In 2019 my library’s annual Book Week play, based on the Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlists for Book of the Year, was performed 23 times at 9 different venues across Newcastle,  seen by 1800 children from 23 different schools and preschools. Recently, the three staff members involved sat down to (finally!) review the 2019 play as part of the overall evaluation process. These were:

• Joanne (me) – part-time library assistant with a general love of dressing up and making a fool of myself  and some very basic amateur circus and clown training
• Karen – library assistant with a background in teaching, drama and English, storytelling and music
• Julie – Children’s and Young Adult Librarian with a background in high school teaching, who loves a ‘big finish’

In 2019, Karen and I wrote and performed the play, with some input from Julie. It was the second year we have performed over two weeks, and the first that Julie did not perform at all.  This is what we learned:

Don’t read books from the notables list for play purposes, wait until the shortlist is announced. It can be challenging to let go of an idea based on a notable book that does not make the shortlist, such as Duck! written by Meg McKinlay and illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom.

Do read the books separately, before meeting to discuss choices and initial ideas. This discussion is always lively, as the staff have very different backgrounds and ideas, and some books polarise opinion. Julie had not been part of the conversation this year, and Karen and I missed Julie’s input. We value her contributions – particularly her ideas for how to finish the play.

Do make use of any time available to work on the play. Due to changes in roster, we had less ‘project time’ to write and refine the script, meaning more of our allotted 13 hours was used for scripting, with less rehearsal time.

Do time the play! 2019’s play was too long, because we didn’t time it, or have a final dress rehearsal. Aim for 40 minutes, with wriggle room for improvisations and interruptions.

Do allow 1 hour for shows, with 15 minutes in between. This allows time for audiences to settle, watch the play, and depart, and time for us to reset props. This is our normal practice, and one we should stick to!

Don’t forget to schedule lunch breaks and travel time. Some days we struggled to have time to eat and were quite spacey by the last show.

Don’t worry about large audiences. Stockton had the largest audience, and worked fine without headsets or microphones.

Do plan Newcastle branch shows carefully. Parking at this venue is difficult, and there is not enough time for me to pick up my children from school on Mondays and Tuesdays. Best to schedule Newcastle shows on days I usually work, and ensure there is a trolley in the foyer to cart all our gear up to the Lovett Gallery on the second floor. Try to use public transport as much as possible for Newcastle days, maybe deliver the set the day before and pick up the day after.

Do ask management what their expected outcomes are. A few days in to Book Week, one of the managers asked us to perform a rough survey of the children, to find out how many have not visited a Newcastle library before, and how many would like to based on their experience that day. The manager also asked if we promoted specific library services during the play. We didn’t in 2019, but have in the past, and could easily have accommodated this if we’d known it was a goal.

Do remember to have fun!

 

Book Week Script 2019

K: Hello. My name is Albert. Today is an ordinary day, in an ordinary town, and it is my birthday. Every year, no matter how much I wish it were different, my birthday is just like every other extremely ordinary day. Watch this. (to J) Hey Mum! Can I have the all new must have Orange 430? Can we bake a cake?

J (pop up from behind – black wig, Kath voice): Oh dear no! You know how your father feels about mess. (hands boring socks). Now, why don’t you put on your birthday socks?

K (puts on socks): See? Boring! Now watch this (to J) Hey Dad! Can we make balloon poodles? Can we play musical chairs?

J (pops up – hat, Kel voice): Oh dear no! You know how your mother feels about noise. (hands toast). Now, how about some birthday toast?

K (nibbles on toast): *sigh* If I could just…. (closes eyes) imagine I’m at a birthday party, holding a piece of cake, a piece of chocolate-cherry-ripple cake, and then… I wish…

(J knocks loudly) (as mum) oh my goodness! (knocks again) (as dad) good heavens! (knocks again, louder)

K: (opening door) um, hello? (J standing there) Are you… Grandma Z? I’ve seen you in old photo albums!

