William Finn
Marvin at the Psychiatrist (A 3-Part Mini-Opera)
[JASON]
My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love
[WHIZZER]
Marvin at the Psychiatrist, a three-part mini-opera
Part One:
[MENDEL]
Do you love him?
[MARVIN]
Sorta kinda
[MENDEL]
Do you need him?
[MARVIN]
Sorta kinda
He makes me smile a lot
Especially at mealtime
It makes me feel I'm sort of smart
[MENDEL]
Mm-hm
Is he special?
[MARVIN]
He's delightful
[MENDEL]
And romantic?
[MARVIN]
Yes, and spiteful
But yet it seems that so am I
[MENDEL]
Just enjoy what you can
Love the boy, not the man
[MARVIN]
Man
Sorta stylish
[MENDEL]
Kinda very
[MARVIN]
Mmm, very very sorta
[MENDEL]
And kind of hard to describe...?
[MARVIN]
Yes, you know, I think that's true
[MENDEL]
When he's naked-
[MARVIN]
Yes?
[MENDEL]
Does he thrill you?
[MARVIN]
Yes!
[MENDEL]
Is he vicious?
[MARVIN]
Yes!
[MENDEL]
Would he kill you?
[MARVIN]
Yes...
I think he's sorta kinda mean
But I love him, and I need it
If he loved me, I'd concede it
[MENDEL]
Don't despise what you feel
Love the friend, not the heel
[MARVIN]
Heel
[MENDEL]
He's sometimes worthless
[MARVIN]
Sometimes evil
[MENDEL]
Sometimes smarmy
[WHIZZER]
Part Two:
[MENDEL]
It's queer, Mr. Marvin- Sorry
[MARVIN]
Jesus...
[MENDEL]
Strange, Mr. Marvin
How your wife, your ex-wife’s meager glories
Coupled with her tragic stories
Move me in unreported ways
[MARVIN]
She's a very good woman
She's a wonderful woman
[MENDEL]
Do you mind that?
She was here to speak of Jason
And I find that
I hope Jason acts out more
'Cause there’s a few more things we need explored
[MARVIN]
Oh no, I understand
[MENDEL]
Good, very good, very very good
I feel a lot better already
Going on
Was she a vicious woman?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Did she beat the child?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Did she ever drive you wild?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Never?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Never?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Never, never, never, never?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Never?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
Never?
[MARVIN]
No, no, no!
[MENDEL]
Was she faithful? Be objective
[MARVIN]
Oh, yes
[MENDEL]
She was faithful
[MARVIN]
Yes
[MENDEL]
And her last caress was
[MARVIN]
Careless
[MENDEL]
You mean careful?
[MARVIN]
Careful
Not to show she cared
[MENDEL]
So you weren't prepared
For the crying
And the screaming
[MARVIN]
And the beating of the breast
Oh- I don't wanna be rude
[MENDEL]
Does she sleep in the n***?
[MARVIN]
No
[MENDEL]
No, going on
Did you like that?
Would she change it if she knew you didn't like that?
Did she wear a negligé?
Could you blow and it would blow away?
I don't mean to interfere
I would like to make that very clear
[WHIZZER]
Part Three:
[MARVIN]
My son's distressing
[JASON]
My father's snide
[MARVIN]
I'm convalescing
[JASON]
He's morbid and dissatisfied
[MARVIN]
What should I do now?
[JASON]
He loves another
[MARVIN]
I agree
[JASON]
I love my mother
[MARVIN]
Why not me?
We go to ball games
[JASON]
The ball is tossed
[MARVIN]
The pitcher's handsome
[JASON]
And our team lost
[MARVIN]
Is that my problem?
Should I be blamed for that?
[JASON]
Explore museums
[MARVIN]
Admire art
[JASON]
We stand together
[MARVIN]
But we stand there looking miles apart
How do I reach him?
What words of wisdom?
What should I do now?
[JASON]
My father says that love
Is the most beautiful thing in the world
I think games are
I think chess is the most
Beautiful thing
Not love
[WHIZZER]
Marvin at the Psychiatrist, a three-part mini opera
The End