Sesame Street: A Musical Play in Two Acts

[The Count]

*Applauds all of the second act seen so far. Need more!

 

[Super Scooter]

Thank you, sir!

I'll try to get another scene up at the end of the day.

 

[Super Scooter]

Scene Four​

Location: Outside Hooper's Store

Time: Late evening

At Rise: Grover sits all alone outside the store, looking very sad.

Grover: *sigh* It has been a very long time since Amy sent me a postcard. She said she would send another one, but that should have been here by now. It should have arrived several days ago. I hope she is okay. I have felt very lonely without reading her postcards. I feel so alone.

(sung)

What do I do when I'm alone?
Well, sometimes I sing a little song.
La, la, la, la, la, la.
That is the song I sing.

(spoken; cheering up a little) It's a nice song.

(sung)

What do I do when I'm alone?
Well, sometimes I do a little dance.

(spoken; happily) Oh, yeah!

(sung)

I jump and I hop, hop, hop.
That is my little dance.

A few birds land next to Grover.

Grover:

And sometimes when I am all alone,
I pretend that I can fly.
And I touch all the clouds and I wave to the birdies
As they pass by.

(spoken) Hello, little birdies!

The birds fly off. Grover looks down. He starts to become sad again.

Grover:

(sung)

But, sometimes when I am all alone,
Well sometimes I feel a litle sad.
'Cause there's no one to share my song,
No one to fly with me.

So, sometimes when I am all alone,
I think of how happy I would be
If I wasn't alone and
You were here with me...

(spoken) And I am alone. And... I am unhappy. *sigh*

 

[The Count]

Aw... *Hugs to Grover. So fuzzy and blue, what'll it be? *Slides down a milkshake to him so he can take his mind off of his troubles.

Post more soon please.

 

[Super Scooter]

Scene Five​

Location: 123 Sesame Street

Time: The next evening

At Rise: Prairie Dawn sits alone on the steps. Oscar is peeking out from inside his trash can at her.

Kermit enters.

Kermit: Poor Grover, and poor Prairie Dawn, too. She's still worrying over her next show.

Prairie: I just want it to be something meaningful.

Kermit: Don't give up, Prairie Dawn. Things will work out.

Prairie: I hope so. The nicest thing about Sesame Street is even though we have a lot of fun, there's still those sweet little moments. I just want to have some of that in my pageant.

Kermit: I'm sure you will, Prairie Dawn.

Oscar pokes his head out of the trash can.

Oscar: Oh, don't be upset, Prairie Dawn.

Prairie: I thought you liked to see people upset.

Oscar: Well... well, not when it's serious. You're just- you're just so small and pitiful... I can't stand it!

Prairie: Thank you, Oscar, I think. That means a lot coming from you.

Ernie enters, feeling kind of down.

Prairie: What's the matter, Ernie?

Ernie: Oh, I'm just kind of down because I can't find a good game to play.

Oscar: See? Now, that ain't serious!

Oscar ducks back down into his trash can.

Ernie: What was that all about?

Prairie: Oh, it's nothing. You know, I'm kind of down, too. I need to find a nice, meaningful song to end my pageant with. It's just not working.

Kermit: Hey, maybe you guys just aren't looking in the right place.

Ernie and Prairie: Oh?

Kermit: Sure. I mean, Ernie, you're looking for a game. And Prairie Dawn, you're looking for a song. Well, there's only one place I know of to find things like that.

Ernie: Well, where's that?

Kermit: Inside of you.

Kermit exits.

Ernie: Well, gee, I didn't think of that.

Prairie: I don't get it? "Inside of you?" What a confusing frog.

Ernie: No, no, Prairie. You're thinking too literal. You have to use your imagination. You can find everything you need there.

Prairie: What?

Ernie: Come on, we'll try it. Close your eyes real tight, and try using your imagination.

Ernie and Prairie Dawn both cover their eyes. The set gets very dark other than a spotlight on the two characters.

Ernie: Now, what do you see with your eyes closed.

Prairie: You can't see anything with your eyes closed!

Ernie: You're not trying hard enough. Close them tighter. What do you see?

Prairie: I see... purple splotches.

Ernie: That's good.

Prairie: How is that good?

Ernie: Use your imagination. Those splotches could be anything like... like little rabbits hopping around.

Prairie: They're splotches!

Ernie uncovers his eyes, but Prairie Dawn keeps hers closed.

Ernie: Try harder, Prairie Dawn. If you use your imagination, you can come up with anything...

(sung)

Here in the middle of imagination,
Right in the middle of my head.
I close my eyes,
And my room's not my room
And my bed isn't really my bed.

A few different kinds of mysterious, but beautiful, creatures start flying around the stage.

I look inside
And discover things
That are sometimes strange and new.
And the most remarkable
Thoughts I think
Have a way of being true.

