The Dollar Bill Ring Cycle

A grand, grand opera in three acts by Paulo Jacksonioni

World Premier at the BOS Convention, Nottingham, 2002

Cast
Father
Son
Mother
Lodger
God

Stage Directions : Try to move about a bit

Musical Directions : Sing clearly to any improvised melody, key or rhythm, or utter lack of.

Piano Accompaniment : Under no circumstance may a trained pianist be the accompanist.

ACT 1

Scene: The breakfast table. Father is eating breakfast and folding the Kawasaki Rose

Son (entering)
Father, I have something to tell you.

Father
Yes, my son?

Son
Father, I don’t like origami.

(Father dies of shock)
(Enter Mother. Sees body)

Mother
Oh! My husband!

(To Son)
What happened?

Son
I told my father I don’t like origami.

Mother (grief stricken)
But he was not your father! The lodger is your father.

Son
What? The lodger? No! No!

(takes kitchen knife and kills himself)

Mother (grief stricken)
Oh! What have I said?

(dies of a broken heart)

FIRST INTERVAL

ACT 2

Scene: Later the same day. Enter the Lodger

Lodger (seeing the bodies and the unfinished Rose)

Oh no! He didn’t finish his model.

(Enter God)

God
Hello Lodger. I am God. I created origami to spread happiness throughout the world. Arise everyone!

(Everyone comes to life)

Everyone
I am alive! You are alive!

Father
We are a happy family again, thanks to origami.

SECOND INTERVAL

ACT 3

Scene: Same positions as Act 2

Father
Now I can finish my model of the Kawasaki Rose

God
Just a sec! I have a way to eliminate the difficult twist sink at Step 11.

(distributes diagrams)

Everyone (admiring the diagrams)
How clever! It’s so simple! Wonderful!

Mother
Wait! I see a cut at Step 9!

Everyone (in shock and disbelief)
What! A cut! (enunciate with clarity!)

God
Oh no! The shame of it!

(dies of shame)

Son
Never mind. I love origami now and I want to join the BOS.

(Much excitement and happiness)

CURTAIN

No public performances, broadcasts, itune sales or any other form of infringement, whatsoever, or else.