ANCIENTCHINACLASSPLAY

WrittenbySueRussell

SueRussellCopyright2009www.playsrussell.com

AncientChinaAssembly
(ChildrenfileintoChinesemusic) Narrator: WelcometoourAssemblyonAncientChina. Butfirsttoputyouinthepicture

(Child1holdsupworldmap,withChinahighlighted) Child1: Child2: Child3: Child4: Child5: Narrator: ChinaisthebiggestcountryinAsia. Ithasthegreatestpopulationofanycountryintheworld. ItscapitalcityisBeijing. ThenationallanguageisMandarin. Chinaisoneofthefouroldestcivilizationsintheworld. (Clutchinghead)Ohno!Thatsoundslikeanawfullotofhistory!

12animals: (Together)Justaswellyouvegotus! Narrator: Amotleycrew!Whoonearthareyou?

(Animalsstepforwardandintroducethemselves) Rat: Ox: Tiger: Rabbit: Dragon: Snake: Horse: Sheep: ImRat! ImOx! (Roaring)ImTiger! ImRabbit! ImDragon! (Hissing)ImSsssnake! (Neighing)ImHorse! (Baaing)ImSheep!

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Monkey: Rooster: Dog: Pig: Narrator:

ImMonkey! (Cawing)ImRooster (Barking)ImDog! (Grunting)ImPig! (Strokinghischin,lookingpuzzled)And?Ineedinformationlike fromalibrary,notazoo! Hey!Imsupposedtobetherudeone!NobodysaidIdhaveany competition! Well,thatratherdependswhatyearhe(lookingatNarrator)was bornin.PerhapshewasborninTheYearoftheRooster,inwhich case,itsnotsurprisinghesopinionatedandabrasivelikeyou! Couldsomebodypleaseexplaintomewhatsgoingonhere?We haventgotallday,youknow! Hmm.Onsecondthoughts,hecouldhavebeenbornintheyearof theTigerjudgingbyhisimpatience! Pardon?Whataretheseanimalsdoinghere?Please,somebody, explain! Allowme!Yousee,wearethe12zodiacanimalsaccordingto Chineseastrology.Weheardyouweregoingtotryandtellthese goodpeopleaboutAncientChina

Rooster:

Pig:

Narrator:

Pig:

Narrator:

Rat:

12animals: (Together)Andherewearetohelp! Rat: Weallhavespecialstrengthssoweregoingtousethemtohelp you!Iwillorganizeyourhelpersintoteams,withdifferentprojects. (Takesoutlistfromwhichhereads) Oxyouwillcomewithmetofindoutaboutfarming.

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TigeryouwillgowithRabbit.Hiscautionwillhelpcurbyour recklessness,whenitcomestofindingoutaboutthefamous TerracottaSoldiers. Ooh.Imnotsureaboutthat.Soldiers.Hmm,soundsabit dangeroustome. Ohcomeon,Rabbit.Whathaveyougottofearwithmearound? Dragon,youwillgowithPig. Youcannotbeserious!Acreatureasstatelyandnobleasmyself keepingcompanywith..apig? Huh!Imightbesimplebyyourstandards (Interrupting)Butatleastoneofyouwillneedtostaycalmwhenyou meetChinasfirstemperor! (Tutting)Pieceofcake!Evenanemperorwillbowtomymajesty! Hmm!Wellsee.Anyway,SnakeandHorseIwantyoutofindout aboutsilkmaking. Youmean,mixingwithworms? Well,Ihopetheyrebettercompanythanyou!Nowtakeme,Ilike livelycompany,lotsofwitandchatand.. (Interrupting)Yes,yes.Theyllbeplentyoftimeforthat.Now,where wasI?Ahyes,Sheep,youwillgowithMonkeyandfindoutaboutall thoseancientinventions. Great!Imightjustbeabletoaddafewofmyown! Ooh.Idontknow.Mightntitbeabitdangerous? Ohstopworrying,Sheep.Itstimeyougaveabitmoreattentionto yourcreativeself!