Here in the middle of imagination,
Right in the middle of my mind.
I close my eyes
And the night isn't dark
And the things that I lose, I find.
Time stands still,
And the sky is clear
And the wind is warm and fair.
And the nicest place
Is the middle of imagination
When I'm there.

The mysterious creatures fly off. Prairie Dawn opens her eyes.

Ernie:

Here in the middle of imagination,
Right in the middle of my mind.
I close my eyes
And the night isn't dark
And the things that I lose, I find.
Time stands still,
And the sky is clear
And the wind is warm and fair.
And the nicest place
Is the middle of imagination...

Ernie and Prairie:

When I'm there.

 

[Super Scooter]

Scene Six​

Location: Inside the Count Von Count's Castle

Time: The next afternoon

At Rise: The back of the Count's chair faces the audience. All that can be seen is the very tip of the Count's profile. He sits with his chin in his hand, resting on the arm of the chair.

The Count: It is no use, my batty friends. Nobody will count with me. It has been so long since anyone came to wisit. This old count has no friends to count with. *sigh*

Just then, a ball bounces through his door.

The Count: Hmm? What is that?

The Count looks down at the ball. Zoe enters, chasing after it.

Zoe: Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Count. I was just looking for my ball. Elmo accidentally kicked it in here.

The Count: (still down) Ah, that is all right, my dear. Take it and go. Go have fun with your little friends.

Zoe: Mr. Count? What's the matter?

The Count: It is just that I lowe to count, but it is more fun to count with friends. But, none of my friends want to count with me.

Zoe: You want to count, too?

The Count: What is that, little Zoe?

Zoe: I've been wanting to count with someone for days!

The Count: You have?

Zoe: Yeah!

Zoe giggles.

The Count leaps from his chair, overjoyed.

The Count: Wonderful! You will count with me?

Zoe: Sure!

A rock number starts to play as Zoe and the Count dance around.

The Count:

(sung)

She loves numbers as much as me.
And she's a great counter,
Just wait, you'll see.
Whenever she can she stops to shout,
Counting the numbers,
Never leaving any out. She's...

Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
She loves to count
While singing our song.
Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
Come on and count with us,
You can't go wrong!

Both:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Let's count them again.
Let's count them again!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

Dance break.

The Count:

Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
She loves to count
While singing our song.
Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
Come on and count with us,
You can't go wrong!

Both:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Let's count them again.
Let's count them again!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

The Count:

Is I count flowers, or tall trees,
If I count birds or bumble bees.
One thing's for certain, you can bet,
She'll count right along, no sweat!
She's...

Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
She loves to count
While singing our song.
Little miss, little miss,
Little miss count along.
Come on and count with us,
You can't go wrong!

Both:

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
Let's count them again.
Let's count them again!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten!

Zoe: (spoken; giggling) That's funny!

 

[Super Scooter]

Scene Seven​

Location: Ernie and Bert's Living Room

Time: Afternoon

At Rise: Ernie is sitting in front of a wall that comes just above his waist.

Kermit enters.

Kermit: Having failed in his mission, Ernie returned home defeated. Sitting alone, he awaited Bert's arrival, dreading the disapointment that would overwhelm his good buddy, Bert.

Ernie: Hey, take it easy, fella.

Kermit: *ahem* Sorry. My fondness for descriptive narrating got a bit carried away, there.

Kermit exits.

Ernie: Oh, whatever am I going to tell Bert?

A door slams.

Bert: (o.s.) Ernie? Ernie!

Ernie: In here, Bert! (to audience) Looks like I'm going to have to face the music, folks.

Bert enters.

Bert: Oh, Ernie, there you are! I've been looking all over for you!

Ernie: You have?

Bert: Yeah! I've got such a treat for you.

Ernie: You do?

Bert: Here, hold on a second.

Bert ducks down below the wall.

Ernie: Gee, Bert has a surprise! I wonder what it is?

Bert places a pan on top of the wall. He is also holding a spoon and a tin can. In the hand that he's holding the spoon, he also has a whistle weaved between his fingers.

Ernie: Gee, Bert, did you fall down Oscar's can again?

Bert: No, of course not, Ernie! I've discovered something fantastic! Here, just listen...

CLINK!

Ernie: That was fantastic, Bert!

Bert: Yeah, yeah! That's me hitting this tin can with a spoon. And listen, this is me hitting this pan with a spoon...

CLANK!

Bert: Hear that?

Ernie: Well, that's very interesting, Bert.

Bert: Yeah. Now, I shake the tin can...

RATTLE!

Bert: You see? It's got marbles inside!

Ernie: Uh-huh. Yeah, that's nice, Bert.

Bert: Yeah, yeah, and then I blow this whistle...

TWEET!

Bert: Oh, Ernie! It's so wild! So wonderful!

