INTERACTIVE PUPPET PERFORMANCE TRACKS

“THE ROPE TRICK”  7 min.

 

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FOR USE WITH AXTELL’S BIRD PUPPETS AND THE “BIRD ARM ILLUSION”

PROPS NEEDED:  40” ROPE.

 

© COPYRIGHT 1994/ 2002 AXTRAX PUBLISHING

DIV. OF AXTELL EXPRESSIONS! (805) 642-7282

WRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY: STEVE AXTELL

 SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS: BILL BOLEY, MARK WADE, RYAN AXTELL & GREG JACKSON

 MUSIC, SOUND EFFECTS AND ENGINEERING BY: GREG JACKSON

   AT: TREEHOUSE PRODUCTIONS AND AXTELL ENTERTAINMENT

 

 

LEGAL NOTICE:  By purchasing this routine you have the right to perform this routine and its musical components in live performances only.    Not for use on television or on video productions without written permission.

Limited Warranty of 3 weeks to replace damaged media. No refunds on electronic media.

© Copyright and Trademark Axtell Expressions, Inc.  All rights reserved.

 

SEE OTHER AXTRAX AVAILABLE FOR THE MAGIC DRAWING BOARD AND AXTELL PUPPETS AT www.axtell.com

 

CD TRACK #1:            PERFORMANCE -  Does not include your practice lines - use this to perform live.

CD TRACK #2:            REHEARSAL - Includes your practice lines (YOU) that you will perform live.

CD TRACKS #3-10:   MUSIC ONLY- For vents who want to do both parts and cue the music. Cues are numbered in the script.

 

#3: Opening music

#4: I Am a Bird: full

#5: I Am a Bird: crash

#6:  Spring

#7:  Snare roll 1

#8:  Ta-Da!

#9:  Snare roll 2

#10:  Closing music

 

PAUSES HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE RECORDING TO ANTICIPATE AUDIENCE LAUGHTER

YOU CAN MODIFY THE (YOU) LINES TO FIT YOUR PERSONALITY.  REWRITE AND BE CREATIVE!

 

SOUND ADVISE: You can perform this routine by playing the CD on a quality "boom box" portable stereo player in small areas, or over a professional sound system in large areas such as an auditorium or outside. Do not play on a small inexpensive CD player because the sound will distort when you try to play it loudly. 

 

The CD should be played with plenty of volume.  Kids will be laughing hard and will miss the routine if it is too quiet, and adults may keep laughter to a minimum for fear of missing parts of the program.  The volume of the CD should be set about the same as if you were speaking over a microphone to be heard by the group, or louder. 

 

 

It is best to have the CD played over a public address system and have the soundman preset the volume level to be compatible with the your microphone level.

 

NOTE:  You should be on stage with the tied rope ready in a table, case or in your pocket.

 

 

 

YOU:                      How many of you have ever seen a trained animal?  Have you seen a dog like “Beethoven” or the animals in the movie, like “Homeward Bound” (or current animal movie)?  Well, those animals have to be trained to obey certain commands.  I bet you didn’t know that I am an animal trainer, did you?  Well, I am one of the best in the world! I brought along a bird with me to show you how to train a wild animal.  Would you like to see him?  I just got this bird, so I have to be very careful how I handle him, so I’m going to put on these protective gloves, because he’s still a bit wild, and I’ll be right back.

 

                                (Go start the music and put Bird Arm Illusion on and bird puppet)

 

(#3)                         OPENING MUSIC.

                                                               

DURING MUSIC - Go to your cover of a trunk lid etc.  And while you put on the bird arm illusion and puppet, act like you are struggling with the bird and throw some feathers up into the air.  You can get colored feathers from any craft shop.  Make your bird squawk and carry on from behind a cover, then slowly come out with the bird, holding him by the chest as if to keep him from flying away.

 

 

 

 

You can also make the Arm and Puppet very easy to slip into by setting up yours in the following manner:  Mount the bird arm to a coffee can (with both ends cut out) or similar rigid tube.  After the Velcro has been attached around the can, put the bird puppet on over the can and the bird arm strap.  Your bird is now one unit with the can and arm.  You can slip into the can quite quickly this way!

 

 

NOTE:                    You will get a laugh when you bring out the goofy puppet bird because of your big build up. The visual contrast is very funny.

 

 

YOU.                       Hello, boys and girls (or ladies and gentlemen), this is (name of puppet), a wild bird.  It takes years and years to develop the patience to be an animal trainer, and you have to be willing to build a trusting relationship with each animal that you train. Now, this is the first time I’ve worked with this bird, so to start things off I need to teach him how to talk. (let music end)

 

 (Name of puppet), say “Pretty bird”.........”Pretty bird”.

