Babushka Written by Peter D. Lathan 62 Sandringham Road Roker Sunderland SR6 9QZ UK Tel.: 0191 548 7482 E-mail: plays@schoolshows.demon.co.uk Cast Babushka The Grandmother - Natalia Petrovna. Totally obsessed with her work: housework, looking after the children, and so on. She is a bit grumpy but very caring underneath it. Masha Her grand-daughter, the eldest of the three children. Yeliena The middle grandchild. Misha The youngest grandchild, a mischievous boy of about ten. Melchior One of the three kings. Balthazar The second king Caspar The third of the three kings. Irina Lenyevskaia A neighbour Leonid Ilyitch 2nd neighbour Maria Alexeyevna 3rd neighbour ************************** This play was first produced in 1991 by King George Comprehensive School, South Shields, in St Hilda's Church, Market Place, South Shields. ************************** Production Notes The play was originally written as part of a carol service and is divided into six sections, each separated from the others by other parts of the service (carols, readings etc.). These other parts, of course, are not included here. There is no reason why the play should be done this way: it is quite possible to play it continuously. It all depends upon how you want to play it! At times, in the dialogue between Babushka and the Kings, and between Babushka and the neighbours, the language sounds very formal, almost stilted. This is deliberate: it is a reflection of the formality which we have come to associate with Chekhov, and it is also, perhaps, because we find the use of the first name and the patronymic (Petrovna - daughter of Petrov) in conversation rather strange to our non-Russian ears. The carol service in which this was first produced was an international service, in that we used a lot of music from various countries - part of our efforts not to dot he same thing every year! - but it can fit in with any style of service or stand alone as a short (about fifteen minutes) play in its own right. By the way, the word Gospodin means My Lord. ***************************************** THE PLAY (The stage is set with a table and four chairs. On the table is a loaf of bread, some butter, plates and a knife. BABUSHKA enters, yawning and stretching, preparing herself for the day ahead. She carries a candle. She sits at the table and starts cutting bread.) (At this point a carol may be sung.) BABUSHKA Masha! Yeliena! Misha! Breakfast's ready! (There is no response.) The three of you! Hurry. Breakfast's ready! I've got too much to do today to waste time. (Muttering to herself) It's the same every morning. Children just won't get out of bed. Lazy they are, just like their mother was. (Shouts) Masha! Will you please come to breakfast now! And hurry your brother and sister, too, please. (To herself again) I shouldn't have to be bothered like this, not at my time of life. When you're my age, it's time to relax by the fire with a good son and his wife to look after you; you shouldn't have to run around after a parcel of lazy, good-for-nothing grandchildren! (Shouting again) Masha! Masha! Now, please! (Masha enters) There you are, you lazy, good for nothing.... (Masha kisses her on the forehead and laughs.) MASHA Babushka, don't fuss so much! There's plenty of time. It's hardly light yet. BABUSHKA Plenty of time, is it, miss? It's well seeing you don't have work to do or you wouldn't be talking about plenty of time. (Her voice is more indulgent than he words would suggest. Clearly grumbling is a habit rather than something she really means.) And where's the other two? You're the oldest, you should hurry them along, make sure they do what they're supposed to. MASHA They're coming, Babushka, they're coming. Look, here's Yeliena now. (Yeliena enters. She goes to Babushka and kisses her on the cheek.) YELIENA Good morning, Babushka. BABUSHKA Good morning? Good morning! Don't you mean, good afternoon? I've been calling you for hours! YELIENA (Laughing) Babushka, you've been calling for five minutes. Look, you haven't even finished cutting the bread. BABUSHKA Finished cutting the bread? Of course I haven't finished cutting the bread! And why? because I've left it for you to do, that's why I haven't finished cutting the bread. I've got enough to do today without spending all my time cutting bread and waiting for lazy children to get out of bed. (Yeliena, still smiling, begins to cut the bread, but she is too slow for Babushka's liking, so she shoulders Yeliena aside and carries on herself.) And where's that brother of yours? Worse than his mother, that boy! Misgha! Hurry up! Not like his father. Now, there was