Aesop! Funtastic FablesJunior Script

by Bruce Sharp

ISBN: 978 1 84237 058 21/160112

Published by

Musicline Publications P.O. Box 15632

Tamworth Staffordshire

B77 5BY 01827 281 431

www.musiclinedirect.com

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Dramatical musical works do not fall under the licence of the Performing Right Society.

Permission to perform this show from the publisher ‘MUSICLINE PUBLICATIONS’ is always required. An application form, for permission to perform, is supplied at the back of the script for this purpose. To perform this show without permission is strictly prohibited. It is a direct contravention of copyright legislation and deprives the writers of their livelihood.

Anyone intending to perform this show should, in their own interests, make application to the publisher for consent, prior to starting rehearsals.

All Rights Strictly Reserved.

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Aesop!

Thanks to a mysterious magical storyteller, Kevin and Sarah’s picnic in the woods turns into an incredible lesson in life. Learning from nature, they listen to the secret of the ants, take tea with the bees, share honey with a dancing bear and howl with a lonely wolf. They meet the sly old fox and a very arrogant goat and there’s even a mouse that’s best friends with a lion. They do battle with the Sun and the Wind, watch a tortoise race a hare and meet a wise old owl who just can’t stop giving good advice. Join them on their incredible journey as they are shrunk to the size of a grasshopper. See the world through the eye’s, ears and thoughts of the animals. Through a collection of catchy songs and wonderful characters, the children learn that in spite of all their differences, there is a spirit of love and caring that makes us all the same. Stories as old as time and as wise as ever, brought together in a magical musical production that is guaranteed to enchant, educate and entertain. The music covers many styles including Rap, Swing, Ballad, Blues, Military, Latin American and good old Rock ’n Roll. Suitable for either Junior or Secondary, the script is versatile enough for small scale or whole school productions with thirty main characters and any number of additional groups of ants, doves, bees and other critters.

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Cast In order of appearance … Kevin Boy Sarah Girl Aesop A wise and ancient magical traveller Grasshopper Fun loving lay about Ants Ant 1 – 18 (or any combination to read the lines) Swimming Ant (in the Ants and the Doves song) Doves Dove (in the Ants and the Doves song) Various Doves (any number) Hunter Man with a gun Lion King of the Jungle Fox Sly and crafty cool dude Rabbits Rabbit 1 (first to be eaten by Lion) Rabbit 2 (pulled into Lions cave) Various Selection of critters to be lured into Lions cave Mouse Lions friend Sheep Sheep 1 – 3 (or any combination to read the lines) Wolf Not to be trusted Crow Fine looking Beauty Hare Fast and furry Tortoise Slow and Steady Crowd A crowd of critters watching the race Commentator Talking through the race Goat Vane and self-centred Bees Bees 1 – 7 (or any combination to read the lines) Bear Honey loving big guy Owl Wise old bird Oak Ancient old tree Reeds Reed plants by the river (various) Tornado Mighty Wind Wind Full of hot air Sun Bright and sunny disposition Man Wearing a coat

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Song List

Song Page 1. World of Imagination 7 2.The Ant’s Song 10 3.The Grasshopper’s Song 12 4.The Ants and the Doves 14 5.The Mouse’s Song 18 6.The Wolf’s Song 20 7.The Fox and Miss Crow 21 8.The Goat’s Song 25 9.The Lion’s Song (The Story of the Fox and the Goat) 26 10.The Bear’s Song 28 11.The Bee’s Rap 29 12.Spread the Goodies of the World 35

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Aesop

Kevin: Ow! These ants keep biting me. I hate it out here. I wish all these creepy crawlies would leave us alone.

Sarah: You were the one who wanted a picnic in the woods! Kevin: Yeah! But I didn’t want to share it with thousands of bugs. Sarah: Stand on them. That’ll get rid of them. (Kevin is just about to stamp on the ground when there is a thunderbolt. They both look up. A door, hidden by the grain of the bark, slowly opens in the great tree at the back of the stage. Aesop quietly comes out of the tree and closes the door behind him. He is an old man with a long grey beard. He carries a large staff made from an old tree branch. He wears a long flowing coat/gown made from a mixture of materials with leaves and feathers, sewn into the fabric. He strides slowly and silently towards the children who have their backs to him and don’t notice as he stands behind them. He leans casually on his staff and waits.) Kevin: Where did that come from? Sarah: Don’t know? Summer thunderstorm I guess. Yuck, Look; there

are ants all over the food. Kill them. (They both raise their legs to stamp the ground, but before they do, Aesop leans forward between them.) Aesop: Don’t Kev. & Sarah: Ahhhhhhh!

(They leap back in fright) Aesop: Please don’t. They’re my friends. Sarah: You scared us. Where did you come from? Aesop: Here, there….everywhere. Kevin: Who are you? Aesop: I can be a great many things. It rather depends on who YOU

are. Kevin: What do you mean? Aesop: Well, if you were a mouse, I would be a giant. If you were a

dog, I would be your master. And if you were a lion, I would be…. lunch.

