Musical: Jonah ~ Frequently asked questions

• How big is the cast?
   
  The cast, not counting Jonah, may be a minimum of 12 people, with six males and six females.  It may, of course, incorporate more.
   
• Is this children’s theatre?
   
  Young children will enjoy it.  Much of the dialogue though, is written for an older audience.  Children will not, for instance, understand all the dialogue between the Whale and Jonah.
   
• Is the music difficult to play?
   
  No, the music is relatively simply notated and will not require the skills of a concert pianist.
   
• Is the music varied?  What instruments are used?
   
  Yes, it is varied.  It ranges from the hard-driving ("Nineveh") to the elegaic ("Great and compassionate God").  The play is notated for piano though percussion instruments, amongst others, may be used as well.  A demo CD is included with the script.
   
• What kinds of costumes are needed?
   
  It is a director’s choice.  Jonah has been performed by a cast wearing black tights. The starkness is offset by red bandanas.  The Enzymes may use a different costume e.g. draped in light green shreds of cloth or plastic.
   
• Is there a need for décor?
   
  Jonah is portable and may be performed without décor.
   
• Is the role of Jonah demanding?
   
  It is fairly demanding.  He must be able to show a range of emotion, from fear to smugness, from anger to blessedness.  He needs to adopt the rhetorical style of a prophet in the final scenes. He needs to be able to sing his solos.
   
• How many songs are there? What else does the script offer?
   
  There are five songs.  Some of the songs are also used wordlessly to provide texture.  There is choral verse – an extensive piece by the Enzymes –   performed to percussion, if so chosen.  There are possibilities for mime and movement.
   
• How long will Jonah take to rehearse?
   
  The duration of Jonah is 25 minutes.  For this reason it may be rehearsed in the space of a month (two to three rehearsals per week) provided that the cast is word-perfect at the start.
   
• Is Jonah relevant for modern audiences?
   
  Yes.  It deals with human kind’s ancient cruelties and those who are called to make peace.  It offers
  a spiritual message:  even what seems impossible becomes possible if we believe.
   
• Is Jonah fun?
   
  Yes.  It will be a whale of a time.
   
• Costs
   
  The cost for the rights to perform Jonah is R600.  Bona fide church groups are exempt from the 10% box office tarrif.
   
• Information and Performance rights
   
  For further information, performance rights and contract, please contact us.