OPERA SEARCH
The Pink Siamese
(1959)Dialogue and Lyrics by Susan Otto (E)
10 singing roles; 3 speaking roles; chorus
2.1.2.1-1.2.2.0-perc(4):timp/SD/tamb/BD/finger cyms/wdbl/tgl/
susp.cym/slide whistle/xyl/glsp-strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
Detroit, Michigan
Company: Detroit Institute of Arts
| THE PINK SIAMESE | |
| MRS. A, a Cat Matron | |
| MRS. B, a Cat Matron | |
| MAY, Mother of the Pink Siamese | |
| DR. QUACK, a duck | |
| Mother | |
| Child | |
| Clown | |
| Fat Lady | |
| Acrobats | |
| Tattooed Man | |
| Red-haired Boy | |
| Crowd (people and children at the circus) | |
| Other cats |
Any time period. The Forest of Family Trees and a Circus
Born into an impossibly vain family, the Pink Siamese is shunned from birth. Labelled as a “cat-tastrophe” because he doesn’t resemble his beautiful brown and cream colored kin, his family calls in a doctor. The kitten is immediately diagnosed as a hopeless embarrassment to his family’s pedigree. He is sent forth from his family’s home, in the Forest of Family Trees, to town to live as an outcast. He soon finds employment in the freak show at the circus. Forced to live in a cage and roar at the circus-goers, the Pink Siamese becomes increasingly lonely. All he wishes is to live in a nice warm house and be loved. His circus friends, including the Fat Lady, Tattooed Man, and Acrobats, unsuccessfully try to cheer him. The Pink Siamese is miserable, until one day a young red-headed boy comes to the circus. During the show, the boy declares that the Pink Siamese is no freak, he simply is a uniquely-colored cat. The crowd agrees, and chaos ensues - the circus owner doesn’t want to lose his “freak”. The boy then invites the Pink Siamese to come live in his home where he will be safe, warm, well-fed, and loved.
Comic, Dramatic