Post by conwention on Jul 9, 2009 15:02:10 GMT -5
Characters
Frank Gumm-Judys Father
Virginia-Judys second oldest sister
Muggsie-Judys best childhood friend
Babe (Frances)- Judy Garland
Location-Lancaster Calif 1929
All four songs heavily based on
1.It never rains but what it pours
2.Sleep my baby sleep
3.Swing Mr Charlie
4.All gods chillun got rhythm
Note-All of these songs probably written after 1929.Judy probably not as advanced a singer as I imagine her to be in 1929.But I like the innocence of the time.
Note-I think you'll notice a big improvement in my writing when I describe the performance in four paragraphs near the end of the story.
Is Muggsie gonna be here today?Frank was asking his youngest daughter.He was going through his pockets for the second time looking for the right key.He and Babe were standing at the second level entrance on the upper parking lot behind the church. Yes,she said she was coming.She was wondering why her father asked.He was always nice to Muggsie when she was over at the house, but Babe didnt think her father gave much thought about her.
Walking up from the car carrying the water bottle,sheet music and all the items they would need was Virginia.They were there to perform some music as part of the fair.Oh Daddy,did you forget the key.Virginia said.Darn it,let me look in the car for it,Frank said leaving.Is Muggsie coming Virginia asked?Yes.Why is everybody asking?Well,you just seem to sing better when shes around.This wasn't the first time Babe heard this.She knew she felt more relaxed with Muggsie around.Steve Parker is going to be at the party saturday night,Virginia said,smiling at Babe.Babe panicked,it was Steves older brother Ron that had his hand on her thigh at the last party.She was aware of the front she put up to cover her deeper desires.I know smiled Babe.
Daddy,a man came out and said the performance was canceled,Virginia said as her father walked back up.Frank stared at Virginias emotionless face as a total look of bafflement came over him.You could see his eyes searching for reasons why and what effect this would have on outher plans and then looking again at Virginias stone expression.He looked at Babe.Her face was beet red as she leaned forward at the waist with her head tilted up at an angle looking at him with lips puckerd together like she was going to explode.Frank flashed his wide toothed grin and Babe spurted out her musical laughter.Oh Babe!Said Virginia shaking her head.
I must have left the key at home said Frank.Maybe if we bang on the door.Frank and Virginia started knocking.Hello,any one in there.Virginia started laughing.saying help,help,please let us in.Frank nudged her but got caught up in the spirit adding,please save us to the helps.Babe taking all this in was not to be out done.She knew those two lacked the sincerity and passion required at this moment and threw her tiny frame at the door several times with loud booms and pleading in an hysterical voice,please please we are dying, save us, combined with dragging her body down the door with blood curdling cries.
Frank and Virginia had stopped by this time, watching in amazement at this frightening spectacle as the door opened several inches.The janitors startled face popped out looking at all three.Virginia said, bad Baby.Frank said when we get home young lady your going to get a talking to.Kids! he said to the janitor as all three entered the door.Babes face was stunned at her first lesson in treachery as the janitor stared sternly at her as she passed.
The three Gumms went down two flights of stairs entering the churches community room from behind the stage.The room was pretty much the same size as the chaple upstairs and even had pew like seats.There was lots of comings and goings through open doors leading up to the churches grass lawns where the buying of food and crafts were in full swing.The stage had a full size grand piano and two Western Electric carbon microphones on stands along the front of the stage and one on a boom for the piano.Frank and Virginia worked quickley inspecting the piano, aranging sheet music and organizing various tools if needed.Mr Williams (a church choir member) was discussing the sound amplification equipment with Virginia.Frank started banging away on the piano with no concern of the fair goers as Virginia walked to the far end of the room.Babe, quietly watched for a nod from her father and began singing the words (my country tiss of thee, sweet land of ) at a moderate level as Virginia was giving hand signals to Mr Williams indicating volume and tone corrections on the microphones.The fair going people were mildly interested and kept up their conversation.
With Virginia back on stage standing behind the piano next to the keyboard and Babe in place stage right, Frank walked to the edge of the stage and said in a loud voice, Hello Folks, I brought my two daughters Virginia and Frances with me today.We hope you enjoy the music and be sure to buy a lot at the fair.There were a few laughs as the side doors began to close leaving only the stairs from the upper lobby for people to come in.Back at the piano with Virginia at his side he played the introductory chords to the first song and nodded to Babe.
Her beautiful tone filled the room.Question and Answer Question and Answer between the piano and her.First verse with bass runs of the tempo building, Babes notes building as the preasure in the room was getting higher with people pouring in from the staircase.First swinging chorus straight into anouther bass building verse.Reverend Mathews was uncomfortable.This was more tha he bargained for.Babe and Frank quickley glancing at Virginia, all in agreement of the sound balance.Time for the bridge, Babe in arrogant stance and head angle, bouncing with the beat, voice really booming out for the first time, always surprising. People in the audience amazed at Babes improvment in timing and stage presence since last seeing her.Breaks in the song to set up the thunderous ending.Song ending in an upswell, cant believe this is the same room as five minutes ago.Much enthusiastic applaus.
