5 Fun Plays for Kids to Perform Vol. II: Fables

5 Fun Scripts for Kids to Perform Vol. II: Fables

by Marian Scadden

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2020 Marian Scadden

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Producing any play in this collection

No part of this playbook may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, including photocopying, electronic, mechanical recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Marian L Scadden Enterprises.

Persons or entities that wish to produce any play in this collection must receive written permission in advance of production from Marian L Scadden Enterprises, 503-877-6842, [email protected], www.PerformancesClassesBooks.com

The Plays

Note: Although these plays are gathered in a collection, you may not perform any of them before an audience - even if the performance is free - without written permission. Please see information at the end of the book.

1. The Crows and the Coral Snake Eggs

The Crockett, Bowie and Austin Crow Families are going about their ordinary business with the kids going off to school and the parents working at home. When the mail comes, the parents get a notice warning them about the poisonous coral snake and the children get a review about it. There’s ice cream after school with delicious flavors, such as mint-earthworm and apple-ant-swirl. Then there are games but when the warning caw comes, will the little crows remember what to do?

Running time: about 35 min. Cast: 9 male, 11 female, many of the parts can be either, doubling possible.

Songs: Obnoxious Crows; The Way of the Crow; Coral Snakes; Don’t Count Your Snakes

2. Everybody Knows That

Princess Ada realizes that everyone knows things that she just doesn't know. So she strikes out to learn for herself. When she comes upon Alexandria Dragon playing in mud puddles, Ada starts to realize that perhaps the people don't know what they think they know. It's up to Ada and Alexandria to stop a conflict from brewing.

Running Time: about 45 min. Cast: 2 male, 5 female, 11 either, doubling possible.

Songs: Everybody Knows That; Let’s Make a Plan; Everybody Knows That (Reprise)

3. Fables

Three fables from around the world are retold in this play: The Boy Who Cried Wolf (fable of Aesop); Armadillos in the Road, an original Texas fable; and The Foolish Lion and the Clever Rabbit (from India). In the first story, a boy learns to his detriment what happens when you play a trick on people a few too many times. The teacher armadillo and her young students are on a field trip, moseying along. But when the teacher shows them the road, she turns downright mean. The young armadillos learn why (no armadillos are hurt in the making of this play). In the final tale, a lion is terrorizing everyone. He's killing the animals for fun now and not just food. The clever rabbit thinks up a plan to save the rest of the wildlife.

Running Time: about 45 min. Cast: 3 male, 4 female, 14 either, doubling possible.

Songs: Come Join Us; Short tunes for the start of each storyline: Do Not Tell a Falsehood, Slow and Steady’s Not So Smart, When the Lion Slaps; Telly Took Care of the Sheep; Come Join Us (reprise)

4A. Three Fables of Aesop

This play starts with Anthula, a Greek girl, just returned from the marketplace. There, a man named Aesop told some exciting stories. She’s confused about the morals, so she tells the stories to the audience who sees them unfold before them. Characters are clothed in ancient Greek costume but have modern attitudes. The storylines are The Tortoise and the Hare, Belling the Cat, The Ants and the Grasshopper

Running Time: about 40 min. Cast: 1 female, 18 either, doubling possible.

Songs: Get on Your Chiton; The Ants Go Marching; Take Off Your Chiton (reprise)

4B. Four Fables of Aesop

This is a bonus script because Four Fables of Aesop is almost the exact same as Three Fables of Aesop. The difference is that The North Wind and the Sun is included, there are no songs, and there’s a few more cast members.

Running Time: about 45 min. Cast: 1 female, 24 either, doubling possible.

5. A Tortoise and a Hare in Africa, Two Fables

The Tortoise and the Hare in this play is not like those in Aesop’s fable. In Tortoise and Baboon, Baboon is quite the prankster and plays jokes on the others in the community. When he tricks Tortoise twice in one day, Tortoise waits for the perfect opportunity to trick Baboon. All the animals in Why the Hare Has No Tail have short tails. When the Cheetah’s bring a message from King Lion that he is going to give everyone a new tail, they’re excited, but poor Hare doesn’t want to go out in the rain.