Rabbit:

Tiger: Rat: Dragon:

Pig: Rat:

Dragon: Rat:

Snake: Horse:

Rat:

Monkey: Sheep: Rat:

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Rooster: Rat: Dog: Rooster: Rat: Rat:

Hey!Whataboutme? Ohdontworry?Ihaventforgottenyou! (Muttering)Somechance!IhaveteamedyouupwithDog Ohno!Saddledwithabird!ThatsallIneed! Huh!Thefeelingsmutual.Iseemtobedoggedwithbadluck! Andyourmissionshouldyouchoosetoacceptit (BothRoosterandDogshaketheirheads) OrotherwisetointerviewthegreatConfucius.Findoutwhatmade thegreatmantick! (Applauding)Verygood!Verygood!So,whoshallwehearfromfirst? Well,itwouldmakesensetostartwithagriculturesincethisbegan intheYellowRiverValley,around4000B.C. Tothinkthosefarmersstartedusingmearound1100B.C.!What othercreaturewouldhavehadthestrengthtopullthoseploughs!

Narrator: Rat:

Ox:

(EnterFarmer) Rat: Farmer: Goodmorning!Couldyoutelluswhatcropsyougrow? Certainly!Soybeans,wheat,millet,barleyandricethatsgrown mainlyintheSouth. Andwhatelsedoyoueat? Well,ifIwasrichitwouldbepork,goose,lambandchickenwith snakesanddogsonspecialoccasions (Pig,Sheep,SnakeandDogsquirmingatmentionoftheirname) Butalas,notforthelikesofmenoteveryday,anyway.

Rat: Farmer:

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Ox:

Ahwell,nothingwrongwithfruitandveg.!ThoughImgladIdont havetoeatwithchopsticks! OrdrinkourteaandricewineIdneverhavegotanyworkoutof you!

Farmer:

(Loudrumblingsound;Farmer,RatandOxrunforcover;wholecastssways backwardsandforwards) (EnterChangHengclutchingseismograph,CaiLun,Peasant,MonkeyandSheep, bleatingwithfear) Sheep: Dontpanic!Dontpanic!Nothingtoworryabout!Justawee .(Shrieking)EARTHQUAKE!

(Wholecastcovertheirheadswiththeirhands) ChangHeng:Itsallright,everybody.NowIhaveinventedtheseismographhere, weknowwhenanearthquakescoming! Sheep: Yes,anditshere!Rightnow,incaseyouhadntnoticed!Couldnt youhaveinventedsomethingabitmoreusefullikehowtostopit?!

(Rumblingsubsides,everybodysighswithrelief) Sheep: Wow!Youdidit!Thatwasimpressive!

ChangHeng:(Coughing)Er,well,ofcourse.Usinventorsarecapableofanything! Monkey: (Sarcastically)Yeah,right!Timeforaquickrealitycheck.Remindme, whatwerethefourGreatInventionsofAncientChina? Thatwouldbethecompass,gunpowder,printing Andpapermaking!Icantakecreditforthatinvention! Whatdidyouuse? Ohjustmulberrybarkandbamboofibersmixedtogetherinwater. CourseIhadnoideawhatmylittlerecipewouldgoontoyield

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Sheep: CaiLun: Sheep: CaiLun:

Peasant:

What,liketoiletpaper,teabagsandmoney?(Holdingupeachin turn) Mygoodness!Somanydifferentuses.Andtherewasmethinkingit wouldjustbeusedtowriteon!

CaiLun:

(EnterConfucius) Confucius: Andjustaswell,formypurposes.Imagineallmywisewordsbeing forgottenassoonasIdutteredthem!Thatwouldhavebeenareal crimeagainsthumanity! (RoosterandDogrushontostage) Rooster: (GlaringatMonkeyandSheep)Erexcuseme,youlot!Thisisourbit. Clearoff!

