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Mowgli-Frog: Jungle Book
Adventures
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Art Samples
Character Breakdown
Lyrics Samples
Music Samples
Scene Sample
Synopsis
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
Principals
BAGHEERA, MOWGLI’s sponsor; a panther
BALOO, the teacher of the Jungle Law; a bear
BULDEO, an old human hunter
FATHER WOLF, MOWGLI’s foster father; a wolf
MOWGLI-FROG, a boy raised by creatures of the jungle
(plays ages 6 to 17)
RAKSHA, MOWGLI’s foster mother; a wolf
RUDYARD KIPLING, the narrator
SHERE KHAN (a.k.a. LUNGRI), a man-eating tiger
Supporting Players
AKELA, leader of the Seeonee Wolves; a wolf
ANIMAL MATES (may be implied rather than actual)
BANDAR-LOG, the Monkey People (they act as one)
BULDEO’S DAUGHTER, MOWGLI’s love interest
CHIL, a kite
COUNCIL ROCK WOLVES, Seeonee councilors
KAA, a giant python
MANG-BAT, the jungle gossip; a bat
MOWGLI’S PARENTS
SAMBHUR HERD
TABAQUI, a jackal
TODDLER/BABY MOWGLI (may be a doll or puppet)
Rudyard Kipling emerges from the Indian jungle accompanied by various
animals. He tells the story of how a baby, his parents slain by the tiger
Shere Khan, was taken in by Mother and Father Wolf and named Mowgli (“A
Jungle Book”). Kipling promises that the rest of the story shall ensue.
Scene 2
Mother and Father Wolf bring Mowgli before the Seeonee Wolves and ask
for him to be a member of the tribe (“Council Rock”). After support of the
idea from Baloo Bear and Bagheera Panther, the wolves grant the request, but
Shere Khan arrives and demands that the child be given to him by right of
prey (“Shere Khan”). The wolves refuse and Shere Khan vows revenge.
Scene 3
There is a constant “Rumble in the Jungle” (reported by Mang Bat) as
Mowgli grows to adolescence. The man-animal the baby has become scares many
of the jungle creatures, so Mowgli is sent to Baloo in order to learn the
Jungle Law (“Bear with Me”). Once the law has been learned, however, Mowgli
is kidnapped by the Bandar-Log, or Monkey People.
Scene 4
The Bandar-Log ask Mowgli to teach the Jungle Law to them since no
animals have had the patience to take on this task in the past. In exchange,
they offer him a part in the “Bandar-Log Boogie,” their freewheeling
lifestyle. Baloo and Bagheera arrive to rescue Mowgli, but they are captured
by the Bandar-Log and threatened with stoning. They call Kaa the Serpent who
promptly devours most of the monkeys (“The Hunting of Kaa”).
Scene 5
Kipling notes that adventure is not enough for a young man. He needs
the love of a young woman. Mowgli realizes there’s “Nobody for Me” when his
animal brothers find mates during the time of Spring Running, althugh Mowgli
does envision a beautiful girl for himself. Bagheera councils Mowgli to
claim happiness and “Set the Trend” to be followed for the man-animal that
he has become. Mowgli distorts Bagheera’s advice and resolves to slay Shere
Khan, thus earning a place among the animals forever.
Scene 6
“Who Is Buldeo?” asks the aging but legendary hunter Buldeo as he
creeps around Shere Khan’s lair. Who shall follow in the footsteps of this
figure? As the hunter departs, Baloo and Bagheera remove Shere Khan’s
sentries. Mowgli confronts the tiger and kills the beast with a pre-arranged
Sambhur stampede (“Shere Khan [Reprise]/Shere Khan’s Stampede”). Mowgli
falls during the stampede and he is knocked unconscious. Buldeo discovers
the tiger-slayer and takes the boy home with him (“Who Is Buldeo?
[Reprise]”). Kipling announces that Mowgli is now where he belongs. He must
take the place of Buldeo and wed Buldeo’s daughter (“A Jungle Book
[Finale]”).
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LYRICS SAMPLES
"BANDAR-LOG BOOGIE"
SWING YOUR JAW OUT SO IT SHADOWS YOUR CHEST.
