Love and Idols/A Jewish Opera by Barry J. Drogin Copyright (C) 1985 LOVE AND IDOLS (000) About "Love and Idols" (020) Cast of Characters (010) Preface (022) SCENE 1 - Susan's room (000) Opening (029) "Why does she have to die?" - Susan (038) "When hard rain poured on paradise" - Death (049) SCENE 2 - The Garden of Eden (000) Transition (004) "Nobody here but you" - Adam & Eve (063) "That's the Tree of Death" - Eve, Death, Susan (014) "Who commands, 'Do As I Directed'?" - Susan, Eve (030) SCENE 3 - The Sinai Desert (000) Scene change (004) "In Egypt" - Death (030) "Truth for breakfast, G-d at noon" - Bride, Moses (111) "Stay in Egypt" - Moses (027) "I'm Hahmahlehch Hahmahveht" - Death (089) SCENE 4 - King Solomon's Throne Room (000) Scene change (004) "Earth's a planetary school" - Solomon (047) "I bring many presents" - Sheba (076) "Love and Idols" - Solomon, Sheba, Death (071) SCENE 5 - Susan's room (000) Scene change (004) "Stop this torture!" - Susan (069) EPILOGUE (000) Bows (018) "Amidah" - ensemble (040) LOVE AND IDOLS A Jewish Opera by Barry J. Drogin Adapted from the dramatic poem, "All in Good Time" by Matthew Paris This file constitutes the libretto of "Love and Idols," a copyrighted work. As such, it cannot be reproduced, duplicated or distributed in any way without the express written consent of Barry Drogin. Inquiries toward the production of this opera can be made by contacting: Barry Drogin 720 Greenwich St. #5T NY, NY 10014 (212) 243-8784 e-mail: barry@notnicemusic.com CAST OF CHARACTERS SUSAN - a young child, soprano with pure tone DEATH - the Angel of Death, operatic bass or baritone ADAM (also MOSES and SOLOMON) - comic theatre baritone or tenor EVE (also BRIDE and SHEBA) - husky low alto, may be black A wind bore me between earth and heaven and brought me to Jerusalem in a divine vision, to the entrance of the gate of the inner court that faces north, where the statue of outrage that outrages was situated. There I saw the Majesty of the G-d of Israel, like the apparition I had seen in the plain... He said to me, "Go in and see the evil abominations that they are committing here." I went in and saw that there were figures of all sorts of creeping things and beasts, detestations and all the idols of the house of Israel engraved on the wall all around... He brought me to the entrance of the gate of the house of the Lord that is on the north, and there sat the women who were wailing for Tammuz... Then he brought me to the inner court of the house of the Lord, and there at the entrance of the Lord's temple, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men whose backs were turned east and they were prostrating themselves eastward to the sun... He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very very great. The land is full of bloodshed and the city full of injustice, for they say, 'The Lord has left the land; the Lord does not see.' For my part, my eye shall not spare nor will I have pity; I will bring their ways down on their heads!" Ezekiel, 8 & 9 SCENE 1 (SUSAN's room. SUSAN sits on the floor, hugging a broken doll. There is a shoe box in front of her.) SUSAN: Yiskapill, yiskapahl, Yiskapool, yiskapawl... ALL: Bareech Hoo! SUSAN: Yihay, shlay, Yihoo, shloo, Yihahlilu... ALL: Amen! SUSAN: OTHERS: (background) We've gathered here Yees'gahdahl To shed a tear. Vihyees'kahdahsh Our friend, my doll, is dead. Sh'may rahbah. Let's moan and cry Bihahl'mah Dee V'rah And say goodbye Cheerihoosay. And put her in this bed. Vihyah m'leek mahl'choosay. I loved her so Bihchahyaychohn But she must go Oovihyohmaychohn To rest beneath the floor. Oovihchahyay dihchahl bayt Yees'rahayl I'm not sure why Bahahgahlah This doll must die Ooveez'mahn kahreev Or what her dying's for. Viheem'roo Ahmayn. SUSAN: (Alone) Why does she have to die? And leave me alone to cry? Alone to myself And nobody else cares for me! Why does she have to leave? Why must I be left to grieve? I'm left on my own To face an unknown I can't see. What is tomorrow but sadness