The Small House of Uncle Thomas Ballet

Rodgers & HammersteinThe King and I

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The Small House of Uncle Thomas Ballet

Lyrics By Oscar Hammerstein II  Music By Richard Rodgers

Tuptim presents a balletic retelling of Uncle Tom’s Cabin to the King and his guests. Originally choreographed by Jerome Robbins in a unique combination of ballet and Asian-inspired movement, the dance tells the story of Eliza, a slave who receives divine help to escape a tyrannical King. Robbins’ work remains in productions of the show, to the music arranged by longtime dance and vocal arranger Trude Rittmann.

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“The Small House of Uncle Thomas Ballet” LYRICS

Tuptim:
Your Majesty, and honorable guests,
I beg to put before you “Small House of Uncle Thomas.”

Chorus:
Small house of Uncle Thomas.
Small house of Uncle Thomas.
Written by a woman,
Harriet Beecher Sto-wa.

Tuptim:
House is in Kingdom of Kentucky, ruled by most wicked king in all America,
Simon of Legree. Your Majesty, I beg to put before you loving friends…

Uncle Thomas!

Chorus:
Dear old Uncle Thomas.

Tuptim:
Little Eva.

Chorus:
Blessed Little Eva.

Tuptim:
Little Topsy.

Chorus:
Mischief-maker Topsy.

Tuptim:
Happy people.

Chorus:
Very happy people.

Tuptim:
Happy people, happy people!
Your Majesty, I beg to put before you one who is not happy—the slave Eliza.

Chorus:
Poor Eliza, poor Eliza,
Poor unfortunate slave!

Tuptim:
Eliza’s lord and master
King Simon of Legree.
She hates her lord and master
And fears him.

This king has sold her lover
To far away province of O-hee-o.
Lover’s name is George.

Chorus:
George.

Tuptim:
Baby in her arms also called George.

Chorus:
George.

Tuptim:
Eliza say she run away and look for lover George.

Chorus:
George.

Tuptim:
So she bid goodbye to friends, and start on her escape.
“The Escape.”

Chorus:
Run, Eliza, run, Eliza!
Run from Simon!

Tuptim:
Poor Eliza running,
And run into a rainstorm.

Tuptim:
Comes a mountain.

Chorus:
Climb, Eliza!

Tuptim:
Hide, Eliza!

Chorus:
Hide from Simon!
Hide in forest!

Tuptim:
Eliza very tired.

Your Majesty, I regret to put before you King Simon of Legree.

Chorus:
Because one slave has run away
Simon beating every slave.

Tuptim:
Simon clever man. He decide to hunt Eliza, not only with soldiers,
but with scientific dogs who sniff and smell, and thereby discover all who run from king.

Chorus:
Run, Eliza, run!
Run, Eliza, run!
Run from Simon, run!

Run Eliza, run, run.
Run from Simon, run, run.
Poor Eliza, run from Simon.

Eliza run!
Eliza run from Simon, run!
Eliza run.

Tuptim:
Poor Eliza!

Chorus:
Eliza run from Simon, run!

Run, Eliza. Run from Simon.
Run, Eliza. Run from Simon.
Run, Eliza. Run, run!
Ahhhh!

Tuptim:
Eliza come to river,
Eliza come to river.

Chorus:
Poor Eliza!

Tuptim:
Who can save her?

Chorus:
Only Buddha,
Buddha, Buddha, Buddha!
Save her, Buddha!
Save her, Buddha, save her!
What will Buddha do?

Tuptim:
Buddha make a miracle!
Buddha send an angel down.
Angel make the wind blow cold.
Make the river water hard,
Hard enough to walk upon.

Chorus:
Buddha make a miracle!
Praise to Buddha!

Tuptim:
Angel show her how to walk on frozen water.
Now as token of his love, Buddha make a new miracle.

Chorus:
Praise to Buddha!
Praise to Buddha.

Tutim:
Send from heaven stars and blossoms.

Chorus:
Praise to Buddha.

Tuptim:
Look like lace upon the sky.

Chorus:
Praise to Buddha,
Praise to Buddha,
Praise to Buddha.

Tuptim:
So Eliza cross the river, hidden by this veil of lace.
Forgot to tell you name of miracle: “Snow.”

Of a sudden she can see
Wicked Simon of Legree
Sliding ‘cross the river fast
With his bloodhounds and his slaves.

What has happened to the river? Buddha has called out the sun!

Chorus:
Buddha has called out the sun!
Sun has made the water soft.
Wicked Simon and his slaves
Fall in river and are drowned.

Tuptim:
On other side of river is pretty city, Canada, where Eliza sees lovely small house.
Guess who live in house? Uncle Thomas.

Chorus:
Dear old Uncle Thomas.

Tuptim:
Little Eva.

Chorus:
Blessed little Eva.

Tuptim:
Little Topsy.

Chorus:
Mischief-maker Topsy.

Tuptim:
Lover George.

Chorus:
Faithful lover, George.

Tuptim:
Who is looking like angel to Eliza.
They have all escaped from wicked Simon and make happy reunion.

Topsy glad that Simon die, Topsy dance for joy.
I tell you what Harriet Beecher Stowa say that Topsy say:
“I specks I’se de wickedest critter in de world!”

But I do not believe Topsy is wicked critter. Because I too am glad for death of king.
Of any king who pursues a slave who is unhappy and wish to join her lover.

And, Your Majesty, I wish to say to you… Your Majesty and honorable guests…
I will tell you end of story.

Is very sad ending. Buddha has saved Eliza.
But with the blessings of Buddha also comes sacrifice.

Chorus:
Poor little Eva,
Poor little Eva,
Poor unfortunate child!

Poor little Eva,
Poor little Eva,
Poor unfortunate child!

Tuptim:
Is Buddha’s wish that Eva come to him and thank him personally for saving of Eliza and baby.
And so she die… and go to arms of Buddha.

Chorus:
Praise to Buddha!
Praise to Buddha!