SLUMP YOUR SHOULDERS ROUND.
SIDLE FORWARD ON YOUR PALMS AND YOUR SOLES
AND CUT LOOSE WITH A HOWL.
FRET OUT YOUR HAIR AND BEND YOUR KNEES.
GET YOUR BODY BOPPING IN THE JUNGLE BREEZE.
IT’S DANCE-A-GO-GO IN THE TREES.
COME DO THE BANDAR-LOG BOOGIE
FIND A BUG THAT’S STUCK IN SOMEBODY’S FUR.
POP IT PAST YOUR GUMS.
SNATCH A HELPING FROM THE FRUIT OF THE VINE.
THERE’S PLENTY BY THE TON.
LOOSEN UP YOUR EV’RY LIMB.
LOUNGE AROUND LIKE ANY DECENT SIMIAN.
HUMANITY IS SO HAS-BEEN.
COME DO THE BANDAR-LOG BOOGIE.
HERE IN THE COLD LAIRS, WE HAVE A CODE:
YOU HAVE TO BE A BUDDY TO GET INTO THE FOLD.
BUT YOU’LL SOON BE HANGING IN THE CANOPY,
IF YOU MONKEY-SEE-AND-DO AND GET WITH THE FLING.
OOK! OOK! OOK!
LOOSE YOUR TONGUE TO LAUGHING DAFFY.
SQUEEDY! SQUEEDY! SQUEAK!
SET YOUR ARMS TO WAVING WHACKY.
EE! EE! EE!
GIVE THOSE FEET A SPIN OR TWO.
SHIMMY, SHUFFLE, SHAKE, AND MAKE A HULLABALOO!
TOSS ALL THOUGHTS OF LOGIC OUT OF YOUR MIND.
REASON’S NOT YOUR FRIEND.
SLEEPING LATE AND PLAYING GROOMING GAMES:
THAT’S THE PERFECT BLEND.
WHY DON’T YOU JOIN THE CHIMPAN-SCENE?
SWINGING’S SO MUCH BETTER THAN THAT WALKING THING.
FIT YOURSELF INTO OUR SCHEME.
COME DO THE BANDAR-LOG BOOGIE.
COME WITH THE BANDAR-LOG, MOWGLI-FROG.
A LITTLE INNER-LEMUR TIME IS NEVER WRONG.
COME DO THE BANDAR-LOG BOOGIE!
"RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE"
CHILDREN HAVE A LOT TO LEARN
FROM THEIR PARENTS, TURN BY TURN,
AND MOWGLI PROVED NO DIFF’RENT FROM THE REST.
HE LEARNED TO TRACK, TO HOWL AND SNIFF,
TO RUN ON FOURS AND CHEW ON STICKS,
BUT THEN HE WENT BEYOND TO BE THE BEST.
THERE WAS A RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
AS THE RUMORS PASSED ALONG.
THIS BOY WHO LIVED AMONG THE WOLVES
WAS SUPER SMART AND STRONG.
HE TOOK MORE GAME AND WON MORE FIGHTS
THAN ANY WOLF IN A SCORE OF NIGHTS.
RUMBLE. RUMBLE. RUMBLE WENT THE JUNGLE.
SEASONS FLOWED AND SEASONS FLASHED.
MOWGLI TOOK HIS BRAIN TO TASK
BY LEARNING HOW TO SPEAK TO EV’RY BEAST.
HE KEPT IN TRIM AND ON ALERT.
HE BRAWLED ABOUT TO PROVE HIS WORTH
TILL EVEN MIGHTY HATHI FELT DEFEAT.
THERE WAS A RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
WHEN THE GIANTS HIT THE GROUND,
AND ANGER BLARED FROM BROKEN TRUNKS
WHEN MOWGLI WAS AROUND.
HE TOOK HIS TIME UNTIL HE PROVED
THAT NO ONE HAD HIS PATENT MOVES.
RUMBLE. RUMBLE. RUMBLE WENT THE JUNGLE.
GREAT SUCCESS MEANS TROUBLE, TOO.
