Cakeface! Yup, it's me at a party when I was little! What a messy girl I was!
Mom drew this using Corel Draw!
MYSTERY AT SWEET ORPHAN'S ORPHANAGE
CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that Mystery at the Sweet Orphan s Orphanage being fully protected by the copyright laws of the United States,the British Empire including the Dominion of Canada,and all other countries of the copyright union,is subject to royalty.All rights,including professional,amateur,motion picture,recitation,lecturing,public reading,radio and television broadcasting,and the rights of translation into a foreign language are strictly reserved.Particular emphasis is laid on the question of reading, permission for which must be obtained in writing from the author.All inquiries should be addressed to the author: 505 Meeting House Ln Cottageville, SC 29435
CHARACTERS
DA SLUTHHH..................................................................................................... a sluthing hound (dressed in church logo shirt and hat)
TRANSIT..................................DaSluthhh s faithful doggy sidekick (dressed in church logo shirt and hat)
Madam Peacock...................a proud and condesending bird with a lesson to learn!
Hester........................................................................................................ a kindly chicken
Hettie................................................................................................................ a kind rabbit
Cobbs .................................................................................a Don Quixote wannabe rabbit
Stubs ...............................................................a meek, mild rabbit with a thing for Hettie!
Hector ......................................................................................................................a rooster
Bobs ................................................................................................a rooster with a temper
Mr.Mophett .......................................................................human head of the orphanage
Tommy .......................................................................................................................orphan
Extras
SCENES
Scene 1: Street outside of the Sweet Orphan s Orphanage
Scene 2: Lunch room of orphanage
Songs: "My Egg!" - Madam Peacock\company
"Where s Madam Peacock s Egg?" - Da Sluthhh\Transit
Scene 3: Yard outside of orphanage
Song: "Where s Madam Peacock s Egg?" - Da Sluthhh\company
MYSTERY AT THE SWEET ORPHAN S ORPHANAGE
Scene 1: Street in front of Sweet Orphans Orphanage
On stage in front of the curtain is a wrought-iron gate in a brick wall with a finely painted wood sign that says 'Sweet Orphan's Orphanage'. A park bench is placed stage right. DA SLUTHHH and TRANSIT walk down the aisle peering at the audience through oversized magnifying glasses. AD LIB. As they arrive at the stage...
DA SLUTHHH: I feel a mystery afoot Transit!
TRANSIT: I believe that you're on to something as usual Da Sluthhh.
DA SLUTHHH: I smell a rotten egg here someplace!
TRANSIT: But this is an orphanage, Da Sluthhh! What could possibly...oh...well, ya an orphanage can be a sad place. It' s where children go when they don't have parents for one reason or another. When I was a poor stranded pup living outta the trashcans in the subway station downtown I know how I felt before you found me, took me home, and gave me my name Transit. But a rotten egg, Da Sluthhh? I'm afraid I don't understand.
DA SLUTHHH: (bending to gaze at something through the magnifing glass) Look at this Transit!
TRANSIT: (looks, then picks it up) Why isn't that plastic grass?
DA SLUTHHH: Precisely, Transit! It's the kind of grass that is used in Easter baskets! I believe that there is to be a party of some sort here today!
TRANSIT: Perhaps an Easter party?
DA SLUTHHH: Exactly!
TRANSIT: It' s wonderful that somebody cares enough to remember these poor children at Easter.
DA SLUTHHH: That's very true and of course that's what Jesus wants us to do. Especially on this very important holiday. And what makes this holiday so special? Anyone? (ad lib) Yet I believe that this Easter party is where we will find our mystery!
TRANSIT: That's terrible! A mystery may very well ruin that party.
DA SLUTHHH: Perhaps, but sometimes a mystery can draw people together.
TRANSIT: I pray that this might be one of those kind of mysteries then.
DA SLUTHHH: I believe this will be. My instincts are usually quite accurate, as you well know. After all, " DaSluthhh..."
