Threepenny Blocking

OVERTURE

Greta, Eve, Lydia stage left; Emily, Becky, Amelia and Heather stage right, boxes in hands
ENTER as soon as applause starts with Ballad Singer. Greta and Heather bring one box from
each side. Place and create tableau of whores whoring/beggars begging/gangsters gangstering

Prologue
THE BALLAD OF MACK THE KNIFE

[BALLAD SINGER: Oh, the sharks teeth Til you feel it in your back]
Tableau
[ On a sunny Sunday morning Mack the Knifes still on his feet]
Slowly begin to animate. Stay in position
[ Millionaires keep disappearing How he got it we cant say]
Start to wander around stage
[ The police found Jenny Taylor Says he never met the slut]
Peachums walk across stage, watch them go
Get more interested in Ballad Singer, still moving around
[ What about the fire in Soho No one asks him whats the joke]
Gather closely around Ballad Singer. Interact with each other (shock at 7 kids died in the
smoke etc.)
[ And the well-known teenage ]
EXIT stage left. Greta, Lydia and Eve take all boxes to be taken off stage left and replace in
wings. Put on shirts and beggar coat if necessary

Act 1, Sc 1
PEACHUMS MORNING HYMN

SCENE TITLE: To combat the callousness of humans, the businessman J.J. Peachum has opened
a shop where the lowest of the low can acquire a look that will soften the hardest of hearts

ENTER immediately with signs and lie on floor asleep. Start to move after shaken by Peachum,
but stay mostly static
[PEACHUM: So God can reward your persistence]
Gather upstage centre in tableau of beggars when Peachum stamps. Exaggerated facial
expressions

[PEACHUM: Thats why, for instance, the first time a man sees another man standing on the
street corner with a stump for an arm]
Heather and Lydia move downstage left, Heather as toff, Lydia as beggar
[hes ready, in his horror, to give him 10 cents; but the second time hell only give him 5
cents]
Toff throws coins at beggar each time mentioned
[and if he sees him a third time, hell turn him over to the police in cold blood.]
Toff pushes beggar back into group. Both resume beggar positions in tableau

[PEACHUM: In the Bible, there are four, maybe five sayings Give and It Shall Be Given Unto
You hanging there, used up in a mere three weeks]
Greta picks up sign and hobbles downstage, showing to audience, before returning to
position in tableau

[FILCH: Peachum and Company? This is really quite a setup]

Animate, look at each other, then get signs from behind. Gather around Filch holding them up,
 then return to new tableau

[PEACHUM: Youre the little scumbag Honey and Sam caught at it yesterday]
Greta, Becky and Amelia move downstage, Becky (as Filch) in the middle. Greta and Amelia
each put a hand on one shoulder
[We left it at a good beating]
Greta and Amelia make punching action and push Becky back towards group. All resume
tableau

[PEACHUM: London is divided into fourteen districts a prey to his baser impulses]
All move into new tableau to represent map of London. Snap heads up once Peachum has said
Districts, then return to previous tableau of
beggars (not necessarily exact same positions)

[PEACHUM: Costume C]
All spread out across stage and pretend to be shop mannequins. Becky and Eve on either side
of stage presenting costumes (glamorous assistants)

[PEACHUM: Anyway, youre supposed to be putting on the costume, not asking questions]
Form semi-circle upstage, neutral position with enough room for Filch to squeeze past
When Filch stamps, hold out coat with left arm in Mexican wave style to close gaps
[MRS PEACHUM: How do you come to know so much about them?]
Filch coughs before he steps out, allow free then return to tableaux

[PEACHUM: who this gentleman with kid gloves is: Mack the Knife!]
All snap up to look at Peachum with gasp and shocked expression. Freeze

[PEACHUM: Just pray to God it was to wool dealer]

Watch for Peachum to signal, then take signs and EXIT. Remove beggar coats

Act 1, Sc 2

SCENE TITLE: Deep in the heart of Soho, the bandit Mack the Knife celebrates his marriage to the
beggar kings daughter Polly Peachum

[MATT: Here comes the furniture]

All ENTER: Greta, Eve and Lydia bringing boxes, Amelia, Becky and Emily with food and
Heather with carpet, place all haphazardly centre-stage (Heather roll out carpet) and form
tableau of gangsters upstage left

GRETA:
We did what we could, but three people in the West End are done for. Congratulations

[WALT: Not half an hour ago, milady, this harpsichord]

Lydia, Emily and Eve quickly move downstage slightly, kneel and put hands out in front (on a
level)
[MEN: Three cheers for the happy couple, rah rah rah!]
Drop right arm on first rah, left on second and fall to knees on third

[WALT: Yes, and how about this? Chippendale!]