and sorrow, A day without sun. What is devotion but wasted emotion, I am one! Why does she have to go? Claimed by a death I won't know? Death, take me, too! And keep me from new misery! (Dramatically, the Angel of Death, Hahmahlahch Hahmahveht (alternately, Hahmahlahch Hahmahsh'cheet in Exod. XII, 23 and II Sam. XXIV, 16, the "destroyer"), appears.) DEATH: Silence! Silence! Don't waste your breath on plaints or pleas For I am Death and G-d decrees: This doll is dead, this doll is mine, So saith G-d divine! No need to shake, your soul can stay. I've come to take your doll away. This doll is dead, this doll is mine; So saith G-d divine! SUSAN: Dear Angel, Ghost of the Departed, Please don't leave me broken-hearted. I'll give you my doll if I can go with her Or, like my doll, I'll wither. DEATH: When hard rain poured on paradise did Eve complain? She heard like a snaky hiss those hushed hymns. Lilith, once her man's old lover, Chanted and danced in the grey mist. Love had its end! And now another clung to Adam warmer than freedom and the hot wind. Did Rachel weep with Jacob wed to weak-eyed Leah? She acted dumb, mute and numb; her sighs were hid. One night, cried Jacob, fatigued but chastened, "Were I rid of Leah I'd leap into your bed!" Rachel listened and she grieved, but she believed. David loved a bride. He made a maid an aging mother every moment of his long life. Love, imminent love, He had bought sung and lied to each young wife Which, thought the king, meant everything In the ecstacy of court or bed. Instead a king must be in this condition: War or bed, a politician! Is breath Truth? In Love there's none. Fools map the wind. G-d is One! SUSAN: Spare me your speeches. Lectures are punishment. DEATH: History teaches. Hear my admonishment. SUSAN: Spare me your lessons. I want to die! Let's go fly in the sky! DEATH:(angrily and threatening) I'll kill you when G-d says its your turn. But still you have much more to learn. (The scenery starts to change) I'll thrill you with trips to distant lands... SUSAN: Where are we going? DEATH: Until you change your mind and understand! (The stage is completely transformed.) SCENE 2 (The Garden of Eden. SUSAN and DEATH hide behind a tree.) ADAM: EVE: I have sinned with demons of wind I hate your snoring. Though a couple of angels would do. Eden is boring. EVE: ADAM: You'd think in the East It's not alluring, There's an amorous feast. This lousy zoo. ADAM & EVE: But there's nobody here but you. Nobody here but you, Nobody here but you, Nobody here but you. ADAM: EVE: You're so glib you say you're my rib I'd like to sever And G-d only knows what is true. What's joined forever. EVE: ADAM: You're dull as a loon Try some endeavor, And you're never in tune. Anything new. ADAM & EVE: But there's nobody here but you, etc. ADAM: EVE: Love's a hunt, a beast to confront, Why bother scheming? Or a demon to flee or pursue. I should be steaming. EVE: ADAM: I'd seek a divorce Perhaps I'm dreaming? But I have no recourse, Choices are few, ADAM & EVE: Since there's nobody here but you, etc. SUSAN: They should both avoid... DEATH: ADAM & EVE: Keep quiet, Susan! Nobody here but you... SUSAN: What makes them annoyed. DEATH: ADAM & EVE: That's not amusin'. Nobody here... DEATH: They are the sort who petition G-d's court. They would cut their love short just for sport! ADAM & EVE:(exiting) Nobody here but, nobody here but... (ADAM exits but EVE bumps into SUSAN. EVE cannot see DEATH.) EVE: You are new. SUSAN:(to Death) What do I say? EVE: Who are you? SUSAN: This is not play! EVE: SUSAN: Am I awake? Is it my wish? Angel, Are you a snake? Are you a fish? Help me, Are you a tasty dish? I pray! SUSAN: EVE: I'm not a dish to eat. Come here, Not snake or fish or meat. My sweet. No cake or fruity treat! Come to eat! (Pointing to the Tree of Knowledge) There's a tree with fruit galore. Food for free and plenty more. EVE: That's the tree of DEATH: Death and Reason. That's the tree of SUSAN: It bears fruit that Death. It It bears fruit of Knows