Crocodiles
Music by Bheki Mkhwane
Arranged by John Walton
Text by Michael Williams
Author's Note
The play Crocodiles was based on the novel Crocodile Burning (Penguin USA 1992, OUP South Africa 1996) and was commissioned by Oxford University Press to form part of the anthology The World on a Hill and other plays. The novel provided ready made characters and although the plot of the play is quite different to the novel, the situation of a group of young people involved in the staging of a musical remains the same.
Due to the nature of the commission from OUP I was unable to include the musical component to the play. It was only with the success of 3 Musicals for Young People that I have been able to make the music available for production and bring the play to life with a collection of songs.
I have always been fascinated in the process of creating a musical. Here then is a play which on one level is about rehearsing a musical and another about the coming of age of young people in the process. There is something quite seductive about the rehearsal period where there are so many avenues to take, so many possibilities, so many decisions to make, and where no one is quite aware of what the finished product will actually be… a little like life, I suppose.
Michael Williams
February 2003
General
This musical has 8 soloists (3F,5M) and requires a strong supporting cast of between 20-40 young people. The music is a contemporary mix and is scored for piano. Running time: 75 minutes
Cast List
SERAKI - 16, street-wise, talented, poor
NONGENI - 16, bright, wealthy background
SIPHO - 16, gangly, joker, friend of Seraki
GLORIA - 17, star of the show, experienced actress
TEDDY - 16, ladies man, flashy dresser
MOSAKE - Adult, charismatic, strong, menacing
CATHY - Adult, Mosake's assistant, kind, voice of reason
THUG - 18, member of a gang, dangerous
CHORUS - Other young actors who perform the musical iSezela
Musical Package
3 copies of World on a Hill and other plays published by Oxford University Press
1 x Vocal/piano score
Backing track CD of the music
Lyrics of the musical
Macrat Teacher Resource guide
Please contact us for further information, or to order the musical package!
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