TRANSIT: "...will always get at datruff!" Of course, but DaSlufff, a question, if you please?
DA SLUTHHH: Certainly,Transit.
TRANSIT: What are all those people you were talking to out there for? (indicating audience) I couldn' t help but notice them lounging about the place as if they expect something to happen. How do they fit into the mystery?
DA SLUTHHH: Why, these are the kids and leaders from the World Harvest Church (your church or organization)! They have volunteered to be my apprentice mystery solvers and snoops. Isn't that right? (ad lib) You see we weren't invited to this party but they were. We need them to watch and report to us any strange occurences. And so no one will recognize us...Transit, if you please. (Transit brings out two white beards, two wigs, and two pairs of funny glasses.They put them on, being sure to replace their trademark hats over the wigs) Viola! Incognito. No one will know us as us. Now we need to be inconspicious so we don t raise any suspicions. (walking to bench) Did you bring the board? (TRANSIT pulls checkerboard from under his coat and shows it) Good! I believe I'm one game up on you,right? (hearing noise) Shhh...I hear someone coming. You all keep your eyes open for clues!
(TRANSIT and DA SLUTHHH move to bench at the edge of stage, and set up a chess board as MR.MOPHETT and TOMMY open the gate to admit the bunnies and chickens that have just arrived carrying decorations, baskets, and egg cartons. AD LIB)
MR. MOPHETT: Hello! Right this way ladies and gentlemen! God's given us a lovely day for a party!
(MRS.PEACOCK, who is out on her daily walk, sees their activities and stops)
BUNNIES and CHICKENS: (as they enter orphanage)
Hello Mr.Mophett
Praise God for this beautiful morning!
Good day to you , Mr.Mophett!
Glad to see you!
MR.MOPHETT: Good morning Hester! Hettie!
HETTIE and HESTER: Good morning, Mr.Mophett!
MR.MOPHETT: The egg's are boiled and awaiting your attention, ladies!
HESTER: Good! You all just go on ahead, we re right behind you. We've just a few more things to get from the car!
MR.MOPHETT: Do you need some help?
HETTIE: I believe we ve got it. Thank you!
(MR.MOPHETT and TOMMY follow the rest into the orphanage)
MADAM P: (To HESTER) Hester Brim! Attend me!
HESTER: Madam Peacock! How nice to see you!
MADAM P: What in the world is the meaning of this uproar?
HETTIE: Why, Madam Peacock, good morning!
MADAM P: Never mind the pleasantries! What is the cause of all this commotion? The idea of all this pandemonium?
HESTER: We are giving an Easter party for the poor orphans today!
MADAM P: A party indeed! With all the shouting, one might easily misinterpret the sound for a meeting of the church board!
HESTER: Hardly that! We wish this to be a happy occassion! A group of us have volunteered to help see the children have a nice Easter. Perhaps you would care to donate some of your time and join us?
HETTIE: What a wonderful idea, Hester! Most of our church volunteers are out of town right now leaving us short-handed. We could sure use your help!
(BOBS enters)
HESTER: It should be a lot of fun too. Right Hettie? Bobs! Thank you! (hands box up to BOBS)
HETTIE: (overlapping) Oh, yes, Madam Pea...
MADAM P: (starting to walk away) I hardly think my idea of fun is spending the day in the company of molty feathers and furballs!
DA SLUTHHH: Clue!
(EVERYONE freezes)
TRANSIT: Are molty feathers and furballs a clue, Da Sluthhh?
DA SLUTHHH: No. It was an insult. That' s something that someone says or does to make someone else feel bad about themselves. Not very Christlike. I just wanted to point that out.
TRANSIT: Quite an astute observation there, DaSluthhh!
DA SLUTHHH: Certainly. And that was quite astute of you,Transit, to observe my astute observation.
TRANSIT: Thank you DaSluthhh!
