By Jean

Help of a Friend
A Note on Staging
The play is set in locations (France) in villages with cottages and old-fashioned houses. There will be villagers dressed informally, appropriate for jobs like farming, and hunting. To let the scenes play along fluidly, use simple props that shows the setting clearly, and are able to move out fast. The background should be left with trees, while the downstage where the main acting happens, should be left with only ground-props (soil, dirt, clarifying the setting), allowing the actors to move freely. For your cast, if you would like to double roles, keep your casts costumes very simple, in order to change fast with no complications. For example, each could have a basic costume that can represent both characters topped with a prop that reflects each character differently. At the back of the stage the scenery should be green, like in the forest, at olden days. As a useful tool for one of the scenes where the Monster is accepted into the village by Matilda, and he works hard, chorus or slow motion to indicate the setting, or make important moments more powerful, but since that scene will be short, those tools will be very useful to communicate to the audience.

Costumes & Props

Frankenstein: A black coat over a dark colored t-shirt. Monster: Old ripped clothing. Matilda: A dirndl dress. Head Villager: Soldier suit Clerval: A coat.

Set Design
Frankensteins Lab: Dim light, brown bench, wires everywhere, and specimens placed all around the room on the shelves, a dusty old room.

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Matildas Cottage: Bright light like the sun shining, an outdoor table with chairs, inside: fireplace, sink, plates, and a desk. Forest (villagers land): outdoor benches, trees.

Characters
Monster: An ugly looking creature with a heart of an angel, yet constantly being judged by many. Matilda: A young, open minded and energetic girl whom is the daughter of the Head Villager. Head Villager: A tough, wise old man. Villagers: Friendly common citizens with jobs like farming, and producing tools. Frankenstein: A mad, risk-taking genius. Mind like a scientist, always wears a lab coat over a black t-shirt. A dark looking person. Clerval: Frankensteins worried best friend.

Special Effects:
When the monster comes alive: strike of lighting (recording) Beginning: dim, shadowy light on Frankenstein when he sits on the bench at the beginning creating the monster. When Matilda welcomes the monster into her cottage: Birds chirping and the lightings is bright like the sun. A cheerful moment. Monster being chased: Lighting is on the monster roaring and crying for help. (recording: dogs barking) Sound of pitter patter [rain] in the beginning.

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It is a dark and stormy night, thunder is roaring, and lighting is flashing and striking. [Rain sound effects play] Frankenstein is sitting in his laboratory on a brown bench, glancing over the Monster, covered by a dusty old piece of cloth, and attached to him are wires. At this moment, the audience should not see the Monster clearly at all, just his feet, sticking out. The light is shadowy but dims on Frankenstein. In the laboratory are specimens placed all over the dusty shelves, loose wires hanging and tangled.

Frankenstein attaches mixed colored wires together over the creature lying under the piece of
cloth, while lighting strikes. He itches his head of sweat, baffled. Suddenly, the flash of lighting catches his eye. He looks up, out the window. Frankenstein: I think its time. Frankenstein: Oh mon dieu! What have I done? The Monster stands up and staggers towards Frankenstein, putting his hands on his face, then Frankensteins face. Frankenstein gasps, and slowly walks backwards, trying to separate himself away from the monster. The monster walks towards him, though his eyes show no impulse for evil, just baffled. He feels like he is in an unknown, barren place. Monster: Aaaaghhhh! Frankenstein: No! This was not what I created! Youre supposed to be beautiful, a beautiful creature the villagers will love! The Monster stops for a bit, like he just understood what Frankenstein meant, and jumps out the window. Frankenstein quickly runs towards the windows, and sees the figure, jumping into the deep forest. He sighs, and sits back down on his bench.

Days pass by. Theres Matildas cottage placed at the very center of the stage, and the light is dim there. The Head Villager is standing there with a rake. There are big brown dogs chained against a fence, and Matilda is in the cottage.

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The dawn light rises into the sky, while the Head Villager stands outside his cottage, raking the soil. The Monster is right now hiding behind the tree, slowly watching the Head Villager. The monster doesnt intend to do anything evil. [Birds are chirping]

Head Villager wipes sweat off his forehead. Matilda appears from the cottage, with a broom.
Head Villager: Isnt it such a hot day today?

Matilda starts swiping away the leaves.