 

BIRD:                     (Honks beak.)                  (LAUGHTER)           

 

YOU:                       Ha, ha. Come on, say, “Polly want a cracker, Polly want a cracker”!

 

BIRD:                     Couldn’t I have just have a candy bar instead? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.            (LAUGHTER)              

 

 

 

 

 

YOU:                       Hey, you can talk!

 

BIRD:                     Yeah, I can talk.  Can you FLY?                        (Laughter)           

 

YOU:                       No, I’m a human, now go ahead and tell them...

 

BIRD:                     Tell them...

 

YOU:                       What you are...

 

BIRD:                     Tell them what I are?          (LAUGHTER)

 

YOU:                       No, what I AM!

 

BIRD:                     Oh, you don’t know what you are?                   (LAUGHTER)

 

YOU:                       Ha ha, Yes I know what I am, you tell them what you are.

 

BIRD.                     I are a...

 

YOU.                       NO, no, I AM a ...so and so.

 

BIRD.                     (To audience)  Oh, he is a so and so. Ha, ha, ha, ha                  (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU.                       Now please, just tell them what you are.

 

BIRD:                     I are a bird!            (LAUGHTER)       

 

YOU:                       I AM a bird! 

 

BIRD.                     (Looks you over up and down)  I don’t see any feathers.            (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU.                       No, not me, I mean, you’re a bird    

 

BIRD:                     Yep…

 

(#4)                         I am a bird, (honk, honk)

                                I am a bird, (honk, honk)

                                I am a bird, I am a bird, I am a bird.

                                I have feathers in my nose

                                And in-between my toes,

                                I’m a bird, I’m a bird, I’m a bird! (honk)          (LAUGHTER)       

 

                                NOTE:    The honking is the sound of the bird pressing its beak end into your arm (HONK) like a bulb horn.  You should jump or react to this and make it funny.  Have the bird sing to the audience and then turn and do the honks.  The last big honk should be synched to your big beak press and then have the bird look up at your face for your reaction.  .

 

YOU:                       Are you finished yet?

 

BIRD:                     Why are they looking at us?

 

YOU:                       Because I am showing them how to train a bird to do tricks.

 

BIRD:                     You’re a bird trainer?

 

YOU:                       Yes I am.

 

BIRD:                     Where’s the bird?  (he looks around)

 

YOU:                       YOU’RE the bird!

 

BIRD:                     Ha, ha, ha, ha…oh yeah!

 

 

 

 

 

(#5)                         I am a bird, (Honk, honk)

 I am a bird, (honk, honk)

                                 I am a bird, I am a bird, I am a…

 

YOU:                       (Put hand gently over his beak to quiet him then let go after music stops)

                               

                                Now look, (name of puppet), stop being so silly and pay attention.

 

BIRD:                     (Clears throat 4 times and springs into position looking straight at you)

 

(#6)                         SPRING FX                            (LAUGHTER)

 

NOTE:                    Clear the throat by shaking the bird head from side to side - then on the spring sound, turn the head in a quick popping action sideways to the bird is looking at you with it’s full attention.  It’s a cartoon effect that will be very funny if done right.

 

 

YOU:                       (laughing) I will now teach this bird some simple tricks.           

 

BIRD:                     Oh no.  This sounds complicated already!  (LAUGHTER)   What do you want me to do?

 

YOU:                       Okay...(to audience) watch closely! (to bird) Sit…stay…good bird!

 

BIRD:                     (Looks down at his own body - then up at you)

 

                                Hey I did it! Ha ha ha ha ha ha                          (LAUGHTER)                      

YUK YUK!!!!  (LIP SMACKS) Hey, could you teach me to do a real trick?

 

YOU:                       What, you mean like a magic trick?

 

BIRD:                     Yeah, I want to make the Statue of Liberty disappear. Ha ha ha ha ha ha              (LAUGHTER)       

 

YOU:                       Well, let’s start out with a simple one first. Here, let me get this rope.  (Get the rope)

ROPE SHOULD BE 40” LONG AND HAVE A KNOT TIED IN IT ABOUT 8” FROM O

NE END. HOLD ROPE IN YOUR HAND HIDING THE KNOT IN YOUR PALM AS SHOWN:

 

 

BIRD:                     A rope?  Yee haw, what are you going to do cowboy, lasso me?  

 

YOU:                       Okay, (Name of puppet), watch this.  I’m going to show you how to tie a knot in this rope using only one hand, and you can use just your beak.  As you know birds don’t have two hands like we humans do. (Say it with some arrogance). 

 

BIRD:                     (Mocking Muffled)...Birds don’t have two hands like us humans do. Na na na.       (LAUGHTER)

 

 

 

YOU:                       Okay, now all I’m going to do is flick the rope like this, and the rope will tie itself into a knot.

