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

There are actually 6 plays in this volume because 2 of them are almost the same. All of the plays are for children, 8-11 years old, although adults have performed them as well. The scripts have a running time of about 30 min, with flexible casting of 18-25, & opportunities for doubling or expanding. Please note that although these scripts are in one place, they are not royalty-free; information to get permission to produce these plays is at the end of the book. This collection includes:
1. The Crows and the Coral Snake Eggs
The Crockett, Bowie & Austin Crow Families are going about their daily business with the kids off to school and the parents working. When the mail comes, there’s a notice 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 doesn't. 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 Child 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 young sheepherder learns what happens when you play a trick on people a few too many times. Young armadillos are on a field trip, moseying along until they arrive at the road. Their kind teacher suddenly becomes stern and they learn a valuable lesson. In the final tale, a lion is terrorizing everyone. The clever rabbit thinks up a plan to save them all. Running Time: about 45 min. Cast: 3 male, 4 female, 14 either, doubling possible. Songs: Come Join Us; Short tunes to start of each story: 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 stories 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 extra story is The North Wind and the Sun. Running Time: about 45 min. Cast: 1 female, 24 either, doubling possible.
5. A Tortoise and a Hare in Africa, Two Fables
The two African tales in this script are: Tortoise and Baboon; Why the Hare Has No Tail. Baboon is a trickster and the other animals don’t like his jokes. When Baboon plays a cruel joke on Tortoise, Tortoise plays a similar prank on Baboon. The Hare and all the rest of the animals have short tails, until one rainy day when Lion calls them all together to give them new tails. But it’s too wet for Hare who asks the others for help. Running Time: about 35 min. Cast: 20 either, doubling possible.