Musical Play: “The Oceanography Show”

The Show

We want you to know what you're getting, so the cast list and first third of the script are available here! Bad Wolf shows are written for flexibility and can be edited however you like to meet the needs of your actors, school, curriculum, parents, astrological chart, latest whim, etc. If you have questions about the portions of the script not shown, please contact us.

Casting

Flexible casting from 11-40 students. Use as many Fish, Plankton, Starfish, etc, as desired. Actors can easily play several roles, or a single role can be divided between multiple actors. All parts can be played by any gender.

CHARACTERS:

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 (composed of all students who are not playing their role on stage at that moment)

Script

This is the first one-third of the script.

Song 1

ENTIRE CLASS (entering):
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.

Song 2

POSEIDON:
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.

Song 3

ELIZABETH (to Construction Workers):
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...

(This concludes the first one-third of the script.)