Anything You Can Do © Message:
A monologue with some comedy shows how God has given talent to men and women equally, and how female African-American athletes have excelled over the years.
Bible Reference: Cast:
Matthew 25:15
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Set, , Sound, Lighting: standard Costumes:
likely athletic wear
Song:
See “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” by Irving Berlin performed in “Annie Get Your Gun” 1946
Time:
5
Script actress comes on stage, looking back offstage Oh give it a rest Billy Marshall! If you are so sure that you are more athletic than me, like you say you are, why don’t you just go and prove it? Like put up or shush! Maybe I should remind you that I work out like 5 days a week. shows off muscles Just have a look at these pipes! And you? . . . Not so much! To you working out is exercising your smart mouth. listens, reacts Why would I care if you are older than me? Age is a number! listens, reacts You are taller than me? . . . So what does that prove? . . Me, I am taller where it counts . . between the ears . . in the brain, little boy! listens, reacts So you got 20 pounds on me? Big deal! African American women got it all over you . . men types! assumes boxing stance Meet Laila Ali sucker . . .. 24 fights, 21 knockouts . . . ZERO losses! The 20 pounds I am short just helps this lady float like a butterfly . . (throws a vicious right) . . . and sting like a bad old bee, sucker! I got news for you Billy Marshall . . Anything You Can Do © © Copyright DramaShare 2011
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Anything boys can do . . girls can do better! Anything! ANYTHING! strikes defiant pose, sings Anything boys can do girls can do better . . Girls can do anything better than boys! listens, reacts Yes we can listens, reacts Yes we can! listens, reacts, very firmly Yes we can, yes we can, yes we can! shakes her head sadly, smiles in mock pity Face it sucker! Women are just more naturally gifted as athletes. listens, reacts In what sports you ask? In all sports I tell ya! OK how about tennis . . . strikes a tennis pose Does the name Serena Williams mean anything to you? Or sister Venus? Or Althea Gibson. Or maybe Ora Washington, the Queen of tennis, undefeated 1924 to 1936, back when African Americans and women were barred from competition. Or Lucy Diggs Slowe maybe? First black women’s tennis champion. And don’t get no foolish notion that Lucy was just another tennis player . . not too likely! She went and ended up professor and dean of women at Howard University no less! For sure guys have been great in tennis too, . . . Arthur Ashe and all . . . but for beating all odds in the world of tennis, you do for sure have to hand it to us African American women! listens, reacts What are you talking about Billy! You sayin’ that tennis maybe is an exception, more suited for women than men? Give your silly head a shake boy! Try on the name of Toni Stone why don’t you? First woman to ever play baseball in the Negro league. But you oughta know it wasn’t just baseball . . . Miss Stone she was a winner in basketball, golf, swimming, track, tennis . . . And just one more thing . . . Us women we don’t just excel in warm weather sports . . Miss Stone, she was a star in ice skating and even played ice hockey! listens, reacts, nods her head, smiles I thought you would be impressed. And talking about ice hockey . . . Anything You Can Do © © Copyright DramaShare 2011
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Cammi Granato, first woman ever to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hockey Hall of Fame. . . . You got it . . right alongside all those (smirks) jock he-man type players! smiles, starts to sing slowly Anything guys can do, gals can do better . . Gals can do anything better than guys . . Yes we can .. smiles, starts to walk off stage, stops, looks back over shoulder, speaks defiantly Yes . . we . . can! Actor offstage, lights slowly down
Anything You Can Do © © Copyright DramaShare 2011
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