Levei 1 Speaking Verse and Prose: Grade 2 - Prose Titles in Level 1 Speaking Verse and Prose: Grade 2 - Prose The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse Operation Gadgetmant Olivia's First Term The Many Worlds of Aibie Bright _ ‘Sophie's Snail Five Go Adventuring Again Arsen Black Beauty for Tea Paice ees Now you must knovy that a Town Mouse once upan a time went ‘on a visit to his cousin in the country. He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved hi town iiond and made him heartily welcome. Beans and bacon, cheose and bread, were all he had to offer, but he offered them freely. The Town Mouse rather ‘ured up his long nose at this country fare, and seid: ‘| cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with euch poor food 2 this, but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country; come you with me and | wll show you how to live. When, you have been in town a week you will wonder hovr you could ever havo stood a country fife! No sooner said than done: the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night. ‘You will want some refreshment after our long journey; said the polite Town Mouse, and took his fiend into the grand dining-room. There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice wore cating up jelies and cakes and all thal was nice. Suddenly they heard growing and barking. ‘What is that?" said the Gountry Mouse. 'Itis only the dogs of the house,’ answered the other. ‘Only!’ said the Country Mouse. ‘I do not like that music at my dinner! Just at that moment tho door flew open, in came two huge ‘mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off. "Good-bye, Cousin’ said the Country Mouse, ‘What! going so soon?” said the other. ‘Yes,’ he replied; “Batter beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear! By Aesop 83 cesSOMA DISA AINNS CIMEMencr earns BOOM! WHIIZZ! KER-BOOOM! ‘The whole house shook and the windows rattled viol the windows raitled violently. Gadgetman was at it again! Beans was stil for only a moment. Ste ran out ofthe bathroom and dashed downetsa, her toothbrush in her hand. eects ‘Dad! Dad, what's going on?” Beans yelled. A high-pitched whistlo shrieked through the house agai ran inte the kitchen, 7 use again. Beans BOOOOM! WHIZzz! Esek!' Beans threw herself down on to the kitchen floor Only just in time, too! A small red-and , K -yellow doobry-whatsit whizzed through the open kitchen window and shot over her head, before veering left to crash into a box of comflakes. BOOODOOM! Beans shook hor head as she got to her feet, Dad could blow up his workroom if ha wanted fo ~ and he often did! — but cid he have to blow up the kitchen as well? Dad's workroom was st the bottom of the garden, but there wore times when the bottom of the garden wasn't far enough away. Beans didn't mind her dad being an ivontor~ much! = but de have to make Bo much noise about it By Malorie Blackman CItnaanson “Thwas my big chanca. | was going to do a solo, | wanted to make my mum really proud of me’ she whispered. ‘She'll be so disappointed, !'m glad ehe wasn't here to soo me like this Olivia squeezed Georgie’s clammy hand. "Youll get other chances’ said Olivia kindly. ‘And I bet your mum's already proud of you; she must be if you were chosen Jo do a solo’ But Georgia had closed her eyes and Olivia was moved aside by the arrival of Sebastian Shaw, the acting teacher, land India Taylor, the senior dancing teacher, who gently pullod Georgia to her foot and helped her limp away. As they moved off, Olivia overheard Sebastian ask Georgia how the accident had happened. A look of confusion mixed with dismay crossed Georgia's face. ‘i don't know; she said miserably. ‘Somebody...no.’ She shook her head, which folta bit fuzzy. ‘I must've slipped. Ono minute | was peeping aut of the curtains and the next ! was on the floor in front of the stage! Miss Taylor tutted. ‘Accidents do happen, and that’s why thore are rules about not looking through the curtains. in any case it ia very unprofessional. You reatly are a silly git, Georgia, and you've only yourself blame. Olivia looked after them thoughtfully. She had soon Georgia ‘careoring though the curtain at high speed and it didn't look to her as if she'd slipped. It had looked very much to Olivia as if Goorgia had been pushed. She wondered who had done it, and why, By Lyn Gardneras POMC eee "What are you doing for your science project then?" | ask him, trying to change the subject. Wesley scowls. ‘She's got me growing cross in a cupboard again, It's the same project I've done since Year 1. But this time tye got a plan. He leans forward with a dangerous gleam in his eye. ‘When we go on our science trip tomorrow I'm going to find cout the truth about the duck bill platypus and you're going to help me! | don't like the sound of this. Tomorrow Miss Benjamin is taking Class 6 on a schoo! trip to the Clackthorpe Museum of Natural History and Mechanical Wonders. According to Kiran, this is the same school trip that the class has been on for the past five years. He says it's called a musetim but that it’ roally ust a big house filled with loads of old junk, It used to belong to a Vietorian explorer called Montague Wikes, who left Clackthorpe to explore the world and sent everything he found back home again before he carked it in the middle of Australia. I've had a look on the ‘museum's website and most of the things he found seem to bé stuffed animals. I'd even spotted what looked like a duck-biled platypus etuck in a glass jar and | now had the horrible feeling that this was part of Wesiey’s plan. “Er, I don’t think I'm going to be able to make it to the museum tomorrow. It was my mum's funeral yesterday~” Neetly as fast as an atom whizzing round the Large Hadron Collider, Westoy's fist shoots out to give me a dead arm. ‘ow! "You'd better help me tomorrow; Wesley warns me, ‘or else. And don't think you can use your mum as an excuse. Loads of people haven't got a mum, but you wor't catch me orying about it! By Christopher Edge ‘Wit forme, said Sophie. But thy did't, 00 she ploded ator ier, When sho caught up with the twins in a far corner of the garden, each was examining the underside of a large snail. Sophia was ot surprised to see that the snails were also obviously twins. the same size, the same shape, the same striped groeny-browny colour. ‘Tknow!’ said Matthew, ‘I know what youre going to say!" eaid Mark. ‘Let's have a snail race!" they sai. ‘How are you going to tell thom apart?" said Sophie. "Tknow!” said Mark ‘Tknow what you're going to say!" said Matthew. ‘Fetch us a felt pen, Sophie’ they said. “What a you going t do?" askod Sophio when sho with a red felt pen, . mnaciteits “Put my intial on my snail’ said Mark and Matthew together. "But you've got the same initial’ ‘The boys looked at each ather, “know!” thoy said, “iknow what you're going to say,’ seid Sophie, and she plodded off again. She came back with a blue felt pen. After a moment, "Ready? sal Mathew holsing up hie eral witha big red M on its shel, and at the same instant, ‘Ready? said Mark, holding uy his snail with a big bluo Ml. . fat “Wait for mo,’ eaid Sophie. haven't got a snail yet’ But already the twins had'set their snails sid by side on the path that ran betwoen the edge of the lawn and the flowerbed. By Dick King-Srmith a7 eresCie es Sen The four children crept downstairs through the dark and silent night. Nobody made a sound at all. Thoy made their way fo the Riley. George softy closed the door and then switched on the ig The children stared at the eight panols over the mante_pieo Yes ~ there wore exactly eight, four in one row and four in the row above. Julian spread the linen roll out on the table, and tho children pored over it ‘The cross isin the middle of the second panel in the top row! Said Julian in a low voice. Il iry pressing it. Watch, all of yout" He went to the fireplace. The others followed him, their hearts beating fast with oxcitement, Julian stood on tiptoe and began to Prose hard in the middle of the second panel, Nothing happened. ‘Pross harder! Tap it!” said Dick. ‘Idaren't make too much noise, said Julian, feeling all over the panel to see if there was any roughness that might tol of a hidden spring or lever. ‘Suddenly, uncer his hands, the panel slid silent! ‘ i the panel slid silently back, just ae the ‘one had done at Kirrin Farmhouse in the hall! The children stared at the space behind, thrilled, ‘its not big enough to get into, said George, ‘It can't be the ‘entrance to the Secret Way: Jalan got out his torch rom his dressing gown pocket He put i dressing gown pocket. He putit inside the opening, and gave a low exclamation, . ‘There's a sort of handle here ~ with strong wire or something attached to it.I pull it and see what happens’ By Enid Blyton We crept cut onto tho landing. t was empty. My heart was beating fast ~ I couldn't quite believe that we were about to break into Miss Alston's litle box room. What if she came up and found us? ‘The door was shut. Daisy wont tiptooing up to it, twisted the handle and carefully pushed it open. It felt most dreadiully wrong, Miss Alston was euch a secretive person ~ we really knew nothing about her at al. had never ‘even soon inside her bedroom, and nor had any of the others. | imagined her doorway as an invisible line that, # crossed, would ‘burn you up into a ctisp or freeze you to death. ‘Oh nol’ whispered Beanie as Daisy poked a careful shoe-tip through the doorway, then craned her neck round, and | could tell that she felt as uncomfortable as I did. "What, Beanie?” said Daisy, without turning her head. 'Idon't think this is legal!" whispered Beanie nervously. ‘Of course it's not legel, Beanie, But we're detecting so that makes things allright? ‘1 don't want to go int” Boanie'e face crumpled. ‘Allright thon, stay out hore! No one’s making you. You can be our ookout. if Miss Alston comes up the stairs, whistle, or squeak, or something, Hazel, Kitty, are you coming? With Bearie trembling on the landing, we had to. Shooting nervous glances at each other, Kitty and | crept forward, and over the dividing line into Miss Alsion’s bedroom. did not burn up — although | did feel a rush of shame that made me tingle with heat all the way to the tips of my fingers, Inside, everything was neatly ordered ~ drawers shut, bed made with military precision, and a gleaming row of schoolbooks laid Cut in alphabetical order. It was so neat that | was terrified all over again. What if we left signa of our presence? if she was not the murderer, she would be furious. And if she was...1 shivered. By Robin Stevens 2920 ErMaererss [As wo came back through the park we met the Squire and Mrs. Gordon walking; they stopped, and John jumped oft. “Well, John, how does he go?” “Firstvate, six” answered John; “ho is as fleet as a door, and has a fino spirit too; but the lightest touch of the rein will guide him. Down at the end of the common we met one of those traveling carts hung all over with baskets, rugs, and such like; you know, sir, any horses will net pass those carts quietly; he just took a good Jookat it, and then went on as quiet and pleasant as could be, ‘They were shooting rabbits near the Highwood, and a gun went off close by; he pulled up a fttle and looked, but did not stir a step to right or left. | just held the rein steady and did not hurry him, land it's my opinion he has not boon frightened or il-used while he ‘was young.” “That's well" said the squire, “twill ry him myself to-morrow” ‘The next day | was brought up for my master. l remembered my mother’s counsel and my good old master’s, and [tried to do exactly what he wantad me to do. | found he was a very good rider, and thoughtful for his horse too. When he came home the lady wae at the hall door as he rode u “Well, my doar” che said, *how do you like him?" “He is exactly what John said,” he replied; “a pleasanter creature | never wish to mount. What shall we call him?