 

 (FLICK IT GENTLY AS A PREVIEW OF THE MOTION ONLY )

 

BIRD:                     Get out of here....

 

YOU:                       Really. 

 

BIRD:                     This is going to be amazing!

 

YOU:                       No it’s no big deal, really, (name of puppet).  Here, hold that end for a second...OK.

 

NOTE:     SWING ROPE UP AND LET BIRD CATCH IT CLOSE TO YOUR HAND, THEN PULL IT THROUGH THE BEAK UNTIL BIRD IS HOLDING ONLY ABOUT 10” OF THE UNTIED END.  MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THE BIRD IS HELPING YOU, NOT LIKE IT’S YOUR OTHER HAND-   THEN PUT THE LOOSE END INTO YOUR HAND CLOSE NEAR THE THUMB, READY TO RELEASE THE KNOTTED END.

 

BIRD:                     Drum roll, please!               (LAUGHTER)       

 

(#7)                         DRUM ROLL

 

BIRD:                     And now you’re gonna see the most amazing trick in the world....

 

                                (You start to flick rope, but he interrupts)

 

                                ...the most mystifying feat of magic ever before seen...              

 

                                (Stare at him to make sure he’s finished, and then start to flick rope again)

 

                                ...never before in history has anyone been able to....a…                             (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU:                       (Name of puppet), can I please do the trick now?

 

BIRD:                     Well, don’t let me stop ya! Ha, ha, ha, ha.      (LAUGHTER)       

 

YOU:                       Okay, here goes!    (Drop rope knot end)

 

(#8)                         MUSIC: TA-DA!

                               

(Take a bow to milk applause)

 

BIRD:                     Wow!

 

YOU:                       Thank you!

 

BIRD:                     That was amazing!  I’ll never be able to learn that.

 

 

 

 

YOU:                       Yes you will, (name of puppet). Remember, I am a bird trainer.

 

BIRD:                     Oh, I almost forgot. Ha ha ha ha!                      (LAUGHTER)

 

YOU:                       Now, the first thing you do is hold the rope in your beak.

 

NOTE:                    Place untied end of rope in his mouth and tilt bird’s head up (so it won’t fall out) and gently pull rope through the bird’s beak until about 10” from end and then lower the bird’s head.

 

                                Good bird!  Now I’ll help you the first time, so I’ll hang onto this end.

 

BIRD:                     (Dropping rope) Now what do I do?                                 (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU:                       You can’t talk, (name of puppet).  (Put the rope back)

                                Here now, when I count to three, just flick the rope.   Okay, are you ready?

 

BIRD:                     (Drops rope) Yup.  I’m ready.             (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU:                       (Name of puppet), you can’t talk if you’re holding the rope!  Here...  (put it in his mouth again) 

 

BIRD:                     (Drops rope again) Well, you make me nervous when you’re watching me so close.

 

YOU:                       I’m sorry, I don’t want to make you nervous. This time I’ll turn my head the other way.  You tell me when you’ve got the knot tied.  Here’s the rope...(place untied end of rope in his mouth about 3” from end.)

 

(#9)                         DRUM ROLL

 

                                (Bird struggles with the rope tossing it wildly and pausing to look at you.) (LAUGHTER)   

 

YOU:                       Hurry up (name of puppet)!

                               

(Bird really goes wild.  Finally, wind the rope around bird’s beak 3 times on the vocal cues).              (LAUGHTER)     

 

NOTE:     If you are a right- handed puppeteer, the rope is going from your left hand through the bird’s beak.  The rope is hanging out of the right side of beak about 6”.  To tie up the bird on this last struggle, keep tension on the rope and begin to rotate your right wrist in the bird and wind up the rope over the bird’s beak right behind the bump and in front of the eyes.  End up with about 6-8” of rope between your left hand and the bird’s head.

 

 

YOU:                       Have you tied it yet?

 

BIRD:                     (Bird struggles)                    (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU:                       Are you ready for me to look?

 

BIRD:                     (Shakes head yes, looking at audience)                         (LAUGHTER)      

 

 

 

YOU:                       (NAME OF PUPPET), YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME!

 

BIRD:                     (Struggles ) MMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!                  (LAUGHTER)      

 

YOU:                       (Looking) Oh (name of bird)!  You’re all tied up!  Are you okay?

                                (Undo the rope from around his beak and hold onto it) 

 

BIRD:                     (Gasping for breath)  Ah, Ah, Ah.... Can’t we just arm wrestle and call it a day? Ha ha ha ha.      (LAUGHTER)

 

YOU:                       Ha, ha, ha…I think that’s enough for today. Give him a hand!

 

 

(#10)                      CLOSING MUSIC 

 

 

END

 

 

 

NOTE:                    During the end music, you can either say “Good bye” to the audience, or take a bow, or just put the puppet away and go on to your next bit.

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