Fifth Graders Transform Tales into "Shows"
Teacher's comment:
In drama we cover a range of skills and platforms, chiefly mime, puppetry, Shakespeare comedies, musicals, and film acting. We treat everything—the costumes, scenery, lighting and sound, the appointments of a puppetry stage—like a professional experience.
The work of fifth graders offers a glimpse of our emphasis on skills progression. With these girls, the year is devoted to puppetry. At first they say “Oh no”—and then halfway through the year, they say, “This is so cool.” We begin with hand puppets they make themselves, of felt—it’s forgiving, it doesn’t fray, has integrity on stage, and the colors are great. The focus is on manipulation, culminating in hilarious Aesop’s Fables plays. Next come shadow puppets, created in the art studio, while I concentrate on their script-writing: adaptations of short stories to accompany their second puppet play. Marionettes come last, with the emphasis on vocal work and string puppet manipulation. To get a flavor of the shadow puppet scripts, please see the sample below.
SHOWING OFF
A Haitian Folk Tale
Cast of characters
MAN
DUCK
CHICKEN
PENGUIN
TURKEY
TWO MEN
DUCKLING
MAN (enters) Oh money, the love of my life. My animals, what should I do with them? Wait. . . wait. . . I have an idea! I shall throw a big party, a bash! And I'll invite all my friends. And I can't forget my animals, they must come: the Chicken, my Duck, the Penguin, and the big fat Turkey! I shall ask them to put on a show for my friends, and will name the best one of them Chief of all Birds. (exits)
DUCK (enters with Birds) I don't think this is such a good idea!
CHICKEN I can't leave my 10 children in the house all alone.
DUCK And I can't leave the yard unattended.
TURKEY I don't care, I'm going. (Birds exit)
MAN (enters with Turkey) I'm so glad you could make it. Come and sit down before the big show.
TURKEY Thank you for inviting me.
MAN You look so beautiful today Turkey. Come and take a tour of my luxurious house. We'll start with the kitchen.
TURKEY I'd be glad to. (Man and Turkey exit on one side and enter on the other)
MAN And this is the kitchen. (Two men walk in and snatch away Turkey and exit) What a lovely dinner I shall have tomorrow. (exits)
DUCKLING (enters with Duck) Mommy, what happened to Turkey?
DUCK Let's just say, you should listen to the advice of others and never show off that you know too much.
THE END