a worker. Up before the cock crew and working all day, that was your father. But that one! Juts like his mother. (Shouting) Misha! (Threateningly) Mikhail Alexievitch! Come down here now! (Misha enters. He rushes over to Babushka.) MISHA Babushka, I had this terrible dream! I was scared stiff, I really was! I woke up in the middle of the night covered in sweat. I was out of breath as if I'd been running as fast as I can! (He makes a big production number of telling the story. Ahe takes it all in,m reacting the whole time.) I was out looking for wood in the forest and wandered off the track when I heard this strange sound behind me. Some sort of animal was sniffling and panting about twenty yards away. I decided I'd better get away quickly, so I crept away as silently and quietly as I could. But the beast followed me. I could hear it! I walked more quickly, but it went more quickly too, so I began to run. So did the beast! Babushka, it was horrible! It was catching up. I could tell because the awful snuffling was getting closer and closer. I ran as fast as I could, but it was still behind me. I got into a terrible panic and juts ran blindly and all the time the beast was getting closer and closer. Babushka, it was awful! BABUSHKA My poor baby! MISHA I was so scared. I just ran without looking where I was going, and suddenly - I was trapped! The only way out was the way I'd come but the awful snuffling panting beast was right behind me! I stopped. It slowed right down. I turned round slowly and.... and.... it was.... it was.... BABUSHKA (Wide-eyed and excited) Yes? Yes? MISHA Babushka - it was you! (The three children howl with laughter. Babushka stands for a moment, then smacks him across the head. Then she too starts to laugh.) (Another break here. We had a choir item here, during which the children ate their breakfast, then left - with Babushka fussing over them, of course! - and she then settled down to cleaning the "house", which was the whole church, during the reading which followed.) (MELCHIOR enters. He stands patiently till Babushka notices him.) MELCHIOR (Bowing politely) Natalia Petrovna. BABUSHKA (She bows very low) Gospodin. MELCHIOR Natalia Petrovna, I have travelled many miles, across many countries, searching. I am looking for the new-born child who will be king of all the world. Is there a new-born boy in this village? BABUSHKA No, Gospodin. No child has been born here for many months. MELCHIOR (Diasppointed) The my jouney must continue. BABUSHKA King of all the world, you say? No such child would be born in a place like this, Gospodin. You should go to St Petersburg or Moscow. That's where a royal child would be born, not here. MELCHIOR Thank you, Natalia Petrovna. BABUSHKA King of the whole world! I should like to see such a child. MELCHIOR And why not? Come with me, Natalia Petrovna. There is room: you may travel with my party. BABUSHKA Oh Gospodin, I'd love to! But it's impossible. There's the children to see to, and I still haven't finished the floor, and supper to be cooked.... MELCHIOR Are you sure? I would be glad to have you join us, Natalia Petrovna. BABUSHKA Thank you, Gospodin, but I can't. MELCHIOR Then I thank you again, Natalia Petrovna, and take my leave. (Melchior bows and leaves. Babushka watches him go wistfully, then shrugs and returns to her work.) (Another break in the original production. She continues her chores.) (Masha and Yeliena rush in excitedly.) MASHA Babushka! Babushka! there's a.... YELIENA ....a king, Babushka, a king outside.... MASHA ....and he's looking for someone.... YELIENA ....and he wants to speak to you! (BALTHAZAR enters. Babushka, Masha and Yeliena bow low. He returns the bow.) MASHA This is the king, Babushka.... YELIENA His name's Balthazar.... MASHA He wants to speak to you.... BALTHAZAR Natalia Petrovna. BABUSHKA Gospodin. BALTHAZAR Natalia Petrovna, my studies tell me that a child is about to be born, the Son of God, who will save the whole world from sin. Are there any women about to give birth in this neighbourhood? Can you help me find God's son? BABUSHKA I'm sorry, Gospodin. I don't knowanyone who's about to have a child. In any case, wouldn't God's son be born somewhere else? Not in a poor village like this, surely? BALTHAZAR The you cannot help me? BABUSHKA I'm sorry, no, Gospodin. BALTHAZAR Then I must continue on my way. BABUSHKA Imagine! the son of God! That would be something to see! BALTHAZAR Then come with me and my party, Natalia Petrovna. There is plenty of room. Journey with us to greet God's son at his birth. BABUSHKA Oh, I wish I could! But I'm too busy, Gospodin. There's