This show works beautifully with your
ocean-study curriculum. During the play, kids learn about the ocean by visiting fish,
doing the Continental Shuffle on the continental shelf, plankton working their way
"up the food chain," sea mammals insisting that "fishes are fools,"
and the Bioluminescent Guys brightening up the Twilight Zone. Most importantly, students
discover that oceans are a series of interconnected systems, and destroying any one part
will have unintended consequences elsewhere.
The Oceanography Show tells the story of Elizabeth, who wants to destroy some tide pools
so she can erect luxury condominiums. Poseidon, Greek god of the sea, has other ideas. To
settle the dispute, the two of them set out to visit the wonders of the ocean. CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 11-40 students.
Use as many Fish, Plankton, Starfish, etc, as desired. Note that roles are not
gender-specific: Poseidon can easily be played by a girl, Elizabeth (with a slight name
change) by a boy' see our comments on page 30 of the Teacher's Guide. |
Poseidon, Greek god of the
sea
Elizabeth (a real estate developer)
Construction Workers
Fish (a selection of your choice)
Plankton
Whale, Dolphin, Seal Lion (assorted sea mammals)
Bioluminescent Guys
Bottom Dwellers
Starfish
Shark
Tuna
Chorus (comprised of all students who are not playing their role on stage at that moment)
ENTIRE CLASS (entering) :
Song 1
We're visiting the ocean
We're studying the sea
So go and grab a snorkel
And swim along with me.
We're interviewing lobsters
We're learning 'bout the tide
So go and grab a surfboard
And join us on the ride.
The deep blue sea
The deep blue sea
There's so much we want to know
So let's go.
We're swimming in the Gulf Stream
We're diving in the sea
So go and learn to scuba
And decompress with me.
We're talking to the tuna
There's so much to discuss
So go and grab your flippers
And come along with us.
The deep blue sea
The deep blue sea
There's so much we want to know
So let's go.
Let's go.
Let's go!
We're visiting the ocean
We're studying the sea
So go and grab a snorkel
And swim along with me.
We're interviewing lobsters
We're learning 'bout the tide
So go and grab a surfboard
And join us on the ride.
The deep blue sea
The deep blue sea
There's so much we want to know
So let's go.
Let's go.
There's so much we want to know
So let's go!
(The SHARK runs onto stage, then looks behind various objects, tearing up a few things. He
finally sees the audience, and looking a bit sheepish, addresses them):
SHARK: I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm a shark trying to find a tuna to
eat. That's judgmental of you. I am looking for a tuna, but I just want to...
(HE thinks about it for a second,
then gets an idea)
...ask him his hat size.
(HE continues looking. TUNA moves
on stage a few steps at
a time, unnoticed by SHARK, hidden
behind a large
poster/sign that says
"Tuna---THIS WAY" The SHARK reads the sign. To audience:)
Good thing us sharks have a perfect sense of smell. I know just where to look for Mr.
Tuna!
(HE races off in direction of
arrow)
TUNA (stepping out from behind the sign): It's not easy being a Tuna-all this eat or be
eaten stuff. Fortunately, some sharks are really dumb.
(POSEIDON enters)
Hey, isn't that Poseidon? I wonder what he's doing on the beach after all these years.
(To POSEIDON)
Poseidon old buddy, how are you? Been a long time! You're not looking so good.
POSEIDON :
Song
2
I am Poseidon
Greek god of the sea
I was real big in 500 BC.
Now I'm forgotten
My life's on the rocks
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
CHORUS:
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
POSEIDON:
I am Poseidon
I used to be feared
But now I have anchovies stuck in my beard.
Now I'm forgotten
My life's on the rocks
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
CHORUS:
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
POSEIDON:
Give me one more try
To act divine
Protect what is mine
To be the god of the sea!
My oceans are dirty
The beaches a mess
My hair's turning grey
and I think it's the stress.
So down from Olympus
And onto the shore
It's time to dive into my waters once more.
CHORUS:
It's time to dive into my waters once more.
POSEIDON:
Give me one more try
To act divine
Protect what is mine
To be the god of the sea!
CHORUS:
He is Poseidon
Greek god of the sea
He was real big in 500 BC.
Now he's forgotten
His life's on the rocks
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
A soggy old god with some sand in his socks.
POSEIDON:
A soggy old god...with some sand in his socks.
TUNA (looks offstage, then speaks to audience): Here comes that shark again. Sshhh. You
never saw me. I don't exist. I was never here.
(HE runs to member of audience,
pulls out a pocket watch, swings it in front of audience member's face)
You're getting sleepy. Your eyelids are getting heavy. You have never seen a tuna. You
don't know what a tuna is. You...uh...owe Mr. Tuna five bucks.
(looks off stage, and runs off in
other direction)
SHARK (entering holding a hat; to audience): Hey, you haven't seen a tuna around, have
you? I inherited this hat and I'm sure it would fit him perfectly.
(ELIZABETH enters with CONSTRUCTION
WORKERS)
Well, this isn't a tuna, it's Elizabeth. She's a real estate developer. She wants to build
condominiums here-and dig up the tide pools. I love it!. Think of all the people lounging,
boats floating, tuna swimming right here. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.