OUR BOY GOT SENT TO BALOO,
FOR MANY CREATURES THOUGHT THE BOY A THREAT.
HE’D LEARN THE LAW AND MIND THE BEAR
SO HE’D BE BOUND AND END THE SCARE.
FOR ALL CONCERNED, IT WAS THE SAFEST BET.
THERE WAS A GRUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE
WHEN HE HAD TO GO TO SCHOOL,
FOR MOWGLI WAS NEAR SEVENTEEN
AND THOUGHT HE KNEW THE RULES.
HE LIKED BALOO, BUT HE KNEW MORE.
THE LAW-TALK WAS BUT A CHILD’S CHORE.
GRUMBLE. GRUMBLE. GRUMBLE THROUGH THE JUNGLE.
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MUSIC SAMPLES
Piano-Vocals (Digitals Only)
"Bandar-Log
Boogie"
"The Hunting
of Kaa"
"A Jungle Book"
"Shere Khan's Stampede"
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SCENE SAMPLE
Act I, Scene 5
(Lights up on KIPLING, now dressed in subdued greys and blacks. It is a
romantic evening cast in silvery moonlight. Animals pair off into mated
couples behind KIPLING. MOWGLI bravely looks on as each of his animal
friends finds a lover; he searches the jungle for his own mate.)
KIPLING
(In orotund fashion.) Troubles shared, and friends who care. No better life
exists for a boy. Yet a young man needs something else. The jungle sends for
cubs in Spring Running with cool evenings and heated looks. (MOWGLI, seeing
that no female is coming for him, sits down with low spirits.) It sends for
cubs to all but Mowgli. A pair, after all, is two who are alike, and who
beneath the canopy is like poor Mowgli-Frog?
(With a kind look spared for MOWGLI, KIPLING exits. A blue spot features
MOWGLI as the remainder of the stage fades to black.)
SONG: NOBODY FOR ME
MOWGLI
I HEAR THE HUM OF A SEASON DONE
AND A SEASON ON THE RISE,
THE SOUND OF SPRING ON ITS FORWARD RUN
ENDING DRY-TIME LULLABIES,
AND ALL MY BROTHERS LEAVE ME FOR A TALK THAT’S NEW.
THEY SPEAK OF SEEKING FOR A MATE TO LOVE THEM TRUE.
THEY ALL PREPARE A LAIR
THAT’S PERFECT FOR A PAIR,
AND I REMAIN BEHIND, ALONE.
DOES A MATE AWAIT FOR ME, TOO;
SOFT OF HAIR WITH EYES BRIGHT AS DEW
AND A TENDER HAND?
NO, SUCH WAS NEVER PLANNED.
THERE’S NOBODY FOR ME.
(A beautiful girl around MOWGLI’s age enters and is spotlighted in gold. She
is dressed in a purple sari, but her head is uncovered, allowing rich, raven
tresses to spill down her back. She listens to MOWGLI’s song with great
sadness.)
ELEPHANT RAIN WASHES SCENTS AWAY
THAT MADE THE AIR HANG STALE AND HEAVY.
TREE SAP POUNDS WITH A PULSING BEAT
THAT SETS THE STEP FOR A LOVE THAT’S STEADY.
MOSSES CURL AND FRONDS UNFURL
SO THEY FRAME THE MOON-LIT NIGHTS TO SHARE,
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT I’M NOT WANTED THERE.
WHERE IS THERE A GIRL I CAN FIND
WHO CAN FILL THE SPACE DEEP INSIDE
WHERE HAPPINESS ONCE GLEAMED?
SHE’S ONLY IN MY DREAMS.
THERE’S NOBODY FOR ME.
(MOWGLI sings the final verse directly to the girl and then pointedly turns
away from her. Her spot fades and she exits as the music ends. MOWGLI’s spot
also fades, and the lights rise to their original levels. MOWGLI adopts a
blue funk posture. BAGHEERA enters with his mate. He spies MOWGLI and nudges
his mate offstage. He approaches MOWGLI with sympathy.)
BAGHEERA
Sad Mowgli-Frog. You wear a look that is longer than the beak of Chil the
kite.