* Would you like Ebony’* said she; *he is as black as ebony.” "No, not Ebony.” “Wil you call him Blackbird, ke your uncle's old horse?" "No, he is far handsomer than old Blackbird ever was.” “Yes” she said, *he is really quite a beauty, and he has such a sweet, good-lempered face, and such a fine, inteligent eye~what do you aay to calling him Black Beauty?” “Black Beauty—why, yes, | think that is a very good name. If you! Jike it shall be his name," and so itwas. By Anna Sewell a ‘PnDBE50 Level t ACTING: Grade 2 Solo Titles in Levei 1 Acting: Grade 2 Solo The Brave Little Tailor 'm Not Ready His Dark Materials = The Little Match-Sellor Milk Tidy Up. it Emrie’s incredible llucinations “Heritage Tiki Causes Trouble | ‘Feline Fine _ ieee kel Charlie Humdinger (REPORTER) is outside the palace. Charlie is reporting on the story of the brave little tailor who has returned from completing some dificult tasks for the King. In return for completing these tasks the King has promised half his kingdom and the Princess's hand in marriage. REPORTER: Look Bil 'm taling you, this story is huge! 'm outside the palace now and there's so much coming and going it’s like Grand Central Station. | managed to grab a few of the servants as they were coming off the night shit and although it took a bit of bribery, ! managed to corroborate the story that she hired a couple ‘of hoodlums to come in in the dead of night and ship him off somewiere, then they reckoned she'd spread the story that he'd disappeared. ! wouldn't be surprised if her father was behind it mind you because I don't think he ever imagined he'd complete all those awesome tasks and he'd have to keep his promise and give him half the kingdom and his daughter. mean, how stupid is that? Someone you've only just mot tells you they're a great hero and, you believe them. Did he look him up on YouTube? | think not? Did he check his criminal record? No he didn't Welt yes, he did do all those tasks, getting rid of the giants and the unicorn and the boar, but does that make him the right person to be king? Of course the antixmanarchy lobby is out in force and. thoy were only too keen to share their views. | quote: ‘We spend cur money on keeping these people in an archaie situation of privilege and they tum out to be no better than common criminals! Strong words Bil, strong words and I don't know that | agree with ‘them, but if he doos tum out to be nothing more than a common litte tailor then that rubbishes their argument and good luck to him I say. Holla, there's more activity now. | think it's the Princess's car. She hasn't been seen in public or made any statement yat 2nd what we've heard has just been speculation. ls he with her | wonder? No, she seems to be on her own. (Rushing over to the car) Princessl Princess! Is it true that you and your husband are spitting up? Can you give us a sistement Princess? 51No, sho didn’t give any indication of what's going on. ‘What's that Bill? He is? Now? OK. Live on air in two. How do I look? Yeah | know I've boon up all right but at least tel me t don’t look like it 54-324 Good morning This is Charo Humdingar ve st the palace bringing you athe Ietost on te sensational news sor that ha just broken. | understand we are about to go over to the palace library where his majesty the King will make a statement. By Eleanor McLeod EVAN enjoys playing the saxophone and attends lessons with Miss Angela. Miss Angela has decided that it's ime Evan took his first rade exam, but Evan doesn’t feel ready. EVAN: Tum that music down!” That was my mum's reaction to me practising my saxophone. On a positive note, no pun intended, she thought | was playing one of my CD's so | must be improving, ! love playing my eax, it's so relaxing after a long and slightly boring day at school. When I first started learning it was really hard and | couldn't even make a sound out of it, then | progressed to a squoak, and now apparently ! sound like an actual CD. Although Mum has had a glass of wine 0 Il take that compliment loosely. My teacher Miss Angela keeps saying, ‘Evan you're ready to take your first grade,’ but 'm not. I don't like playing in front of strangors; she tells me there will b just one examiner in the room but even one unfamiliar face makes my heat race, my lege wobble and my saxophone squeak. 'm not sure why anyone would choose to be in that situation, in happy just playing my instrument to the four walls of my bedroom, and Chip my hamster who tm ‘sure rune around his wheel faster when I pay. My mum said she would give me a tenner if do it, surely that's bribery, although there is this awesome computer game I've ‘been saving for so it's worth some consideration. | just ned to work on my jelly legs and shaky fingers or I'm going to be hitting all the wrong notes and | won't sound like a CD, I'l sound like @ chorus of mice squeaking their way through a poor rendition of ‘Somewhere Only Wo Know. Mum always says a nice olass of wine steadies her nerves, ‘parently it's called Dutch courage, so maybe there is an answer to my predicament, yes that's it, ’m going to wait until 'm eighteen to take my grado one examination. By Joanne Watkinson 5334 LYRA Ives in a parallel universe. She has beon captured by Jofur Raknison, the King of the bears, and is in prison guarded by Chief Bear. lofur enters the room where Lyra is kept. Lyra has ‘come up with a plan to trick lofur, so she can escape from prison. LYRA: (Is asked if she is a spy) No! No! I'm not! I'm his daemon, (fotur is surprised by this and asks how this is possible) It was an experiment at Bolvangar. There was a doctor, he pressed a button and | appeared, (lofur querios why she is in human form} It's ‘cause... !'m an animal's daemon. Humans have animals, animals have humans. I's ke, back to front, all ight? (loiur queries how she has travelled so far) I'm ike a witch's daemon. And boside... he's nat vory far away. He's coming to Svalbard really soon, and he's gonna raise up all the bears against you... ‘cause he's heard how they grumble about you. (lotur roars) Wait, wait, wait... And | don’t want that to happen, | don't, ‘cause he's a poor, sad, drunken disgrace of a bear, and you're a king with a magnificent palaca, So what you gotta do... you gotta tell your guards, that when he arrives... they muste’t attack him, .. an’ pretend that I'm still on his side... and then you gotta cchaltenge him in single combat! On your own! And when you've beaten him, that'll prove that you're the strongest, and thon I'l belong to you! Pi be your daemon! Fi hava a litle throne of my own, Fight next to youre, and humans will come from all over the world ta wonder at you! King lofur Raknison, tho boar with a daeront By Philip Pullman Adspted by Nicholas Wright It is Chrisimas Eve. A poor barefoot MATCH-SELLER is walking through town in the snow trying to sell matches. ‘THE MATCH-SELLER: Oh, it ie 80 cold, and itis snowing so fast. It’s almost dark and ! dare not go home because | have sold no matches today and my father will scold me. (To a passer-by) Please sir, will you buy some matches? (He ignores the MATCH-SELLER and moves on) No one wants to buy matches. They are al sitting by their fires ‘and keeping warm, My fect are 90 cold... Oh! There is a comer between two houses where the snow is not so thick. Perhape f ‘can shetter for a while, (The MATOH-SELLER sits in the shelter and huddles up} | am 80 cold, My hands are freezing, Perhaps one match will warm them. (The MATCH-SELLER strikes a match) Oh, what a lovely warm light, like a candle. It bume so bright. Oht It's gone out! I ight another. (Lighting another match) | oan see ‘through the wall into @ room... there is a fire shining in the stove ‘and polished brass ornaments. There is a table spread with a roast goose, stuffed with apples... ohl The match has gone out! (nother match is lit) ‘What a beautiful Christmas tree with thousands of tapors lighting ‘up the branches; ike stars in tho sky. (Looking at the stars) One of them has a long fiery tale. Grandmother used to say when a star is falling, someone is going to die. Oh Grandmother, dear ‘Grandmother, you're there! You look so beautiful and stately... (Oh! The light’s going out! Don't go Grandmother. ve lit all the matches | have left. Don't go. Please stay! Pieass, please don't leave me, Please tako me with you... please. (The MATCH-SELLER succumbs to the cold and dios) By Hans Christian Anderson AAU 2 hutAYAIA enters, wearing anavy ble dress anda sight rown. She : s and pauses to inspect doesn't wear shoes. She paces around and p the ends of her hai. She looks to the oky and hums 2 folk song she heard on the radio the day before. She stops pacing and sits ing mo that? Mama says AYANA: Why does everyone keep on asking me the it's because they think it’s protty. But I don't think i's prety, th thinkthyro hing. When Maa shes ttre ua nso brs eg And even though she pulls her hardest, it never looks right. [try ar af iting tic ee ret Thy away nn otc ho sen Soph anda to oferty ond pl ny cuss an un an Tamed nu! ye on coving Aan iva oe tins renga enka ‘Ann's hair, even though I want to. Mary Ann is pretty. She — tos gtpae may sense sage mttaer ees nov ara east tnd erie aa or ea ya sre ana fla ie | awa dali the toy store the ther dy —it kod jut tk May An had those big, big blue eyes he oceans and a fancy Bink dress with fils and white tights. | asked Mama if| could buy it an ‘sho said ! should wait until my birthday because | have too many dals ead. never seo any dls that look ke me Mana says theyre all bought bocause everyone thos thom too much, And then eho loke alma, and she emis, and she says wish eculela gaten yu one of those dol before they sld out. But do thi | want one. | think I'm maybe a fttle glad they eold out. | wish — | wish could cut off allmy hai, And wi & would grow back Jong and yellow like a cornfield, fike Mary Ann's. Don't tell Mama sid