1 You can download the songs and song sheet by going to: www.southlandsings.org/rendon Rendon Characters: - Nadia Her Husband Thutmose II- Chance Nephew- Fernando Slaves/servants Guards/military Advisors Women helpers Villagers Embalmers Song 1 atchepsut Chorus 2X: THE FOREMOST OF NOBLE LADIES SHE S SO GREAT SHE SHOULD DRIVE A MERCEDES WE RE LIVING IN THE DAYS WITH NOBLEMEN AND SLAVES WE NEED A RULER WHO CAN BE FAIR TO ALL QUEEN HATSHEPSUT THIS IS YOUR CALL Chorus 2X atshepsut was one of the most successful pharaohs. Her name means the foremost of noble ladies. (to the narrator) Why thank you You re welcome. She was also the first and longest reigning female pharaoh. And though her reign was very successful, she had a lot of responsibility. She came into power as queen when her father died. Song 2 It Ain t Easy Being a Queen IT AIN T EASY BEING A QUEEN A LIFE THAT I ONCE THOUGHT WAS A DREAM ETC. NO MORE SLEEPING IN DOING AS I PLEASE BECAUSE I HAVE TO RULE THIS GREAT KINGDOM (women in her court are helping her and guards standing by) Chorus OUR DEAR QUEEN IT IS HER DESTINY TO RULE THIS POWERFUL KINGDON
2 WHETHER OR NOT IT IS GOOD WE WILL SEE When she came into power she had to marry in order to keep the power in the kingdom. She often dressed as a man in order to be taken more seriously as a ruler. Half Brother I know this is crazy, since I'm your half- brother, but will you marry me? Why, yes, Thutmose I will marry you. We have to keep it in the family. She married her half brother and he reigned as pharaoh and she as queen. Student Wait, she married her half brother? Isn t that kind of gross? They married close relatives in order to keep the royal bloodline pure. Also, an unmarried queen would appear weak to neighboring countries. Song 3- Let s Keep it in the Family I KNOW I M YOUR HALF BROTHER WE HAVE THE SAME FATHER AND IT S STRANGE THAT MY DAD WILL GIVE YOU AWAY IN SPITE OF OUR PREDICAMENT AT LEAST IT S ONLY 50% WE HAVE TO KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY LET S TRY TO LIVE HAPPILY, EVER AFTER AND NOT TO GROSS OUT (The bride marches down the aisle and her father gives her away, both Hatshepsut and her half brother say, Thanks dad at the same time and give each other a look.) Song 3 Reprise- Let s Keep it in the Family LET S TRY TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER LET S TRY TO LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER AND NOT GROSS OUT One day the queen s husband died. (Act out the husband dying)
3 The Queen co- ruled with her nephew Thutmose the Third. Well, he was too young to rule, so I basically ran everything. At this time she assumed the role of pharaoh. She had many great successes Student 1 Her rule was peaceful. (Act out something peaceful with some of the students) Student 2 She had the slaves build a great temple Deir el- Bahari at Luxor constructed. (kids construct temple from blocks) Slaves IT S A HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US IT S A HARD KNOCK LIFE FOR US BUILDING TEMPLES, IT AIN T FUN WHEN YOU RE WORKING IN THE SUN IT S A HARD KNOCK LIFE Student 3 In order to expand trade, she launched a successful sea voyage to the land of Punt which today is near the coast of Africa. (Kids mime sailing) Student 4 On this voyage they traded with the inhabitants and brought back many marvels like gold, ivory and myrrh trees. (Kids mime trading with inhabitants of Punt) Student 5 She built monuments in honor of those who had died. Under her reign Egypt flourished. Student 6 Song 4- Life is great LIFE IS SO GREAT OH SO GOOD WE HAVE WORK FOR MONEY AND FOOD WE LOVE OUR QUEEN SHE S NEVER MEAN SHE S THE BEST SHE S THE BEST
4 The queen became ill. Why is my face burning? It feels like it is on fire. She doesn t look very good Queen Servant Queen I m going to go to bed, just one more slather of my face cream. (Queen lays down and falls asleep with her face cream jar in her hand) (morning comes and a servant goes to wake her) Servant The Queen is sure sleeping in late this morning. Maybe I had better go check on her (Servant tries to wake her, but she does not budge) She s dead!!! atshepsut died in 1458 B.C. We are not sure exactly how the queen died, there are many different theories about her death. Some believe the above scenario, that she died from toxic ingredients in her face cream. Some believe she had cancer or some kind of blood disease. Needless to say, the queen was dead. We need to prepare her for her next life. They embalmed her and put her in the tomb with the Book of the Dead Student The book of the dead was a guidebook for the afterlife. Oh, I just Can t Wait to be King just the instrumental part of this line, the nephew can sing it or even servants can sing, Oh, he just can t wait to be king. Nephew (Maniacal laughter) Now that the queen is dead I can do whatever I want. (to the servants) Take down and destroy any monument in her honor. Yes Pharaoh
5 Song 5- There s a new ruler in town THERE S A NEW RULER IN TOWN NOW I WEAR THE CROWN FORGET ABOUT QUEEN HATSHEPSUT AND I M THE ONE WHO S IT BOW DOWN CAUSE BOW DOWN CAUSE Many of them missed their queen Song 6 atshepsut THE FOREMOST OF NOBLE LADIES SHE S SO GREAT SHE SHOULD DRIVE A MERCEDES WE WERE LIVING IN THE DAYS WITH NOBLEMEN AND SLAVES WE NEEDED A RULER WHO COULD BE FAIR TO ALL QUEEN HATSHEPSUT THIS WAS YOUR CALL The End