If you read my first installment of this theatrical theme, you know there isn't *really* a musical about Frenchtown. My short-term objective is to write a book, my long-term objective is a museum. But who knows, the process may make a playwright out of me yet...
(The curtain opens on a stage split between two different locations and two different years.
Stage Right, a marquee reads "City Hall, 1867." The scene is Mayor Damien Marchesseault's office.
Stage Left, a marquee reads "Marchesseault Street, 1868." The scene is a brick office building.
Damien Marchesseault and Jean-Louis Sainsevain enter, stage right. Sainsevain is carrying rolled-up technical drawings.
Prudent Beaudry, Solomon Lazard, and Dr. Griffin enter, stage left. Beaudry is carrying a notebook, Griffin is carrying a few medical texts.
Marchesseault (spoken): Sainsevain, if anyone in Los Angeles is up to the task, it's you.
Sainsevain (spoken): I tried four years ago, Mayor. I could use some help.
Beaudry (spoken): Gentlemen, Marchesseault tried.
Lazard and Griffin (spoken, removing their hats): Poor Marchesseault.
Song: Water!
Marchesseault (sung): This town needs water.
Sainsevain (sung): We're parched.
Marchesseault: The zanjas just don't cut it.
Sainsevain: No one likes a filthy ditch.
Marchesseault and Sainsevain: We need water!
Beaudry (sung): This town needs water.
Lazard (sung): Fresh, clean water.
Beaudry: No more mud and garbage.
Griffin: Clean and safe and sanitary.
Beaudry, Lazard, and Griffin: We need water!
Marchesseault: Dryden's water wheel was a start.
Sainsevain: The judge wasn't thinking big enough.
Marchesseault: You're an engineer.
Sainsevain: You want a new one? But of course!
Marchesseault and Sainsevain: We need water!
Beaudry: Let's keep the reservoirs to start.
Lazard: We'll need those during drought years.
Beaudry: Keep them close to town (spoken) but not on prime real estate.
Griffin: Lined with bricks to keep the dirt out.
Beaudry, Lazard, Griffin: We need water!
Marchesseault: We need pipes!
Sainsevain: We can't get pipes! We're too remote!
Marchesseault: We'll make our own.
Sainsevain: From what, the sycamores outside?!
Marchesseault (spoken): That's it!
Marchesseault and Sainsevain: We need water!
Beaudry: Our predecessors meant well but they couldn't cut the mustard
Lazard: Beaudry, it was a disaster
Beaudry: Never send a politician to do a businessman's job
Griffin: Or a doctor's!
Beaudry, Lazard, Griffin: We need water!
Marchesseault: We've got trouble, Sainsevain
Sainsevain: Another sinkhole? Damn it!
Marchesseault: Downtown is a muddy mess
Sainsevain: Did I become an engineer for this?
Marchesseault and Sainsevain: We need water!
Beaudry: The world is watching, gentlemen
Lazard: We've got to get it right
Beaudry: It's a 30-year contract
Griffin: But everyone expects results
Beaudry, Lazard, Griffin: We need water!
Marchesseault: I've borrowed from everyone I know
Beaudry: We're on the right track, gentlemen
Sainsevain: I'm about to lose the vineyard
Lazard: Together we can make it work
Marchesseault, Sainsevain, Beaudry, Lazard, Griffin (in unison): Los Angeles needs water!
Hi C.C.!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered the blog and I find it really awesome!!
I am French (moved to L.A. 10 years ago from Montpellier, France).
I am fascinated with history, particularly French-American history!
I found out not too long ago about LA's French past in an LA Weekly post... digging a little deeper and I found your blog! Needless to say that it's a gold mine for me!
I'd love to meet up and talk about LA's French history, your roots, etc.
I didn't find any contact page or email on the blog so here is my email jeromepayelle[at]gmail.com
Hope to hear from you soon!
A bientôt!
Jérôme