that, she'd be angry. Real angry. By Amira Danan ASHLEY has been ordered to tidy the bedroom by dum. Left alone fo tackle the mess, Ashley decides fo deliver an important message to an imaginary audience in the guise of a charity appeal with vacuum cleaner in hand, “ASHLEY: (Calling) Don't stress, Mum! It's all in hand. Ive used a vacuum cleanor before, you know! (Holding the vacuum cleaner and studying each part, as if i's an alien being. ASHLEY finds the hose and decides to use it as a microphone) Today, here in East Sussex, you'll find the bedroom of Ashley Pritchard, a well respected and highly inteligent member ofthe Pritchard family. {thas beon rumoured for some time now that Ashley has not only fallen behind with house werk, but has appared reluctant otey said room. This is not an uncommon problem (serious) but there are signs knowin only to the female ofthe species io. Mother, that this something is starting to smell and smell bad. (Moves to a point in the room and bends down) Take this discarded sock for instance. it has been festering avray alone for some weeks now in the hope that ite partner would return and bring harmony again to a broken household, and the most important member, Thomas, the cet, who has made it his home, (Standing, moving towards the bed) Ashley's bed. Yes, ladios and Gentlomen. Have you ever seen such a sight? No, not anywhere South of Watford Gap have such appalling conditions ever been witnessed or indeed uncerstood by man or beast. Such shocking Concitions can only lead to loneliness, isolation and finally death, But it doesn't need to be lke thie, (Sits In earnest) Allittakos is @ phone call. you cen spare just five pourids a week you will be helping a loved one by Keeping their child's clathes clean, fed regularly, and making sure Ashley gets to school an time. Ashioy’s parents are at thelr wits end and lot's face it not getting any younger. In rotum for thie generosity you wil receive a letter from Ashloy's perents showing progression and a picture of said room improving, plus, as long 20 the paymonts are regular, Ashiey will personally invite you to the family home to see the progress made. Finally, you can make the 5 2cheques payable to Ashley Pritchard, it's a lot easier, as Ashioy's parenis are frail and don't wish for publicity. So please, help this particular child now. Thank you. (Switches vacuum on. hides behind bed. Calling) Mum? The vacuums making a funny noise. 1 think it's broken. By Antony Wieland Eminence cn Tm ERNIE is in a public library with his ded. An old tramp is on ‘one side of the library eating his sandwiches from a piece of newspaper. Ernie has a lively imagination and powers that can turn his ilucinations into reality ERNIE: (ERNIE and his dad enter the library. To the audience) | “didn’t really think much of this idea of my mum’. (ERNIE is told to be quiet) (Whispering) | didr't really think much of this idea of my mura, It was a bit Tke sitting in a graveyard only not as exciting. Tho ‘rouble is, in library reading-rooms, some bloke's pinched all the best magazines already and you'e left with dynamic things like The Pig Breeder’s Monthly Gazette and suchlike. 'd got stuck with The Belt Ringer's Quarterly. Which wasn't one of my hobbies. Nobody else seemed to be enjoying themeelves either. Except the bloke eating his sandwiches in the corner. I reckoned he wasn'ta tramp at all, but a eecret agent heavily disguised, waiting to pass on some secret documents to his contact who he was to meet in the library and who was at this very moment ving dead in the Reference Section, a knife in his ribs, Realizing thi, the tramp decides to pick on the most trustworthy-fooking party in ‘the room ~ my dad! (ERNIE’s narrative has now become real and he watches as the tramp knocks into his dad and thrusts @ novepaper parcel into his dad's hand. His dad opens the parcel) What is iv? (ERNIE's dad says it's old blueprints and asks ERNIE if he is responsible) No, Dad. (They are distracted by an attendant who enters the library with a step-ladder to change a light bulb; ERNIE describes the scene as if the attendant is climbing a mountain) And now, as Captain Wiliams nears the summit ofthis, the third highest mountain in the world never before olimbed by man... He pauses for a moment through sheer exhaustion...(The attendant slips and ERNIE's dad moves to help) And here comes Major Fraser, ace daredevil mountaineer to the (ERNIE’s dad brings the attendant down) ‘And here comes the gallant Major Fraser, bringing the injured Captain Willams to satfety.. (ERNIE’s dad turns again to him) Yes, Dad? (ERNIE’s dad asks if he is also responsible for this. ERNIE seplies innocently) Me, Dad? : 's dad looks at him, to librarian enters screaming and ERNIE's Sto ase coed by him ERM ep selon) Sorry, Dad, By Alan Ayckbourn A group of children are rehearsing the village anthem, which thoy eatlater perform. They are rehearsing in an enclosed paddock, ih CCTV cameras surrounding the paddeck. The chiehen hve started arguing and LISA tries to bring order LISA: (Hysteria rising in hor voice) Well, we can‘ ll bo as clavr Het, Dowales. And actualy, sometimes i's nice not to have to {hink. ! mean: | for one was quite plaased not fo have to make & ‘Warcrobe decision today. Because ~ often = find it impocsibie deciding what to woar. Yes! Idol find myself staring into tie arcrobe. For hours! I can be there for hours! My mother thinks km lazy and that | take agos to get out of bed, but lve been Srancing thoro since six deciding betwoen a te-ront and a denim, We have way too much choice! it's tenfying, | panic when tens Jeutate ary decision. Sometimes I panic so mich, I throw up, [sn ft lovely, just for once, Douglas. lent it lovely just to bs told what to do? (Evoryone’s looking at LISA) (She barks her name} Liza! (Then collects herself and smiles through grited teeth atthe ‘camera with her thumbs up} sronrhing’s fine! Everything's fine! Come an, evoryone. Chop, Shoe Let's raheatee. Tubbs, you realy ought fo be thinking about getting into your costume. Let's remind ourselves of cho we arel {Wanic) 'm going to warm up now, and | really think it would be septa other people jained in with me because ft they ont tm going to got vory. very angry Jamie! Accompany ix Something soothing. Camia immediately begins t play the theme tune trom Schindler's List) (She barks) NOT THAT! Gamio plays the melody of the Northbridge anthem. The children, including LISA, start to warm up) By Daiydd Jamese Ss HIRO’s parents are holding a party in their new house and. hhave told Hiro to not let Tikki, their new puppy, out of the room. Tovrards the end of the party Hiro decides to let Tikki out and carries her down the stairs, but unfortunately Tikki jumps out of Hiro's arms, causing havoc. Hiro has just run after Tikki into the study, but the door locks shut behind them, HIRO: Tikk, como back here right now! Oh no. (HIRO goes to the door and tries to open it) Ws locked shut! We're trapped! Oh you silly dog! I thought I could trust you, but now look what you'va done, (HIRO looks through the key hole) | can see everyone... they didn't notice us come in here. HELLO? MUM? DAD? GAN YOU HEAR ME? I'M TRAPPED, THE DOOR IS LOCKED! (HIRO waits for someone to respond, but no one does) No one can hear mo, the music is too loud... and they are all busy fixing the mess you made, Tiki All| wanted was for you to join the party, | thought it was so unfair Mum and Dad said you couldn't leave my room. But | guess they were right. | told you to stay in my arms and not make a noise, but as soon as | got to the bottom of the stairs and you saw the cake you jumped out of my arms and onto the table, knocking the whole thing over and all the drinks spilled averywhere, Dad spent ages cleaning the house from top to bottom making sure the party was going to be perfect. But now, icing sugar and ‘cream is all over the place. | hope Ms Raleigh isn't too upset her silk dress is now covered in lemonade, (Oh, Tikki, how are we going to get out of here? I have no idea” where the key is. Mum always has clever ways of hiding important things. This room ‘has her computer init, 50 I bel she's hidden the key really well She's probably used 2 riddle as a clue to find the key. Hang on, there's that riddle about a door isn't there? (HIRO tries to remember it) know! When is a door not a door? Hinim. When is a door not a door? When it’s a JAR! That's it! Maybe mum hid the key in a jar — quick Tikki, help me try ‘and find ono in here. (HIRO looks around for a jar) Aha! | found on« There's a key in here. (HIRO takes the key out of the jar and goes to the door) Fingers and paws crossed! (HIRO put the key in the door and the door opens) YES! it's Unlocked. Let's get out of here, Tikki, we can escape! We're FREEEEEEEEE! Yippeoo! (HIRO jumps up and down until Mum, Dad and Is Raleigh come over!) Oh... hi Mur. Hi Dad... Ms Raleigh... . Look Tikki! Sorry about the mess. By Louisa Worley CatLEVEL ONE~ SOLO THE MILL ON THE FLOSS: by George Eliot (adapted by Judith Wilson) THE NOVEL, IS PUBLISHED BY PENGUIN BOOKS This scene is adapted from George Eliot's classic novel, which tells the story of the Tulliver family. Here, young MAGGIE TULLIVER, is talking to her elder brother Tom, whom she idolises. He has just returned from the academy boarding school and presents her with a new fishing-line. She has to confess some bad news about his rabbits which she has neglected during his absence. The setting is Lincolnshire in 1829. MAGGIE: Of, you're a good brother to me, Tom, to buy mea line all to myself. Ido love you, Tom, and you're so brave. I think you're like Samson. If there came a lion roaring at ime, I think you'd fight him, wouldn't you, ‘Tom? Imean, if wwe were in the lion countries, I mean in Africa, where it’s very hot ~the lions eat people there. Tcan show it to you in the book where I read it, We might have gone out, you ‘know, not thinking —just as we go fishing; and then a great Jion might run towards us roaring, and we couldn't get away from him. What should you do, Tom? Tike to fancy how it would be... ‘Tom? Where are you going?... ‘To the rabbits how much tioney did you give for your rabbits?... Two half crowns and sixpence?... I think I've got a great deal ‘more than that in my steel parse upstairs. Pl ask Mother to give it to you out of my purse to put into your pocket and spend, You could buy some more rabbits with it... Tom, 1314 ACTING ANTHOLOGY they're all dead. Oh, Tom, I know you told me to be sure and remember the rabbits every day, buthow could T when they did not come into my head? ‘Yes, I forgot, and I coulda't help it indeed, Tom. I’m sovery sony. Oh Tom, I'd forgive you if you forgot anything. T woulda’t mind what you did. I'd forgive you and love you. Ob please, forgive me Tom, my heart will break... (OM exits. Oh he is so cruel! LEVEL ONE - SOLO THE WOODCUTTER’S DAUGHTER by Allan Wilkins This scene is a dramatisation of a Norwegian folk tale, ” similar 10 the English story of Red Riding Hood. HANSA has gone out into the forest to look for flowers. It is the first time she has wandered so far, and she is lost. Her mother has always warned about going too far away from home as there are strange stories of what goes on in the woods. She speaks her thoughts aloud to herself. HANSA: Don’t stay long in the wood, mother said. Now look what's happened! I'm lost! ‘That kind old lady said take the third path on the left. I did that, but that seems to have led me nowhere. (She sits.) I's getting dark... I'm cold and I'm hungry. (A twig snaps.) What's that? Who's there? It must have been am animal. 