Kevin: You talk funny. Aesop: And you have a big nose and no manners. Sarah: Our mum say’s we shouldn’t talk to strangers.

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Aesop: Quite right, so let us be strangers no more. My name is Aesop. I am a voice from the past, a dreamer of dreams, a teller of tales and a bringer of truths.

(They shake hands) Sarah: I’m Sarah, and this is Kevin. Aesop: Bon jour. Gut Morgan… Kevin: He’s still talking funny. Aesop: I speak all the languages of the world, including some you’ve

probably never considered before. Like…Cricket for example. Kevin: He’s mad, Aesop: A little madness, now and then, is relished by the wisest men.

You must learn to see with different eyes and hear with new ears. Let go of what you think you know and stretch out with your imagination.

Song 1: World of Imagination

Enter my world of imagination Is it really so impossible to see How the butterflies and bees As they flutter through the breeze Live a life that’s just the same as you and me Won’t you enter my world of imagination? It’s so easy all you have to do is try Hear the sparrow as it sings And it opens up its wings Hold your arms out in the air and you can fly

As the world Spins round There’s a truth I see That without us ever knowing All the love that we are sowing Will be flowing to a future that is free Inside of me and my world of imagination Where the animals can talk to you in rhyme They would shake you by the hand Show you round their wonderland You could be there if you only took the time

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Just to enter my world of imagination Throw away all of your doubting and your fear If you want to race a hare Or eat honey with a bear Open up your inner mind and you are near As the world Spins round There’s a truth I see For the things that we believe Are so easy to deceive It’s much safer just to trust in what you see When you’re here in my world of imagination There’s an owl who wants to teach you to be strong And a goat who lets his pride Over come his better side And a fox who fools a crow into a song Won’t you enter my world of imagination? There’s a wolf who’d like to call you all his friend There’s the sun and wind who fight And a mouse who gets a fright But it’s sure to always have a happy end

As the world Spins round There’s a truth I see You’re just waiting for the chance To take hold of life and dance And become whatever that you want to be Let it out, let it through Open up to something new Let it grow inside of you and come with me….

Aesop: Now, take hold of the magic staff, close your eyes tight and enter MY WORLD.

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(A strange whooshing sound mixed with the cries of various different animals. Lights flash and spin; Aesop and the children are shaken by a strange, magical force. It all stops abruptly. There is a sweet whistling from off stage and a Grasshopper comes skipping on. It is all dressed in green and has large antennae on its head, which bob up and down as it dances around. Sarah stands open mouthed in amazement. Kevin still has his eyes shut. The grasshopper comes over, studies them curiously for a moment and then taps Kevin on the shoulder.) G.Hopper: Hi there buddy. Got anything to eat? (Kevin opens his eyes, screams and throws himself behind Aesop for protection) G.Hopper: Gee, you need to relax more. Kevin: It’s a monster. Aesop: It’s a grasshopper. Kevin: B…B…But it’s HUGE. Aesop: No…YOU are SMALL. G.Hopper: The sun is out, the weathers fine

What’s mine is your, what’s yours is mine. Come sit and talk with me a while Don’t work so hard, that’s not my style.

(From the distance there’s the sound of marching feet and someone calling “left, right, left, right” A military drum beat marches out the time.) G.Hopper: Oh, no. How’s anybody supposed to get any rest with those

guys stomping about all over the place? Little busybodies. Sarah: Who are they? G.Hopper: It’s the army ants. They’re out on food patrol AGAIN. (Enter a platoon of army ants. They are dressed in black with long antennae. They march in military fashion. Some are carrying huge pieces of food scraps, apple cores, grapes, a polo mint, a French fry etc. These are all scaled up in size appropriate for being next to ants. These props are worth investing a bit of time into. They will greatly enhance the sense of scale and are guaranteed to get a good reaction from the audience. A comic element could be introduced by having one of the smaller ants struggling to carry a huge piece of food that’s nearly squashing him. You could also do a variation on the old slap stick ‘PLANK’ sketch where one ant is carrying a French fry and keeps accidentally knocking another ant over the head whenever they turn in the march, with the smart one ducking in time and the slow one getting hit.)

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Song 2: The Ants Song

An army ant will sing and chant And work all through the day We’re in the mood to gather food And store it all away We work from dawn till dusk at night In search of what we need That’s why in spite of being small We know we will succeed

Chorus We’re in the army, the army is our life We have no time to drink of wine Or get ourselves a wife We’re in the army, we know that come what may We’re army ants in army pants And that’s the way we’ll stay

Ants are cool, ants are neat Ants have double-jointed feet That’s so if we miss our mums It’s easier to suck our thumbs

We clomp and stomp and tramp and chomp Along the woodland path And yet in spite of working hard We always have a laugh We love to fight and poke and bite It fills us full of glee And if you chase we’ll simply race And climb the nearest tree

Chorus

Ants are bold, ants are rude Ants will come and steal your food We’ll eat your cake and drink your beer And then we shall be sick I fear

An ant is long and very strong And built for being rough And though we’re small we never fall If things are getting tough We may be very tiny but We always work as one And a hundred thousand million ants Can really get things done

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Chorus

Ants are strong, we don’t fuss There ain’t no job too tough for us And though we’re small we’re lean and mean And there ain’t no place that an ant ain’t been

Ants are fine, ants are ace You’ll find ants all over the place Around the world and round the bend Ants in pants will be your friend

Ant1: All right you lot. There’s only two hours ‘till sundown and not nearly enough food in the store, so PUT YOUR BACKS INTO IT.

