Mistaken Identity

Song: Mitten theme

Today we find Hugs feeding his chickens in the garden. passing by the postman says "hey what you doing?"

"feeding my chickens" says Hugs

the postman looks to see the chickens that Hugs is referring too but can't see any, "but there arn't any chickens"

"guess they ain't hungry today" is the reply from Hugs

"you're crazy man!" says the postman as he hands a parcel over to Hugs

Hugs has a good look at the parcel "wow, look at this, I wonder what is in here"

(sees audience) well, hello. Good to see you again. Hope you are feeling mittentastic!

You know, faces are amazing things; we can do so much with our  faces. We can laugh, smile, frown, blow a kiss, and some people are  lucky enough to have two faces. Do you know anyone with two faces? how do we recognise people?

Fish wanders into the garden pushing his trolley full of bits and pieces of strange and wonderous stuff (lots of metal objects, some of it looks very silly) so that he can build his inventions. For the next few shows he begins to build an Automista

Hugs: morning Fish, its another beautiful day,
song: wake up

wake up, its a beautiful day
now all the little clouds have gone away
wake up, its a new day
now all the stars have gone to play away

Hugs: how do we recognise people? how do i tell my chickens apart? is it their feathers? the beaks? the sound of the 'Per Ker'. or is it their cheeky personalites that show us who they really are

I know what you are asking, do i ever mistake one chicken for another? well only when they are in disguise, for as we all know, chickens love their magic and are masters of illusion and surprise

(Ophelia Nads comes into the garden and begins to put items on the washing line,  items that a drag queen might use. A wig, feather boa, tights, a fabulous dress, fake boobs, etc)

Hugs: everyday is a new adventure in mitten town. (He goes to Ophelia and gives her a hug)

Ophelia: (touched) why, thank you Hugs. You are as sweet as ever. If  only everyone was as sweet as you.

Hugs: why, so, people been giving you a hard time.

Ophelia: only the usual, some people can only take so much gorgeousness and then they go into overload.

Hugs
What is it that makes us like people? What are the things that make us enjoy being with people? Friendship? What does that mean? Tolerance? Acceptance? Do we like people only if they agree with us? What if we disagree? Or we misunderstand someone's intentions? Can one of our friends get away with more that others? Why is that? How do we draw the line to make sure people know what we will and won't accept? How do we look after each other? What are the signs we look for in others?

Song: washing line

Ophelia
I met her on the washing line of life.
I hope for inner calm, so I can come to no harm.
Francis won't you marry me.
I'm now on bended knee.
Francis Taylor she's my saviour.

Washing line
I'm doing fine I meet her on the washing line of hope. I picture her so clearly, want to hold and have her near me.
Giving me her time. Is such a precious thing to do. When there's so many people like me to choose what do you do?

Ruby Wise comes into the garden and starts singing the next verse

Oh Francis, don't ever quit. You know that, we can have such a huge hit.

You are special and delicious.
I won't ever be suspicious of the love you give to me.
The feeling of ecstasy of being in your arms and hear you whispering to me.

You can make it, give or break it. You can take it, to the stars. And make it on mars. There's nothing we can't do, that's what I'm telling you. We are divine, if you just take the time to find the inner you.

Francis Taylor, I'm in love with you.

I'm not cooking or doing the dishes. I'm too busy making wishes.

For the big escape, to planet mars. I'm packing a big balloon and a golden shinny spoon. Some matches and a big baboon.

Maybe a bit of smuff and some stuff and bits of fluff. I'm going to meet the snowflake maker, he will love and never break ya.

If only I'd been born 10 days later, we would have been a great creator,

But I'm happy to settle and appreciate the wonder and splendour of each and every gender and the sender is you.

Spirit really did the best when they made you.

Though we haven't met you yet
There is no single regret
That we love you
And your coming true

Stella comes into the garden,  sighing a deep deep sigh oh, "Ruby, I'm not feeling very strong today"

Ruby    (taking the clothes off the washing line) well, my name, Ruby. Named after a precious stone. some people can get jealous of that and jealousy is a nasty flavour. But ruby is my name, a gift from my parents. And I like it. And I see my name as a flavour of who I am.

There is much more to me than my name. For some people that's a lot to take.

But let me just take 5 minutes to pigeon hole myself. Sexual orientation, urgh I hate that expression, but lets get it out in the open, I'm a lesbian. Hate that expression but lets get it out in the open, I'm a lesbian. Hate that expression too. Gay lady? mmm, why not.

Because I had to face this and the reaction of the world to me and my sexuality. I've had to think about it, analyse it. Discuss it and realise that sexuality is not important. Its we do with our lives, how we interact with others that is important.