J (Mary Poppins voice): Happy birthday Albert. Chocolate-cherry-ripple is a marvellous choice. Shall we go?

K: (to audience) oh, I’ve got a fluttery feeling in my stomach, like one hundred Monarch butterflies coming out their cocoons. My skin is tingling!

K: *sigh* I’m sure Mum and Dad won’t let me go anywhere … but …  I don’t want to spend my birthday like every other day. Grandma Z, where are we going?

J: Well, you are most definitely going places! But today, we’re just off to do some ordinary birthday things!

K: Can we go to the shops? I’ve saved up some money, and there’s something I want to buy!

J: Of course we can, dear boy! (while K runs around audience, J goes off stage to be shop lady)

K (running right around the audience): Oh thanks, Grandma Z! The all new must have Orange 430 is finally here, and it’s on sale for $5.35! I’ve just saved up enough to buy it, and I have to have it!

J (as shop lady): Hello! How can I help you? We have all the very best latest products. Can I interest you in a lead balloon? Or a silent alarm clock? How about a hands-free watch?

K: No, thank you. I’d like the Orange 430 please!

J: Excellent choice! That’s $5.35 please.

K: Here you go. I’m so excited! (runs back around audience)
K: Yes! (rip open box, toss out packing noodles, pull off bubble wrap, pick off plastic, hold up triumphantly)

K: (look underneath, look on top, turn all around)

K: Look Grandma Z, it’s got everything! A thingy (poke) that does nothing. A whatsit (wiggle) that does squat. A dooverlackie (flick) that is whacky. And a something (spin) that is silly.
K: But… what does it do?
J: (trying it on) Is it a hat?

K: No, that looks dumb.
J: Does it float? (toss to K)

K: No, too heavy.

J: Can you roll it?

K (trying): Nah. (kicks it) Ouch! (picking it up) I think the Orange 430 is actually completely useless! I’m going to return it! (pat pockets, look for receipt)

J: Maybe you don’t need the receipt.

K: I’ll just box it back up again and take it back.

J: Good idea!

K: (run around audience)(J off stage to be shop lady)

J (as shop lady): Welcome back! How can I help you?

K: I just bought this, and I think it’s completely useless.

J: Well, you did purchase a Useless Object.

K: But….?

J: NOT MY PROBLEM! No receipt, no return. Try taking it back to the manufacturer.

K: Okay then… (reads box) Useless Object International. Fine. (walks to back of audience). I’ll just… join… this… very… long…. Queue. This doesn’t look good at all.

K (to teachers): Can you do anything with your objects? (their boxes are under their chairs)

Teacher 1: I stood perfectly still with it on top of my head for at least half an hour.

Teacher 2: I think I won a world record for losing a staring fight.

Teacher 3: I balanced mine on the tip of my knee for a grand total of 17 minutes and 59 seconds.

All: (laugh) How silly!!

H: I reckon we could have a heap more fun with these boxes than we ever would with our useless objects.

All: Yeah!!
Teacher 1: Let’s play hopscotch!! (lay out box, which is velcroed together)
Teacher 2: Let’s play rocket ships! (zoom boxes around)

K: You know, from now on, I’m going to save my money for USEFUL stuff. Like a bicycle!

J: Very wise Albert. It is just junk, after all, and where does it all go? Into landfill. More waste for our beautiful planet, which we certainly don’t need. You’ve shown great imagination, and now, I’m going to take you to the imagination warehouse – the library!

K: The library? Mum and Dad take me to the library all the time. It’s so boring! The most exciting book Mum ever borrowed for me was about knitting. Socks! Boring socks, nothing fancy!

J: Oh my dear boy. That’s why you have to have your OWN library card. A library is a wonderful place, stuffed full of imagination and magic! Let’s get lost in the picture books and the fiction section….

K: Fiction? That sounds like a disease!

