The Ten Little Ostriches

A Tale From Kenya - Reader’s Theater

Characters: Props and scenery (optional):
• Mama Ostrich • large backdrop to look like a cave (can be a box, a
drawing by the students, paper backdrop, etc.)
• Ostrich Babies 1-10
• Lion • backdrop or box to look like an anthill (large enough for
a student to hide behind)
• Mongoose
• box or another item to represent a nest (big enough to
• Zebra fit several students)
• Giraffe • a feather
• pair of glasses
Other directions:
The script is designed to be comical so that the students can have fun with exaggerated
performances.

Optional costume suggestions if performing for an audience:

The baby ostriches stand together in pairs.
Baby Ostriches 1 and 2 are fancy and could wear a tutu or fancy dress or a suit for a boy.
Baby Ostriches 3 and 4 are runners and can be dressed in sweatbands or other
running gear.
Baby Ostriches 5 and 6 are karate experts and can be costumed accordingly.
Baby Ostriches 7 and 8 can wear capes that they can flap up and down.
Baby Ostriches 9 and 10 wear large glasses.
Other students can wear ears or clothing to represent the animal. Masks could be
worn, as well.
Costumes can be as simple as t-shirts for everyone with their character name, or they can
wear a sign around their necks for the most simplicity.

Reminder:
Students do not read aloud the text in parenthesis.

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Scene 1: African Savanna

Mama Ostrich: Oh, my beautiful chicks! You are so fluffy and adorable. One day you
will have beautiful feathers and will run faster than you can imagine.
You will use your strong feet and powerful wings to defend yourselves.
Your big eyes will help you see danger coming.

Baby Ostriches 1 and 2: We can’t wait to have beautiful feathers. (flap arms gently)
Baby Ostriches 3 and 4: We can’t wait to run faster than the wind. (run in place)
Baby Ostriches 5 and 6: We want to defend ourselves with our feet. (karate kicks)
Baby Ostriches 7 and 8: We want to defend ourselves with our wings. (flap arms fast)
Baby Ostriches 9 and 10: We are excited we will have big eyes to see danger! (widen eyes)
Mama Ostrich: Well, you aren’t grown yet, so stay here in our bush while I find some
food for us.
(Mama Ostrich leaves the stage, and the baby ostriches sit down
together and fall asleep.)

Lion: (comically) I wish I had some cubs of my own! I am going to look

for some.
(Lion squints and looks around.)
Oh no! I forgot my glasses. I will look for some cubs anyway.
(Lion looks around and spots the baby ostriches.)
Oh! There are some cubs! Yippee! I will take them with me.
(They all leave the stage with the chicks comically fighting with Lion.)

Mama Ostrich: (coming back on stage) Oh no! Where are my chicks?

(She runs around looking for them comically and then notices some
tracks on the ground.)
Those are lion tracks next to my chicks’ tracks. Lion has my chicks!
(She leaves the stage.)

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Scene 2: The Lion’s Den

(The chicks are sitting together. Lion is pacing back and forth in front of them. The chicks
glare at Lion but aren’t scared.)

Mama Ostrich: (coming back on stage)

Lion! Give me back my chicks!

Chick 1: Mama! Help!

Chick 2: Our fluff is getting dirty!
Chick 3: We tried to run away!
Chick 4: Like this!
(They try again, but Lion stops them.)

Chick 5: We kicked and kicked.

Chick 6: Like this!
(They kick at Lion.)

Chick 7: We tried to fight with our wings.

Chick 8: Like this!
(Baby Ostrich 7 and 8 flap at Lion.)

Chick 9: We stared and stared at him.

Chick 10: Like this!
(Baby Ostrich 9 and 10 stare with big eyes right in Lion’s face.)

Lion: Stop that, my little cubs! Mommy is getting mad.

(She growls, and they all stop. But when she turns her back, they all
stick out their tongues.)

Mama Ostrich: (to her chicks) Shhh! I will get you free!
(to Lion) Cubs? What in the world do you mean? Those are
MY babies!

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Scene 2: The Lion’s Den

Lion: They are mine! Mine! Mine! Call the other animals. They will tell you
the truth.
Mama Ostrich: (shouting) Zebra! Giraffe! Mongoose! Can you come here, please?

(The three characters come on stage, but when Zebra and Giraffe
see Lion, they try to turn around and run away, but Mongoose
stops them.)

Lion: Come closer, my friends.

(Zebra and Giraffe are dragged forward by Mongoose.)
Tell Ostrich that these are cubs and not chicks.
(Zebra, Giraffe, and Mongoose all look at each other in confusion.)

Zebra: Um, what did you say? Did you actually think those are cubs? (laughs)
Giraffe: (also laughing) That is so funny. Are we being pranked? Where is
the camera?
(They look around, laughing.)
(Everyone freezes, except Mongoose and Ostrich.)

Mongoose: I have a plan! Go to the anthill over there, and dig a hole in the
front and back.

Mama Ostrich: If it helps me get my babies back, I will do anything.

(She goes over to the anthill prop and pretends to dig with her feet.)
(Everyone else unfreezes.)

Lion: ROAR!!!!!!!!
(Zebra and Giraffe stop laughing and hide behind Mongoose.)

Mongoose: (moves away from the anthill to keep Lion from seeing Ostrich) This is
ridiculous, Lion! What nonsense! Have you ever seen a mom with fur
and a baby with feathers?
(all baby ostriches laugh)

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Scene 2: The Lion’s Den

Lion: (looks at the chicks again, squinting) Are you insulting my babies,
Mongoose? Are you saying they are ugly?
Mongoose: I didn’t say that! You did! By the way, where are your glasses?
(Lion looks around, distracted for a moment.)

Lion: Stop trying to trick me, Mongoose!

(Ostrich gives Mongoose a thumbs up.)

Mongoose: Seriously, Lion. Time to give the chicks back to Mama Ostrich! You
are a thief!

Lion: Argh! Roar!

(She starts to chase Mongoose, who heads for the anthill and leaps
behind it, just in time. Lion can’t get in and keeps trying. Mongoose
slips out the other side and joins Mama Ostrich and the babies.)

Babies: (starting to cheer) YAY!

Mama Ostrich: Shhh, my chicks. Let’s get away quietly while we can!
(They all tiptoe off.)

Lion: Which way did Mongoose go? (scratching her head)

(She turns around and sees the chicks are gone.)

Lion: Where did my sweet cubs go?

(She goes to look and finds her glasses. She puts them on and then
picks up a feather.)
Why is there a feather in my den? Cubs don’t have feathers.
(She continues to look confused, and the play ends.)

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