Win-or-Lose Stanley

This is a new commission from The Open Eye Theater of Margaretville, NY (http://www.theopeneyetheater.org). The play was presented as part of a children’s drama workshop in the Catskills in July, 2015. It’s a youth theatre piece, designed to be performed by young actors for family audiences, although adult actors are certainly welcome! For a perusal copy of the script-in-progress, please contact me at sandyasher@gmail.com.

CHARACTERS

STANLEY (m), a piglet, gentle, upbeat, and unstoppable

SALLY JO (f), a young nanny goat, STANLEY’S friend, loyal, no-nonsense

CASEY (m or f) a box turtle, another friend, big-hearted, timid; sometimes confides in audience

BILLY THE KID (m), another young goat, a strong leader, but way too full of himself

FLORA (f), a donkey, BILLY THE KID’s pompous assistant

ENSEMBLE (m or f), Young farm animals of any fur or feather, enough for two melonball teams: PLAYERS, plus REFEREE(S), and MELON RUNNERS, as desired. The exact number of PLAYERS, REFEREES, and MELON RUNNERS is left up to the director. There may also be a number of FANS, who may be actors or puppets as animals not playing melonball for their own reasons. Only STANLEY should be eager to play but not chosen. FLORA can become a PLAYER, REFEREE, or MELON RUNNER as needed. The following character names are suggestions only. Any favorite farm animals will do. ENSEMBLE lines may be assigned as indicated in the script, divided among additional actors for a larger cast or doubled up for a smaller cast. Creature sounds may be altered appropriately. Audience members may also become active as FANS, entering and exiting the stands before and after the games.

CALF

DUCKLING

COLT

KITTEN

LAMB

PUPPY

FANS (optional, m or f, real and/or puppet)

TIME: early spring to early fall

PLACE: The Moore Farm. The melonball field takes up most of the central area, with STANLEY’S pen to one side downstage and the penalty pen on the opposite side. Bleachers may be upstage with some of the audience seated among FANS and/or actors playing FANS may sit among the audience.

PLAYING TIME: About 45 minutes

SUMMARY: STANLEY loves the game of melonball, but BILLY THE KID never chooses the piglet to play. Undaunted, STANLEY puts his whole heart into being a devoted fan, attending games early and late, rain or shine, win or lose – and he never fails to record team statistics on the charts he keeps in his pen. The day comes when the Moore Farm melonball team is invited to compete in the prestigious Fruit Bowl, provided they can supply their team data. Unfortunately, they’ve never kept records. They don’t even know they have a resident statistician. “A statis-what?” Only STANLEY can save the day!

SANDY ASHER