J: No my boy. Let’s try this one. It’s called the Dress-Up Box. Let’s jump in! (hold hands, jump off stage. K takes off coat, put on necklace and be Mama F)

K: (as Mama F): Hi! We’re the Frolleys. (looks around) Wait! I need some help. Let me see, I need (count on fingers) six children and one teacher. (Designate 3 kids as Frolleys and 3 as Choongs. Teacher as Mr F)

K: Oh, and I need you to be horses, you to be birds, you are a bamboo forest, you are frogs, and you two need to stand up and make an arch. You are our haunted shed. ( Designate audience – front left = horses (neigh), front right = frogs (ribbit), back = birds (cheep), middle = bamboo forest (wave arms), box or kids holding hands in arch = haunted shed (wooooo))

K: Right. Are we ready? …. Hi! We’re the Frolleys. We rent this house at 32 Sunshine Avenue. It has a frog pond in the front yard (point to front right, ribbit), A bird bath out the back (point up the back, cheep), horses on one side (point to front left, neigh)

J (and three kids, coming in from the right): And us, the Choong family, on the other! Hi! We’re best friends! There’s also a bamboo forest (point to middle, wave arms), And a haunted shed (point to back, woooo).

K: We also have a dress up box! When the Choongs come over after school, we go crashing through the bamboo forest (lead through audience, wave arms)…
creeping through the haunted shed (tip toe, woooo)
we feed the horses (front left, neigh)
race frogs (front right, ribbit)
and spy on birds (pretend to look at through binoculars, cheep)

J: but our favourite game starts when Mr Frolley comes home from work! That’s when we drag out the dress-up box and turn into

K: Samurai Sam! (sword)

J: Blast Off Barnaby! (helmet with coat hanger)

K: Magic Millie! (witches hat)

J: Mum-a-saurus! (dino tail)

K: Cowgirl Chloe! (hat)

J: Eric the Egg! (white helmet)

K: Mr Pillowhead! (teacher – pillowcase over head)

J: Oh no! Your house, 32 Sunshine Avenue, is up for sale.

K: Yes, we have to move. We’re so sad, even hot chocolates with marshmallows can’t cheer us up.

J: Well, maybe a picnic will help. A farewell picnic, where we do all our favourite things. We can feed the horses, and say goodbye.

All: Goodbye horses. (wave, neigh)

All: Goodbye frogs. (wave, ribbit)

All: Goodbye birds. (wave, cheep)

K: One last time, let’s go crashing through the bamboo forest (lead through audience, wave arms)… creeping through the haunted shed (through arch, woooo) … and play one last, extra long game of Mr Pillowhead.

K: And now it’s time to go. (hug K, wave to everyone, lead Frolleys behind stage)
J: I wonder what their new house is like? Let’s go and have lunch (sit Choongs down at edge of stage)

K(leading Frolleys onto stage): Well, here we are. 13 Dankwart Drive. Oh. (looking around) It has a tiny backyard. No front garden. A creepy cat on one side. (K sings opera, J covers ears) And an old opera singer on the other.

J: Who are you calling old?

K: It has dripping taps, stinky carpets, and ants. *sigh* And it is a long way away from the Choongs. (unpack boxes) But it does have a space ship, A spooky tunnel, And a periscope!

K: (show open box to Frolleys): It has all your old teddies, all your old toys, and the dress up box!! And that makes it home. (pretend to call J). Hi Mama Choong. Do you want to come over and visit?

J: You all look so happy playing. Making the best of a situation must be your secret power! Let’s have a round of applause for all of our super helpers!

K: The worst thing about moving is unpacking. Let’s get rid of these boxes. (K and J carry things back stage, dress as Grandma Z and Albert, come back on stage)

K: Grandma Z that was fun! But… What’s an opera singer?

J: Opera, my dear boy, is an exquisite form of music, where they sing an entire story. It’s not for everyone, but I do believe I know another story about a very… unusual… opera singer. Jump in, darling! (J pushes K off stage and talks about opera to audience. K back on as Florence, singing opera, J goes off stage)

K (suddenly aware of audience): Oh, hello my dears. I was just warming up my vocal chords. My name is Florence. As you may have guessed I am no ordinary seal! I am, in fact, a New Zealand fur seal – we differ to other seals because we have ears on the outside and our back flippers help us move on land. We’re also able to dive deeper and for longer than any other species of fur seal.