1 don’t like this place. It’s as though...something or someone ‘was watching you, Is there anybody there? No‘one, At least that kind old lady gave me an apple. I shan’t starve, (Stopping herself from taking a bite.) Mother said never take things from strangers...but there can’t be anything wrong with an apple, can there? No, of course not, that’s silly! (Takes a bite.) Um, delicious! It’s funny bow that lady just disappeared. One minute she was there and when Turned round she'd gone. I was just about to askif... (She suddenly feels faint.) ...that’s funny... I feel dizzy... ...it must be the apple... the old lady... what has she done. 1516 ACTING ANTHOLOGY (She fails and stumbles along. Then she looks up and sees the old lady standing in front of her) You!... What have you done?... You've poisoned me... help... someone help me...please don’t hurt me. (She faints.) LEVEL ONE~ SOLO THE PRINCESS AND THE SWINEHERD by Hans Christian Anderson (adapted by Priscilla Morris) This popular fairy-tale by Hans Christian Anderson tells the story of a proud PRINCESS who, refusing all her suitors, is married off to a swineherd and learns humility. As in all good fairy-tales, the swineherd turns out to be a prince who sruly loves her. In this scene, the PRINCESS is found playing ball with two attendants. PRINCESS: Oh, you stupid, stupid thing! Thats the third time you have missed your throw. What did you say? Of course itwas straight; Princesses always throw straight, don’t they? Now don’t stand chattering; begin agsin, and remember, after this, the first who misses shan’t play anymore. (The PRINCESS misses.) (Angrily.) There! That was your fault; you can’t throw straight, either of you. I's a silly game anyway so go away and leave me alone! (The EMPEROR enters.) Good day father. I suppose it’s nearly time for me to meet, another of your boring Princes. Why do you keep inviting them? They are none of them good enough. The last one had too big a nose and coulda’ t speak without gobbling like a turkey. His Kingdom was such a little one and bis palace wasn't a palace at all, only a plain, ordinziry castle with not ‘more than a hundred servants in it, Besides, I don’t want to get married, so you can tell this new Prince to go away for I won't see him! ”718 ACTING ANTHOLOGY ‘What did you say? Has he brought me a present? OhT do. hope it’s a little cat! I've always wanted one. Open it! Open it quickly! (The EMPEROR opens the present.) ‘Why, it’s nothing but an ordinary flower - what a common thing! You can take it away again, Tell the Prince I won't marry bim, so he needn't bother to wait. Now go, father, and leave me alone—I am tied of silly presents and Princes! LEVEL ONE~SOLO THE MAGIC MIRROR by EC Brereton PUBLISHED BY SAMUEL. FRENCH SNOW-WHITE has run away from the palace as the Queen wants her killed. The Queen has always heen the fairest in the land but now her magic mirror tells her that SNOW- WHITE is fairer than ske. In this scene SNOW-WHITE has discovered a house deep in the forest, which belongs to the seven dwarves. SNOW-WHITE: I've knocked and knocked and nobody will answer the door! I wonder if this really is an empty house? (She sees the table.) No, it can’t be; here’s a table laid for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven people. What a tiny table! and what tiny plates and dishes! (She holds one up.) W's like a dolls’ dinner-set! This must be a children’s house! Oh dear! Iwish they'd come home! I’m so hungry! Is there anything to cat on the table? (She looks round.) ‘Yes, bread and butter and milk. Then I must have some now, and when the people of the house come home Pm sure they'll forgive me when I tell them I've been two days and nights wandering in the forest with nothing to eat but nuts and blackberries! (She pours some water into a glass and holds it up.) Tdon't call this glass very clean! I's all sticky finger-marks outside! (She drinks and makes a face.) And the water tastes of stale tea-leaves and Hime- juice mixed. And just look at the plates. They're grimed. (She eats and puts the plate down.) And the dust on the table! Ican write my name on it with my-finger! Oh dear! (She yawns.) Tm dreadfally tired! Tthink P'l just sit down 1920 ACTING ANTHOLOGY and wait till the people of the house come home~ and then Tl explain - to them (More and more drowsily till she falls asleep in the chair). LEVEL ONE- SOLO CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY by Roald Dahl (adapted by Richard R George) ‘PUBLISHED BY POFPIN BOOKS Mr Willy Wonka has just re-opened his famous chocolate factory and hidden five golden tickets in five chocolate bars. ‘A golden ticket entitles the holder to a tour of the special factory and enough chocolate to last them the rest of their lives. One of these winners is VIOLET BEAUREGARDE. VIOLET BEAUREGARDE: P'm a gum-chewer normally, but when I heard about these ticket things of Mr Wonka’s, T laid off the gum and switched to candy bars in the hope of striking it lucky. Now, of course, I'm right back on the gum. I just adore gum. I can’t do without it. I munch it all day long except for a few minutes at mealtimes when I take it ‘out and stick it behind my ear for safe-keeping. To tell you the honest truth, 1 simply wouldn’s feel comfortable if 1 didn’t have that little wedge of gum to chew on every moment of the day, [really woulda’t, My mother says it’s not ladylike and it looks ugly to see a girl's jaws going up and down like mine do all the time, but I don’t agree. And who's she to criticise, anyway, because if you ask me, I'd say that her jaws are going up and down almost as much as mine are just from yelling at me every minute of the day. And now, it may interest you to know that this piece of gum, ‘Vm chewing right at this moment is one T've been working 6 for over three months solid. That's a record, that is. I's, beaten the record held by my best friend, Miss Cornelia a22. ACTING ANTHOLOGY Prinzmetel. And was she ever mad! It’s my most treasured Possession now, this piece of gum is, Atnights, [just stick it on theend. ost ’ a 'nd of the bedpost, and it’s as good as ever in the aces LEVEL ONE- SOLO THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett (adapted by Shaun McKenna) ‘HIE NOVEL 1S PUBLISHED BY PUEFIN BOOKS MARY LENNOX, brought up in India, travels to England on the death of her parents. She comes to live in her uncle's house, Misslethwaite Manor, on the edge of the Yorkshire moors. Here she meets her cousin, Colin, who is an invalid and has become rather spoiled and demanding in his manner. In this scene MARY is talking to Colin about Dickon, brother to Martha the maid. “MARY: T'mthinking about the way you spoke to Martha, Colin. (Once in India I saw a boy who was a rajah. He had rubies and emeralds and dinmonds stuck all over him. Everybody had to do everything he told them —in a minute. I think they'd have beoa killed iftiey didn’t, You spoke to Martha just like that. Itmade me think....how different you are to Dickon. [COLIN: Who's Dickon? What a funny name.] ‘He's Martha's brother. He's twelve, arid he is not like anyone else in the world. He can chatm foxes and squirrels and rabbits just as the natives in india charm snakes, He plays a very soft tune on a pipe and they just come and listen. He played on his pipe and they listened. But he didn’t call it magic. He says it's because he lives on the moor so much and knows their ways. He says he feels sometimes as if he was a bird or a rabbit himself, he likes them so. I think he asked the robin questions, It seemed as if they talked to cach other in soft chirps. He knows about everything that grows or lives on the moor. 2324 ACTING ANTHOLOGY [COLIN: What's the moor like?) ‘The moor is the most beautiful place, Thousands of lovely things grow on it and there are thousands of little creatures all busy building nests and making holes and burrows and chippeting or singing or squeaking to cach other, They ate so busy and having such fun under the earth or inthe trees, or heather, It's their world, Actually, I've never been there. Not really. [only drove over it in the dark when I came to this house. Colin, I was thinking ~ you and { might go on the moor — some time. E é : e p ‘ ‘ LEVEL ONE ~ SOLO KINDERTRANSPORT by Diane Samuels PUBLISHED BY NICK HERN BOOKS EVA is a Jewish refugee, escaping to Britain from Germany Just before World War Two. The scene begins with EVA at the window of a railway carriage surrounded by other refugees, waving goodbye to her mother and father as the train moves out of the station. Then she passes over the German border and on to Holland. She boards a boat bound for England and finally disembarks at Harwich. EVA: (On the train bound for England.) Mutti! Vati! Hello! See, [did get into the carriage. I said I would, See, P'm not crying. I said I wouldn’t. can’t open the window! It's sealed tight! Why’ve you taken your gloves off? You're Imnocking too hard. Your knuckles are going red! What? I can’thear you! (Train noise.) Louder! Louder! What! I can’thear! Iean’t... See you in England. (The train starts to move. EVA sits down.) 1 smusta’t stare at that cross- eyed boy. What if he talks to me? (A young child starts 10 cry) Youmustn’t ery. There's no point. Stop it!... We'Hall see our muttis and vatis soon enough... And don’t look at that cross-eyed boy. (Announcing to everyone in the train.) Did any of you know? In England all the men have pipes and look like Sherlock Holmes and everyone has a dog. It's the border! The border! Can't get us now! We're out! Outt Stuff ‘your stupid Hitler! (Sounds of train stopping. EVA is eating greedily.) 