Amelia, Greta, Becky and Heather form grandfather clock behind Walt
[MACHEATH: Bring on the food]
All return to tableau formation
 [JIMMY: Cheezit, Captain, the cops!]
All look at each other, startled, but stay in place
[MATT: Oh rot, its only Reverend Kimball]
All sigh in exaggerated manner, then return to tableau

WEDDING SONG

Each time gang says rah, raise glasses in toast

PIRATE JENNY

During introduction, go to stand with/behind/on laps of gangsters to watch

[POLLY: Theyll be landing by the hundreds]

Get up and move slowly forwards, hands outstretched, as though prisoners in chains
[ should we kill em or free em?]
Beat after line, all drop to knees
[ Whoops there!]
All collapse completely to floor

After song, get up during applause and return to tableau at back. Ensure positions are roughly
like those for CANNON SONG
[JIMMY: Cheezit, Captain, the cops. The sheriff himself]
Run across stage in farcical panic, freeze in exaggerated positions to hide gang members. Allow
them out as Mack names people. Eve wave for Bob, Greta for Ed
[BROWN: Sit down, gentlemen, sit down]
Form tableau all across back of stage

CANNON SONG

Move to take seats on boxes, three bar introduction then repeated actions slapping of knees,
stamping and drinking
[MACK & BROWN: A soldier marries the gun he carries I betcha we get steak tartare for
breakfast next day!]
Wander around stage drunkenly. General revelry
Repeat each verse/chorus, getting drunker each time, to the extent where some actions may be
off beat/missed
[MACHEATH: Johns in a wheelchair]
Stand with hand on heart, looking solemn (but still drunk)
Much more exaggerated revelry for final refrain. Collapse on final beat, on opposite side of stage
to usual position for scene titles, to be taken offstage by members of gang

[MEN: Bill Logan and Mary Sawyer]

Heather and Eve ENTER once music starts, move two boxes to front behind sheet, then EXIT
taking other two boxes to wings

LOVE SONG/INTERLUDE

ENTER at start of music, when Mack and Polly frozen on bed. Heather, Emily, Amelia and
Becky remove Macheath to wings first, then Eve, Greta and Lydia take Polly, maintaining
position as far as possible
Greta removes sheet, Eve and Heather take boxes off to each wing
Act 1, Sc 3
SCENE TITLE: For Peachum, who knows how hard the world is, the loss of his daughter is the
same as total destruction

Lydia put on beggar coat

[MRS PEACHUM: Oh, now shes putting on that false look of sympathy again!]
ENTER Lydia as beggar, acting lines read by Bethan:

BEGGAR:
I really must complain about this in a big way, I mean, this place stinks, I mean, this int any kind of
real stump, its just here to stump me, thats all, and Im not gonna throw my money away on it

PEACHUM:
What do you want, this stump is as good as any other stump in town

BEGGAR:
Then how come Im not earning as much as any other stump in town? No, you cant do this to me.
If I want a piece of crap like this, I can cut off my leg for real and

PEACHUM:
Oh, what do you want from my life? If that stump wont do for you, heres another one

BEGGAR:
Thats fine, Mr Peachum, I can work with that. I didnt mean to be a bother

EXIT

[PEACHUMS: Its all a great big load of junk!]

Greta, Heather and Eve remake bed as before during final bars of music

Act 2, Sc 1

SCENE TITLE: Tuesday afternoon. Mack the Knife, fleeing to Highgate Moor to escape his father-
in-law, says fare-well to his wife

Act 2, Sc 1a

[POLLY: When even my own mother knew that he was lying]

Greta takes sheet, while Eve and Heather quickly move boxes, place one atop other stage left.
Lydia and Jenny bring other two boxes in from either wing and add to stack. All leave except
Eve, who stays standing, leaning against lamppost

[MRS PEACHUM: But comes the night, theyre down in some hole screwing]
Same members come back on, take boxes and place in a line centre-stage, then quickly move
to wings

Act 2 Sc 2

SCENE TITLE: The sound of the coronation bells had barely faded away when Macheath came to
visit the whores of Turnbridge. The whores betray him. It is Tuesday evening

ENTER and take up positions dotted around stage.