K: I live on the waterside steps of the Sydney Opera House with the best view in town! I guess you could say life is easy – beautiful weather and loads of admirers

Jo (from behind backdrop, as tourist): Over here Florence!

(Kaz poses as Jo takes photo)

But somehow, I … well I always feel like a lobster in a rockpool full of hermit crabs.

(Jo as seal (grey beanie) from behind the screen – arffing and bouncing around)

You know how it is when you just don’t fit in. I mean I try hard to be good at the regular seal-ish things … swimming, diving, catching waves, fishing… (do all the actions, but as a person, not a seal – no props) but I never get it quite right.

K: Then one night when the moon was full (J put up moon on stick), something special happened. (J put up cardboard profile of opera singer, singing opera). Suddenly I had plans. Big plans! I practised morning, noon and night (sun on stick, moon on stick) me me mee. lalalala

But some folks didn’t know talent when it arfed them on the head!

Jo (beanie, from backdrop): Seals ain’t sopranos Florence! (to the audience) she should give our ears a rest right?!

K: My first show was disappointing (sing) (Jo runs about in front of her with an umbrella blocking her view)

(Florence moves near backdrop )

K: The crowd at my second show were complete ratbags (Jo does seagull puppets Mine! Mine! Mine!)

K: And the third concert …. well, that definitely did not go to plan!

(Jo comes out, police hat, net. Florence hides back stage)

J: Have you seen a crazy seal? Noisy?  (kids: Over there!) (J chase off stage)

K: Has he gone? Phew!   I never imagined getting my lucky break would be quite so tricky but then … (through opera glasses) One night I saw a soprano at the opera slip over on stage! (J sings opera, and yells) There was no one to take her place! (lowers glasses) … Or is there??

K: It is now or never.

(J Cue opera music. K mime to Madame Butterfly excerpt. Jo comes on as Grandma Z, clapping. K bows off stage)

Jo: Oh, that was wonderful! Next time you’re in Sydney, look out for the New Zealand Fur seals at the Opera House because they’re pretty special. They were once nearly extinct because they were hunted for their fur and meat. Plus, Sydney Harbour used to be too polluted and full of rubbish for them to live there. Now that we’re doing more to keep the water clean and protect the seals, their numbers are growing again. Isn’t that right, Albert?

K (on stage, as Albert): Yes Grandma Z. I liked that book! I never knew you could learn something and have fun at the same time!

J: You have led a sheltered life, haven’t you Albert? Let’s see if we can find another book about animals…. Oooh. Dive into this one! (push Albert) (to audience) But back to Florence. You can help the animals too, by making sure you don’t leave any rubbish behind that could wash into the ocean. Florence and her friends would be really grateful! And not just Florence! Animals all over the world benefit from us caring for the environment!

K (backstage): Grandma Z, are you coming?

J: Yes! Watch out!

K (coming onstage as polar bear, in white): Hi! Do you know what kind of bear I am? That’s right, I’m a polar bear! I live in the Arctic, and I eat meat. Actually, you look pretty tasty! (lunge at audience). Did you know that my skin is actually black, and my fur, even though it looks white, is actually transparent? Pretty cool, huh?

K: I’m waiting for my dad to come home from the city. He always brings us gifts to share. But the best gifts are his big bear hugs.

J (coming on stage in white): Hello! (give pack of textas. And big hug). It’s great to be home – back in the land of ice and snow. I’m so looking forward to a swim! (drag blue fabric across backdrop? Go behind, and blowing bubbles over top).