ELIZABETH (to Construction Workers) : Song 3
Pick up a saw and cut down the trees
They're blocking the sun and stopping the breeze.
Chase off those birds, fix up the land
Roll out the grass, get rid of the sand.
Oh-and one other thing that you should know
This tide pool's gotta go!
Tide Pool
It is nothing but rocks
Tide Pool
In the way of the docks
That I'm gonna build for the boats right here
And a beautiful restaurant at the end of the pier.
CONSTRUCTION WORKER (spoken):
Hey lady, do you know when the lunch wagon's coming around? I want a donut. A big one.
ELIZABETH:
Won't it be great when twelve stories high
My condos rise up and scrape at the sky.
I'll be so proud, oh what a day!
Let's all join in and bulldoze away.
Oh-and one other thing that you should know
This tide pool's gotta go!
ELIZABETH and CONSTRUCTION WORKERS:
Tide Pool
It is nothing but rocks
Tide Pool
In the way of the docks
That I'm gonna build for the boats right here
And a beautiful restaurant at the end of the pier.
This tide pool's gotta go!
This tide pool's gotta go!
This tide pool's gotta go!
(POSEIDON enters at end of her song)
POSEIDON: Excuse me, I'm Poseidon, Greek god of the sea.
ELIZABETH: Sorry, we're not hiring today.
(sniffs)
Whew! Buddy, you smell like a dead walrus.
POSEIDON: Sorry. I've been in the ocean a few thousand years.
ELIZABETH: I don't have time to chat. I've got to tear out those tide pools and it's gonna
cost a bundle.
POSEIDON: I don't think you should do that.
ELIZABETH: What?
POSEIDON: You shouldn't destroy the tide pools. My ocean is teeming with life, wonderful
living things of all kinds---you'd be killing beautiful sea urchins, crabs, starfish...
Song List
To hear a Real Audio song sample, click on
the titles that are underlined. To hear the same samples with Windows Media Player, click
on "Windows Media" near the name of the song. Please note that internet song
samples have very low fidelity and rest assured that the CDs we sell sound much better.
Problems hearing the music? Visit our Audio
Help page.
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| Vocabulary
Terms from The Oceanography Show |
interviewing
fortunately
buddy
BC
soggy
divine
stress
Olympus
inherited
real estate developer
condominiums
lounging
scrape
hiring
chat
bundle
teeming
samba
waltz
polka
fox trot
mambo
twist
resist
entitled
rooting
activity
specks
gobbled
munch
financial
demolish
yachts
twilight
organs
producing |
heartburn
spark
flashbulb
firefly
electricity
crabby
Picasso
muck
marvelous
bickering
gullible
fuss
unobstructed
overhead
Ocean
Terms
snorkel
tide
scuba
decompress
tuna
flippers
Poseidon
anchovies
docks
pier
walrus
sea urchin
crab
starfish
continental shelf
swordfish
bonito
perch |
mackerel
octopus
Moby Dick
food chain
shrimp
herring
codfish
organism
eco-system
gill
schools of fish
kipper
bioluminescent
aquarium
sponge
halibut
trenches
shellfish
hammerhead
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
various
sheepish
offstage
pocket watch
swings |
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Teacher Reviews:
To submit your own review, just e-mail it to ron@badwolfpress.com
Be sure to include your school name and what grade you teach.
"It was fun, easy to learn, educational,
and an audience pleaser. The benifits were cooperative learning, communication skills,
teamwork, listening, and following directions."
---Anne Hadges, Teacher, (3rd-4th grade), Herefard School, Herefard, PA
"The music is catchy, so the kids never forgot the lyrics. They learned key
concepts while having fun. I can't wit until the next one! I teach the kids in
the gifted program in my system. Some love to be center-stage while others have no
desire to perform solo. These plays allow me to give them opportunities to
participate at a level at which each chld is comfortable."
---Shelia Cain, Teacher, (1st-2nd grade, Gifted and Talented), Petham Elementary, Petham,
GA
"It was a unique experience that cleverly wove the messages and concepts through word
and song. You would have been so proud of our children as they worked with me during
recess to develop the unique choreography that added to the splendor of your
creation. Children realized it was OK to let their inhibitions go. Many
discovered a hidden talent for song, acting and dance. Everyone had so much fun
working in the multilevel experience. We all laughed a great deal!"
---Jane Aikens, Teacher, (5th-8th grade), St. Maria Goretti School, Schiller Park, IL
"We had a performance for the whole
school. I've never seen 7th and 8th graders so quiet and entralled with an assembly! They
loved and kept telling us how much they enjoyed it. I have directed many plays, but I must
say that your plays are the most fun and the easiest to work with and direct. We can't
wait to pick our show for next year!"
---Leah Henry and Kim Turnbull, Teachers (4th), Murray Avenue School, Huntingdon Valley,
PA.
"I watched as my son performed Tide Pool
Condos. It was exciting and thought provoking! The kids developed a comraderie. Call me
corney, but I was moved by each play my children were in."
---JoAnne Rose, Parent (3rd grade), Worcester, MA.
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