DA SLUTHHH: You re quite welcome. And I might add that you have really progressed in your sluthing skills under my excellent tulage.
TRANSIT: That s a fine compliment coming from you DaSluthhh! I appreciate it!
DA SLUTHHH: (notices PEACOCK tapping her parasol on the ground impatiently) Pardon me! I believe it s my move,Transit. Resume!
BOBS: But surely you could find it in your heart to help for the sake of the orphans?
MADAM P: Orphans? (pats basket she's carrying) I've my own children here to think about! So, if you will excuse me...
HESTER: It's a shame Hettie, that we don't have anyone willing to help that has a flair for decorating eggs and seeing that this party is better than any party ever given!
HETTIE: You're right Hester. It would be just wonderful to have someone that has a real keen eye for color! And great organizational skills! Right Bobs?
BOBS: (angrily) Forget it Hettie. This party was our idea. We don t need her. We'll just fumble through it in our own inadequate, bumbling way! (aside) Furballs my foot!
HESTER: (sighing) Okay. Lets get in, they've probably already started decorating the eggs by now.
(They start to go)
MADAM P: (making a decision) Wait just a minute! Wait right where you are! These poor orphans deserve the finest party in the entire town and I intend to see that they get it! I can tell that you all aren t experenced enough to handle the job correctly! I, on the other hand am a talented, creative, and clever peacock with a real sense for things that are beautiful, like me! Well? Why are you all standing around gaggling like a flock of geese when there's work to be done? Go! Go!
(MADAM PEACOCK marches ahead of them into the orphanage. HETTIE and HESTER look at each other and giggle. BOBS shakes his head angrily and follows.)
DA SLUTHHH: (getting up) This is most interesting!
TRANSIT: How so DaSluthh?
DA SLUTHHH: The mystery I percieved earlier may have something to do with Madam Peacock.
TRANSIT: Do you make that assumption because of her attitude that she is better that the bunnies and chickens?
DA SLUTHHH: Not exactly, but that attitude of pride and arrogance could complicate things a bit. At the very least things could get very uncomfortable and perhaps tempers might flare. Proverbs 16:18 says: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
TRANSIT: I noticed that Bobs wasn't too happy with what she said. You don t suppose he might do something.
DA SLUTHHH: Let's wait and see,shall we? (8 mins)
Scene 2: Sweet Orphans Dining Room
(As curtain opens we see the dining room bustling with activity. HETTIE and HESTER put down their things and go to relieve two bunnies sitting at a table coloring eggs. Surprised at Madam Peacock's presence the bunnies and chickens stare, giggle or whisper to each other. DA SLUTHHH andTransit are inconspicuous in the corner of the stage. MADAM PEACOCK walks over to a vacant table, hangs her parasol on the chair, sets her egg basket on the floor underneath the chair,and puts on an apron that she has taken from her handbag. When SHE finishes fussing about she moves to the middle of the room and claps her hands.)
MADAM P: Since I have very graciously offered my services to help with this party, and because I seem to be the only one with the know how to arrange things in an appropiate and fashionable manner, I think that I should be in charge here! Agreed? (they look confused so she decides for them) Good! Now where are the eggs to be colored? (seeing STUBS coming out of the kitchen with a bowl of eggs, she fairly shouts) You rabbit! Let me see those eggs! I must check that they are boiled properly!
(STUBS is so surprised by Madam Peacock's presence that he stumbles and drops all the eggs on the floor near where Madam's egg basket sets. HE stands there shocked and dumbfounded,r unsure of what to do next)
MADAM P: Oh, heavens rabbit! Just what is your name?
STUBS: It's Stubs, Madam Peacock.
MADAM P: Stubs? That sounds about right. You are so clumsy you could probably stub your own toe...on thin air!
STUBS: (Hiding his feelings he stoops down as if to pick up the eggs) Sorry, Madam. But...only one is broken. The rest seem okay.