no season. Knows no season. Death? How Always tempting, Always, Tempting it Always teasing... Always... All is... Life is long, the Life is long, the Life is short, Sun is bright for Sun is bright for And bright are Those who don't know Those who don't Those who ca- Wrong from what is Know Wring from Vort in Right! Right! Spite! (SUSAN pulls a piece of fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.) SUSAN: Who commands, "Do as I directed"? No one's affected. Nothing will show. Who demands, "Do as I require"? Feed your desire. No one will know! Revel in secret games! Conjure up secret names! No one is watching, Nobody tells or blames! EVE: Who decrees, "Follow my restrictions"? SUSAN: Who writes these fictions? Who writes the book? SUSAN & EVE: Do as you please without reservation. SUSAN: Take a vacation. SUSAN & EVE: No one will look! EVE: I deserve more. SUSAN: My life is a bore. EVE: I'm hungry and poor. SUSAN & EVE: What is life for? (EVE takes the fruit from SUSAN, and the stage is immediately transformed by DEATH into a desert. EVE sees DEATH, screams, and exits.) SCENE 3 (Near the Egyptian pyramids.) DEATH:(angrily and threatening) In Egypt they're obsessed with my presence. Both rulers and peasants sacrifice to me! Deserts make a perfect border, They keep men in order with nowhere to flee. SUSAN:(bravely) Sun and sand are fun for kids And so are dolls and pyramids. (playfully) Look! A lion-doll that winks! DEATH: Silly girl that's the Sphinx. In Egypt the Sphinx and its riddle Are lost in the middle of servants and slaves. They worship a king called the Pharaoh Whose vision is narrow, devoted to graves. (sinister) Death is dry and death is barren. Tears you cry absorbed, uncaring. Mummies wrapped will not decay But their souls will rot away! (grandly) The sand spreads from era to era. And years disappear amidst the pyramids. The Pharaoh may rule the nation But the Earth is G-d's creation! (DEATH takes SUSAN to hide behind a nearby formation. MOSES wanders on, deep in thought and oblivious to the world, followed by his BRIDE, carrying all the luggage.) BRIDE: I get... ALL: Truth for breakfast, G-d at noon. BRIDE: Moses, you call this a honeymoon? You never talk dirty, you're always in prayer, You leave every night to go G-d knows where! I get... ALL: Truth for breakfast, G-d at noon. BRIDE: No spice of life on my honeymoon. I may be an old-fashioned girl from old Cush, But I know when a wise guy Is wandering the Sinai, (suggestively) He won't find a flaming bush! MOSES: Darling, I can sympathize with you. Rancor, pain and sighs are all my due. Kings can worship idols And they still can keep their titles, But a prophet must obey G-d's every wish Or he could end up in a fish! If G-d were mute or prophets did not hear, I would do your bid, and gladly, dear. But when I go out walking I find G-d does all the talking, So I'm on a holy mission I can't fail: To take a trip to Yisrael. BRIDE: Trek with you? With the camels and Jews? Never hearing of fads or latest news? Eating insects, drinking phlegm, To reach a new Jerusalem?! Yecch! Leave the hut? To find freedom --- for what? To get weary, to starve, to break a gut? Talk of travel turns me blue; Jabbering's all you prophets do! I've heard such Libyan rant before. Carnal love would enchant me more! MOSES: If I see, can one blame me? If I hear, what can claim me? BRIDE: Oh, women loved by prophets tend to nod. Their rival is not boredom, but G-d! MOSES: G-d is the architect... BRIDE: Teach your slaves, Moshe! MOSES: Who designed love's endless spice! BRIDE: Preacher to stones! MOSES: G-d helped us resurrect This mirror of paradise! MOSES, DEATH & SUSAN: Dream of Eden! BRIDE: We fled that jeweled eternity... MOSES, DEATH & SUSAN: Dream of Eden! BRIDE: Picking fruit from the wrong tree! MOSES, DEATH & SUSAN: Dream of Eden! SUSAN:(running out from hiding) Prophet, I've been there before. It's just a big colossal bore! MOSES: Who's this ghostly child... BRIDE: Yes, who are you, my little spy? MOSES: With such thoughts beguiled? SUSAN: I learned that Eden's cute and dull But pyramids are beautiful! BRIDE: Like tempted Eve, He wants to leave! Does the Lord Give room and board? MOSES: You favor jail To Yisrael! Only dummies Work for mummies! BRIDE: Your promised land Is full of sand! You can roam, I'll stay at home! MOSES: But we're not free! It's misery! Building things For pagan kings! SUSAN: You both are crazed, And I'm amazed; Egypt is a place For kids to play! MOSES:(stopping everything) A child, your thoughts are cursory; Egypt is your nursery. Some men are brave but seem crazy To the slave, the dead, the lazy. Stay in Egypt! Stay in Egypt! Like kids afraid, they cry of death. The wind seems laid with icy breath. Stay in Egypt! Stay in Egypt Where the desert keeps men hid. Yes, Egypt's perfect for a kid! (SUSAN covers her ears and closes her eyes. When she reopens them, MOSES and his BRIDE are gone.) SUSAN:(pleading) Spare me your speeches! Lectures are punishment! DEATH: History teaches. Hear my admonishment... SUSAN: What do you want from me? Take my doll! Take my love! Take everything! Take my life! DEATH:(aside to audience) I don't mean to disillusion her, But I'm the Lord's High Executioner And I've got a little list Which says who shall not exist. She can yell or spout a sonnet, But poor Susan isn't on it. So I'll calm her indignation With some tales of my vocation Spouting lyrics metropolitan Like a Gilbert or a Sullivan. (to Susan) Dear Susan, your hunger To die when you're younger Is short-lived and will not last. Most souls I am fetching Are aged and retching... Or wretched and aging fast. I meet with resistance, They plead for existence But none of them may survive For I have been given A list of the livin'... Who mustn't remain alive. (Chorus:) I'm Hahmahlehch Hahmahveht, It's a job but I love it! And there's nothin' that's surpassin' Being known as G-d's assassin! But Susan, you must live, You forget and He'll forgive. Unless you're on the list You must exist. There's someone I'll bump off By making him jump off A ship on the bounding main. While others more gory Fall seventeen stories --- It's messy but it's humane. I don't always mangle I also will strangle With pillows and hanging drapes. I have to be certain That it will mean curtains... (Curtains, ha!) And nobody will escape. (Chorus:) I'm Hahmahlehch Hahmahveht, etc. I'll kill 'em, I'll slay 'em, I'll sing a "Te Deum," Chant "Kaddish" or "Requiem." I'm non-denominational, It's strictly occupational, And part of the postmortem. Oh, nothing is diviner Than the crash of an airliner In the morning! (Three hundred in one fell swoop!) Dead-drunks are deadly They slaughter a medley Of drivers and passers-by, The smoker who wheezes Gets fatal diseases... And kills off his neighbor beside! While other destroyers Like taxes and lawyers Keep everyone running in place. 'Twixt vices and dole There isn't much soul... That's left in the human race. (Chorus:) I'm Hahmahlehch Hahmahveht, It's a job but I love it! And there's nothin' that's surpassin' Being known as G-d's assassin! But Susan, you must live, You forget and He'll forgive. Unless you're on the list You cannot be dismissed, Don't be a nihilist! You must exist! (Blackout. A regal fanfare is heard.) SCENE 4 (The throne room of King SOLOMON.) SOLOMON:(angrily pontificating) Earth's a planetary school Where one learns to be a fool. Parents and children, stuffed with scorn, Rail at one another for being born But fools learn love is true and deep While they woo or go to sleep. They ape the Greeks, they ape the Persians, They mimic all the glum perversions. They go with priests to sacrifice A goat to balance their constant vice. Some learn that kings control our lives, Others know it's kids and wives. (summing up) One lusts, or loves who's sinned. Love is water; hope is wind. (privately) I begged our Lord to make me wise, To burn all labyrinthine lies. Yet the path to truth is flowered With the poppy, for both king and coward. (slyly) G-d