A youth theatre play in one or two acts
Adapted from the tales of Beatrix Potter
Run time 45 minutes excluding interval
An excerpt from Kitten Tails
ACT 1
Prologue
Beatrix enters. She wears Edwardian clothes – a long skirt, white blouse and a straw hat. She is carrying a small kitten (Tom Kitten puppet). She moves downstage to a small writing desk and chair. She pulls out the chair, and sits, stroking the kitten on her lap.
Beatrix My Goodness, Tom. How did you get so dirty! Have you been in the coal bunker again? Or in the ashes on the compost heap. And you smell all sooty. You need a bath!
The kitten ‘jumps’ off her lap and runs off. Beatrix notices the audience.
Beatrix Tom! Go and find Tabitha Twitchit – you need a wash behind the ears!
Beatrix goes to follow Tom, but notices the audience.
Beatrix Oh, Good Afternoon. I’m Beatrix Potter. Welcome to my kitchen. (Beatrix moved dsc to address the audience.) Did you see my little friend? His name is Tom – Tom Kitten. He used to be very brave, but he had a rather nasty experience once, so he mostly stays with me in the house now… Shall I tell you about it? Perhaps I’d better explain. I live in a cottage on a farm, surrounded by my animal friends. I make up stories about them – Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-duck – and, of course, I mustn’t forget that naughty little Tom Kitten – he was always getting into mischief, and not doing as he’s told. I paint pictures of them, and – well now, let me tell you some of their stories.
Scene 1
Beatrix I think I’ll tell you the story of Tabitha Twitchit’s kittens when they were very small. (Beatrix sits at her desk.) Once upon a time there were three little kittens, and their names were Mittens –
Mittens (Enters) Good afternoon…
Beatrix Moppet
Moppet (Enters) Good afternoon…
Beatrix And Tom.
Tom (Enters) Hello.
Mittens and Moppet start to play a clapping game, Tom sits on the floor and starts to unravel a ball of wool from some knitting.
Beatrix They had dear little fur coats, which often got very dirty as they tumbled about on the doorstep and played in the dust. They often hid in the coal bunker and came out as black as night. Poor Tabitha Twitchit could never keep them clean.
Tabitha Enters carrying a wash basket carrying the kitten clothes, bath sponge and brushes.
Tabitha Kittens! Look at the state of you – again! You’ve been playing in those dusty flower beds again, haven’t you?
Tom No mother! Of course not…You told us not to.
Mittens (Together) ) Yes, mama.
Moppet ) Sorry mama.
Tabitha How many times must I tell you to keep to the garden path, and the wall.
Moppet So did Tom. He started it.
Tom I didn’t … I said we should sit on the garden wall and keep clean.
Mittens You didn’t say that!
Tom I just suggested we played hide and seek.
Moppet In the flower pots and up the fir tree!Tom The best hiding place was the compost bin. (He chuckles.) You didn’t find me for ages!
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