Wildcat On Safari
Show Essentials
7
Roles
U
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

ACT ONE

Lights up on Lion's Rock at daybreak. Marmoset enters and introduces himself to the audience. He explains that he is on an important mission to find a place for King Lion to live. It must be a place where King Lion can look out on the other animals and make sure they are safe. He notices the rock, and gets excited. He envisions a place - a safari park - where animals from all over can live together in harmony, safe from humans ("This Is The Place"). As Marmoset cleans the rock, King Lion enters with his son in tow. The King surveys his realm, wondering what is beyond the safari park in the big forest. Marmoset explains that only little animals live there. King Lion declares there is much work to do and the three of them exit.

The scene shifts to the forest, also at daybreak. Birds sing and trucks rumble through the woods in the distance. Fox awakens in his den; his normally dapper appearance is a bit worse for wear because he hasn't gotten much sleep - the trucks have kept him up all night. A newspaper falls from the sky and knocks him on top of the head. The article in the paper about the new safari park makes Fox very excited and, with the help of the children in the audience, he begins to name all of the animals in the pictures. Fox then goes to take his morning bath and discovers that the stream has dried up. In a panic, he wakes up Wildcat. Unlike Fox, Wildcat is dressed in tattered clothes - his appearance reflects his mischievous and carefree lifestyle, which he details for the children ("I'm A Cat").

Miss Beaver, from the Animal Welfare Office, arrives to account for Fox and Wildcat. She is trying to organize the new animal community in an attempt to spread good will and peace ("Line 'Em Up And Count 'Em"). Fox and Wildcat soon realize that Miss Beaver's recent arrival and the disappearance of the stream go together - they ask her to remove the dam she built upstream of them. Miss Beaver explains she has to have her dam there; there isn't enough space to have it elsewhere. In that moment, the Lion Club appears; he has lost his way while exploring his new home. To the others' surprise, Wildcat volunteers to go on an adventure and take Lion Cub home ("Wildcat On Safari").

Back at Lion's Rock, night is falling. King Lion keeps watch anxiously, waiting for his search parties to return with his son. Marmoset tries to put the King at ease by assuring him that nothing could possibly happen to the young cub. The King asks Marmoset to gather all of the other monkeys and search the trees in the park. Marmoset takes pride in his assignment and expounds on his time as the personal bodyguard to Don Enrique' Luis De Calvados ("Diamantina"). Before he sets off, Marmoset wonders if there are any unknown things in their new home that might like to eat monkeys.

Later that night, in a dark, spooky place in the forest, Marmoset gets his answer. Shadra, a large, black panther, plays chess with himself on a tree branch. We hear a branch crack and a panicked scream, and Marmoset falls right on Shadra's chessboard. Marmoset explains that he is on a mission to find the son of King Lion. This news sparks the interest of the panther, who plans a devious scheme. In his effort to get information from Marmoset, Shadra threatens to make dinner of him. With the help of the audience, Marmoset gets free. The evil panther then turns his dinner attention to the audience ("The Blackest Of The Animals").

Meanwhile, Wildcat and Lion Cub bond as they make their way through the dark woods. They hear the loud howls of the wolf, which Wildcat does not recognize. With the help from the cub and the audience, Wildcat finally figures out what the sound is and notices a set of glowing eyes. When Wildcat summons the wolves to show themselves, Shadra comes out instead. Shadra tries to convince Wildcat it will be safer to let Shadra take Lion Cub home. Wildcat refuses the offer and Shadra tries to hypnotize with a powerful diamond set in his turban. As Shadra is about to pick up the cub, Fox appears and frightens Shadra away. Wildcat explains the situation to Fox, thanks him for his help, and thanks him for being his friend ("Two Of A Kind"). Just before bed, Fox and Wildcat have a small fight. Wildcat has accidentally eaten Fox's peppermint lozenge. Fox storms off, upset. Later, Marmoset appears and mistakes Wildcat for Lion Club; he stuffs Wildcat in his bag and leaves. With the audience's help, Fox figures out what has happened and prepares to set out with the cub to find him. Shadra reappears at that instant and demands that the cub be turned over to him. He hypnotizes Fox and instructs him to tell the Lion King that Shadra has his son.

ACT TWO

The next morning, Marmoset returns to Lion's Rock, proudly holding the sack that contains Wildcat ("Diamantina - Reprise"). He tells the King he has brought his son back. Immediately the mistake is revealed and a confused Wildcat explains what happened with Shadra. He reassures the King, however, that his son is safely in Fox's care. Just then, Fox enters still in his hypnotized state. Wildcat pours water on his head and he comes to and tells them that Shadra has Lion Cub. The King plans to find his son and fight Shadra to the death. In an effort to stop the King and save the cub, the three new friends, Wildcat, Fox and Marmoset, set out to try and set things right themselves ("We'll Bring Him Back").