MADAM P: Yes. Yes. Now finish picking them up and then take them to the table there so they can get colored. I'm going to check with Mr.Mophett to see where he wants the colored eggs to go. I will return shortly to see how you are progressing with the coloring. I suspect that brighter colors will be more becoming than pale. So I want to see brilliant eggs when I return.
HETTIE: How nice! I m sure that bright colors would seem more cheerful to the children. (MADAM PEACOCK humps out) Don't look at me that way Hester. It doesn t hurt to be pleasant.
HESTER: It wouldn t hurt if some of that pleasantness would rub off on her either!
(HETTIE goes over and helps STUBS pick up the eggs. They are staring at each other smiling so neither realizes that he has picked up one of Madam's eggs. COBBS enters and starts decorating the walls but is paying close attention to conversation)
HETTIE: I don't think you're clumsy one bit.
STUBS: Why...thank you...Miss Hettie!
HETTIE: She startled you, that is all. If she had yelled at me like that I'd have probably broken every single one of these eggs!
STUBS: Not you Miss Hettie. You have the grace of a...beautiful swan!
HETTIE: I declare Mr.Stubs, could you imagine a swan with these ears?
STUBS: They're perfectly...swell ears!
HETTIE: Why thank you for saying so. I think that's all the eggs now.
STUBS: (still gazing at her ears) Ears? I mean eggs? Yes.
(STUBS takes the eggs to Hester who starts coloring them. HETTIE sits back down)
HESTER: Thank you, Stubs!
STUBS: You re welcome, Mrs.Brim. Um...Hettie...(looking very confused he stops speaking, looks down and shuffles his feet)
HETTIE: Yes, Stubs?
HESTER: (after long pause) Spit it out already young man!
STUBS: (now really confused and embarrassed) Ah...I just wanted to ask...I mean to say that...that...It's a fine day for an Easter party! I've gotta go help Hector! Excuse me!
HETTIE: (after he leaves) Hester! You embarrassed him!
HESTER: (laughing) He needs to learn to speak his mind. And quick! He likes you but he's so impossibly shy Jesus may return before he gets around to telling you!
HETTIE: Do you really think he likes me? He is kinda cute. You don t think you embarrassed him so much that he won't say how he feels?
HESTER: I hope not, but maybe I was wrong putting him on the spot, seeing how shook up he was already by Madam Peacock. (holding up egg to look at it) Boy, she's one hard shelled egg herself, isn t she? Oh,well! She may be beautiful, but they always say, Beauty is as beauty does!
HETTIE: And Proverbs 31:30 says: 'Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.' Speaking of beauty, these eggs are turning out very pretty don't you think Hester?
HESTER: Aren't they though! And to think, we did all this without the good Madams help!
HETTIE: At least she did finally decide to help!
HESTER: Yes, but not until we fluffed up that huge ego of hers pretending that when it came to decorating eggs, we were complete nincompoops!
HETTIE: Gee, Madam Peacock, we're all such dunderheads that we couldn't possibly decorate a single egg without your divine instruction!
COBBS: (coming over to table) You said that? What a hoot! (slaps his knees and laughs)
(By now Madam's egg has been colored and put into an egg tray)
HETTIE: Cobbs! Shame on you for eves-dropping!
COBBS: Sorry...Miss...Hettie! (bowly in a courtly manner) But I couldn t help overhearing your conversation. And I might add that I was especially interested in your conversation with that Stubs fellow. You see, I myself had intentions of speaking to you!
HETTIE: Cobbs! Really! I apoligize Hettie, I forgot you don't know Cobbs...let me intro...
COBBS: (quickly) I am Cobbs. Hettie and I have been aquainted since childhood, but I must admit that until a few moments ago I was unaware of my true feelings for her!
MADAM P: (offstage) Yes, Mr.Mophett we should be ready with those eggs directly.
HESTER: I think she's coming. You'd better go find something to do before she catches you.