so much to do. I'm not halfway through the cleaning, and then there are cothes to be washed, and.... oh, so there's so much! BABUSHKA Can we go, Babushka? Please! Can we? YELIENA Oh yes, Babushka! Yes! Please. Say we can go! BABUSHKA Well.... BALTHAZAR They will be safe with me, Natalia Petrovna. I will take care of them, and return them safely to you. BABUSHKA Oh, I don't know.... MASHA Please, Babushka! BABUSHKA Very well. I can't deny you the chance of seeing God's son. If the Gospodin doesn't mind.... BALTHAZAR No, Natalia Petrovna, I don't mind. They are more than welcome. (He bows to her, and she to him. Then he leaves. Masha and Yeliena ecitedly fling their arms around Babushka; then they too leave. She watches them go, rather sadly, then returns to her work.) (Another break.) (Misha rushes in, followed by some of the villagers. They are all very excited.) MISHA Babushka, there's someone here to see you. IRINA LEN. It's a very important personage, Natalia Petrovna. LEONID IL. He looks very wealthy. MARIA ALEX. He's a king, Natalia Petrovna, I'm sure of it, MISHA And he wants to see you, Babushka. (Enter CASPAR. Everyone bows low.) CASPAR Have I the honour of addressing Natalia Petrovna? BABUSHKA Yes, Gospodin. I am Natalia Petrovna. CASPAR Natalia Petrovna, I am King Caspar. I have been searching for many months for the birthplace of a very important child. He is the Christ Child who will be king of all the world. He is God's son, and yet he will die to save us all. Where he is to be born, I do not know. Perhaps you know of the whereabouts of this holy child? BABUSHKA No, Gospodin, I don't know. Surely you don't expect him to be born in such a small village as this? Go to St Petersburg or Moscow. There are many wise men there. They will surely know. CASPAR Thank you, Natalia Petrovna. I will ry these places. Perhaps (He looks at all of them) you would like to come with me to find this holy child? BABUSHKA If I could, Gospodin, but I have far too much to do. There's so much work, you wouldn't believe it: cleaning and washing and cooking. I just don't have the time. MASHA May I go, Babushka, please? It's so important! Please let me go. CASPAR The child will be safe with me, Natalia Petrovna. Let him go. IRINA LEN. Let him go, Natalia Petrovna. I'm going. BABUSHKA You would, Irina Lenyevskaia. Any excuse not to do your work! LEONID IL. I'm going too, Natalia Petrovna. Let the boy go. BABUSHKA Leonid Ilyitch, how can you leave your farm? All the work you have to do! LEONID IL. This is more important than work, Natalia Petrivna! This is the child who will save us! MARIA ALEX. That's true, Natalia Petrovna, I'm going too. BABUSHKA How can you go, Maria Alexeyevna? You have your children to care for. MARIA ALEX. I'm taking them with me, Natalia Petrovna. How could I not? This is God's son! BABUSHKA God's son or not, the work is still to be done. Dust still lies. Clothes still get dirty. Food still needs to be cooked. MISHA Then let me go, Babushka. I'll be quite safe with everyone else. CASPAR He will be safe with us, Natalia Petrovna. BABUSHKA ( After a pause) Very well.... I tell you what: I'll follow later, when my work is finished. CASPAR Come now, Natalia Petrovna. The work will wait. BABUSHKA No, no. You go. (Caspar leaves, followed by the villagers, followed - after saying goodbye to Babushka - by Misha. Babushka returns to her work.) (Another break.) (Babushka stands up, carefully gives the table a final dusting, then starts off through the audience/congregation. She speaks to members of the congregation as she makes her way at random through the church.) BABUSHKA Which way did they go? Excuse me, do you know where the child king has been born? Have you seen a iing and two little girls looking for the son of God? Do you know ehere they went? I'm looking forthe child who will die to save us all. A king and my grandson were looking for him too. Have you seen them? (Another part of the carol service can be inserted here.) BABUSHKA Do you know where the Christ child is born? I was busy, and I said I'd follow but now I can't find him. Please.... do you know where I can find him? The End of the Play ********************************************* Plays by Peter D. Lathan Copyright notice The plays in this download area or on diskette are all copyright Peter D. Lathan. They may be printed out, copied onto a diskette or onto a hard disk, or even onto CD-ROM, but no performance may be given without written permission. This permission will normally be granted only on payment of the appropriate fee. 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