SONGS
THIS DRESS
Scene 1; Mabel 1 and 2
Breathe in breathe out
Just one more step I know
I could do it
But I feel like I can’t
I’ve told you countless times
To quit while you still can
but still you wouldn’t listen
This is not the plan
Yes, I know, I know
I’m being the coward again
I don’t know how to do this
Just please help while you can
You’ve told me so many times
(Oh yes I did)
That my hair isn’t fine
(Look at that mess)
But I still didn’t listen
and this is what I get
(See I told you)
And my dress
It’s a mess
(Oh yeah, look at it)
That couldn’t quite impress
But I still didn’t listen
(Next time you should)
and this is what I get
Don’t you see you don’t fit
with these upper class grits
but you still aren’t listening
so we’re here in this mess
One knock at that door
would mean so much more
and now I am listening
to prove this dress I wore
OH MABEL
Scene 2; Party Guests
Is that Mabel Waring? Oh! What is she wearing?
“Look at me, I look lovely”
Said Mabel looking like a tree
Looks so grotesque
She won’t fit in burlesque
Oh Mabel dear, I see
Give her a look, hey!
Though yellow, she is gray
Hiding her makeup done halfway
How horrible her face
She always looks cross
Like she didn’t floss
Oh Mabel, hear our say
Oh those bows, she doesn’t know
I think it’s time for her to go
If my daughter were here
She’ll for sure disappear
From Mabel’s rodeo
That sickening dress
of yellow and fabric
“It’s vintage”
I know
It’s disgusting, it’s gross
“Outdated” I’m sure
is the right word
Mabel, Mabel, let me be
Keep that figure far from me
She looks so proud
In that filthy gold gown
Mabel, Mabel, let me be
Keep that figure far from me
She looks so proud
in that filthy gold gown
Woe is me
NOTHING TO FEAR
Scene 3; Miss Milan
With that dress
That’s sure to impress
Oh my darling Mabel
You’ve got nothing to fear
You’ve got so much to learn
We’ll make sure their heads turn
Oh my darling Mabel
You’ve got nothing to fear
Let me show you how it’s done
I promise you it’s fun
One more lesson to outrun
And this is how you’ll stun
Take a seat
Sit up straight
Cross your legs
Don’t be haste
Stop looking down
Feel the crown above your head
Don’t be misled
Now try to walk
Make them gawk
Kill them with shock
Then start to talk
Flash those pearls
Give a twirl
By George, I think you’ve got it girl!
Build yourself up
With confidence reach the top
Oh my darling Mabel
You’ve got nothing to fear
Oh my darling Mabel
You’ve got nothing to fear
Oh my darling Mabel
I will always be here
WHAT IS SHE DOING HERE?
Scene 4; Rose Shaw and Charles Burt
What is she doing here?
A cockroach from the slums?
The scum of the gutter!
The bottom of the barrel!
What is she doing here?
She has nothing that we’ve got
Nothing we would care about
So why is she here?
A sickly flea in this parade
She plays an infinite charade
It’s pitiful, how hard she tries
But we all know she’s but a fly
A proletariat puzzle piece somehow at a high-end feast
It’s crazy how that Dalloway can talk to this old rat!
Dressed up in frills and fancy heels
In hopes that crowds she could appeal
She couldn’t hide a face like that!
I told you so, my dear
You never realized the truth in your fears
And now, look at you
A with’ring mass of—
Stop!
You’ve been pushing my spirits down the drain
You’ve been this evening’s horrid, useless pain
So what am I to do?
My vision, you’ve obscured
With your hopeless, sordid views
Oh, there they go again
What is she doing here—
Dear Mabel, Mabel Waring…
Why are you here?
THIS DRESS (REPRISE)
Scene 6; Mabel 1 and 2
Breathe in,
Breathe out,
One last step left
I thought I could do it
Now I can’t
I told you, countless times
To quit while you still can
But you still wouldn’t listen
Look what’s happened now
You were
right all along (Oh yes I was)
That my hair
isn’t fine (Look at that mess)
I should’ve just listened
But I’ve learned my lesson now (Oh really now?)
Look at me
I’m such a mess
(Oh yeah look at yourself)
I couldn’t quite impress
But I still didn’t listen
(Next time you should)
and this is what I get
Now you see you don’t fit
With these upper class grits
I hope that you’re listening
Now that we’re out of that mess
Walking out that door
I’m not the same as before
True, this dress is an eyesore
But I am worth so much more