(They spread out and start collecting more things from around the stage.) Ant2: All this food’s making my mouth water with ANT-icipation. Ant3: I hope it won’t be an ANT-iclimax. Ant4: Here, guess what this is.

(He grabs and pinches a smaller ant who cries out) Ant5: Eeek! Eeek! Ant4: It’s an ANT-Eeek (antique) G.Hopper: Hey little brothers, what’s your game

You’re hot and tired and that’s a shame So why not stop and sit with me And maybe share a grape… or three

Ant6: Does he mean us? He’s got a cheek We’ve worked to fill our store all week And now you want free lunch you say? We’re not a blooming take away Ant7: You have to plan ahead my friend For soon enough comes summers end And though you think you’ve got no worry When winter comes, you’ll soon be sorry G.Hopper: I’ll sit right here and just relax While these dumb creatures break their backs They haul and crawl and puff and pant I ain’t no slave, I ain’t no ant So tell me why should little I

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Go sifting, lifting dirt and muck I’ve better plans for these six hands If they want help, they’re out of luck

Song 3: The Grasshoppers song (Grasshopper dances around the ants making fun of them as he sings his song)

I don’t wanna work I live for today No use in saving and putting it all away ‘Cos you’re only young once so enjoy it Yes you’re only here once so what do you say

There are guys around here who sweat and toil I see no profit in digging up the soil ‘Cos you’re only young once so enjoy it Yes you’re only here once so what do you say Well you’re only here once so what do you say Yes you’re only here once so what do you say

G.Hopper: Of course, I’d never now admit My tummy’s rumbling quite a bit And I confess I’d like to know Where all this food is going to go

Ants: (Together) To the store, to the store To the marvellous store It’s totally full to the very top floor

Ant 8: With fudges and chocolate and cherries and cake Ant 9: And light fizzy cola and fruit crumble bake Ant 10: There’s turkey and mince and a huge sausage roll Ant 11: There’s chips and lasagne and toad in the hole Ant 12: There’s pork chops and mustard and tuna fish pie Ant 13: There’s peanuts and raisins piled up to the sky Ants: (Together)

From the floor to the roof and from wall to wall Filled with fabulous munchings and scrunchings for all.

G.Hopper: Oh, stop it, please, for goodness sakes I do confess my tummy aches And now that dusk is drawing near I’ve nothing left to eat I fear

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Ant 14: Then there’s one rule you cannot shirk If you want to eat… you’ve got to work.

Ant 15: So you help us and we’ll help you For that’s the way we make it through All through the winter and through the rain And hand in hand we’ll share the gain

Aesop: These creatures have learnt it’s important to share And in lending a hand they are showing they care And it won’t be the first time they’ve shown there is love Let me tell you the tale of the ant’s and the dove.

(An ant comes centre stage to the pond area. Two others hold up two pieces of thin blue mater a in front of him and flick them alternately to create the appearance of waves on the waters edge.)

Once an ant fell asleep by a cool summer stream And forgot where he was as he started to dream And then all of a sudden his friends heard a splash When they saw he was missing they started to dash

Ant16: We ran to the edge and there in the drink Our poor little brother was starting to sink

Ant17: Well we stretched out to reach him but to our dismay The watery current just swept him away

Ant18: So we yelled and we hollered for help from above And it came in the shape of a little white dove.

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Song 4: The Ants and the Doves

(Doves fly on stage and circle the waters edge.) Ants: Oh, save, save our little brother He’s drowning in the dug up steam It’s deep and wild and ugly And things are looking mean Doves: Hey now, we’d like to help you Don’t wanna see a man go down That stream is really raging And I think he’s gonna drown All: We’ll he’s got six legs and he’s using them all He’s none to strong and he’s only small So look for twig to put on his track You’d better do it in a hurry Or he won’t be coming back

(A dove flies down, picks up a branch and drops it into the water beside the drowning ant. He cl ngs onto it gasping for air. The other ants throw him a line and pull him to shore. He is laid out on his front while one of the others push his back pretending to get the water out of his lungs. A good gimmick is for the ant to have come onstage with a mouth already full of water which they can periodically spray out as they squeeze him.)

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Doves: Hey guys we liked that suggestion To get him to the side We had to throw him something g So he could take a ride Ants: Well I guess you’ve solved our problem And it’s a debt we’re gonna pay Just take our name and number And we’ll get back straight away All: If you ever need a friend then give us a call We’ll arrive in a hurry for anything at all ‘Cos a deal is a deal and a friend is a friend And we’ll be right there, ‘till the very end