The British Theatre Guide: Plays for performance by schools and youth theatres (1)

School & Youth Theatre

Spirits of the Oregon Trail by James M. Tompkins

The Holden family of Pekin, Illinois, is moving to Oregon -- reluctantly, for Jenny 17, and Nathan, 14. In a local mall before they leave, Jenny meets a strangely-dressed girl about her age. Jenny asks the girl why she is dressed so funny. The girl replies that she is not dressed funny, this is the way all the girls dress in the 1850's. Jenny soon learns that she has just met the ghost of Abigail Jane Scott, the famous suffragist and pioneer, whose parents also decided to move to Oregon 150 years ago.

Abigail is the first of a dozen ghosts that Jenny and Nathan will encounter as they travel to Oregon. Jenny and Nathan hear the stories of these teenagers who traveled the same route by covered wagon, a century-and-a-half earlier. Jenny and Nathan enter into a world of adventure and wonder, as they relive the past with their guides and experience the pioneer spirit.

Set conceptions are given for a full-scale production, or the work can be performed as readers' theater. The play is offered in sets of 15 from the publisher, with full performance rights, for $65.

Call the Patrice Press toll-free at 1-800-367-9242, email them at books@patricepress.com, or visit their website: www.patricepress.com.

Romeo and Juliet

I have a nice little musical comedy for you to look at - Romeo Loves Juliet.

Four males, eight females. No age nor race limitation on any character. Very reasonable royalties for this year: $50/40 US.

One set, two acts, very recognizable characters and plot, lots of singable songs, but with a happy ending. Your audience will swoon with joy over the miracle ending of this show.

If you'd like a free perusal copy, reply back by email and I'll email you the first act, without music. If it seems like a show your venue might want to look at more closely after checking out the first act, email me and I'll send the full script and music demo.

Gerald Murphy (Miracle Productions)

Robert Smith

I was, until July 1998 a primary school headteacher, so all my plays are written for Key Stage 1 & 2 children. They have all been successfully performed and they all feature original songs and music, in arrangements for typical primary school instruments (recorders, violins, flutes) or piano accompaniment. They are:-

Too Many Apples
Written for Yr 5, Yr 6 children (ten and eleven year olds). It is a moral story with contemporary themes such as homelessness, disaffected youth, dysfunctional parenting and an unsympathetic legal system. It is very funny in parts and all of it is very moving. It has eight cracking songs which illustrate and develop the story and it uses a classful of children so it is perfect for literacy hour work. It lasts about 45 minutes

The Gnaughty Gnome
A Christmas play for upper juniors. The Gnome attempts to sabotage Christmas by incapacitating Father Christmas and his reindeer. A novice fairy brings toys to life to help two children save the day. In doing so, they track the Gnome to Nursery Rhyme Land where it transpires that it is he, the Gnome, who is responsible for Bo-Peep losing her sheep, for Humpty being pushed off the wall, for Tommy Thin being accused of putting cats down wells, in fact all the things that go wrong. With original songs, it involves a classful of pupils and lasts about 45 minutes.

The Stable of Stone
A Christmas play for Infants using a narrator(s) to tell the story of the nativity. It features Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, the shepherds and the angels, the three wise men and the traditional nativity scene in the stable. Easily manageable speaking parts for the main characters and four lovely songs which help tell the story and which can stand alone as carols, it lasts for about half and hour.

The Best Gift
A Christmas play for Infants. The innkeeper’s two children see people bringing presents for the baby born in their stable and set about trying to find their own present. Fantasy section enables creative interpretation of toys through dance and movement, and the opportunity to use many performers. Three songs, the story carried by a narrator and speaking parts for half a dozen children. Lasts half an hour.

The Christmas That Nearly Wasn’t
A Christmas play for Infants. Father Christmas is reluctant to leave his summer retreat but his wife persuades him. When they return to the North Pole, the Elves are restive and the reindeer are “too fat to fly”! A modern Christmas tale with jolly songs, lots of humour, parts for narrators and two or three main characters, and one line parts for many, and a happy ending! Lasts 35 minutes and enough flexibility for between 10 and 30 plus children.

Grimstone’s Glory
A Christmas play for juniors. Set in Victorian England, Grimstone is the cruel master of several young chimney-sweeps. This play formed the centrepiece of a ‘Junior Education’ themed publication and has been used by many schools throughout Britain. Five songs, use with a class for history, music and literacy work. Lasts 40 minutes.

Noah's Park by Richard Percy

This is a full-scale family musical rooted in the green agenda, specially written with schools and colleges in mind. It makes a statement against the ever-increasing traffic and building of new roads, and emphasises both the importance of conserving
the environment for future generations, and the equal right to existence of all creatures. It funny as well as thought-provoking, with lots of catchy tunes and jazzy dance numbers. All publication and performance details as well as MIDI samples of the music will be found at www.rama78.freeserve.co.uk

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