J (come out, yawning): So much better! I’m pretty tired, but I’ve missed you so much! Let’s play! (hide and seek, tickles)…. (yawning) So tired. I’m going to go to bed (off stage, take one suit off) (snore loudly)

K: Goodnight dad! (look at textas, maybe draw a picture) (yawn) I’m tired too! (off stage)

K (back on stage, to audience): Morning! Hee hee! Dad is shocked to discover that his coat has changed.

J: (on stage, coloured) What is happening? Am I dreaming? I feel perfectly fine, apart from being a rainbow bear! I’m going for a morning swim, it helps me wake up! (go behind stage, blow bubbles over top, come out white).J (come out white) Oh, back to normal! (play tag with K, yawn, go to sleep on stage) (K tiptoe over with textas, J open eyes)

J: I think I know what’s been going on! (tickle K) Tell me the truth!

K: (laughing) okay, okay! It was me! Can I colour you one more time, Dad? Just once? Pleaaaaasssseee?

J: Okay, but you have to catch me first! (K chases J offstage, laughing. Show of tackling behind screen, J&K popping heads, arms, legs etc up every now and then. K waving textas)

J (onstage, coloured): Very nice.

K (yawning) Goodnight Dad! (go offstage)

J: Goodnight! (tiptoe across stage, pick up textas, go behind)

K (come out stretching, coloured) Oh!

J (laughing) (J&K play for a bit)

K: Dad, next time you go travelling… can I come too?

J: That’s a great idea!! (go offstage arm-in-arm, bubbles)

K (onstage, as Albert): What a beautiful family of rainbow bears! Family is important. Even if mine are really boring, I know that they care for me.

J (onstage, as Grandma Z): We’re not all boring, Albert!

K: That’s true! You’re the least boring person I know! I’m glad you’re my grandma.

J: And I’m glad you’re my grandson…. Albert…. I want to share a very important story with you. It’s about the history of the people of this country. Not very long ago in Australia, the government decided to take Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. These children were placed in homes across Australia and taught English. Important connections to family, language, and country were broken forever.

K: (shocked) *gasp*

J: It’s a true story. Will you step in to this story with me? (hold out hand)

K: (nod solemnly, takes hand, walk slowly behind)

(J starts music, K steps out in apron)

K (listens to music for a bit): I remember when it happened. (Slowly walk to back of audience, turn) I saw it all.

J: Today, I’m in a big crowd with my mum, outside Parliament House. There’s a hum of excitement. Flags are flickering in the breeze and my heart is dancing. Mum says this is a very special day!

K: Long ago, and not so long ago, the women sat around the hissing fire. The smell of breakfast flooded the camp as flies circled above. Running in the morning sun, the children kicked up the dust.

J: I twirl around Mum’s legs, in and out, playing hide-and-seek, and peekaboo. The crowd hushes. Everyone is watching a giant screen as a man begins to speak. Mum leans down and says “Shh! Listen.”

K: Racing each other to the creek, the children giggled. “Coming, ready or not!” Then a terrifying holler came from the camp. “Hush children. They’re coming! Hide, HIDE!”

J: I bury myself deep in Mum’s skirt. No one else moves.

K: The children scattered. Hiding in the mud, they lay silent. Still.

J (falling down): Oh no! I’ve lost grip of Mum’s hand. All I can see is a sea of legs.

K: A truck rumbled alond the bank like thunder. Out stepped four heavy boots. THUD! THUD! THUD! White men! The children trembled.

J: I crawl frantically to find my Mum, hot tears running down my cheeks.

K: The children were found. Screams echoed across the land as they scrambled to escape, sliding in the mud with every step.

J: A tender hand touches my shoulder. Mummy! I thought you were gone!

K: The land wailed as the children were herded one by one onto the back of the truck. Then it sped off, leaving only billowing dust.  Long ago, and not so long ago, the children were taken away.

J: The man on the big screen is saying the words the whole crowd is waiting for: “We say sorry” (play clip?). Mum wipes my tears and holds me closer.  (definitely play clip here – walk towards each other slowly, and hold hands or hug, then walk slowly off together as it plays) “To the mothers…

J: (onstage as Grandma Z) Sorry is such a big word.

