27-11
d) ‘Comic relief
A play called “Farmworkers Unite to Overcome Hunger” was put on by student
health workers to get people thinking about how they might recover land held
illegally by the rich. If irrigated, this
land could produce two harvests a
year and help landless farmworkers
to feed their families. This serious
play was made lighter at moments
by the use of a papier mache
donkey with two people
inside it.
During one of the most serious
scenes, ‘comic relief was provided
by the donkey. It would nod its head
in agreement with the farmworkers’
decisions to take over the land.
e) Use of songs, dance, and music
Songs and music make a
drama more entertaining.
The play mentioned above
opened with the singing of
popular songs for which
the health workers had
written new words. And
one scene showed a ‘work
festival’ in which people
dug an irrigation ditch
to the rhythm of songs
and music by the village
musicians. The play
finished with a celebration
and dance-in which even the donkey began to dance!
Songs with health messages can be introduced through popular theater. If the
songs are clever enough, people may pick them up and continue singing them. This
happened in Africa with a song about preventing eye disease, called
“Brush the Flies from Baby’s Eyes.”
You might try giving a group of health workers, mothers, or school
children a line like “Brush the flies from baby’s eyes . ..” and see
who can come up with the best song. Then perhaps it could be
presented in a skit or puppet show. (See also the songs on pages
1-27 and 15-15.)