2526 ACTING ANTHOLOGY ‘You know what? That Dutch lady said we can have as many cakes as we want, And sweets. And lemonade. I'm going to stuff my pockets for later. Who says it’s naughty? ‘They all want us to be happy, don’t they? Well, that’s what Tm doing. Making myself happy. (Sounds of ship's horn.) ‘You know what? If you lick your lips you'll taste the salt Sea salt, Whatd’you mean, Hook of Holland? It can’t be. Its nothing like one. It isn’t look at it, How’s that a hook? (Coughing,) Excuse me... (About to be sick) ...it won't come...No,T'mfine... Really... Its justnothing, .. Nothing will come out of me. (Ship’s horn.) ‘This is Harwich, you know. It really is England, (Sounds of disembarkation.) Can you go through just like that? Don’t they search you? (She picks up a penny.) A penny. They have big money here, It must be a sign of good Inck. LEVEL ONE~- SOLO ORANGEBLOSSOM GIRL by Joan Macaipine HARRIET recollects her experience as a bridesmaid for the audience. She is wearing the ruins of a bridesmaid’s dress, with a circlet of flowers askew on her head, and she carries a small basket of dishevelled flowers. HARRIET: Well, I won. (Pause.) Well, Imean, five bridesmaids is one thing, and that’s abit, much to start with, butevening up the numbers with a Page! Called Julian! (Pause.) Tt was all right at the rehearsel. He was as nice as pic. You really wouldn’t have thought he was a boy at all. And he shows me this little box... So I say, “What is it?” and he says I'll see inside it at the wedding, Not now, because it’s the rehearsal. (Pause.) So then it’s the day. Pause.) And we line up behind Rebecca and her father and down the aisle we come, and everyone standing and the music playing and we get to the front and lead the way along the pew, everything like clockwork, it might have been the Royal ‘Tournament. (Pause.) 2728 ACTING ANTHOLOGY LEVEL ONE SOLO And then we get to the boring bit, when they’re signing the register, and Julian knocks my basket and takes abit of time picking it up and rearranging the flowers, [ ought to have known. But the organ music geis a bit positive, and here ‘comes Rebecca with Matthew, and Samantha gives Betony shove and we're all outin the aisle, and my mother hissing, “Head up, Harriet”. (Pause.) And thon out of my basket and over my hand and up my arm comes this huge, but huge, but monstrous big black beetle. And if there’s something that can move fast, it’s a ‘black beetle in a hurry. So T let out a yell, Imean, you'd have let out a yell, anyone with a black beetle suddenly ‘making fortheic jugular would let out a yell. But [know, like a flash of lightning Lknow whose black beetle that is, and I tum, I mean fast, like I’m still just beginning that yell, and I zonlk Julian with my basket and I grab his hair with my spare hand and I kick him. I mean, anyone with a black beetle that sudden, that’s what they'd do. And Julian’s going down and he catches the back of Miranda’s dress, so now there's ‘the three of us and 'm still humping Julian only he’s thumping back and there's quite a lot of noise and you can’t hear the organ any more. And then there's this arm that gets me round the waist, and it’s my father lifting me right off the floor, and Julian’s Mother grabbing him like be needed protecting, and Miranda’s knickers are showing where Julian tore her dress. (Pause.) And there was quite a lot of carry-on and nobody much listening to my side of things, t parece tierra (She stops and looks anxiously about the floor Pause.) ‘And we never did find the beetle, 2930 ACTING ANTHOLOGY MR A’S AMAZING MAZE PLAYS by Alan Ayckbourn PUBLISHED py SauevE. FRENCH SUZY lives ins a small cottage with her mother and her dog Neville. Her father went up in a hot air balloon one day and never came back dovn. Except for missing SUZY's father, they arevall quite happy until the suave Mr Accousticus moves into the mysterious old house across from their cottage and sweeps Mother off her feet. Suddenly Neville loses his bark, the birds stop singing, and the neighbour Mr Passerby insists his operatic tenor voice has been stolen. SUZY and Neville bravely decide to search through Mr Accousticus' mansion for the missing voices, SUZY: Stay very close to me Neville. Its so dark. Uhope there aren't any holes in the floor. PI never be able to avoid them. if they~ (She dumps her head.) Oops! Watch out, Neville, Low beams. (NEVILLE bumps his head.) Better crouch, the ceiling seems to be getting lower. Though Tthink Tcan see some light ahead. Yes just a glimmer. Come on, we're nearly there, Neville ~ (She bumps her head again.) Ouch! Watch out, mind that one! (NEVILLE bumps his head again too.) 1's just the Loft, it’s a dead end. We can’t go any further, ‘Oh, this is hopeless. This house is just so huge... We could search in here for months anc not find anything. Even if we Know what we were looking for, We'd better go downstairs ‘again. There's nothing up here. Except for rafters and pipes, inns esate i LEVEL-ONE ~ SOLO and chimney stacks. Oh look, if you look down these pipes you can see right into the basement. I bet you we could climb down these, there’s room, (NEVILLE backs away hastily.) It wouldn't be two difficult. We could slide most of the way. Be much quicker than trying to find the stairs. I’m sure we'll be able to get out at the bottom, Come on. Let’s try it. Come on, Neville, It’s allright, I'll gofirst. (SUZY gets hold of the pipes.) Look it’s dead casy. Follow me, (They start to climb down.) ‘You see, if we take it nice and easily there’s no danger at all, you see, Neville. Just very gently and we'll soon be the-e-c-e-e-r-r (SUZY stips.) (NEVILLE slips also.) Neville? Neville? You all right? Where are. we? eee, atAGTING ANTHOLOGY WITCHES INCORPORATED by Nan Woodhouse ANNIE is an experienced White Witch, a genial lady. She lives next door to Milly, who is less pleasant. In this scene ANNIE contacts Milly through the wall of her house to tell her about an advertisement she has seen in the newspaper. ANNIE: (Reading from newspaper) ‘Magic for beginners. How to afford more capacious cauldrons, bigger and better Dbroomsticks...” (Continuing to read with litle sounds of surprise and delight) 00... MM... OH! ‘Enrol now for the Whatsit Academy of Witches and Wizards. Learn to make an effective spell in ten easy lessons.’ Oh! Blisters, bunions, backache, boils ~ what a thing to matriculate in Magic! (She rises and hops around the table in delight, singing.) ‘Oompa pa, oom pa pa. (Stops suddenly.) Tl make a wall- call... Must tell Milly... silly Milly, silly Milly. (Crosses to wall and taps three times.) ©om pa pa, oom pa pa. (Listens.) Millicent? (Knocks again.) Where is the silly old... (Her voice changes suddenty as , MILLY thumps back from her side of the wall.) Milly! And how are you this morning, dear? (She makes sympathetic noises.) Ob? Mim? There, there. How often have Told you, dear—never go out on the broomstick without your hat ~ not in an east wind, dear, it’s asking for rheumat — toothache. (After a second.) “Teli me, deatie, have you LEVEL ONE~ SOLO seen the paper? Page (wo, ‘HALLOWEEN OFFERS ~ MAGIC FOR BEGIN — What? (Pause as she listens t0 MILLY’s tirade from beyond the wall.) Not a beginner exactly... What? Yes, I do remember your enchanted elephant. No, dear... No, dear... (Thump from the other side of the wall. ANNIE covers her ears.) ‘That’s done it! (ANNIE seizes her cloak and throws it around her.) Enchanted elephants! I'll show her! (She crosses and collects newspaper. Puts fingers in her ‘mouth and whistles loudly. A broomstick flies in, she ‘mounts and circles the room awiovardly.) T could certainly use a new broomstick. (She pats the broom.) Not complaining, Bertie, but you are getting a bit long in the too... OOPS! (The broomstick shoots forward and they exit through the window.) 3384 ACTING ANTHOLOGY THE EXAMINATION by Penny Phillips The stage is set with a row of chairs at a diagonal 10 the audience. ALEXANDRA enters carrying a musical instrument, stops and calls back off stage. ALEXANDRA: I'll be alright, Mother, Really, don’t worry — it'll be easy. Mr Jones will be here very soon, (Puts music and instrument on the chairs and then looks across the room. She knocks on an invisible hatch.) Hello. Good moming I'm Alexandra Townsend, (The ELDERLY LADY is deaf) Alexandra Townsend...yes. I'm here for my clarinet examination... No 1 don’t want the toilet! Grade four... Clarinet... Yes, Four. No! — not which door. But my ecompanist hasn't arrived yet... My accomp... It doesn't matter... (To herself) Tbe alright. (Crosses to chairs, unpacks instrument.) Til be fine. Out you come... One - two ~ three — four, No! Where's my reed? (Assembling the separate pieces of the clarinet.) YbetT’ ve forgotten it... Here itis, Remember tolickit, Alexandra. Remember reeds are 0p each... Now... Where’s my music?... I bet I've forgotten it. Oh. There it is... Now, Alex ~ you are a very good clarinetist. You are brilliant ‘You ave brilliant. You are brilliant! | i LEVEL ONE ~ SOLO (She blows and makes a feeble noise. She panics. She looks at her watch.) ‘No! Where is Mr Jones? My examination is in five minutes. (She pues clarinet down — walks across to hatch ~ knocks on hatch — waits as an ELDERLY SECRETARY opens hatch.) Excuse me. Alexandra Townsend. Yes... 1 know my examination is in five minutes but my accompanist hasn't attived yet. My accomp... Ohoo! (Getting very frustrated, she mimes a piano being played.) Look...the man who is playing the peeano for me! Yes! Piano. (Smiles with relief, then...) No! I'm not playing, the piano—I'm doing a clarinet exam! P've lost my pianist. mot playing the piano, he is! (Trying to calm down.) Look. Leamnot do my examination without Mr Jones... Because he plays the piano for me. (Almost in tears.) What? He's where? He's in there waiting forme? I'm sorry. (Picks up clarinet and the music.) I'm so sony... Tam really sory... (Picks up clarinet case and music, crossing to the door and knocking loudly.) Hello Mr Jones. 