Now, you may not have noticed, but I'm Black. Now that's something I've had to face, to see how some of the world treats me because of my skin colour. I've had to face it, embrace it and learn to love that bit of myself and you know what? It's made me stronger. Now here's an interesting part, some people want to put me down because I'm a woman. Can you believe it? A woman! So with my sisters I've had to face, embrace me and become stronger as a result.

But there is one thing that I just cannot embrace, getting older. no matter how I try I cannot think positively about being older than I am, I guess its just because I am enjoying my life so much that I don't want to think about not being able to see the sky and smell and sweet sweet grass. But I know this, and you know, one day I will embrace it, but not today

All of this gave me confidence and with confidence comes wisdom. So, tell me, what aren't you feeling strong today?

Stella: it's this peanut butter jar, I can't open it
Ruby    you know, I feel a song coming on
Song: Washing line: reprise


Scene : kissing school
The scene becomes school and the playground

Scene: Inner-sense
The garden becomes mitten school

Kissing school
Young mittens keep the peace,
Why break the rules?
Mittens keep their cool.
 Sa sway fran swar,

Don't get the blues, its just for fools.

High Tea, the mitten robot comes onto the garden, there is a board with words on, High Tea points to the words and the mittens sing along

Inner sense
innersense.
Inner Space.
Inner Wealth.
Inner Peace.
Inner Joy.
Inner Calm.
Inner Sight.
Inner Touch.

If you feel it inner, you can be a winner.
Innersense, innersense,
everybody needs some innersence.

No matter if young,
No matter if old,
Inner beauty of you,
It has to be told

Stella leaves the school, but looks lost.

Stoned Crab (the hippy mitten) arrives. Hey Stella, you're looking lost, want to be found?

Stella: do you ever feel something is missing, sometimes I feel lost within myself, I don't know who I am. Maybe I should travel and try see who I am

Stoned Crab: but I know who you are, you are Stella and everyone loves you

Stella: thanks. But I fancy going to the big city. I don't know if I want to be a small-town girl anymore

Song: Small-town girl
She's a small-town girl with big town dreams She loves cocktail hour and laser beams Her town is too small And she wants out wants to hit the city, see what its all about

So so young and so naive
You wouldn't understand
What she comes to believe
She has no idea, but that's half of the fun Gives inspiration Keeps her mum on the run

So she starts with a plan
She starts with a list
Calls her friend 'Charlie, what have I missed'?
'Do I say my goodbyes as I wave from the car? Or send a postcard when I get to 'real far'?

So so real and so unsure
Had enough of this now wants some more
So so cool and so on a limb
The lessons she learned
Are completely thin

If I was you
I'd give up now
What you thinking about?
Why not stick around
Show this town what your really about

Nah nah nah nah
Nah nah nah nah
Gonna wave from the car
Small-town girl
And big town dreams
I'm as jealous as hell
Hope its all it seems

the scene becomes the city, Fukem, but on the way there are signs for Fukem. Fukem central, Fukem Daily. Fukem City. Fukem Gentle

Familiar mitten faces become strange characters

Song: city lights
All is quiet all is hushed
Do you know who to trust?
The city lights calling to you
City lights falling for you

Distant hum of cars and danger
And you won't be the first stranger
To get lost on the way, forgetting to pay

Chorus
There's a price to pay for being so, popular And no one likes you once your not, opening doors Better count your chickens and stick to the other side Coz the city lights will find you, no place to hide

Is it fortune is it fame?
Do you know who to blame?
The city lights are bright and confusing Take the fun out of the loosing

Could you find your way back?
Is it the knowledge that you lack?
The city lights are a beacon
But the truth is that they weaken, everything you do

Chorus

The city lights will never find you
The city lights will never bind you
The city lights its just illusion
City lights don't give in to delusion
City lights
Close your eyes and count to ten
Go back home and start again
You deserve a better view; the city ain't for the likes of you You're too good you're too unique; you would make the others weak

So go back home and ride the wave, we are too busy with the souls to save You will be better off take our word, these are the wisest words you have heard

Don't give in when you lose you still always win and you know its time to begin to let your heart fly

People exit from a bar, someone throws up on the floor

Stella: well, when they said the streets would be paved with gold, I didn't think it would be vomit  

Stella clicks her fingers three times. Cast make noise and sounds and movements to indicate that Stella is making her way back to mitten town


Garden returns to how it was at the beginning.

Epilogue
Hugs speaks to the audience and the fellow mittens as he starts to open the parcel delivered earlier.

Hugs: Well, what did we learn today?

Chickens like magic, learning is a great thing, sometimes you have to get lost to be found, washing lines are interesting things and you should always place a wish or dream on one.

Hugs takes out the parcel a birthday cake with candles on

“So, until we meet again

As you leave, don't forget your belongings

Shutters down”

Song: sitting on the dock of the bay

Zed sings

End