Matilda: It sure is, dad. [Dogs barking]

Head Villager and Matilda immediately look up from the floor, and see the Monster
beside the tree, eyes widened, and feet glued to the ground. Head Villager: MATILDA! Call the villagers and tell them its back! Its back! Matilda: Daddy! Hes just standing there with no signs of

Head Villager glares at the Monster.

Head Villager: Matilda! HURRY UP, what are you doing? Monster: I friend! I friend!

Head Villager throws his rake at the Monster, but misses. Matilda grabbed her dads
arm and pulled him back. Matilda: Stop! No! The Monster runs away into the deep forest, and the Head Villager lurches after him, but is stopped by his daughter. Head Villager: I almost got him, what were you doing? The monster is dangerous! Matilda (demanding): What were you doing? Didnt you hear him? He said he wanted to be a friend!

Head Villager looks mad; his face is red with anger. He wipes a sweat off his forehead with
his sleeve, and looks at his daughter.

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Head Villager: Matilda, its nice that you think that, but when youve come as far as I have, youll realize that that was just a ploy.

Matilda puts one of her hand on her right hip. She is disappointed.
Matilda: Daddy, what if he really was trying to be friendly? Did you consider the way that we are treating him? What he could feel inside? How hard he tried to Her father cuts her off, putting a hand up. Head Villager: I dont want to hear any more of what that devil feels, whether he is sad, or in despair, or whatever. He is a devil, and thats that.

Head Villager shows a facial sign of an impulse to murder the Monster, but simply sighs
and walks back into his cottage, leaving the rake leaning against the wall.

Matilda sighs.
Matilda (quietly to herself): Its probably not a good time to talk.

Matilda walks along the trail, and into the forest, carrying a basket of fruits.
The trail is quiet and dusty, with trees surrounding it. There are benches along the trail, spaced out. The light is dim on Matilda. The monster is hiding behind a tree beside one of the benches. The Monster is crouched below a tree, behind the bushes. Matilda doesnt see him, but he sees her. Matilda sits down on a bench, with her back towards him. The Monster pokes his eye out, watching her from behind. He is deciding whether to try to speak to her, or will he get hurt again, like from all the villagers and her father. The Monster decides to try, as she defended him earlier. Monster: [quietly] Matil? Matil?

Matilda leaps off the bench, and screams.

Matilda: [petrified] whos there? Please dont hurt me! The Monster bounces out from the bushes, his hands up as in sign of surrender. Monster: [in agony] I no hurt! I friend! I sad! Please!

Matilda calms down, and then puts her basket down, getting a good glimpse of the Monster. Matilda hesitates, but gives a small smile.
Matilda: Dont worry, I wont hurt you.

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Matilda sticks out a hand, waiting for the Monster to shake it. The Monster stares at the hand, and up at Matilda again, unsure what to do. So he sticks out a hand too, in front of Matildas, the same way Matilda did to him. Matilda laughs in a friendly way.
Matilda: No, silly! You shake the hand, youre so funny! The Monster looks confused at Matildas reaction and emotion.

Matilda glances at the Monster and smiles.

Monster: I want friend? You hand me so I hand you. Matilda: Yes, you shake the hand to be friends! The Monster stretches his mouth, like trying to give a smile like Matilda did to him. Monster: You help me? Matilda: Yes! Of course! Ill bring you back to the villagers, and youll have to prove to them what you can do.

Monster tries to nod, as in agreement.

Monster: I try! I do! Oh thank you, thank you! You are a good human! The Monster envelopes Matilda in a friendly hug, thankful. Days passed by, since Matilda brought the Monster back to the village, hes had tough times, but to now, the villagers are starting to accept him, and to love him. [Birds chirp] [Slow, relaxed and happy music plays] Matildas cottage is neatly organized; logs are put properly in row, and clothes are stacked beside the Monster, who is ironing the shirts with his big, clean hands. He works fast, but still gentle. Outside the cottage, there is Matilda and the villagers planning a surprise party for the Monster, to appreciate his hard work.

Matilda enters the cottage, and smiles at the Monster.

Matilda: I have a surprise for you! Come outside!

Monster looks up and puts the shirt down.

Monster: What is it?

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Matilda grins. Monster follows Matilda out the cottage.

[Cheers and laughter echoed throughout the forest] Monster: What is this? For me?

Villagers scream and shout love for the Monster.

The Monster is overjoyed, and smiling, never like before. Monster: I am as happy as I can be! I have friends! I have love!