3636 ACTING ANTHOLOGY THE BROKEN ANKLE by Felicity Blackstone EMMA is a bright girl, full of energy and determination, Her friends have run on ahead of her EMMA: (Shouts.) Hey, you two, wait for me! (They have not listened to her.) It's not fair! Just because I’m the youngest and stnallest, they never want me in their games — well, Pm going to catch up with them. know where they've gone. (Starting to run.) Wait for me! (She trips and falls.) Ow! Onno! that’s done it, my new jeans have gota rip in them. I only got them last weekend — how annoying, Mum will be furious. (Trying to get up.) Ouch, my ankle; itreally, hurts. What have I done to it? Ican't walk on it. Oh bother, Ta better sit down again. Let's have a look at it. (Pulling up her trouser leg.) It’s not bleeding or anything but it looks swollen, (Prodding it) Ooh, that hurts! What shall I do? Perhaps I can try hopping along on the other Teg. (She struggles to her feet and tries — but it is no good.) Pmnever going to get back home like this. Maybe Lean try crawling on my good leg and dragging my other leg, (She tries.) That's no good, it's far too painful. I wonder if 've broken my ankle. That will mean a visit to Casualty, x-rays and plaster casts. (Brightening.) I've always wondered what it would be like to have my leg in plaster. I make sure that everyone makes a fuss of me, James will have to | t | i LEVEL ONE ~ SOLO carry my school bag and Helen will have to help me up and down the stairs. [really hate the way they leave me all the time — this will teach them... (She starts to cry.) {can hear them calling my name. (Shouting.) Pm over here ~ I'm so pleased to see you. Thank goodness you've come arLEVEL ONE~ SOLO The Demon Headmaster ‘Something is wrong at DINAH's new school. The children are too well behaved and she finds herseif conforming as well. She is aided by her foster brothers in an aiternpt to find out tho secret of the Headmaster’s control. In this scene, sho begins to realise that she and the rest of the school are being hypnotised. DINAH: That's it! The first day, when I went info Assembly, | didn't look at the Headmaster's eyes when the others did | closed mine. And I heard him hypnotise everyone else. But then he caught me. | just had time to think remember it, remember it = and then | was hypnotised and I forgot. Until Harvey brought it back. The Headmaster hypnotises evoryone in Assembly... I's a good way to keep everyone in order. And you know how he likes ordor. While they're hypnotised, he tells them what to do when they wake up. And they can't help doing it. Like me saying those things. And 1 think — | think he probably makes us leam things, parrotfashion, while we're hypnotised. Then, when we're awake, we can remember them and write them down... We're not leaming to think, We're just teaming to repeat things. Like robots. it looks good, but ifs no use at all... Some people can't be hypnotised. Has he ever tried it with you? Gazed into your eyes and told you you were tired...2 He's cruel and terrifying, and he's got an obsession with {idiness, but he's not silly. He's very, very clever. He's got a whole schoo! full of children who will do precisely what he wants. He must feel very powerful. Very powerful. If | were him, | don't think I'd be satisfied with having one measly ‘school in my power... Think of it. He's got a whole army of People ~ people like me —who'll do and say exactly what he wants. Why should he stop there? by Gilian Cross ti \ i 12 ACTING ANTHOLOGY Danny the Champion of the World DANNY and his dad have a big falling out with an unpleasant Jand owner called Mr. Victor Hazell. He breeds pheasants for game shoots. Danny comes up with a plan to spoil the sport of the men with guns. Danny and his dad will have to dodge the gamekeepers, but the pheasants might recover and fly off. DANNY: Dad, can | ask you something? I've just had a bit of an idea. You know that bottle of sleeping pills Doc Spencer gave you when you ame back from hospital? Is there any reason why those wouldn't work on a pheasant? Remember the raisins, Dad? Now listen. We take a raisin. We soak it til it swells. Then we make a tiny sit in one side ofitwith a razor-blade. Then we hollow it out alittle. Then we ‘open up one of your red capsules and pour ail the powder into the raisin. Then we get a needle and thread and very carefully we sew up the sit. Now, we have a nice clean-looking raisin chock full of sleeping- ill powder and that ought to be enough to put any pheasant to sleep. Don't you think so? With this method we could prepare two hundred raisins, and all we'd have to dois scatter them round the feeding grounds at sunset, and then walk away. Half an hour later, after it was dark and the keepers had all gone home, we would go back into the wood... and the pheasants would be up in the trees by then, roosting... and the pills would be beginning to work... and the pheasants would be starting to fee! groggy... they'd be wobbling and trying to keep their balance... and soon every pheasant that had eaten one single raisin would topple over unconscious and fall to the ground. Why, they'd be dropping out of the {trees like apples! And all we'd have to do is walk around picking them up! ‘by Roald Dahi LEVELONE-SOLO 13, The Penguin CHRIS has been caught after stealing a penguin. He shows his interrogator that he has nothing hidden in his bag this time, The interrogator asks him anothor brief question, and Chris listens. CHRIS: | didn't think of it as stealing; didn't know it was going to happen. Itjust came to me at the time. wanting @ penguin, (Chris istens to a further question.) Easy! | nipped over the wall, caught the slow one and popped it into the bag. It went quiet straight away, must've gone to sleep in the dark (Pause) Bag was heavy to carry for the rest of the day, {can tell you! twas only a small one! Penguins are heavier than they look! (Chris listens to a further question with interest.) (Oh! Mum said she was suspicious from the first. Since when had | ever rushed in and gone straight up and run a bath? ‘She'd never known me want a bath. ‘She went berserk when she barged in and saw it! Said | was stupid. Its not stupid to want something... .- even if you do have to give it back. (Chris shrugs away a brief comment.) Don't you know what happened after that? Well! Mum phoned Mister Taylor at the school.14 ACTING ANTHOLOGY And he phoned the zoo. ‘And | made friends with my penguin in the bathroom. ‘Seemed like no time before the van from the zoo artived to take it back. (Chris listens to a friendly warming.) | said | wouldn't do it againt And | haven't. (Quietly) . But I'm not sorry | did it in the first place. {twas good while it lasted (Pauso,) Thad something nobody else had, Thad a penguin and | called it Chris: same name as me. (Pause) Matter of fact | was keeping an eye out for Chris today: couldn't seem to see any slow penguins. Not today, don't know why? (Chris picks up tho duffle bag and wanders off) by Heather Stephens LEVEL ONE~ SOLO The Velveteen Rabbit RABBIT is made of material. He has been left in the long grass by the Boy, to whom he belongs. The Boy has gone off to play in the fields. RABBIT: Oh | do wish you hadn't gone off and left me here again. Why don’t you take me with you? | could pick wild flowers... | could play brigands too! | know you made mo a comfy place to stay but I'm fed up with watching the ants running between my paws! ButI'm net alone, am I? There's somebody here! (Crouching down and whispering) Is two rabbits! They look like mel ‘They've got long floppy ears, but they are quite furry and brand-new! They must have been very well made — their seams don't show at all. Not like mine! Look... they're changing shape in a funny way when they move: one minute ‘they are long and thin and the next minute, fat and bunchy. | can't do that. | always look the same. They twitch their ‘noses too... but I can't see their clockwork. Things that jump always have something to wind them up. (Peering hard at them) No.... just can’t see it at all. They must be a new kind of rabbit altogether. ‘Oh dear, they've seen me now, and they're coming over here. (Facing the rabbits) Hello. No thank you, | don’t feel like joining you today... but it was good of you to ask. (Aside) {can’t tell them that | haven't any clockwork! (Facing them again) Of course, | could if | wanted to, its just that | don't want to. | can jump higher than anything, if | want tol But | don't want to! (One of the other rabbits notices that Rabbit does not have any hind legs and they begin to laugh at him.) have got hind legs! How can you say that | haven't? Just because | don't want to play with you. | am sitting on them! {don't ike dancing. 'd rather sit stil. Go away... don't come 80 close. Stop sniffing me! How dare you say that I'm not 516 ACTING ANTHOLOGY Real. | am Real. | am Real. The Boy said sol (Rabbit begins to cry. Hearing a noise, the other rabbits run off leaving the velveteen rabbit all alone.) ‘Come back and play with me. Oh, do come back! | know | ‘am Real. (Realising that they have gone and he is al alone.) ‘Oh, dear! Why did they run away like that? Why couldn't they stop and talk to me? by Margery Wiliams, adapted by LAMDA LEVEL ONE - SOLO The Resident Ghost EMMA haunts an old house where she has lived’ for the past ‘one hundred and fity years. The house has been put up for sale by the family who owned it for several gonorations. Sho has decided to test all prospective purchasers to see if sho would lke to live with them. Emma watches the unsuspecting Mr. and Mrs. Adams walk around the dining room. Finally she jumps out, screaming, EMMA: Whooaaaall! That scared you, didn't it? You can't ‘actually see me, but you know that | am here. | think Pl have a litte fun with you... After all, you have been very rude and unkind about our family portraits, especially the large one of Uncle Frederick in the drawing room, (Emma runs around the room blowing on Mr. Adams.) You didn't like that did you? A strange draught indeed! That was just a litle gentle breeze. Wait ‘il | conjure up a huge wind, (Sho blows and blows until she falls back, exhausted.) Running away? Never coming back? | can move furniture too. Do you want to see that? Watch this plate... | can focus oon it. lift it from the cupboard... move it across the room. and... whoops! It's smashed on the floor! | didn’t mean to do that, really ! didn't. | only wanted to scare you! (Mr. and Mrs. Adams run out.) Its quietznow. Funny, that’s the third couple who left today. Its a pity my family have got to sell the house... it takes so ‘much money to run it. Someone should buy it and restore it to the house that | remember so well. The beautiful gowns. the Christmas balls... the handsome suitors... the lights. the laughter... { loved my fe here. Unti.. falling off the horse! 