No pause, straight into second song, 3/4 time, errie Gypsy feel, Babe pouring out beautiful slow notes, audience realizing first song was bucket of sound thrown in their face to clear their heads to concentrate on Babes singing.This is a lullaby, Babe showering salvation on everyone in the room, Virginia looking out impassively, you get the feeling she could step in for either father or sister, this is Gumm buisness.The middle instrumental part, Babe goes into slow waltz near her father, prodding calls from the crowd, come on Babe, to lay down the last melodic lines that are building with anticipation.Everyone becoming aware that Babes into a diferent reality.
Next song was supposed to be a duet between Frank and Babe with Virginia on piano, but Frank doesnt want to let down this high that Babes on.He launches right into Swing Mr Charlie, Babe picks up on it imeadiatly and dances her way through the intro and now the front of the stage is packed with standing clapping people, the room full, Babe in her peculiar, feet apart fighting stance, accentuating words with outstreched finger points and incredible facial exspresions, Virginia clapping along next to her father, both hysterically laughing, upbeat swing tempo, chorus words (Swing Mr Charlie, No One Can Swing It Like You Do) into the instrumental section, the crowd calling for Virginia.(ah the home town gig) to join her sister, they go into a swing dance, Virginia leading, spinning-wraping Babe up-throwing her out, Frank extending the instrumental, the vibration of the crowds feet banging with the beat.Babe left to finish the song, but not finished
Same tempo, flowed into middle of first verse of last song.Babe emulating Scat like a colored man, shamefull, impossible, wonderfull, out of control now.Reverend Mathews has given up.Babe, totally uninhibited, shouting out words in last break,(Swing It High, Swing It Low, Let It Go, Ha Ha, Smilin!)heavy beat, exhausted audience as Babe blasts out last notes to great applause among many happy faces.
The storm is slowly passing.Many friends of the Gumms stop to chat and thank them.Babe talks with Muggsie whom was poking her tongue out through most of the performance while she stretched out across the body of her boyfriend (Anderson).The doors are opening, letting the fresh warmth of spring back in.Virginia has left "family buisness" and Frank holds Babe in his arms as he softly plays the piano, oblivious to all around them.It is early and there is nowhere they need to go.
Frank Gumm-Judys Father
Virginia-Judys second oldest sister
Muggsie-Judys best childhood friend
Babe (Frances)- Judy Garland
Location-Lancaster Calif 1929
All four songs heavily based on
1.It never rains but what it pours
2.Sleep my baby sleep
3.Swing Mr Charlie
4.All gods chillun got rhythm
Note-All of these songs probably written after 1929.Judy probably not as advanced a singer as I imagine her to be in 1929.But I like the innocence of the time.
Note-I think you'll notice a big improvement in my writing when I describe the performance in four paragraphs near the end of the story.
Is Muggsie gonna be here today?Frank was asking his youngest daughter.He was going through his pockets for the second time looking for the right key.He and Babe were standing at the second level entrance on the upper parking lot behind the church. Yes,she said she was coming.She was wondering why her father asked.He was always nice to Muggsie when she was over at the house, but Babe didnt think her father gave much thought about her.
Walking up from the car carrying the water bottle,sheet music and all the items they would need was Virginia.They were there to perform some music as part of the fair.Oh Daddy,did you forget the key.Virginia said.Darn it,let me look in the car for it,Frank said leaving.Is Muggsie coming Virginia asked?Yes.Why is everybody asking?Well,you just seem to sing better when shes around.This wasn't the first time Babe heard this.She knew she felt more relaxed with Muggsie around.Steve Parker is going to be at the party saturday night,Virginia said,smiling at Babe.Babe panicked,it was Steves older brother Ron that had his hand on her thigh at the last party.She was aware of the front she put up to cover her deeper desires.I know smiled Babe.
Daddy,a man came out and said the performance was canceled,Virginia said as her father walked back up.Frank stared at Virginias emotionless face as a total look of bafflement came over him.You could see his eyes searching for reasons why and what effect this would have on outher plans and then looking again at Virginias stone expression.He looked at Babe.Her face was beet red as she leaned forward at the waist with her head tilted up at an angle looking at him with lips puckerd together like she was going to explode.Frank flashed his wide toothed grin and Babe spurted out her musical laughter.Oh Babe!Said Virginia shaking her head.
I must have left the key at home said Frank.Maybe if we bang on the door.Frank and Virginia started knocking.Hello,any one in there.Virginia started laughing.saying help,help,please let us in.Frank nudged her but got caught up in the spirit adding,please save us to the helps.Babe taking all this in was not to be out done.She knew those two lacked the sincerity and passion required at this moment and threw her tiny frame at the door several times with loud booms and pleading in an hysterical voice,please please we are dying, save us, combined with dragging her body down the door with blood curdling cries.