(ExiteveryoneexceptRooster,DogandConfucius) Confucius: Well,well.Afewmannersneverwentamiss!Wasitreallynecessary tobethatrude?Ialwaysthinkrespectissoimportant. (EnterParentandChild) Parent: Narrator: Hear!Hear! OK.Letshearit!

(Child,ParentandConfuciusreadfrompaperscripts) Child: Ilovemyparents Idowhatisright Irespectandobey Anddontputupafight. IloveandIcare Asagoodparentshould Theresonlyonecondition Thattheyalwaysbegood!

Parent:

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Confucius: Familycomesfirst Onthatweagree ButIveloadsmoreadvice Youlllearnloads,youllsee! Child: Ohjoy!Well,letshaveit Icantwaittohear Ifthatmeanstotalobedience TheanswersNofear! Parent: Youmindthatyoulisten Andrespectthisgreatman Ifitmakesmylifeeasier ThenImhisNumberOneFan! Dog: (Huffing)Huh!Youcancountmeout! Rooster: Metoo!Thisguyseemsfartoofullofhimself!Talkaboutpreaching!I dontknowaboutyou,brother,butIvehadenough! Tooright!Letsgo! Hey!Waitaminute!Youweremeanttobeinterviewingthisgreat man!Forgoodnesssake,youtwoshowsomerespect! OK.Iwouldhatetooffendanyone.

Dog: Narrator:

Dog:

Confucius: (Reflectingandreadingfromhisscript)Ahhhh.Indeed.Itiseasyto hateanditisdifficulttolove. Rooster: (Impatiently)Whosaidanythingaboutlove?

Confucius: (Reflectingandreadingfromhisscript))Ahhhh.Indeed.Speakthe truth.Donotyieldtoanger! Dog: Anger?Whosaidanythingaboutanger?(Aside)ThoughMister KnowItAllhereisbeginningtoreallytrymypatience!

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Confucius: (Reflectingandreadingfromhisscript)Ahhhhh.Realknowledgeis toknowtheextentofonesignorance. Rooster: Oh,really?Well,youwontmindifIjusttakeaseatwhilstyou continuethisendlessrambling

Confucius: (Reflectingandreadingfromscript)Ahhh.Thesuperiormanthinks alwaysofvirtue;thecommonmanthinksofcomfort. Rooster: (Exploding)Why,you.

Confucius: (Hurriedly)Withoutfeelingsofrespect,whatistheretodistinguish menfrombeasts? Dog: (Snarling)Thatsit!Youvedefinitelyoversteppedthemarkthis time.Here (GrabbingscriptfromConfucius) Letmejustreadyouoneofyourpreciousquotations.Hewho speakswithoutmodesty(Pauses,glaringatConfucius)willfindit difficulttomakehiswordsgood. Hear!Hear!Wevebothheardmorethanenoughfromthisman AndasSilenceisgolden

Dog:

Rooster: Dog:

Confucius: Ooh.ThatsagoodoneImustgowriteitdown! (Confuciustakesbackhisscriptandstartslookingforsomethingtowritewith) Rooster: Dog: Quick,letsgo.Beforehethinksupanymoreadviceforus! Imwithyou!

(RoosterandDogexit) (EnterEmperorQinShiHuang,stormingovertoChild,ParentandConfuciusand snatchestheirscriptsoffthemthreateningly.Theyrunoffstagein terror)

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Emperor: (EnterPig) Pig: Emperor:

Illtakethose!Enoughofthepast!Irepresentthefuture!

Waitaminute!Waitaminute!Thatsnotthewaytodothings. (Splutteringwithrage)Whoisthisthisupstart?Whodaresto defytheoneandonlyemperorofChina?