718 ACTING ANTHOLOGY Wait... someone else is coming. I'd better get ready to greet them. (Miss Eden enters the room.) | think she can fee! my presence. She's smiling. She likes the fumiture... she loves the view from the window... she says she likes the atmosphere! Could she be worthy of the house? She looks nice. | might even grow to like her. | wonder if she could see me! She's looking in my mother’s mirror. (Emma calls out to Miss Eden) Don't turn round. Not yet. Now you can. I'm right behind you! by Jacqueline Emery LEVEL ONE~ SOLO The Jungle Book The boy, MOWGLI, has been brought up by wolves as @ cub, but the Council of Wolves has tumed against him, encouraged by the wicked Shere Khan, the tiger who had snatched him as. a baby. It is now time for Mowgli fo retum to the world of Men. MOWGLI: (Standing upright, @ pat of fre in his hands, facing the Council) Listen to me. There's no need for this dog's Jabber. You have told me so often tonight that I am a man = and, indeed | would have been a wolf with you to the end of my life ~ that | feel your words ate true. So, I do not call you my brothers anymore, but DOGS as a man would! What, ‘you will do oF not do is not yours to say. That is my decision, and, so thal we can see things more clearly, | the Man, have brought with me some of the Red Flower, which | know you fear. (He flings the fire-pot on the ground and the Council draw back in terror from the leaping flames.) | see that you are dogs! I go from you to my own people ~ if they really are my own people. The jungle is shut to mo, and | just forget all the good times that we spent together. But | will be more merciful than you are. Because | was all but your brother in blood, ! promise that when | am aman among ‘men | will not betray you to men as you have betrayed mel There shall be no war between any of us and the Pack but | do have a debt to pay before | go. (He strides over towards Shore Khan, the tiger, and catches him by the tuft on his chin.) Get up! Up, when a man speaks, or I will set that coat abiaze! This cattle killer said that he ‘would kill me in the Council because he had not killed me when I was a cub. Stir a whisker, and I will ram the Red Flower down your throat! (He hits the tiger over the head with a branch.) Singed jungle cat — go now! But remember, when next | come to the Council rock, as a man should come, it will be with Shere Khan's hide on my head. As for the rest of you, Akela goes free to live as he pleases. You will not kill him because that is not my will. Nor 1920 AGTING ANTHOLOGY do | think that you will sit here any longer, lolling out your tongues as if you were somebodies, instead of dogs whom | drive out. Go! (As the wolves run away, Mowgli suddenly realises what he has lost and tries hard not to cry.) What is it? (Wiping away his tears) | do not really wish to leave the jungle... but think these are tears and | must be a man, and a man's cub no longer. Now, | am ready to go to Men, by Rudyard Kipling, adapted by LAMDA LEVEL ONE ~ SOLO Find Me The play isa fast-paced, sympathetic portrayal ofa family tying to deal with mental ilness. VERITY Taylor is an autistic child. Her parents do not seem to be coping well, and nobody she gets referred to soars to do any better. VERITY: | love to swim. I'm happy swimming. I'm free. I'm the best swimmer in my class, Miss said so, she sald, “Verity, you're the best swimmer in the class,” she did. I'm the best swimmer in England. I'm the best swimmer in the world. I'm the best swimmer in the whole universe. You're safe in water, safe as safe. When | grow up I'm going to be an Olympic champion. Verity Taylor, gold medallist. I'l be on television and I'l make a ‘speech and everyone will cheer and clap and clap and all of the little children will ask for my autograph. And I'l meet the Queen, and the sun will be shining on my gold medal and on her gold crown, and shell shake my hand, She'll Jove me, everybody will love me! ‘When | swim in the pool the water is green and blue and silver, it soft and | feel like 'm flying. Im a flying fish, I'm a seagull, floating, crtting, fying, swishing. Lovely swimming, lovely water. | kick my feet as | go along and the splashing says, "Verity, Verity, Verity, Verity’. When I'm in bed at night | dream about swimming. I'm swimming in the sea and I'm riding in the foam of the waves, and | wave at all the people in the boats and they wave back. ‘Sometimes | dream I'm swimming all by myself in a lake high up in the mountains. 'm all alone except for the birds and the fishes, Don't be afraid of the snakes, they're only Water snakes. They won't hurt you! it's my lake, Verity Lake In the Verity Mountains ‘Today I'll win all the prizes in the swimming gala. at22 ACTING ANTHOLOGY Mum and Dad will be watching and they'll be proud as proud. ‘Mark and Nicky'll wish they were me. And at the end I'l just stand there, smiling. The winner, Verity Taylor, the winner! by Olwwen Wymark LEVEL ONE~- SOLO First Term at Malory Towers Matory Towers is a gifs’ boarding school, The young French assistante, MAMZELLE DUPONT, has arrived to teach the class on a very hot summer afternoon. MAM'ZELLE DUPONT: Asseyez-vous. Phew ~ it is too hot to make conversation with such stupid ones as you this aftemoon! Get out your grammar books and | will expiain a few things fo you that will help your conversation if you can get them into your so-stupid heads! Que faites-vous, Mary-Lou? What are you doing? Tiens! What is this noise? Mary-Lou have you gone mad? Mary-Lou! Tell me what is the matter with you? I demand it! Aspider? And you make this fuss, and call out so loudly that we all jump in fear! Mary-Lou, be ashamed of yourself! | am angry with you. Sit down. ! said, sit down. irene, don’t giggle. ‘We will see if this spider exists or not. And | warn you, Mary- ‘Lou, if this is again a trick, and there is no spider, you will go to Miss Potts for punishment. | wash my hands of you. (Going over to Maty-Lou's desk and opening the tid, dramatically) See\ Bad gir. You, so quiet and good, you too decelve me, the poor Mamn‘zelfe! | will not have it. No spider! Not one! Tell me, where has it gone, ifitis stillin there? (Sho suddenly sees the spider and screams.) Aazargh| You are right! Where is it now, the monster? Girls, gris can you see it? Oh... my neck! Take it off! I beg you! Remove it from me! (Jumping and screaming, trying to shake it off) Oh, 18 la! ‘Oh, 18 fa! What a miserable woman I am! Help me! Where is this monster? Giris, gifs, tell me itis gone! Take It off me. Please... PLEASE... (Suddenly seeing Miss Potts, the class teacher, entering the room, everyone becomes quiet and lands stil) Oh... er... Miss Potts... it was... itis the spider. a big one... it looked... | can explain everything, really... | can. by Enid Blyton, adapted by LAMDA| 24 ACTING ANTHOLOGY The Little White Horse MARIA Memryweather lives in Moonacro Manor in the west of England in 1842. Her distant cousin, with his band of lawless ‘men, has been terrorising the vilagersin the valleys surrounding hher home. Maria is determined to end the family feud and to restore peace to the region, so af last she confronts him. MARIA: ight, | have long desired the pleasure of your ‘acquaintance. You see — | know who you are. You are the descendant of the litle son of Black William who was supposed to have been murdered by Sir Wrolf. But he wasn't. His mother took him away to safety in the far country beyond this valley. He never came back, but his sons di, and all of you here naw are the descendants of his sons. My ancestor, Sir Wel, was very wicked to try and take Black William's land away from him — but he was not any more wicked than you are, poaching and stealing in the way that you do. ‘And the next thing — my family did not steal your family’s pearls! The Moon Maiden lost them, or she hid them herself, we didn't do anything with them! | can't give you back what was lost hundreds of years ago. Sir, you and | ought not, to quarrel. If you promise not to be wicked any more, we could be friends for ever. After all, we are distant cousins, you know — the Moon Maiden is my ancestress too. You think that Sir Wrolf murdered Black Wiliam but it's not true. Black William just got bored with everything suddenly — like wicked men do ~ and went off by himself somewhere. ‘And then he got into a boat and sailed away into the sunset. can see you don't believe me! You really are the most unreasonable man | ever met — as well as the wickedest! And if Black William was anything like you, | wouldn't have blamed Sir Wrolf if he had murdered him — though of course he didn’t, And I'm ashamed to be your distant cousin, ! am indeed. by Blizaboth Goudge, adapted by LAMDA LEVELONE-SOLO 25 Sammy’s Consent SAMMY’s mother died five years ago but Sammy is still hurting and lonely. Sammy's father has fallen in love with a new woman and he has brought her home in the hope that Sammy will accept the idea of a stepmother. But when Sammy's father leaves the room for a moment, the truth comes out... SAMMY: .. want to know why you want to be my mother. We're all right by ourselves. What could you do? What do you know about either of us? Do you know what he's like when he's writing? What would you do when he gets completely stuck on a plece for weeks and goes half mad? And he gets worse than that. Sometimes he thinks his music’s no good and says he'll never write again and gets drunk ‘What about his headaches? ‘There's only one thing that stops them — do you know what Itis...2 My mother knew... What would you do if my nose started bleeding...? | always have three handkerchiefs and | soak them all when {start ‘And it's stil bleeding and won't stop and a crowd gathers round telling you to put keys down my back and things like that. You want to be my mother... you should know. ‘My mother knew. You don't know anything, do you? What do you want to come in for? Who needs you? We've had to manage without her for five years. We should be able to do without you. 'd rather have my mother dead than you alive. There was nobody like her. ‘And she was beautifulACTING ANTHOLOGY You look silly compared to her. You're nothing at all against her. ‘And if you think my father’s in love with you, I don't believe it, because he couldn't love a person like you when he's got to compare you with her all the time. by Vincent Tisley LEVEL ONE ~SOLO Toad of Toad Hall A banquet Is in progress in the magnificent banqueting-room in Toad Hall. Itis CHIEF WEASEL’s birthday, and he sits at the head of the main table with his admirers round him. He rises. CHIEF WEASEL: Friends and Fellow Animals. Before we part this evening | have one final toast to propose. It is a toast which on all occasions has something of solemnity in it, something even of sadness, but never more so than on thi ‘occasion, ‘Absent Friends’. (Hear, hear!) ‘Absent Friends. With this toast | couple first the name of our kind host, Mr Toad, (Loud laughter) Although unable to be present himself tonight — (laughter) ~ owing to a previous engagement ~ (laughter) — Mr Toad has generously put his entire establishment at our disposal for as long as we like to make use of it. (Loud laughter) We all know Toad — good Toad, wise Toad, modest Toad. (Laughter) It is a personal sorrow fo every one of us that he is not amongst us tonight. Let me sing you a litle song which | have composed on this subject. ‘Toad he went a pleasuring Gaily down the road — They put him in prison for twenty years! Poor - old~ Toad! Poor — old — Toad! Poor — old —Toad! ‘They put him in prison for twenty years! Poor — old — Toad! But while we are thinking of our good host, Mr Toad, we must not forget our other absent friends ~ Mr Badger, Mr Rat and Mr Mole. (Laughter) It is a particular sorrow to me that they are not with us tonight, living as they do — unlike Mr Toad = 80 very conveniently in the neighbourhood. From time to time, indeed, of late, we have caught glimpses of them — behind hedges. (Laughfor) We have seen their back views = (laughter) ~ in the distance — (laughter) — running away. 2ACTING ANTHOLOGY LEVEL ONE - SOLO (Laughter) We know that they cannot plead absence from the country as an excuse for their absence from our board, so that the only reason for it must be excessive shyness. (Laughter) Modesty. (Laughter) All the more do we regret that they did not see fit to join us. Fellow animals, | give you the toast — ‘Absent Friends!” by Kenneth Grahame ¥ i i The Granny Project AA family of four children