Puckett Publishing

Patience

6 men, 4 women, plus a chorus
2 Acts, 38 pages
28 songs

Patience is rock opera (in the sense there is no dialog, only songs) based on the Biblical story of Job, but set in the fishing village of Terrapin Springs, in the Florida panhandle. Job is a prosperous and well-respected citizen of the community, until a wager between God and Satan tuen his life into a living hell. Job staunchly resists the urge to curse God for  his ills, even as his wealth, possessions, children and even his health are taken away. The finale, however veers sharlpy away from the standard interpretation of Job.

Cast of Characters

• JOB. 40-50. A righteous and prosperous man. Strong-willed, but not stern. An optimist who does not expect life to conform to his desires.
• GOD. 25-35. A woman. The Creator, who is confident of Job's steadfastness. She is dressed in white linen or seersucker dress or suit, wide brimmed Panama hat.
•  SATAN. 30-40. The Adversary, who thinks he can make Job deny God. Sharp dresser, in black, turtleneck, blazer and beret.
• AMOREENA. 30-40. Job's wife. A good woman, but she sometimes tries Job’s patience, but is always steadfast.
•  ELI. 30-40. Job's good friend, who cannot understand why Job is so accepting of the calamities that befall him
• BILL. 30-40. Another good friend, with similar shortcomings.
• SOPHIE. 30-40. Another good friend, but she at least tries to understand Job's steadfastness.
• JOEY. 16-20. Job's son, an unsophisticated redneck who does not think deeply and feels stifled in Terrapin Springs
• JOANNA. 19-25. Job's daughter, older than Joey. She is a lesbian in a small town, an intellectual in a place that doesn't like intellectuals.
• GABRIEL. The archangel. Dresses casually, has no gravitas. `
• ANGELS/SATAN'S GANG/TOWNSPEOPLE

Musical Numbers

• "Prologue/A Mighty Fine Man". God, Satan, Chorus
• "Whaddaya Think?”. Satan, God
• “Can’t Complain”. Job, Amoreena, Eli, Sophie, Bill, Joanna, Joey, Chorus
• “Friends”. Job, Eli, Sophie, Bill
• “Shake Things Up”. Satan, Gabriel, Satan's Chorus
• “Riches To Rags”. Job, Eli, Bill, Sophie, Chorus
• “Farewell To Fairweather Friends”. Job, Eli, Sophie, Bill
• “Say Gay And Say Goodbye”. Joanna, Amoreena
• "Too Hot To Stand”. Joey, Job
• "Prodigal". Job, Amoreena
• “Feel Like Letting Go?”. Satan, Job, God
• “Can’t Lose What You Don't Have”. Job
• “I Wish There Was Something I Could Do”. Amoreena, God
• “Still Got Your Health/COVID”. Job, Amoreena, Eli, Sophie, Bill, Chorus

Act II

• "Angelic Recap". Gabriel, Angels
• “Whaddaya Think? (Reprise)”. Satan, God, Gabriel, Ensemble
• “Thank God You're Always There”. Job, Amoreena
• "Nothing Left To Lose". Job, Eli,, Bill, Sophie
• “Feel Like Letting Go? (Reprise)”. Satan, Job
• “Friendly Fire”. Eli, Sophie, Bill, Job
• “Patience”. Job
• “We Regret To Inform You”. Ensemble, Amoreena
• “Curse Your God”. Eli, Sophie, Bill
• "Could Someone Please Explain”. Job
• “We Made A Bet”. God, Satan, Job
• “Don’t Need You Anymore”. Job
• “I'm Not the One”. God, Satan
• “Find A Way”. Job, Amoreena, Joanna, Gabriel, Ensemble

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes, with an intermission

Set: The set can be very stylized, mainly exterior locations.