A Coupla Joes

By Roger Edwards

"A Coupla Joes" is a libretto written in rhyming couplets, which describes a possible conversation between Joe Camel and Joe Isuzu when they happen to meet in the audience of an opera performance. Admittedly, this scenario is unlikely but there are operas performed today with still crazier story lines. This set up highlights a couple of the most noteworthy of recent advertising icons and offers an opportunity to consider and discuss musical performances and the nature of success.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roger Edwards
• Release date: Jul 30, 2020

Book preview

A Coupla Joes

by Roger Edwards

Published by Roger Edwards at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Roger Edwards

A Coupla Joes

by Roger Edwards

Observations about musical productions and the nature of success.

Table of Contents

Opening scene

The Last Supper (with four scenes)

Concluding scene

Indemnification

Author’s postscript

The Cast

(in order of appearance)

Joe Isuzu - successful and scorned advertising icon.

Kitty - proprietress and impresaria of the Long Branch.

Giuseppe d’Camelo - successful and scorned advertising icon.

Yoshio Yamada - fact checker assigned to Joe Isuzu.

(for "The Last Supper")

Scarpia - a prison warden.

Iolanda - wife of Gabriele.

Bella Donna - girlfriend of Spoletta.

Fabio Pizzano - farmer condemned to death.

Gabriele - taverna publican.

Spoletta - a prison guard.

Pochini - a prison guard.

A Coupla Joes

Opening scene: (The overture should be based on the piano music of the Rolling Stones tune, She’s Like a Rainbow. The set depicts a well-attended dinner theater. Kitty is behind the bar as Joe and Yoshio approach.)

Joe: Hi Kitty. How’s tricks?

Kitty: Evening Joe, Yoshio. I’m winning a few plaudits.

Joe: If plaudits are won by attracting a crowd

Then tonight you have really done yourself proud.

It doesn’t look like there’s a place for us.

Kitty: Oh Joe. Now don’t you fuss.

The crowd has come here for the show.

Ads were placed in all the papers you know.

Joe: Its opera night. I meant to stay home.

I’d rather read a whole book of poems

Listen to bagpipes or scrub the floor.

Or anything else that I enjoy more.

Kitty: You’re here now. Why don’t you stay?

Like all these other folks, it could make your day.

Joe: Opera does have its own mystique.

But why do the ladies all have to shriek?

Kitty: If you follow the music the shrieks aren’t quite so shrill.

And when the music is right it might give you a thrill.

The singers all have been highly trained

To get