COBBS: (to Hester) Yes, I will depart in a trice (turning to Hettie) but before I go I must say my dear, that I have had this secret crush on you and I didn't realize it myself! How remiss! How negligent! How sad! (hangs head for moment) But please ladies no word of this until Hettie has declared whether it is to be that Stubs person or me that she gives her heart to! I could not stand the humiliation if the world knew my feelings only to have those feelings dashed to the pavement and ground under some unfeeling foot.Yes, ladies, dashed and ground, like a piece of linty candy one has exhumed from a coat pocket! Please honor my request! Say you will?
HETTIE: Cobbs! How silly...
HESTER: I agree...agree Hettie. Hurry!
COBBS: Then ado my fair ladies! I would stay and rescue you from the dreaded tryantical peacock but I left my cutlass and shield at home!
(COBBS runs to the kitchen. MADAM PEACOCK enters and goes to Hester and Hettie)
MADAM P: (looks at egg) Good! (looks at another) This egg needs to be redder.
HETTIE: (putting egg in the bowl of red color) Yes, Madam Peacock.
(HECTOR enters carrying an armload of pastel balloons and other decorations)
MADAM P: (to Hector) You!
HECTOR: My name's Hector.
MADAM P: Hector or whatever...you're not doing anything! Take these out in the yard and hide them...(puts carton in his arms) and take these outside to Mr.Mophett for the egg race! (stacks another carton on top)Now go do like I told you!(after HECTOR leaves she looks at eggs left on table) Now these are for the children's baskets and they should be the best, so be careful how you color them. (Picking up spool of ribbon) These eggs would look nice if we put some of this ribbon around them!
HESTER: (looking at Hettie and smiling) Yes, that would be pretty. You're so cleaver to think of that!
MADAM P: That cleverness is exactly why I m needed here! Now where are the scissors?
HESTER: Hettie are they on the table there by you?
HETTIE: (looking) No Hester, they're not here!
MADAM P: (frustrated) Oh, hea...It's a good thing for you all that I'm prepared for any emergency. I'll get my scissors!(goes to bag, removes scissors. Bends down and pats eggs) How are my little darlings doing? What! (counts) My egg! One of my darling eggs is missing!
(ALL BUNNIES and CHICKENS run on at her screams and gather around her. AD LIB. MADAM PEACOCK pushes her way through them to the front of the stage.)
[MY EGG!]
MADAM P:
My egg! My egg! Oh dear where is my egg?
My egg! My egg! Is it hanging from a peg?
Has it rolled beneath a radiator-
Froze in the refrigerator-
Flown like an aviator-
Oh dear, where is my egg?
ALL:
Her egg! Her egg! Oh dear where is her egg?
Her egg! Her egg! Is it hanging from a peg?
Has it rolled beneath a radiator-
Froze in the refrigerator-
Flown like an aviator- (3 claps)
Oh dear, where is her egg! (repeat) Her egg...Her egg...
TRANSIT: DaSluthhh! Here's the mystery! What shall we do?
DASLUTHHH: (addressing audience)This is where you all come in...Did anyone out there see anything? (ad lib) Do you have any idea what happened to Madam Peacock's egg? (Ad Lib) Quite right. I think we must let this play out a bit and see what happens. I'm not sure how much cooperation Madam's going to get in finding her egg after the way she's treated the rabbits and chickens though. Do you think they will help her find her egg? What would Jesus want them to do? Well...let's watch and see...
MADAM P: (Seeing STUBS) This is all your fault! You must have mixed my egg in with the others when you dropped them!
STUBS: But...But, I'm sorry! I didn't realize....
MADAM P: Wait one minute. Didn't you say that one egg broke?(clutching her heart) Oh, my darling is dead and you killed him...her...!
STUBS: (from coloring table) No, no Madam Peacock! Over here! Look! Here's the broken egg on the table, and it's been boiled!
BOBS: You didn't boil your own darling children, did you?