Very exaggerated motions when acting lines, so it is clear who is talking
JACK:
He wont come today
 ANNALIESA/BECKY
Really? Thats too bad

JACK:
I think hell probably never come again

ANNALIESA/BECKY:
That would be too bad

JACK:
Really? If I know him, hes probably outside the city limits by now

Macheath enters stage right, all react. Amelia takes hat and cane and places them behind box
JENNY:
Mack, lets see your hand

JESSI/EVE
Thats it, Jenny, read his hand. You know how to see the future

MACHEATH:
Do I inherit a lot of money?

JENNY:
No, I dont see you inheriting a lot of money

KYRIAKI/HEATHER:
Jenny, whats that look on your face? It sends chills up my spine

MACHEATH:
A long trip in the near future?

JENNY:
No, not a long trip

BETHAN/LYDIA:
Then what do you see?

.
.
.

MACHEATH:
Lovely underthings you have here

ANNALIESA/BECKY:
From the cradle to the grave, underwear comes first!

Start moving to sides of stage, ready for PIMPS BALLAD

ELLIE/GRETA:
I never use silk. It makes the johns think youve got some disease

KYRIAKI/HEATHER:
It doesnt wear well either
 ANNALIESA/AMELIA:
Jenny, where are you going?

JENNY:
Youll see

JESSI/EMILY:
But plain course linen can scare them off too

ELLIE/GRETA:
Ive had very good results with course linen

BETHAN/LYDIA:
It makes them think theyre at home

MACHEATH:
Do you still have the one with the black trim

KYRIAKI/HEATHER:
Still have the one with the black trim

MACHEATH:
What kind of undies do you wear?

ANNALIESA/AMELIA:
Oh, Im so embarrassed. This old queen I live with is so man-crazy I cant bring anyone home
and you know how it is in hallways so I just dont wear any

By this point, Emily, Eve, Becky and Amelia are clustered stage right, while Greta, Lydia and
Heather are stage left

PIMPS BALLAD

During introduction, all move to centre-stage to join Macheath

[MACHEATH: But that doesnt pay]
Allow him out, then Emily, Eve, Becky and Amelia follow. Becky hands him a glass of brandy
[In that old whorehouse where we built out nest]
Four beats to get into position (Eve with Amelia, Emily with Becky, Heather with Lydia and Greta
with Josh) to dance one-and-a-half circle steps, then men spin women to other partner on their
side. Dance around for rest of interlude
[JENNY: So many years since then are dead and gone]
All move to sit on boxes/stand behind/lie on floor
[He was my friend When we ran out of cash Then Id hear Just like a marriage]
Move around in clockwise direction at start of each line
[Id get so mad Id sit for hours in the hall]
Stay in positions, glaring at Jenny. At end of this verse, begin repeated movements (reach
across, hand twizzle and falling side-to-side. Do this twice) then go back into tango, but not so
formal. Amelia with Jack
[MACHEATH: Since she had previous commitments]
All gather around Mack and Jenny
Amelia returns hat and cane to Macheath at end of music

Macheath punches Smith, all rush around him and help him up, then cluster stage right behind
Jenny
 [JACK: Guys, guys, guys!]
EXEUNT OMNES

INTERVAL
Remove all but one box, which is left centre-stage

Act 2, Sc 3

SCENE TITLE: Betrayed by the whores, Macheath is rescued from prison through another
womans love

Walk across stage in neutral position. Lydia and Eve wrap rope around Macheaths arms while
Brown is talking
[BROWN: Whats that? Oh my God, theyre bringing him in]
Greta, Heather, Amelia, Becky and Emily enter and stand at ease along side and back of stage,
followed by Eve and Lydia, holding the rope and pushing Macheath ahead to
centre-stage

[BROWN: Dont pull on that rope, you pig!]

Lydia and Eve drop rope and push Macheath one last time before moving to stand at ease stage
right
[MACHEATH: I got that trick from the Bible]
Lydia and Eve pivot to mimic door, allowing Smith into cell, then close after him
[SMITH: Well, as you make your bed, so must you lie]
Pivot again to allow Smith out

Remain passive throughout BALLAD OF LIVING IN STYLE, regardless of what Macheath does

[LUCY: You think I dont know the whole story about you and Miss Peachum? I could scratch
your eyes out]
Lydia and Eve put out an arm to stop Lucy as she tries to push forwards, then back to ease
position

[SMITH: Give me back that cane!]