(EnterDragon) Dragon:

(TurningtoPig)Ithoughtyouweremeanttobethepeacekeeper? (TurningtoEmperor,bowing)Pleaseexcusemysimplefriend.He meantnooffence. Andwhomightyoube? (Indignantly)Who?Me?Well,onlythemostreveredcreatureinthe wholeofChina! Sayswho? Saysme!(Pauses)Youknow,IveonlyjustmetyoubutalreadyI growjustalittlewearyofyourarrogance!Allcredittoyouforthat GreatWallofChinabut,hey,.alittlerespect? Ohyeah?Well,showmewhyIshouldlookuptoyou! Verywell.Watchthisthen! (LooksindirectionofSun:Childwithlargeorangeglobe,litupby torch,representingthesun.Walksover.Takesamassivegulp.As Dragonswallows,childsweepsablackclothacrossthesun, obliteratingitslighttorchswitchedoffsimultaneously.Sungoes outrepresentingeclipseofthesun) Hey,whoturnedoutthelights? (Exploding)Whattrickeryisthis?Warriors!Warriors!
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Emperor: Dragon:

Emperor: Dragon:

Emperor: Dragon:

Cast: Emperor:

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Dragon: Pig:

Timetogo,Ithink! Youjustreadmymind!

(DragonandPigexit) Emperor: Warriors?Wherearethey?

(EnterTigerandRabbitcarryingTerracottaSoldier) Tiger: Rabbit: Emperor: Tiger: Emperor: Rabbit: Er,isthisoneofthewarriorsyouwerelookingfor? Idontthinkhesgoingtobemuchusetoyou! Justtheone?Andwherearealltheother6,999! Inthesameplacewegotthisone!Inyourtomb,guardingyou! So,youvebeeninmytomb?Howdareyou?Illsortyou! (TappingsideofTerracottaSoldier)Well,thisonecantdomuchto helpyou! Yeah,nogoodplayingthebullywithus!Youmighthavehaditall yourwayinyourlifetimekillingallthoseinnocentpeople (Shuddering)Likethoseunfortunatescholarsburieduptotheir necksandthenbeheaded!AndallConfuciantextsburnt! Butweremorethanamatchforyou! (Roars)Scram!

Tiger:

Rabbit:

Tiger:

(Emperorrunsoffstage) Rabbit: Nicework,Tiger!Wemakeagreatteam!

(PrincessXiLiuwalksontostageandsitsdownunderamulberrytree,sippinga cupoftea) Tiger: (Whistling)Well,howdeedodedere!Andwhodowehavehere?

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Rabbit:

Now,thatswhatIcallstyle!

(EnterSnakeandHorse) Horse: Tiger: Rabbit: (Coughing)Er,excuseusbutthisisourbit! (Muttering)Somepeoplehavealltheluck! Illsay!

(TigerandRabbitexit) Horse: Princess: Snake: Princess: Thatsbetter!Comealong,Snake.Allowmetointroduceyouto (Standsup,curtseying)PrincessXiLiu! Thepleasssssssureisallmine! Howsweet!Wouldyoucaretojoinmeforacupoftea?Iwasjust sittinghere.. (Suddenlyscreamsandthrowscupofteatooneside)Ugh! Somethingjustlandedinmytea! (Pickingupcocoonthathadfallenintohercupoftea)Whateveris thematter,dearlady?Look,itsjustacocoon. (Pullsoutthreadofsilk) Seehowbeautifulitis?

Horse:

(EnterSilkWorkerandWorm) SilkWorker:(TurningangrilytoWorm)Youseewhathappenswhenyougo leavingyourcocoonsuptrees? Worm: (Sulkily)Butitsniceruptherethanindoors!

SilkWorker:What?Evenwhenyourefedthosedeliciousmulberryleavesallday? Shameonyou,worm!

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Princess:

(Pattingwormshead)Isitreallynecessarytokeephimindoors?

SilkWorker:Well,letsjustsayifyouwishtogoonwearingthosefinesilk garmentsyes,itis!(PointingtotinythreadofsilkHorsehaspulled fromcocoon)Itwouldtakeconsiderablymorethanthattocover you! (Princesssquealsinembarrassment) Horse: (Coughing)Er,excuseme!AlittlerespectforHerRoyalHighness.

