SAMPLE SCENE
Act I, Scene 7
[Miranda’s studio. MIRANDA has just started singing the intro to "IS THIS LOVE?" (SONG 11). She is wearing yet another exotic outfit. FREDDY enters, with a large log over his shoulder. He drops the log and listens. ARIEL and DIVAS watch the romance develop.]
I WONDER IF SOME DAY I’LL MEET SOMEONE WHO’LL SAY
THAT I’M THE GREATEST PASSION IN HIS LIFE
I WONDER HOW MY LIPS WOULD FEEL IF THEY WERE KISSED
BY A MAN WHO DARED TO SHARE HIS LOVE FOR ME LIKE THIS
| FREDDY | I love your voice. |
| MIRANDA | I didn’t know you were listening. |
| FREDDY | I’d like to hear more, Mandy—or is it "Amanda"? |
| MIRANDA | Actually, it’s "Miranda," but Daddy’s always called me "Mandy." |
| FREDDY | Miranda’s a beautiful name. It means "admirable," I think. [Impatient with "small talk," FREDDY is suddenly overwhelmed by passion.] And you, Miranda, are the most admirable girl I’ve ever met. All of a sudden you are what I care about most. [ARIEL smiles broadly and waves a magic wand over the lovers.] |
| MIRANDA | Me? |
| FREDDY | [with great passion and drama] Let the rocks and trees, the sun and stars, bear witness to these words, Miranda. I treasure you more than anything else in the world! |
| MIRANDA | [wiping away a tear] I’m a fool to cry when I’m feeling glad! |
| FREDDY | It’s o.k. to let your feelings out. [He approaches her tenderly.] |
| MIRANDA | This is all so new to me. |
| FREDDY | You can trust me. |
| MIRANDA | Can I? I don’t know whether to cry or shout or run away. |
| FREDDY | Why don’t you start by kissing me? |
| MIRANDA | [She’s giddy and excited.] I can’t. Not yet. Let me sing you that song now. |
| FREDDY | I’m all yours. |
[ MIRANDA sings "IS THIS LOVE," a tango (SONG 11). Before
she starts she reaches into her trunk of clothes for a feather boa and a fan. She is going to make FREDDY weak in the knees.]
HANDS ARE HOT, HEARTS ARE PUMPING RANDOMLY
WORDS ARE WRONG, COOL FACADES ARE CRUMBLING
LENGTHY EXCHANGES OF GAZES ARE NOT ENOUGH
I WONDER . . . IS THIS LOVE?
AWAY FROM YOU I CAN’T WAIT TO HOLD YOU DEAR
WONDERING WHAT I’LL WEAR WHEN NEXT YOU’RE NEAR
LIVING WITH ALL OF THIS TINGLING IS AWFULLY TOUGH
I WONDER . . . IS THIS LOVE?
[THE DIVAS delight in the singing and dancing.]
IS IT LOVE WHEN SOUNDS OF THE STREET
MAKE A MELODY?
IS IT LOVE WHEN LONGING BECOMES
A NEW ABILITY?
[MIRANDA gets FREDDY to dance with her.]
WHO’S TO SAY WHAT LOVE WE’LL MAKE PRIVATELY
WHEN OUR HEARTS AND OUR SOULS JOIN AVIDLY
HEAD OVER HEELS, I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M THINKING OF
BUT I’M CERTAIN . . . THIS IS LOVE!
[At the end of the song FREDDY and MIRANDA kiss. ARIEL and the DIVAS wave magic wands and scatter glitter. The scene fades to black.]
Often, the arts can help us find meaning, solve problems and provide instruments for living when words aren't enough. Ariel's Way is a wonderful example. This lively, original musical offers us tools for participating in forgiveness, repairing relationships and opening doors for communication between parents and teenagers. And you'll leave the theater humming the tunes. Who could ask for anything more?
Linda Belans
Director, Health Arts Network at Duke University (HAND)
