Velveteen
“Velveteen” is adapted from the book
“The Velveteen Rabbit” by Margery Williams.
About Velveteen
This musical is purchased with a soundtrack of all the songs which can be used wholly or in part at the director’s discretion
It is a story about a velveteen rabbit, which is given as a Christmas present to a little boy. As time goes by, the toy rabbit becomes the little boy’s favourite toy, until he no longer considers him to be a toy – he considers him to be real. The rabbit loves being real to the boy and doesn’t notice that, with all the hugging, cuddling and general overuse, he is becoming shabby to look at. When the boy becomes ill with a contagious disease, the doctor recommends that, in order to sterilise the nursery, the little rabbit be thrown away. Alone and dejected on the rubbish pile, the little rabbit cries tears of great sadness. But from these tears, a flower grows. And out of the flower steps a fairy. Since he has loved the boy so much, she changes him to become a real rabbit, real not just to the boy, but to everyone.
“Velveteen” is a production which would suit Junior Primary age children or those aged between 6 and 9 years. The amount of children is not set in stone. There are about 10 – 12 speaking parts (depending on the number of narrators that are chosen) and quite a few of the children have small singing parts. There are 4 bigger singing parts, the Velveteen Rabbit, the Skin Horse, Nana and the Nursery Fairy.
The main message of the story is that being a real person means not being afraid to risk becoming “shabby” for someone else’s sake. Love often means sacrifice, hard work and sometimes going through painful experiences but real people don’t worry about this. They know that it is what is inside of us that matters and not what we look like on the outside.
Pricing:
The purchase of musicals includes:
- Rights to perform the musical (There is no longer any contract with DALRO as before)
- The piano score if applicable scores for other instruments or guitar chords
- The script
- The soundtrack
The musicals are priced as follows:
- Velveteen: R3000.00
- Narnia: R5000.00
- Spirits of Christmas: R5000.00
- Out of Here: R3000.00
Song: Welcome Friend
Chorus: Welcome Friend!
(All toys) We’re pleased to make your acquaintance
We’re always glad to meet a toy
That Santa’s brought to treat the Boy
We welcome this disruption
We’ll start the introduction
We greet you and
Entreat you to
Enjoy your stay!
Mechanical toys: We are the toys mechanical
We move our hands and knees
And all we need is Duracell
Then move us where you please
And if we seem superior
It’s just because we are
We’re motorised, computerised
The most high-tech by far
Chorus – repeat (all toys)
Timothy: I’m Timothy the lion
I’m afraid I can’t disclose
The mission I’m involved in
But that’s just how it goes
It’s ‘cos I work in Government
I can’t be seen to be
With anyone who isn’t in
The service here with me
Boat: And I’m the boat whose coat of paint
Has lasted two years long
Music box: And I’m the music box who sometimes
Sings a bedtime song
Soldiers: And we’re the mighty soldiers
With rifles in our hands
With Batman and with Superman
We conquer far-off lands
All: And though we’re friends
And pleased to make your acquaintance
We’ll have you know we’ve been here for
Some time before you came along
We’re glad to see your face here
But you should know your place here
If you do
You’ll find you
Enjoy your stay!
Song: I’ll Never Leave The Boy
No matter what it does to me
No matter what the cost may be
I’m going to stay right here with him
I’ll never leave his side
More now than ever he needs me here
A friend forever to dry a tear
I’ll never leave the Boy!
And when the fever wets his brow
And when he turns and tosses now
I’ll whisper gently in his ear
Of better days to come
Of fields of green and blue, blue skies
Of bright red flowers and butterflies
I’ll never leave the Boy!
And all through the night
I’ll hold him so tight
I’ll cuddle down by his side;
And one day he’ll wake
The fever will break,
The sky will be blue,
The sun shining too,
And we will still be together
I’ll never leave the Boy
Song: Nana
There’s a rushing sound coming up the stair
Like a hurricane blowing everywhere
Watch out, ’cos she’ll swoop and she doesn’t care, it’s –
NANA!
Watch out for your eyes and your stringy hair
Hold on to your springs and your underwear!
She’s here on a mission and you BETTER BEWARE OF –
NANA!
