(Villagers) This world’s a catastrophe spewing blasphemy; hypocrisy Our town, just like a stone, indestructible, all we’ve ever known
(Matthew) 300 people, a simple town, and that’s the way we like it
(Villagers)Who are we? We are the Villagers. Loyal to our structure
(Rick)You know the time is drawing near
(Kyle) When Old Man Warner appears
(Villagers) Ooh
(Kyle) The superstitious pernicious representative coot right over there
(Warner) I’ve been around the block more times than you can count. The Lottery ain’t never failed, least not on my account. One day a year, when Summer’s here
(Villagers)We gather in the square
(Warner)Now, some villages no longer hold the Lottery
(Villagers) Say what?
(Warner) Them young folks are a pack of crazy fools (Matthew, Rick, Kyle, Warner) you’d have to be!
(It’s the only way that we sustain
(Villagers) This is the only way
(Warner) So maybe I’m a little superstitious.. Well, that don’t bother me one bit. We used to say “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” And I still believe.
(Matthew) Not a bad year for the crops
(Rick) Honest work and a few raindrops
(Kyle) Got my taxes all wrapped up
(Villager Men) But I’ve got lots of corn to shuck
(Villagers) And the chat goes on And the chat goes on And the chat goes on
(Tanya) Gossip, small talk, Trading stories, spilling the tea
(Villagers) Trading stories, sippin the tea
(Jackie) We take pleasure in our hearsay locality
(Villagers) Our hearsay locality, And the chat goes on And the chat goes on And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on And the chat goes on And the chat goes on
(Villager Men) Ooh, Ha, Ooh, Ha, Ooh, Ha, Ooh, Ha
(Tessie) We don’t need this, Where is their humanity?
(Villagers) Quickly grab your families
(Tessie) Are we broken? Who are we supposed to be?
(Liz) Tessie, hush, just let it be!
(Villagers) And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on, And the chat goes on
(Warner)ENOUGH! You people settle down, you’ll make an old man groan, Women collect the kids and kids collect the stones. So stack them high, and if we try, We’ll finish up by noon time.
Ritual is an original Musical/Rock Opera based on the famous short story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson. Composed between
August 2020 and August 2021, the show examines themes of conformity, societal norms, identity, family, and mental health in a small town of 300 people. The Music draws influence from various Musicals, and artists like Pink Floyd, the Smashing Pumpkins, and Dave Malloy....more
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