MOWGLI
I have reason, my brother. I have been left behind on the hunt.
BAGHEERA
Who would dare such a slight?
MOWGLI
You yourself, and all others who have claimed a life-partner. These are
hunts denied to me. And rightly so. Why should the jungle wish cubs from me?
My nails do not cut. My teeth do not tear. I fight well, but respect is not
love. I am nothing, and so I have nothing.
SONG: SET THE TREND
BAGHEERA
(Sternly.) No creature is nothing, but belonging is about proving you have
something. If I learned anything in Oodeypore, it is that the man with the
loudest voice soon has all he needs.
IF YOU CRAVE A ROYAL PORTION OF ATTENTION
AND YOU’RE DONE WITH BEING DRUMMED
OUT OF THE CLIQUES,
YOU CAN RISE TO THE HEIGHT OF YOUR AMBITIONS
WITH THIS HANDY DANDY TRICK FOR BEING SLICK:
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS TAKE WHAT MAKES YOU WORTHLESS
AND PRETEND THAT IT’S IN HIGH DEMAND.
IN A TRICE THIS DEVICE WILL ENTICE YOUR BLISS,
FOR YOU’LL WIN RENOWN BY STARTING A TREND.
JUST SET THE TREND,
AND YOU’LL FIND YOU’RE ON THE TOP OF THE HEAP
WHERE EV’RY VIEW YOU PICK AND CHOOSE IS ROSY-FINE.
JUST SET THE TREND
AND YOU’LL DRUB THE DRUM
THAT MARKS EV’RY BEAT
WHILE YOU LEAD THE MARCH AS MASTER OF THE LINE.
NOW CONSIDER SMELLY TABAQUI THE JACKAL.
HE WAS ONCE A MANGY DOG OF LOWER CASTE.
AS A HUNTER, WELL, HE WAS A DEBACLE
FOR HE COULDN’T SNIFF A SCENT IF IT BLEW PAST,
BUT HE FOUND THAT HE HAD QUITE THE NOSE FOR SPOILAGE
OF THE GROSSEST AND MOST GRUESOME BEND.
HE ATTAINED PASSING FAME AS DECAY’S GOURMET
AND THE POSTER BOY FOR PRIME CARRION.
JUST SET THE TREND,
AND YOU’RE SUDDENLY A SUPER SUCCESS
WHO PUTS THE KICK INSIDE THE HIP OF HIP-HOORAY.
JUST SET THE TREND
AND YOU’RE UP AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST,
STANDING PROUDLY WHEN THE BANNERS START TO WAVE.
MOR THE PEACOCK’S WINGS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN PRETTY,
MOWGLI
BUT HIS FEATHERS SET THE FASHION FOR THE FLOCKS.
BAGHEERA
OUR FRIEND SAHI THE PORCUPINE IS PRICKLY,
MOWGLI
BUT HE CLEARS THE TRAILS BY HOOKING OUT THE ROT.
BAGHEERA
THEN, OF COURSE, THE PACHYDERM WE KNOW AS HATHI
IS AS CLUMSY AS THEY EVER COME,
MOWGLI
BUT HIS HULK AND HIS BULK MAKE US ALL EXULT
WHEN HE BLOCKS THE BURNING AFTERNOON SUN.
BAGHEERA
JUST SET THE TREND AND YOU’LL HAVE
THE MIGHTY AT YOUR COMMAND.
MOWGLI
I CAN CLAIM THE GREATEST NAMES AS CLOSEST KIN!
BAGHEERA
JUST SET THE TREND AND THE WORLD IS
IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND.
YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL IF YOU
JUST SET THE TREND!
MOWGLI
I CAN HAVE IT ALL
IF I JUST SET THE TREND!
(MOWGLI, grimly determined, begins to march offstage.)
BAGHEERA
My brother, why do you leave?
MOWGLI
I leave to claim the attention of my mate. The nobler the deed, the sooner
the response. I leave to slay the terrible Shere Khan!
(MOWGLI exits. BAGHEERA, most upset that MOWGLI has taken his counsel to
such extremes, hastens to follow. Blackout.)
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ART SAMPLES
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