This Show Is Over

After all the songs, skits, jokes, etc., that have been going on, what better way to let the audience know the show is over than to say so? We decided to give students one more chance to tell a few jokes before they ended the program.

This song is going to require a bit of careful planning and blocking. Listen through it a few times to get a feel for how it goes together. Of note in particular is the vamp section at measure 27. We have indicated that the vamp occurs twice on the recording to accommodate four jokes before repeating to measure 5. There is a double bar at measure 27 to help you find it quickly when vamping. If you are doing the tune live, you can extend the vamp to any length you wish. And as always, you can have your students come up with their own jokes instead of the ones we have provided.

There are two audience hecklers who should be positioned apart from the group. At various points in the song, they have a conversation with each other about the fact that the audience isn't leaving despite the repeated musical announcement that the show is over. They grudgingly allow a few more jokes to occur to hopefully placate the audience and get them to go. Select two individuals who can deliver the lines clearly, with appropriate inflection, and within the time allowed. The same two actors should deliver these lines throughout.

For the jokes themselves, you could use the same jokesters each time and possibly alternate who asks and who answers. Or you could use as many students as possible. Consider dressing jokesters in old-fashioned vaudeville costumes - baggy pants with plaid or checkered coats and wide-brimmed straw hats. Be sure to organize how and where they will go to deliver their lines. They could be permanently positioned, or you could move them into position as needed.

Each of the jokes during the vamp are allotted eight measures. It would be very wise for you to cue the jokesters so that the timing works out. Listen to the beat carefully to keep the count. There is also a dissonant eighth note cue to indicate the end of each phrase until the last time (just before it repeats to measure 5). Learn these cues. They will help.

At measure 44, there is a molto ritard which will help your students get into formation for the grandioso movement at measure 48. We have suggested the classic step and kick routine. Instructions are on the music. We think this would be very effective! For movement otherwise in the music, keep it simple so as to not upstage the jokes. Some light bouncing or swaying might work. Have two groups bend their knees then go up on their toes in an alternating fashion during designated sections for humorous overall up and down action. Do it on beat one of each measure. At the end of the song, let students perform the gesture indicated on the music when shouting, "Done!" Add the optional final tag line at this point, or wait until after the bow music, if you prefer.