SilkWorker:(Bowing)Iapologize.Imeantnodisrespect.ItsjustthatIknowwhat ittakestoproduceathreadthislong(holdsoutarmsaswideashe can)thatsuptoseveralhundredmeterslong! Snake: Andletsnotforgettheequallyhugepartmyweebrotherhereplays inthatprocess! Well,thankyou,broifyoudontmindmecallingyouthat!Itsnice tobeappreciated! Quiteso!Itsfartooeasytooverlookyoulittlecreaturesandjust howimportantyouareintheoverallschemeofthings.Youknow,I wasonlysayingtheotherday. Yes,yes!Thankyou,Horse. ButIvebarelystarted! WhichisexactlywhyImgoingtocutyouoffnow! (Turningtotheaudience)Idontknowaboutyou,butIhavecertainly learntahugeamountaboutAncientChinathismorning.Wehope youhavetoo.Soitjustremainsformetosayahugethankyoutomy helpers (All12animalsstandupandbow) All12ofyou!
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Worm:

Horse:

Narrator: Horse: Narrator:

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(Turningtotheaudience)Andahugethankyoutoyouforbeing suchawonderfulaudience.Wedohopeyouhaveenjoyedwatching ourClassAssemblyand,justtoborrowafewwordsfromConfucius here.Idliketoleaveyouwiththisthought.Historyteachesusthat weshouldall Cast: Studythepastifwearetodivinethefuture! (Allbow)

Productionsuggestions
Thecastnumbers30(notincludingTerracottaSoldier,forwhomacardboardcutoutmaybe substituted);butthisnumbercanbeeasilyadjustedtoasmallerclasssizee.g.25bytaking outChildren15andhavingeithertheNarratororothernonspeakingparts(TerracottaSoldier orSun)taketheirlines. Musicmaybeaddedbetweenthe6mainpartsoftheplay(1)FarmingassignedtoRatand Ox(2)InventionsassignedtoSheepandMonkey(3)ConfuciusassignedtoRoosterandDog (4)FirstEmperorassignedtoDragonandPig(5)TerracottaArmyassignedtoTigerand Rabbit(6)SilkassignedtoSnakeandHorse.Thismusiccouldbecreatedbythechildren,to reflectthemoodofthecharacters,usingsoundstypicaltoAncientChina. Charactertraitsofthe12animals:
Rat: Ox: Tiger: Rabbit: Dragon: Snake: Horse: Sheep: Monkey: Rooster: Dog: Pig: Forthright Calm,hardworking Impetuous Cautious Arrogant Bitofaloner,deepthinker. Talkative Timid Innovative Abrasive Quarrelsome Simple,peaceloving.

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15 Cast(inorderofappearance) Narrator Child1 Child2 Child3 Child4 Child5 Rat Ox Tiger Rabbit Dragon Snake Horse Sheep Monkey Rooster Dog Pig Farmer ChangHeng CaiLun Peasant Confucius Parent Child EmperorQinShiHuang Sunchild (TerracottaSoldier) PrincessXiLiu SilkWorker Worm Props

Worldmap

Ancientseismograph Scrollofpaper Rolloftoiletpaper,teabagandmoney notes Scroll(s)ofpapertoreadfrom Scrolltoreadfrom Scrolltoreadfrom Orangeglobe,withtorchandblackcloth Thispartcanbeplayedbyachild;orjustacardboard cutoutused. Mulberrytree,cupoftea,cocoonandthreadofsilk

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30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16

Worm

Silk Worker

Princess Xi Liu

Sun

Emperor

Child

Parent

Confucius

Peasant

Cai Lun

Chang Heng

Farmer

Pig

Dog

Rooster

10

11

12

13

14

15

Narrator

Child 1

Child 2

Child 3

Child 4

Child 5

Rat

Ox

Tiger

Rabbit

Dragon

Snake

Horse

Sheep

Monkey