Running Time: about 55 min. Cast: 33 male or female, doubling possible.

End Notes

~Getting Permission to Perform the Plays

~Minimal and Flexible

~Questions? Just Ask

~More Collections

~About the Author

THE CROWS AND THE CORAL SNAKE EGGS

[Note: This is a read-only copy. If you wish to perform this play, you must contact Marian L Scadden Enterprises, [email protected]. More info is at the end of the book.]

Characters:

Families of crows -

CROCKETT FAMILY -

Carl, dad

Crystal, mom

Christie

Charles

Cassidy

Cal, grandpa

Clara, grandma

BOWIE FAMILY -

Bob, dad

Berniece, mom

Betsy

Billy

Brook

AUSTIN FAMILY -

Alan, dad

Alice, mom

Annette

Anthony

Alex

FRANK, mailman

TAMI, ice cream seller

MRS. KENNARI, teacher*

Songs: Obnoxious Crows; The Way of the Crow; Coral Snakes; Don’t Count Your Snakes

*Kennari is the Icelandic word for teacher. It’s pronounced [ken’-nuh-ree], almost rhymes with Henry but with an extra syllable, such as, Henary instead of Henry

SETTING: The stage is empty. During the play, set pieces to represent school seats and perches are added.

AT RISE: Crockett Family enters and stands down left. Bowie Family stands up center. Brook is asleep behind her parents. Austin Family stands center right. All are in frozen positions until it’s time for them to speak.

CARL: Looks like another hot day.

CRYSTAL: That’ll be nice. (clapping her hands) Alright, children, line up.

(Christie, Charlie, Cindy, and Cassidy line up)

CARL: Preen those feathers. (they do, including Crystal and Carl)

CRYSTAL: Now fluff them out a bit. (they all shake)

CARL: Looking good!

CROCKETT CHILDREN: Thanks, Dad!

(they freeze)

BOB: It’s says it’s going to be hot today.

BERNIECE: Better shake those feathers, kids. (they do)

BOB: Maybe they better get some dirt on them.

BERNIECE: You heard what your father said, roll in the dirt.

BETSY: Aw, Mom. I just finished preening.

BILLY: Whatever you did, it didn’t work.

BETSY: Dad, Billy’s being rude.

BOB: Billy, stop it. Now both of you get in the dirt. Where’s Brook?

BERNIECE: Brook!

(Brook is right behind parents, curled up, sleeping; she wakes up groggy)

BROOK: Mom, I’m right here. Do you have to call so loud? I was dreaming.

BERNIECE: Time to wake up! Wake up!

BROOK: Mom!

BOB: Take a dirt bath, Brook. It looks like it’s going to be a hot day.

BROOK: Okay.

(they sit on the floor and play in the dirt, then freeze)

ALICE: Right wing up! (Annette, Anthony, Alex and Alan raise right arms; laughs) Not you, Alan, the children.

ALAN: (keeps arm up) I can use the exercise, too.

ALICE: (raises right arm) Good point. Left wing up!

(family members raise left arms)

ALAN: Yep, yep! Good sets of wings.

ALICE: Now both up!

ANNETTE: Do we have to do this every morning?

ANTHONY: Yeah, do we have to?

ALAN: Of course we do. Warming up is a good way to prevent muscle strain.

ANTHONY: But in front of everyone?

ALICE: We’re setting a good example.

ANTHONY: Betsy, Billy and Brook are rolling in the dirt.

ALAN: Must be hot weather today.

ANNETTE: Can’t we roll in the dirt, too?

ALICE: Not until after your vocal exercises.

ALAN: I want to hear the best sounding crows in the neighborhood. (loudly) What do we say, kids?

ANNETTE, ANTHONY, ALEX: Caw.