Macheath runs to Lydia and Eve, who push him back to Greta and Heather. He runs through
them, all four chasing him. Eve drops rope in front of box. Becky, Emily and Amelia push him
backwards, and lift. Put straight back down, and fall to floor comically. Take time getting up to
follow Smith offstage
Greta, Eve and Lydia cross stage, taking box with them
SECOND THREEPENNY FINALE

All enter, stepping to beat: vocal chorus, gang on balcony, movement and Jessi upstage
Spread out and remain neutral

[MACHEATH/MRS PEACHUM: Their slice of all the bread and meat youre carving]
Music pauses, member of vocal chorus:
How do all humans live?
Chriss cue for chorus on AV screens: upbeat full crotchet, slightly slowed from previous tempo
Dont think that being right helps you along:
All human beings live by doing wrong

Remain in position for scene title

Act 3, Sc 1

SCENE TITLE: That very night, Peachum prepares for battle. He plans to destroy the coronation
parade with a demonstration by the poor and lonely

Emily, Greta, Lydia and Becky ENTER stage left as beggars, on floor painting signs

First drumroll:
KYRIAKI:
Thats the Royal guardsmen falling in; they think todays their day of glory. They have no idea that
today theyll have to reckon with us

[FILCH: They say you owe them money]

Eve, Heather and Amelia follow Jenny onto stage as whores, react as Jenny does

[PEACHUM: Well meet in one hour outside Buckingham Palace. March]

Beggars get up, go to march off
[Scatter!]
Emily, Greta and Lydia hide in band, leaving Becky holding a sign saying VICTIM OF
MILITARISM
[BROWN: Bring out every patriot you can find in the house]
Smith drags all beggars to centre stage and forces onto knees
Beggars bob heads to beat during SONG OF WHY HUMAN EFFORT IS ALWAYS FUTILE once
brass section comes in
[PEACHUM: Capture Macheath, and bring him to the Old Bailey]
Smith leaves, followed by beggars, while whores and Jenny leave stage right

Eve and Greta bring one box from either side, placed centrally though apart, as chairs, then both
move stage left

Act 3, Sc 2

SCENE TITLE: A fight over ownership

[MRS PEACHUM: Come on, try and cheer up a little]

Heather and Greta remove boxes as SOLOMON SONG starts

Act 3, Sc 3

SCENE TITLE: 5 AM Friday morning: Mack the Knife, who went to the whores again, has been
betrayed by the whores again. Now hell be hanged

Go to policeman positions. Eve places box in the centre

SMITH:
I suppose youre ashamed of yourself

POLICEMAN:
Sir, for the last 15 minutes every street around Newgate has been so crowded, with people of all
sorts, that theres hardly room to squeeze through

SMITH:
Amazing, how did they know?

POLICEMEN:
 If it keeps up, in another 15 minutes all London will know. Then everyone who ought to be at the
coronation will come here instead. And the Queen will have to parade through empty streets

[MATT: Ive got to talk to him]

Lydia and Eve pivot as door to let gangsters in, close after them
[MATT: Filthy scum]
Open door again to let Jack and Matt out

SMITH:
Do you have the soap

POLICEMAN:
Yes, but not the right kind

SMITH:
Its got to. Theyve run the second peal of chimes

POLICEMAN:
What a bloody mess

.
.
.

SMITH:
Are the asparagus tender?

POLICEMAN:
Yessir

[BROWN: So he can see what good care we take of him]

Doors open again, remain open until Smith leaves

[BROWN: Smith! Get started! Let the people in]

Policeman move to upstage right, in triangle formation with Brown in front, remain at ease

[SMITH: Forward march!]

Lydia and Becky move upstage box in front of the other during music, while other policemen all
snap to attention

[PEACHUM: Now let the Kings Messenger on his horse appear]

Slowly get into positions for horse during hark, hark, hark, then move forwards from a
messenger from the king
Stay in horse positions until singing
Be careful how you punish wrong, for surely
Cold-hearted deeds will freeze and die away.
Remember that our life on Earth is purely
A cold dark place where sorrow cries all day.