                        Good morning Maria

MARIA            Did father tell you how magnificent the Corona Borealis was last night?
                        Every star was glowing, Brother Edward.
                        I felt a symphony in my head.
                        I’ve never heard a symphony
                        Here on Nantucket Island,
                        Only a piano,
                        So today I am playing the piano.

BRO.EDWARD
                        But Brother Mitchell, it is blasphemous to hear such music.

MITCHELL     Alas Brother.  The piano belongs to my daughters.

COMET           She is so DIS CIP LINED.  Every night she weeps the sky.  She knows where I am and where I am going.  First she was IM AG IN ING me.  She wanted to find me so much.  She dreamed of me.  I don’t know when she ever sleeps you know.  She’s up all night looking for me.  She knows the Universe is beautiful.  I am beautiful.  Don’t you think I am beautiful?  Just look at my TAIL. 

THE ROUND TABLE

MERLIN          I have another side to me
                        That’s thrilling and cunning
                        It’s like a little evil voice