Ernie: Gee, that doesn't seem so wonderful to me, Bert.

Bert: Well, maybe not but listen to what happens when I put them all together, Ernie...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert lets out a pleasant sigh.

Ernie: Say, that sounds pretty nice.

Bert: Nice? It's breathtaking!

Ernie: Well, I don't know as I'd say breathtaking, but...

Bert: Oh, what a great game this will be!

Ernie: A game?

Bert: Yeah! You just have to grab something - anything - and play along! And there's a story that goes with it, too. Listen...

(sung)

I was sitting around,
Feeling so blue,
Trying to think
What to think to do
Then...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

I suddenly heard something new.

I was sitting around,
Trying to sleep.
Practicing counting
By counting sheep
When...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

I knew I had found something new.

It was just the water pipe
When the faucet got turned on,
But it lightened up my life
Like a nightingale's sweet song.

And now I'm happy with my can and my pan,
My whistle or two,
'Cause now I know what
I just gotta do.
I go...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

And the sky is all sunny and blue,
And...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

I'll bet it'll do it for you!

Ernie: Gee, that's nice, Bert. Can I join in?

Bert: (spoken) Ernie, everybody can join in! Everybody in the audience can! Just grab something near you and play. Ready? Here it comes...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE...

Ernie lifts up a horn and...

HONK!

Bert: Agh! Ernie, you ruined it!

Ernie: Well, I couldn't find a whistle, Bert.

Bert: Well, this time, you rattle and I'll tweet!

Ernie: Okay, Bert.

HONK!

Bert: Ernie!

Ernie: I just had to put it down, Bert.

Bert: Well, control yourself! Ready?

Ernie takes the tin can from Bert and plays the CLINK and the RATTLE from now on.

Ernie: Here we go...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Ernie: Hey, I think I did it.

Bert: Great, Ernie!

(sung)

It was just the water pipe
When the faucet got turned on,
But it lightened up my life
Like a nightingale's sweet song.

And now I'm happy with my can and my pan,
My whistle or two,
'Cause now I know what
I just got to do.
I go...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

And the sky is all sunny and blue,
And...

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

I'll bet it'll do it for you!

(spoken) Once more!

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert: And again!

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert: One last time!

CLINK, CLANK, RATTLE, TWEET!

Bert:

(sung)

I'll bet it'll do it for you!

HONK!

Bert: Ernie!

Ernie: Sorry, Bert. Couldn't resist, Bert.

Bert: That's okay, Ernie. But, wasn't that fun?

Ernie: You know, it's amazing, Bert. I just spent all that time trying to find a game to play, and you had one here all along.

Bert: Well, I don't know if I would have come up with it if you hadn't left. I missed you, Ernie.

Ernie: I missed you, too, Bert. Thanks for coming up with that game.

Ernie exits.

Bert: Hey, Ernie, where are you going?

Ernie returns.

Ernie: Well, we've played your game, Bert. I gotta go find another one. See ya!

Ernie exits. Bert lets out an exhasperated sigh.

 

[ISNorden]

Great work so far; I especially liked the way you adapted that infamous Avenue Q scene with Kate/Trekkie Monster into an innocent, thoughtful conversation between Prairie Dawn and Ernie. Keep it coming when you can!

 

[Super Scooter]

Ah, so you caught a little bit of the Avenue Q influence in the story, eh?

There actually isn't a whole lot of Avenue Q influence on this, though. I actually hadn't thought about the scene you're referring to in that way, though I do see the slight similarity. Nice catch.

The one major influence is in Act One, Scene Nine. The way that "What's the Name of that Song?" is introduced (with Grover, Ernie and Prairie Dawn) is basically the same as how "I Wish I Could Go Back to College" plays out in Avenue Q (with Princeton, Nicky and Kate). Of course, it ends up becoming a big first act finale here.

The first Ernie and Bert scene also would have fallen in the same spot (Act One, Scene Four) as the first Nicky and Rod scene would have if the "Tear it Up and Throw it Away" number hadn't been cut.

Other than that, any similarities that you see, for the most part, are because I used a lot of the Sesame Street songs that inspired Avenue Q songs. I did have an idea to basically replicate the Avenue Q story using Sesame Street songs, and it could be done, I just wanted to take it in a slightly different direction.

 

[Super Scooter]

Scene Eight​

Location: Sesame Street Park

Time: A few days later, evening

At Rise: The stage that Big Bird, Snuffy and Prairie Dawn had built for the first pageant has been set up. A toy piano is on the stage.

Kermit enters.

Kermit: It was the night of Prairie Dawn's next pageant. The whole town showed up and was ready to see the show. She has a couple of nice songs prepared for everyone, so let's watch, shall we?

Kermit exits as Prairie Dawn enters. She sits down at her toy piano.

