Submitted by Tracy Gittins, Okinawa, Japan
Idea posted May 24, 2004
Ms. Schagunn, a third grade teacher, and I have collaborated on a VERY short version (10-12 minutes, songs included) of "The Pied Piper."
"HOT CROSS BUNS" are sold in the streets of Hamlin. The children frolic in the streets, then go home to "GENTLY SLEEP." While they sleep, a piper is heard piping to the night sky "TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR." The town is infested with rats; "OLD MacDONALD'S FARM" is even overrun with them (squeak, squeak here, squeak, squeak there). A deal is cut with the piper to rid the town of rats. "MERRILY THEY ROLL ALONG" into the sea. Celebration! "WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN." Piper comes back to be paid. No dice. Vengeful piper storms down street, sky gets dark, before you know it, "IT'S RAINING." Children follow the piper and are swallowed up in the mountains. The End.
We're tacking on "Amazing Grace" and "Ode To Joy" to increase the song total to nine, rather than re-writing the story for a happy ending.