What a Party

OFFSTAGE VOICES
And the gang took wing
And the shadows leapt
Any fool could see -
What a party
ENSEMBLE
And the gang took wing
And the shadows leapt
Any fool could see -
What a party
While the candles glared
And the neighbors wept
Any swell could be
At a party
Lightly
Quickly
Slightly sickly
Pasty
Tasty
Like birds of prey
'Round the hors d'oeuvre tray
When the laughter starts
And the game begins
You can guarantee
That's how to blow
That's how to grow
That how to throw a party!
(The guests enter, one by one.)
BURRS
Madelaine True -
MADELAINE
Lesbian
BURRS
Eddie -
EDDIE
Pugilist
ALL
Crazy
Crowded
Smartly shrouded
Drinking
Stinking
Till by and by
They began to fly
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
Jackie -
Sweet dancer
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
The brothers d'Armano
OSCAR
Pianists
PHIL
Composers
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
Dolores
DOLORES
A hooker
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
Mae
MAE
A looker
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
Nadine
MADELAINE
A minor
BURRS & ENSEMBLE
Oooh:
And the gang took wing
And the clock ticked on
Any fool could see
What a party
For the mood could swing
When the blues got gone
While the booze was free
At a party
Panting
Prying
Loudly lying
Raving
Craving
Like birds of prey
'Round the hors d'oeuvre tray -
(Queenie appears, dressed all in white.)
BURRS
But tonight
Queenie surpassed them all
And tonight
Queenie stood firm and tall
ENSEMBLE
With a face of ivory
And gold for hair
BURRS
She was something
To kneel before in prayer
My God
Queenie
You're looking swell
ENSEMBLE
Quoth Queenie