Prairie:

(sung)

Oh, welcome, dear viewer, to our little play.
We hope you enjoy what we show you today.

(shouts) Curtain!

Prairie Dawn walks off stage as the curtain goes up.

Ernie, dressed as a farmer, a Honker, and a Dinger all stand on stage. Ernie is holding his Rubber Duckie.

Ernie:

(sung)

Come on everybody
To a street called Sesame.
There's something very silly
That we'd like you all to see.
It's the latest, it's the greatest,
It's the only place to be!
It's the Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree.

The Honker honks, the duckie squeaks, and the dinger dings, each a couple of times.

Ernie:

Take a chance and join us,
And I know that you'll agree.
Our show may not be fancy,
But it's noisy and its free.
It's got honks, it's got squeaks, it's got dings, and it's got me!
It's the Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree.
The Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree!

Again, the Honker honks, the duckie squeaks, and the dinger dings, each a couple of times.

Ernie:

If you want to be a member of our happy family,
Nothing to it, you can do it
If you listen carefully.
Clap your hands, tap your toes,
Snap your fingers, slap your knees!

At the Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree.
The Honker Duckie Dinger Jamboree!

They all go crazy with their honking, squeaking, and dinging. Telly enters, playing his triangle as fast as he can. Ernie laughs.

The curtain closes.

To the side of the stage, we find Prairie Dawn talking to Herry, Cookie Monster, and Mr. Johnson.

Prairie: Are you guys ready to go on?

Cookie: Me all ready.

Herry: I'm all set.

Mr. Johnson: Not a chance!

Prairie: What?

Mr. Johnson: I can't go on for this number, it's silly.

Prairie: Mr. Johnson, we need you! You're just right for this song.

Mr. Johnson: You don't need me, and I'm not just right for this song. I might be blue but I am most assuredly not fuzzy!

Prairie: Oh, dear. What'll we do now?

Grover enters just as fast as he can. In doing so, he accidentally knocks over Mr. Johnson.

Grover: (as he enters) Out of the way! Excuse me, sir! Oh, sorry, sir! (to Prairie) I am here for you, Prairie Dawn!

Prairie: Grover! I thought you couldn't make it.

Grover: I decided I was not going to think about my postcard troubles anymore. Or, not right now, anyway. If you need me, then I will help you.

Mr. Johnson: Could somebody help me up?

Grover: Oh, yes, sir! Right away, sir!

Mr. Johnson: Not you! Anyone but you!

Grover: Oh, do not worry, sir, you are in good hands with me.

Mr. Johnson: Nooooo!

Prairie: I'll go introduce you.

Prairie returns to the stage.

Prairie: And now, a little number starring Grover and his friends...

Prairie exits as the curtain opens. Grover goes on to the stage.

Grover:

(sung)

Fuzzy and blue.
That's me, I'm fuzzy and blue.
It's just the way that I grew.
Love being fuzzy and blue.
I do!
I'm fuzzy and blue.
You see I'm fuzzy and blue.
Yeah, me, I'm happy to be
So fuzzy and blue.

Herry enters.

Herry:

Me, too!
I'm fuzzy and blue.
I'm oh, so fuzzy and blue.
No other color will do,
Not when I'm beautifully blue.

Grover:

It's true,
He's fuzzy and blue.

Herry:

All over.

Grover:

Fuzzy and blue.

Herry:

Like Grover.

Both:

Look at us two,
We're fuzzy and blue.

Fuzzy and blue!

Herry:

I'm blue.

Grover:

I'm fuzzy.

Both:

Fuzzy and blue.

Grover:

I'm blue.

Herry:

He's fuzzy.

Both:

How do you do?
We're fuzzy and blue.

Cookie enters.

Cookie:

Yoo-hoo!
Fuzzy and blue.
Me said me fuzzy and blue.
From head to bottom of shoe.
That right, me fuzzy and blue.

All:

Me too!
We're fuzzy and blue.
Yippee, we're fuzzy and blue.
We three, oh, don't you wish you
Were fuzzy and blue?

Grover:

Like me!

Cookie:

And me!

Herry:

And me!

Frazzle peeks around from backstage and grumbles something at Grover.

Grover: (spoken) Frazzle? What are you doing here? You are not fuzzy and blue. You are fuzzy and orange!

Frazzle grumbles as if he were insulted.

Grover: All right, all right! Just thought I would mention it. Hit it, boys!

All:

(sung)

Fuzzy and blue.

Grover:

And orange!

All:

We all are fuzzy and blue.

Grover:

And orange!

All:

Love bein' fuzzy and blue...

Grover:

And orange.

All:

Whatever we do...

Herry: (spoken) Is everybody fuzzy?

All:

(sung)

Fuzzy and blue.
We're fuzzy and blue!

Cookie: (spoken) All this talk of fuzzy and blue make me hungry for blanket.