ALAN: What?

ANNETTE, ANTHONY, ALEX: Caw!

ALAN, ALICE: What?!

ANNETTE, ANTHONY, ALEX: Caw! Caw!

CARL, CRYSTAL, BOB, BERNIECE, ALAN, ALICE: Let’s go!

(All fly around stage)

ALL: Caw! Caw! (etc; singing Obnoxious Crows)

IT’S TIME TO START THIS LOVELY DAY

WINGING THROUGH THE SKY

THEN GIVE IT A CHEERY CAW, CAW, CAW!

WEAVING AS WE FLY

WE ARE CROWS!

OBNOXIOUS CROWS!

CAW! CAW! CAW!

WE SAY IT LOUD SO EV’RYONE KNOWS

THAT WE ARE CROWS

CAW! CAW! CAW!

IT’S GREAT FUN TO SIT ON A BRANCH

AND JUMP TO THE GROUND

THEN FLY BACK UP AND PERCH AGAIN

AND SEE WHAT WAS FOUND

(All ad lib: what did you find? I found a nut. I found a pebble. I found dirt. etc.)

WE ARE CROWS!

OBNOXIOUS CROWS!

CAW! CAW! CAW!

WE SAY IT LOUD SO EV’RYONE KNOWS

THAT WE ARE CROWS

CAW! CAW! CAW!

(Children all exit, flying)

CARL, CRYSTAL: Bye, kids!

BOB, BERNIECE: Have fun at school!

ALICE: Listen to your teacher!

ALAN: And try not to steal anything.

ALICE, BOB, BERNIECE, CARL, CRYSTAL: Yeah, try not to steal anything!

FRANK: (enters carrying a mail bag) Good morning, everyone.

ALICE, ALAN, BOB, BERNIECE, CARL, CRYSTAL: Hello, Frank!

(they surround Frank)

CARL: Do you have any mail for us?

(they each take a piece of mail from Frank as he protests)

FRANK: Now wait a minute…you can’t…hold it now…wait…HOLD IT!

(All the adults are holding mail and they slowly turn towards Frank)

FRANK: You know you can’t go stealing the mail.

MOMS AND DADS: (singing The Way of the Crow)

WE KNOW WE SHOULD NOT STEAL

BUT IT’S SO FUN, YOU KNOW.

WE LOVE TO HIDE THINGS TOO

THAT’S THE WAY OF THE CROW.

WE PLAY THE PART OF THIEVES

NOT EXCUSING OUR DEEDS

WE LIKE TO HIDE THE THINGS

IN TREES OR IN THE WEEDS

SEEK AND FIND

TAKE AND HIDE

CACHE AND STOW

FOR THAT’S THE WAY OF THE CROW!

FOR THAT’S THE WAY OF THE CROW!

BOB: We know, Frank.

BERNIECE: We’re sorry.

BOB: (returning mail) Here you go.

CARL & CRYSTAL: Sorry, Frank. (return mail)

ALAN: You know how it is, Frank.

ALICE: How did you learn to stop taking things? (Alan and Alice return mail)

FRANK: I don’t know if I’ve gotten over it but since they let us take all the undeliverable mail we want at the office, I guess I don’t feel the need to take any of your stuff.

ALAN, ALICE, BOB, BERNIECE, CARL, CRYSTAL: (ad libbing) Oh, that’s right nice. Good job, Frank. We’ll try harder next time. (etc.)

FRANK: Don’t worry about it. We all go through it. We are crows, you know!

(they laugh)

MOMS & DADS (but children): We are crows, you know!

FRANK: If you will all line up and don’t steal from me again, I’ll pass out your mail.

(they line up)

ALICE: We’re ready!

FRANK: (pulling a large postcard out of mail bag) This is for the Bowie family.

BOB: Right here.

BERNIECE: (move to Frank to take their mail) Thank you. (they move away from the others, but the others try to get their mail)

FRANK: Now, now! Don’t