Scene 6 Staging

Scene 6, pp. 30 - 40, m. 50 - 67

This is the most complicated scene for the leads, as just about everyone is involved. Keep reading and keep your wits about you!

Noye and his sons try to convince Mrs. Noye to get into the ark. The Gossips are scared by the rising waters. First they drink, then they run.

All of the Animals, the Sons and the Daughters-In-Law are in the ark (Jaffett and Mrs. Jaffett are on the top level). Noye is just outside of the ark (SL). Mrs. Noye and the Gossips are still at their pond (SR).

Noye cross CS to Mrs. Noye. Mrs. Noye stays SR.

Noye calls to Sem, who comes out of the ark and crosses to Noye. Noye speaks to Sem and then crosses SL. Sem crosses deliberately to Mrs. Noye.

After Sem's line, "look up and see the wynde", the Waves enter from the HR doors (John and Rick back door; Peggy and Pinkie front door). They move slowly so they are just in aisles.

2 measures before m. 55 Mrs. Noye shoos Sem away. At this point, the Waves move in the aisles, about 4 feet closer to stage. Sem runs back into the ark.

At m. 55 Gossips look up at Mrs. Noye, turning out to smile as she finishes "and I may save ther life". Waves give one menacing shake of their waves, Gossips see them and scream.

At m. 56 Waves slowly (one step per measure) start to move towards Gossips. Gossips are frozen and watch them as they sing. Waves stop moving when Gossips stop singing. Gossips remain almost frozen (as little movement as possible) through Noye's line.

At m. 58 Gossips do a quick move into each other. Waves stay in place, with small menacing arm movements.

At m. 59 Jaffett sings from top of ark and then moves down to Noye.

At m. 60, the Gossips stand up and start to encourage each other to drink, still keeping an eye on the Waves. The 3 sons are CS, strategizing about how to get their mother in the ark.

At the end of their "drink, drink, drink", the Gossips do a toast up with their arms and then flop down. They drink drink drink!

Sons stand just right of CS to sing to their mother. Mrs. Noye stands and looks at them as she responds(m. 63). She turns back to her Gossips at m. 64 and the Sons sneak in behind her. After her "my gossipes, my gossipes, my gossipes", Sem puts his hands on her shoulders and turns her around (Mrs. Noye leading). Ham takes her DS wrist; Jaffett takes her US wrist. They steer her towards the ark.

AT THE SAME TIME, at m. 65, the Waves sweep in and chase the Gossips out via the Center Aisle, all exiting through the HR back doors.

Mrs. Noye must be in the doorway of the ark by "And gette thee a newe wiffe!". Sons must be behind her in the ark. Noye is SL of her outside of the ark. After the boxing of the ears, Noye delivers his next line to to audience.

See what I mean? Complex. But it will be stunning when we get it all in place.