are trying to prevent their parents from sending their grandmother into a care home. SOPHIE is the oldest gir. The other children have radical plans, including a demonstration at a family dinner party, but Sophio is trying to act responsibly. ‘ SOPHIE: Ivan, we just can’t do this. We simply cannot do something that will ruin this dinner party of theirs tonight. | saw her on her knees this moming, scrubbing the muck off the kitchen floor. He's been down to the shops a dozen times since lunch, for bay leaves and extra cream and a replacement bulb for that bathroom light. He's in there now, stil cooking, you know. She ironed a shirt for him to wear tonight. She even made Nicholas shine her best earrings with silver polish. There are fresh cut flowers the living room. Do you know how much fresh cut flowers cost? This is their one bash of the year, Ivan. She's repaying hospitality to all those nice people who give her their spare tickets to concerts and piays, and offer her room in ‘heir cars when they go to London, and send her pupils for conversation classes, and pass on their children’s school blazers to us. He's tiying to keep his end up in front of the headmaster, and stop that Higgins who is ten years younger than him becoming head of Language Studies. She's vacuumed the whole house, even under the chairs and the sofa. He's bought six different kinds of drink. Six! ‘She's gnawing her nails in there, cursing the colour of the carpet, the pudding, her own hair. He's got so nervous, he’s getting egg yolks into his whites, over and over. van. We just can't do this to them, We can't by Anne Fine, adapted by LAMDAACTING ANTHOLOGY How to Train your Dragon Long ago on the windy isle of Berk, ton boys are waiting to become full members of the Hairy Hooligan tribe. GOBBER, the soldier in charge, is about to teach the Dragon Initiation Programme. GOBBER: Pay attention! This will be your first military operation, and Hiccup will be commending the team. Silence! The next boy to speak has limpets for lunch for the next three weeks! Hiccup will be in charge and that is an order! (Eyeing up the boys before him) You are all here to prove yourselves as Viking Heroes. It is an ancient tradition of the Hooligan Tribe that you should first catch your dragon, There are three parts to the Dragon initiation Test. The first and most dangerous part is a test of your courage and skill at burglary, ‘Takea look at Wild Dragon Cliff. Now, do you notice those four caves about halfway up? Inside, lies the Dragon's Nursery, where there are AT THIS VERY MOMENT, three thousand young dragons having their last few weeks of winter sleep. In a few minutes, | want you to take one of these baskets and start climbing, Once you are at the cave entrance, you fre on your own! Enter it quietly, unless you want to become the first Spring meal for three thousand hungry dragons, ha! hal hal hal ‘There'd be nothing left of you, just a pile of bones and your helmet! Each boy will steal ono sleeping dragon. Lift it genty from the rock and place it in your basket. Any questions so far? Choose carefully - and take the biggest creature you can. | need not fell you, if you rotum to this spot without a dragon, it is hardly worth coming back at all. Anybody who fails this task will be put into immediate exile. Right boye, we'll get going, by Hiccup Horrendous Hacdock Hl, translated by Cressida Cowel, adapted by LAMDA LEVEL ONE ~ SOLO i, Coriander It is 1643, QUEEN ROSMORE, @ powerful and matovolont fairy, tells Coriander, a young git, how she has plotted against both Coriander’s grandmother and mother in order to win the shadow of everlasting light. Queen Rosmore yeams fo possess it for herself. She is determined that Coriander shall not inherit it. Cronus is tho Queen's pet raven. QUEEN ROSMORE: | have waited too long for this day. Have | not, my beauty? (To the raven) Shall | tell you the story, Coriander? Itwas lke this. Many years ago, long before you were bor, | heard that your grandfather King Nablus had had a daughter, born with a shadow made of everiasting fight. Oh, Cronus, Coriander is baffled! Do you know how rare such @ shadow is? Its the most precious gift a fairy can ever be given, and | knew it was meant for me, not some wretched, snivelling child who would never understand the meaning of it. ‘The shadow holds beauty. It holds life itself. It holds power, Untold power. With it, Iwill rule this world, We devised a plan. | took a present to King Nablus's wife. Alas, within a week she was dead. Such a pity! Your poor grandfather, left alone with this newborn child, was heartbroken. It was not hard to persuade the grieving king to marry me, to let me take his daughter, Eleaner, under my wing. How sweet and sensitive your mother was! Oh, how | enjoyed making her life a misery! She thought she had tricked me and got away, but this time the shadow will be mine. You will not be able to hold on. You are a fool even to try. But if you want to suffer, no matter. | am taking back What is rightfully mine, Do you think you can outwit me? I will show you! Snuff out the day — let night darken the sky! by Sally Gardnor, adapted by LAMDA at32 ACTING ANTHOLOGY Cider with Rosie Laurie Lee, known to his friends as LOLL, is sitting in school waiting for the arrival of the new Headmistress, Miss Wardley. As she enters, he sniffs and is immediately told to go outside and give his nose a good blow. LOL: (Loll sniffs... he leaves the olassroom area and sits on the very edge of the stage.) Of course I don't really belong to that lot at all. 'm surnmat different to them. 'm.a—i'ma— young king. Yes! Placed secretly here in order to mixwith the commoners. (He sniffs.) There is clearly a mystery about my birth. One day the secret will be told, One day, they'll see, a gold coach with footmen in uniform will turn up suddenly, just like that! outside our kitchen door, and our Mother will ery and theyll stand very solemn and respectful to our Marge and Doth and Phyll and Jack and Tone, and then | shall drive off to my palace. | shall eat bacon and eggs off my throne. Course I shall be generous. | won't throw my brothers in a dungeon, No. Instead | shall give them a banquet of cakes and jelles and — things! And all my sisters, our Marge, our Doth, our Phyil, they shall have princes and they shall ive in ‘a palace in... (His imagination runs out here.) Where shail it be? Ah yes. Stroud! (The children in the classroom rise swiflly and start singing the National Anthem, conducted by Miss Wardley. CHORUS: (Singing) God save our gracious King... } And when | am King, Miss Wardley shall curtsy! by Laurio Loo, adapted by James Roose-Evans LEVEL ONE~ SOLO The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Tho land of Namia is under the spell of tho wicked WHITE WITCH. Four children from London (Peter, Edmund, Lucy and Susan) find a gatoway into Namia, and they are soon caught up in a deadly struggle between good and evil, according to the mysterious laws of the land. Aslan, the lion, represents good in Namia and he is all that stands in the way of the White Witch's plan to plunge Narnia into an etemal winter. ‘THE WHITE WITCH: Come on, faster! Maugrim will soon bring us news, Four thrones at Cair Paravel. Mmm, but if only three were occupied the prophecy would not be fulfilled. He may not stay for long, and then we could attack the three at the castle. Much better to kill him now! | would have liked to have done it at the Stone Table Itself. That is the proper place. That is where it has always been done before. (Maugrim enters at speed and informs the White Witch that Peter has killed his best lieutenant,)* ‘Awolf Killed! Killad by a son of Adam! Then summon all our people to meet me here as speedily as they can. Call out the Giants, the Werewolves, the Spirits of all those trees that are on our side. Call out the Ghouls, the Boggles, the Osres, the Trolls and the Minotaurs, Call out the Gruels, the Wickeds, the Hags, the Spectres and all the people of the Poisonous Toadstools. We will fight and we will win. Have | not still my magic wand? Can we not turn their miserable army to stone? When we are assembled, we will all march ‘on the Stone Table. Now, let us get on with this lesser matter. Propare the vermin, (Asian enters.) You have a traitor there, Aslan. Have you forgotten the deep magic ~ what is written in letters as deep as a spearhead is long on the Stone Table that stands there, beside us?ACTING ANTHOLOGY You know very well that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey, and that for every treachery, | have a right to Kill (Pointing at Edmund) That human creature, that son Of Adam, is mine, His life is forfeit io me. His blood is my property, (Peter draws his sword in challenge to the witch.) (Disarming Peter with her gaze and laughing) Litte fool! Do you really think that you can rob me of my rights by mere force? Your master knows the Deep Magic much better than that. Uniess | have blood, as the Law says, all Namia will be overwhelmed and perish in fire and water! by CS Lewis, adapted by Glyn Robbins * 88 por the play published by Samuel French (ISBN 0573050613) LEVEL ONE~ SOLO The Mirrorman For all his years of experience the TOYMAN has never tully mastered bookkeeping. He doesn't really ike it and this brings about a kind of absent-mindedness every time he has anything to do with the book. So now he peers at the front cover, almost as though he were reminding himself about it. TOYMAN: The book. (Reading) INSTRUCTIONS: WHO? WHAT? WHEN? (To audience) It has to be, you know. If | didn't have this book | should got in such @ muddle. I'd make all the wrong things and send them fo the wrong people at the wrong time and the wrong address — oh, it really would be just about as higaledy as piggledy could get. But this gets it all sorted out. It tells me exactly what to make, who to make Itfor, and when | promised it would be ready by. So let's see who I made Beauty for, than Ill know where to take her. (Looking away from the book with a moment of sadness) Not that | want to take her anywhere. Not really. I'm so thrilled about her that I'd like to keep her all to myself. Sil. (Cheering up again) No point in thinking like that. | wouldn't be a very good toymaker if | kept all the foys just to myself. So, lots see. (Reading) ‘Doll that goes ma-ma’, ‘Doll that stands on one leg’, ‘Doll that has hiccoughs' (chuckling) — that was a very tricky one to make I can tell you — (reading again) ‘Doll that Giggles’ ah, here we are — ‘Doll that walks and talks’ page ton. Lot's see now. Page 10. Page 6- 7-8-9 -10. (Looking down the page) Doll that can walk ~ and ~ talk. Here it is. What! What's this? No namel! Oh dear, what have I done now? No name! No — ah! Now | remember. | was standing in the shop when in walks this old lady. (He acts both roles as if it wore in the present) “Good moming," says she. “Good moming,” says 1 35