keeps goddesses above For those tired of Earthly love. Enthralling angels with a ring, The devils brought me everything! Tartar nymphs half-bathed in light, Dark dreams of the Edomite, Milky Astartes, creamy Thanits, Odalisques from other planets. Thus I coupled with the wind, Slept with Earth, with star-whores spinned. Such pleasures are rarely given By the seraphim in Heaven. (Sighs. Then, as in the beginning) Earth's a planetary school Where one learns to be a fool. Some try to hoard the land and gold While endless armies plunder and turn them old. Each court is filled with thieves and bores. Politics is judging whores... (SOLOMON is interrupted by a fanfare) She comes! The Queen of Sheba comes! (SOLOMON hides behind the throne. DEATH and SUSAN act as servants, continuously bringing gifts onstage. The Queen of SHEBA enters and, not seeing SOLOMON, announces herself.) SHEBA: I bring Many presents for such a wise king, Golden pheasants and lots of nice things, An abundance of herb and spice. Payment: I have braided the holy raiment As was stated in our arrangement; A political paradise! Gold for the mold of his throne. Goods made of woods and of stone. Gods with the odds on their side. Idols who abide! (SHEBA sits upon the throne.) Treasure And the wonder of regal pleasure. Nights of thunder and days of leisure Beyond measure, Beyond price! (SOLOMON peaks out from behind the throne and, unseen by SHEBA sings to the audience.) SOLOMON: I have carried out a slaughter. I have married Pharaoh's daughter. I have lists of trysts With knives and wives And slaves from every quarter. I receive her gifts of bridles, Make-believe I trust in idols, Talk of love above The hip to strip The woman of her titles. I accept her carnal favor. Though inept, she's quite a craver. As I tire of fire Her lust for lust Can give my life a flavor. But these games do not delight me. Human flames do not excite me. Given mortal sport In bed, I'm dead And can't deliver nightly. And the Queen's a lousy lover, Causing scenes with those above her. (SOLOMON glances upwards. Then, secretly) So I keep it undercover. (Laughs at his own pun, then) Not a peep or He'll discover. (Forgetting himself, SOLOMON emerges from behind the throne.) Yes, our sex is classified. The effects, unverified. I'm forever terrified G-d knows! And I'm never satisfied! (SOLOMON, all caught up, continues singing. SHEBA, unnoticed, sings to him.) SOLOMON: SHEBA: Earth's a planetary school I bring Where one learns to be a Many presents for such a wise fool. king, Golden pheasants and lots of Parents and children, Nice things, Stuffed with scorn, An abundance of herb and Rail at one another for Spice. Being born. (SHEBA grabs on to SOLOMON. Noticing her, he fights to get away.) Some learn that kings Treasure Control our lives. Others And the wonder of regal Know it's kids and wives! Pleasure, beyond price! SOLOMON:(breaking away, spoken) No! You cannot purchase my love with false gods! I seek truth! SHEBA: Queens can give gifts. SOLOMON: Queens can buy passion. DEATH: Queens can set style and fashion. SOLOMON: Kings can wed wives. SHEBA: Kings can keep titles. SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Kings can have love and idols. (Chorus:) Love and idols... SOLOMON: Prophets and thrones... SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Court recitals... SHEBA: Tributes and stones... SOLOMON & SHEBA: Birth entitles... DEATH: Death will atone. SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Love and idols! SOLOMON & SHEBA: I'm still alone. DEATH: Queens can sell slaves. SOLOMON: Queens can wield power. SOLOMON & DEATH: Queens can rule fields that flower. DEATH: Kings can find fame. SHEBA: Kings can show wisdom. SHEBA & DEATH: Kings can hold all their kingdom. (Chorus:) SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Love and idols... SOLOMON: Prophets and thrones... SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Court recitals... SHEBA: Tributes and stones... SOLOMON & SHEBA: Birth entitles... DEATH: Death will atone. SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: Love and idols, love and idols, love... SHEBA: And harps! DEATH: And psalms! SOLOMON: And gold! SHEBA: And land! DEATH: And poetry! SOLOMON, SHEBA & DEATH: And music! We're all alone! (SOLOMON, SHEBA and DEATH suddenly disappear, and SUSAN finds herself back in her room, as in the beginning.) SCENE 5 (SUSAN's room, as in Scene 1.) SUSAN: Stop this torture! I don't understand! Oh, I'm alone with my doll, This doll I loved... But Love brought this torture For I had a rival; Death claimed my love, As Leah claimed Jacob from Rachel, And as Lilith lost Adam to Eve. Adam and Eve Alone in the forest. No rival, Yet hungry for more from love. Lusting for pleasure like Moses's bride. Moses's bride Afraid to leave home, While Moses has dreams of paradise. Dreams of Eden, Dreams of freedom, Dreams of kingdoms and thrones and land! Love and Idols, Prophets and thrones, Court recitals, Tributes and stones. They've wealth and titles, I'm all alone... Why must I be alone? Why must dolls always break? I wish this night would end! Maybe tomorrow I'll get a new doll, Maybe tomorrow I'll find a new love, Maybe tomorrow I'll live a new life! But this night is endless For time is controlled by Angels of G-d! Angel of G-d! Angel of G-d, Angel of power and time, Bring a new day. Make a new morning of light! Fill me with feelings of love! Guide me to goodness and peace! Angel of life, Angel of blessing and hope! If there's a G-d, Praise Him. Praise Him with love and with offerings... (after consideration) Give Him my doll! (A clock strikes twelve times. Spoken, terrified) Midnight! DEATH:(heard from offstage) Susan! (The Angel of DEATH enters.) Susan! With midnight there's this final twist, For G-d prepares a brand new list. Your name appears! Your soul is mine! So saith G-d divine! (The Angel of DEATH grabs SUSAN by the throat and drags her offstage as the curtain falls. The opera appears to be over.) EPILOGUE (SHEBA enters for her bows, followed by SOLOMON, and then SUSAN. When DEATH enters, however, he stops the applause of the audience.) DEATH: Silence! Silence! None greet Death with hands or laughter; They love clowns whom I kill after. Yet I'm the seraph for their strife Delivering men from life. My presence rarely brings applause And so let's sing in praise of G-d's laws. Silence! Silence! Now fill the air With this wondrous Hebrew prayer: ALL: (translation) Ehlohai, Lord on High, Nihtzoor lihshohnee mayrah. Guard my tongue from evil. Ehlohai, Lord on High, Oos'fahtah meedahbayr meer'mah. And my lips from speaking guile. Vihleemihkahlihlah nahf'shee, And to the slandering spirits, Teedohm. Give no heed. Vihnahf'shee kehahfahr, My soul, make humble, Lahkohl tee'yeh. And all, forgive. Ehlohai, Lord on High, Pihtach leebee bihtohrahtehcha Open my heart to Torah Oovihmeetz'vohtehcha And to thy commandments Teer'dohf nahf'shee. To pursue with my soul. Vihcohl hahchohsh'veem And all those plotting, Ahlai Rahah, Yoke with misfortune, Mihhayrah hahfayr ahtzahtahm Speedily their aims defeat Vihkahl'kayl mahchahshahv'tahm. And thwart their intentions. Ahsay lihmahahn shihmehcha, Act for the sake of thy name, Ahsay lihmahahn yihmeenehcha, Act for the sake of thy power, Ahsay lihmahahn kihdooshahtehcha, Act for the sake of thy holiness, Ahsay lihmahahn tohrahtehcha. Act for the sake of thy Torah. Lihmahahn For the sake of Yaychahl'tzoon yihdeedehcha, The hopes of my loved ones, Hohsheeyah yihmeenihchah. Save us with thy power. Hahahnaynee! Answer us! Yee'yoo lihrahtzohn May you accept Eemihrayfee The speech of my mouth Vihhehgihyohn leebee. And the meditation of my heart. Lihfahnehchah May you accept them Ahdonoy, Tzooree, Vihgohahlee. Oh Lord, My Rock, My Redeemer. Ehlohai, Lord on High, Ohseh shahlohm beem'rohmahv You have made peace in heaven Hoo yahahseh shahlohm ahlaynoo So grant peace to us Vihahlkahl Yees'rahayl. And to all Israel. Viheem'roo Ahmayn. Let us say, Amen. (Curtain.)