The gang make their way to Shadra's temple. Shadra is telling Lion Cub of his plan - he wants to make the Lion Cub his son, and together they will rule over the other animals, including lions. In the meantime, Lion Cub is trapped in a cage. Shadra hears a noise made by the three and goes to hide and await the visitors. The three enter with their sunglasses on to protect them from Shadra's powers, and begin to look for the key to the cage. In the dark they must lift their glasses to find the key. Shadra makes his move. He hypnotizes them and puts them in the cage and warns them that if they further misbehave he will put them under a deep sleep spell - turning them into zombies!

The three wonder how they are going to escape, when in the distance they hear the voice of Miss Beaver making her rounds to all of the animals. Miss Beaver rescues the three and tells them of a way to ward off the magic of the black panther. They also need the help of the children in the audience. Knowing that they are protected from Shadra, the three get back in the cage and watch as Shadra begins the spell ("Shadra"). Miss Beaver distracts Shadra and the three escape from the cage. In the ensuing chase Wildcat is knocked to the ground and Shadra loses his turban with the magic diamond. The others find Wildcat unconscious and fear the worst. However, after a tense moment, Wildcat awakens. Shadra, meanwhile, is stunned. He doesn't understand what has happened. It turns out Shadra is not evil, but was under the spell of the diamond turban. King Lion arrives and the group explains the whole situation to him.


With everything sorted out, the King bestows honors on the entire group for their valiant efforts in rescuing the young cub and discovering important things about themselves...all but Wildcat, who is happy just the way he was ("Wildcat Won't Ever Change").

Casting
← Back to Wildcat On Safari
Cast Size: Flexible Cast Size
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Fox
A dapper-looking British gentleman. A stickler for organization who harbors a surprising friendship with his messy co-inhabitant Wildcat.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: F4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Wildcat
A lazy, scruffy, lovable ginger cat living a carefree lifestyle. He gains newfound energy when he ventures to bring the Lion Cub back to his father. Easy-going with streetwise cool and the charm of a rogue.
Gender: male
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: G#4
Vocal range bottom: G2
Beaver
A gregarious and exhaustingly cheerful girl who conducts business for the Animal Welfare Office. A born organizer, she is determined to encourage community spirit amongst the animals thrown together by man.
Gender: female
Age: 30 to 50
Vocal range top: F#5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Lion Club
A young lion who communicates only through mimes and noises. He ends up befriending Wildcat after getting lost from his father. Adorable and playful, yet curious and vulnerable.
Gender: male
Age: 8 to 13
King Lion
King of all the Safari Park animals and the lion cub's father. Possesses qualities of great power, majesty, and dignity. An impressive figure with an air of benign authority.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 50
Vocal range top: Bb3
Vocal range bottom: G2
Marmoset
An extremely talkative, and occasionally silly, Brazilian monkey. He is also servant to the King Lion. Eager, enthusiastic, and extremely athletic.
Gender: any
Age: 25 to 45
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: A2
Shadra
A black panther and master hypnotist. His sly charm barely masks his ruthless desires to take over as King of the Beasts. Lithe and graceful in his movements, sly and superior in his manner.
Gender: male
Age: 30 to 50
Vocal range top: C#3
Vocal range bottom: F#2
Full Song List
Wildcat On Safari: This Is The Place
Wildcat On Safari: I'm a Cat
Wildcat On Safari: Line 'Em Up And Count 'Em
Wildcat On Safari: Wildcat On Safari
Wildcat On Safari: Diamantina
Wildcat On Safari: The Blackest of The Animals
Wildcat On Safari: Two Of a Kind
Wildcat On Safari: We'll Bring Him Back
Wildcat On Safari: Shadra
Wildcat On Safari: Wildcat Won't Ever Change

Show History

Show History

Inspiration

Wildcat On Safari is an original story comprised by book writer Alison Allen-Gray and composer Neil Brand. Gray is an award-winning children's book author and theatre for young audiences performer, while Brand composed several songs for radio before writing the musical.

Critical Reaction

Critical Reaction

"A sparkling new adventure musical for children." - Eastbourne Post

Billing

Requirements

Under the terms and conditions of your organisation’s Performance Agreement, the following credits must appear on all advertising (including websites) relating to the production. Credits must be reproduced faithfully in accordance with the following layout. No alterations or deletions can be permitted unless stated below.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
LIBRETTO10
PIANO VOCAL SCORE2

Production Resources

Resource
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
REFERENCE RECORDING

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASS
GUITAR
PERCUSSION
REED 1CLARINET , TENOR SAXOPHONE