Frank and Virginia had stopped by this time, watching in amazement at this frightening spectacle as the door opened several inches.The janitors startled face popped out looking at all three.Virginia said, bad Baby.Frank said when we get home young lady your going to get a talking to.Kids! he said to the janitor as all three entered the door.Babes face was stunned at her first lesson in treachery as the janitor stared sternly at her as she passed.
The three Gumms went down two flights of stairs entering the churches community room from behind the stage.The room was pretty much the same size as the chaple upstairs and even had pew like seats.There was lots of comings and goings through open doors leading up to the churches grass lawns where the buying of food and crafts were in full swing.The stage had a full size grand piano and two Western Electric carbon microphones on stands along the front of the stage and one on a boom for the piano.Frank and Virginia worked quickley inspecting the piano, aranging sheet music and organizing various tools if needed.Mr Williams (a church choir member) was discussing the sound amplification equipment with Virginia.Frank started banging away on the piano with no concern of the fair goers as Virginia walked to the far end of the room.Babe, quietly watched for a nod from her father and began singing the words (my country tiss of thee, sweet land of ) at a moderate level as Virginia was giving hand signals to Mr Williams indicating volume and tone corrections on the microphones.The fair going people were mildly interested and kept up their conversation.
With Virginia back on stage standing behind the piano next to the keyboard and Babe in place stage right, Frank walked to the edge of the stage and said in a loud voice, Hello Folks, I brought my two daughters Virginia and Frances with me today.We hope you enjoy the music and be sure to buy a lot at the fair.There were a few laughs as the side doors began to close leaving only the stairs from the upper lobby for people to come in.Back at the piano with Virginia at his side he played the introductory chords to the first song and nodded to Babe.
Her beautiful tone filled the room.Question and Answer Question and Answer between the piano and her.First verse with bass runs of the tempo building, Babes notes building as the preasure in the room was getting higher with people pouring in from the staircase.First swinging chorus straight into anouther bass building verse.Reverend Mathews was uncomfortable.This was more tha he bargained for.Babe and Frank quickley glancing at Virginia, all in agreement of the sound balance.Time for the bridge, Babe in arrogant stance and head angle, bouncing with the beat, voice really booming out for the first time, always surprising. People in the audience amazed at Babes improvment in timing and stage presence since last seeing her.Breaks in the song to set up the thunderous ending.Song ending in an upswell, cant believe this is the same room as five minutes ago.Much enthusiastic applaus.
No pause, straight into second song, 3/4 time, errie Gypsy feel, Babe pouring out beautiful slow notes, audience realizing first song was bucket of sound thrown in their face to clear their heads to concentrate on Babes singing.This is a lullaby, Babe showering salvation on everyone in the room, Virginia looking out impassively, you get the feeling she could step in for either father or sister, this is Gumm buisness.The middle instrumental part, Babe goes into slow waltz near her father, prodding calls from the crowd, come on Babe, to lay down the last melodic lines that are building with anticipation.Everyone becoming aware that Babes into a diferent reality.
Next song was supposed to be a duet between Frank and Babe with Virginia on piano, but Frank doesnt want to let down this high that Babes on.He launches right into Swing Mr Charlie, Babe picks up on it imeadiatly and dances her way through the intro and now the front of the stage is packed with standing clapping people, the room full, Babe in her peculiar, feet apart fighting stance, accentuating words with outstreched finger points and incredible facial exspresions, Virginia clapping along next to her father, both hysterically laughing, upbeat swing tempo, chorus words (Swing Mr Charlie, No One Can Swing It Like You Do) into the instrumental section, the crowd calling for Virginia.(ah the home town gig) to join her sister, they go into a swing dance, Virginia leading, spinning-wraping Babe up-throwing her out, Frank extending the instrumental, the vibration of the crowds feet banging with the beat.Babe left to finish the song, but not finished
Same tempo, flowed into middle of first verse of last song.Babe emulating Scat like a colored man, shamefull, impossible, wonderfull, out of control now.Reverend Mathews has given up.Babe, totally uninhibited, shouting out words in last break,(Swing It High, Swing It Low, Let It Go, Ha Ha, Smilin!)heavy beat, exhausted audience as Babe blasts out last notes to great applause among many happy faces.
The storm is slowly passing.Many friends of the Gumms stop to chat and thank them.Babe talks with Muggsie whom was poking her tongue out through most of the performance while she stretched out across the body of her boyfriend (Anderson).The doors are opening, letting the fresh warmth of spring back in.Virginia has left "family buisness" and Frank holds Babe in his arms as he softly plays the piano, oblivious to all around them.It is early and there is nowhere they need to go.
I like this, keep them coming. Very interesting. 