MADAM P: You inpert...of course I didn't boil my own children!
HESTER: Let's look at this problem logically! Stubs, after you picked up the eggs what did you do with them?
STUBS: Why, I brought them to you and Hettie to color!
HESTER: Okay then. Maybe it's over there at the table still. Let's look!
(A few rabbit and chicks gather around the table and desultry look in bowls, under table,etc. Madam Peacock give the one's not looking a glare then to one looking...)
MADAM P: Is it here? Has anyone found it? No? Well, (looking directly at ones that hadn't looked before) scour the room!
(EVERYONE searches the room. Things are chaotic as they look around, under and over tables, chairs, and each other. No one's taking the search seriously and make play out of it. With creative blocking this pantomine should be as humorous as possible. HETTIE and STUBS, each entering from opposite ends under a table meet, stop and smile. After this meeting STUBS is totally enthralled and has eyes only for Hettie for the rest of the play. Ad.Lib)
HECTER: It's not here, Madam Peacock. We've looked all over in here and in the kitchen.
BOBS: (almost gleeful but not quite. It s not really in Bobs nature to be mean but he finds he can't help taking a small pleasure in Madam Peacock s misfortune) It must have gotten colored with the rest of the eggs. It'll be impossible to find.
MADAM P: Well, where are the rest of the eggs?
HECTOR: You told me to hide them, Madam.
MADAM P: Heavens! Who'd have ever thought that you would have actually done as I said! (he move in Madam's direction a step or two and starts to speak) Very well then, we must hunt for it. We simply have to find my poor darling!
HESTER: (Going quickly to Hector and putting a hand on his shoulder) Where did you hide the eggs, Hector?
HECTOR: Why, out in the yard.(testily) Where else!
HESTER: I'm sorry, Hector, but do you remember where you hid them all?
HECTOR: (calmer now) No, I don't think so. There were a lot of them.
MADAM P: Wonderful!
HESTER: Then we must form a posse to find it! Hector, you take the chickens and search the front yard, and Cobbs, you take the bunnies and search the side yard! Bring all the eggs you find to Madam Peacock and she'll check them! Let's go!
(THEY run off except BOBS who wanders to the front of the stage and paces back and forth seething. After a time HECTOR comes out)
HECTOR: Bobs, come now! We need to start looking!
BOBS: For what? She doesn't need our help! She doesn't like us, or even want to be here with us! She's only here so she can flaunt her superiority! She can find her own egg! Look at the mean things she said to you!
HECTER: I know she behaves badly towards us, and we have a reason to feel angry, but we don't need to act the way she does! It's her baby I'm thinking about. Getting it back where it belongs, and doing what Jesus would have us do that's whats most important now.
BOBS: (after a moment) I know you're right but it's getting hard not to tell her, and in no uncertain terms, exactly how I feel about her!
HECTOR: Be patient, please for the children. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says: "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God..." Remember it's Easter and we're here to help!
BOBS: Ya, to help the orphans!
HECTOR: Well, that's what that egg'll be if we don't find it soon!
BOBS: Okay, Let's go! (They exit through the curtain)
[WHERE'S MADAM PEACOCK'S EGG? (Part 1)]
DA SLUTHHH and TRANSIT:
Where's Madam Peacock's egg?
Can you solve this mystery?
The solution's not so easy to find.
Can you figure this out with me?
Yes, Stubs was rather clumsy-
And started this confusion-
Then Hettie colored the egg-
So, what is your conclusion?
The egg was in the basket-
Then the bowl and then the tray-
Was this Peacock's penality-
Being mean on Easter Day?
CHORUS
Next Hector took the eggs away-
At Madam Peacock's request-
Says they're hidden in the yard-
What answer would you suggest?
We know that Bobs was angry-
And didn't want to help look-
Would he have taken her egg?
Is he a bit of a crook?
CHORUS (15 mins)
CHORUS
Continue to scene 3
HOME
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home Page
