Young Charles Dickens has just started work at a local shop. On his first day, Bob teaches him how to do his new job!
BOB
You set your pot in the oil paper,
without any fuss, without any muss.
Then you wrap it all up in the blue paper,
try and do it, just like us.
Now you tie the whole thing with this beautiful string.
Then you paste on a label, and you’re ready to sing.
Warren’s Blacking, there’s nothing lacking
For your boots or for your stove.
Warren’s Blacking, in its elegant packing,
it’s a sticky black treasure trove.
CHARLES
(Spoken)
It’s sticking all over me!
BOB
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fa-la-la!
CHARLES AND BOB
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fa-la-la!
BOB
(Spoken)
You’ll soon get the hang of it.
(Singing)
Us can’t waste time, must do up another.
To polish up her stove, why, uh, give it to your mother!
CHARLES
Or to shine his new boots, to go with his suits,
a marvelous gift to give to your brother!
BOB
Cover the muck you picked up in the street…
CHARLES
It will earn you complements from anyone you meet!
BOTH
Warren’s Blacking’s up to the task.
Everybody says so, anyone you ask.
BOB
Set a pot in oil paper,
CHARLES
Wrap it up in blue paper.
BOB
Tie the whole thing,
CHARLES
Tie the whole thing,
TIE THE WHOLE THING,
BOB
With this beautiful string.
CHARLES
The beautiful string.
BOB
Then you…
BOB AND CHARLES
Paste on a label, and you’re ready to sing.
BOB
(Spoken)
Look, we got a crowd round our window! Come on Charlie! Let’s show ‘em what we can do!
BOTH
Warren’s Blacking, there’s nothing lacking
For your boots or for your stove.
Warren’s Blacking, in its elegant packing,
it’s a sticky black treasure trove!
BOTH
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fa-la-la!
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fal-di-la, fa-la-la-la.
Fa-la-la!
Warren’s Blacking, there’s nothing lacking
For your boots or for your stove.
Warren’s Blacking, in its elegant packing,
it’s a sticky black treasure trove!
Warren’s Blacking, there’s nothing lacking
For your boots or for your stove.
Warren’s Blacking, in its elegant packing,
it’s a sticky black treasure trove!
Show Credits
Book and Lyrics by Barbara Zinn Krieger
Music by Charlie Greenberg
Based on the book “A Boy Called Dickens”
Written by Deborah Hopkinson
Directed by Josh Penzell
Performed by Ryan Borses and Bryson Bruce