K (onstage as Albert): Sometimes it’s so hard to say!

J: It is hard to say. But when it’s said with meaning, it’s very powerful.

K: Saying sorry is a secret power!

J: Yes and we all have it!

K: (proudly) We learned a song in Awabakal at school! Can we sing it together? It’s heads shoulders knees and toes, but you know, in Awabakal.

J: That’s a fabulous idea!

Wolong, mirang, waroombang, tina

Wolong, mirang, waroombang, tina

Ngaikang, nureyang, kararka, nukoro

Wolong, mirang, waroombang, tina

J: Oh, Albert, I think we need a fun story now…. Oh! Here’s one about a secret power. Well, a not-so-secret power. An UNUSUAL not-so-secret power. Let’s check it out! (go backstage)

(J dress as Leopard Slug – headband with bobbly eyes, leopard print top, holding jar of slime)
(K dress as Stinkbug – Green jacket with flower boutonniere, with spray bottles)

J: (to audience) Here comes Stinkbug. Sometimes Stinkbug stinks. (Stinkbug sprays water).  And when Stinkbug stinks, she really stinks. (Stinkbug sprays lots of water)

K: Hi Leopard Slug! Does this flower smell nice? (show boutonniere, little spray of water)

J: (hold nose, gag) (to audience) Stinkbug doesn’t mind a good bit of stinking…

K: (cuddle up to Leopard Slug, spray water) It’s so cosy in this old log, isn’t it?

J: (gag, move slowly, quietly away) (to audience)… but the rest of us are … less enthusiastic.

K: I love hanging out with everyone. Hey! Where did you go?

J: (to audience) I tried to raise the matter with Stinkbug. (to K) Umm, Stinkbug…. We were wondering if you needed to stink so much? …. (K sprays water) (J to audience) I think I’ve upset her.

K: Well, do you need to be so slimy, Leopard Slug?

J: (shrugs) I’m a slug. I need slime to get around. Please excuse me, Stinkbug. I have to go now… (Leopard Slug changes into Spider – black top with 2 sets of extra arms, keeping headband on to pop over top – or put somewhere so it’s visible while still changing?)

K: I’m a stinkbug. Of course I stink. But… do I have to stink so much and so often? I wonder if I can try NOT to stink … (over backdrop) Hi Leopard Slug, what are you doing?

J: (from behind backdrop) Just enjoying the fresh morning air…. (finish getting dressed – black beanie with extra eyes)

K: It’s working! Hurray! (Dancing)…. Oh! Hello!

J (as Spider): Hello! I love your dance moves! What a wonderful specimen you are! (Dance together)

K: Oh, I like you. You’re fun! (Spider juggles) And funny! (Spider pulls out knife and fork) …(to audience) Oh no! I think Spider wants to EAT me? ARGH! (Spray LOTS of water, all over the Spider and the audience)

(J runs away, behind screen, changes back to Leopard Slug)

K: Phew! Well. It might not be good to stink ALL the time (little sprays of water at audience), but it sure helps SOMETIMES!

J: I saw the whole thing! Your smell is really your secret power! You were so brave! Good stuff, Stinkbug!

(K runs through crowd, spraying everywhere. J goes backstage and dresses as Grandma Z)

J (laughing, carrying cake box): That was wonderful Albert!… Albert?

K: oh! Albert! (runs to stage, quickly becomes Albert)

J: Oh there you are. Albert, there’s one more thing this day needs to be truly special. It’s your cherry-chocolate ripple cake! (hand cake box to K, start singing Happy Birthday – make sure audience joins in).

J: Thank you Albert, I had a wonderful day. The next time my day starts to feel ordinary, I know who to visit!

K: Thank you, Grandma Z! I had a very unordinary day. And it was wonderful!

J (to audience): From that day on, whether it was his birthday, or any other day for that matter, Albert never felt ordinary again.

K: Not once! Because I discovered that reading is my secret power!