Characters:

Anansi

Mrs. Anansi

Hare

SCRIPT:

ACT I

(Anansi and his wife are talking in the living room).

Anansi: It’s not fair!

Mrs. Anansi: What are you talking about?

Anansi: Why do men have to be wise?

Mrs. Anansi: There is nothing you can do about it.  So, get over it.

Anansi: Of course not!… where’s the clay pot that was given to me by Nyame, the sky god?

Mrs. Anansi: It’s in a safe place.  You know that it means a lot to us!

Anansi: I know… that’s why I’ll use it to store in it all the world’s wisdom.

Mrs. Anansi: How are you going to do that?

Anansi: I’ll ask questions to everybody, and when someone tells me a wise answer, I’ll come home, open the pot,  and I will repeat the answer inside the pot, and then I’ll cover the pot again.

Mrs. Anansi: It sounds like a good idea… and what are you going to do when the pot is completely full?

Anansi: I haven’t thought about it…first things first!

(Anansi heads to the door)

Mrs. Anansi: Where are you going?

Anansi: I’m starting right now… see you tonight.

Mrs. Anansi: Good luck!

(Anansi leaves).

Act II

(A year later.  The clay pot is on the table.  Anansi and his wife stare at the pot)

Anansi: It’s completely full!

Mrs. Anansi: What are you going to do?

Anansi: I still don’t know.

Mrs. Anansi: I think you should share it with every one in the village.

Anansi: No!

Mrs. Anansi: The pot is full of wonderful ideas and skills… you have learned many different things… it’s time for you to share it with the world.

Anansi: I said no! I will not share the treasure of knowledge with anybody.   I will keep all the wisdom for myself.

(Anansi starts looking around the room)

Mrs. Anansi: What are you looking for?

Anansi: I need a safe place to hide the pot, somebody can come and steal it from me.

Mrs. Anansi: Don’t be afraid, no one will steal your pot of wisdom.

Anansi: Yes, they will.  I really need to hide it somewhere!…  I know!  I’ll hide on top of a tall tree!

(Anansi takes the pot in his hands and runs away)

Mrs. Anansi: Where are you going Anansi!

Anansi: To the forest!  To the forest!

Mrs. Anansi: Do you need help?

Anansi: No!  Remember that I have the pot of wisdom, I’ll know exactly what to do!

Mrs. Anansi: I hope so, Anansi!

(Mrs. Anansi closes the door)

ACT III

(In the forest.  Anansi looks at a tall tree)

Anansi: This is what I was looking for!  This is the perfect tree to hide the pot of wisdom.

(Anansi takes some vines and makes some strong string and ties it firmly around the pot, leaving one end free. He then ties it to his tummy and starts to climb the tree).

Anansi: Oh, I never thought the pot would be so heavy!

(he tries and tries to climb the tree)

Anansi: It’s impossible!  The pot gets on my way!

(A hare watches Anansi)

Hare: What do you have on that pot?

Anansi: I can’t tell you.  If I tell you, something bad could happen to us.

Hare: Then, don’t tell me.  I see that you want to climb the tree with that pot tied to your tummy.

Anansi: So!  What is the problem?

Hare: It would be better if you tie the pot to your back, then it will be easier to cling to the tree and climb.

Anansi: What!  I thought I had gathered inside this pot all the wisdom in the world… and there is still some one who knows things I don’t!  How do you know more than I, if I have the pot of wisdom?

Hare: It’s just common sense.

(Anansi gets angry.  Unties the pot from his body and throws it to the ground.  The pot breaks and pieces of wisdom fly in every direction)

Anansi: It’s better if all the world have a piece of wisdom… I am going home!

(Anansi leaves)

The End

Author:  West African Folktale

Adapted by K I D S I N C O

Moral:  We shouldn’t be greedy.  We should share with other our knowledge and skills, that way we all together may be wiser and generous.

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Characters:

Narrator

Fairy

Man 1

Man 2

Man 3

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time there was an fairy who lived inside a mountain which was full of gold, silver, and precious stones.

Fairy: Oh, I’m so bored in this place! I wish I could go out into the world and see the sun, the lakes and rivers… the flowers… but that’s impossible. I have to stay here…underground taking care of all these rubies, diamonds, and emeralds.

Narrator: One day she heard a noise coming from outside the mountain. Some people were making a hole to get inside.

Fairy: Now I see… they are coming to steal my treasure! Men are greedy and ambitious! Anyway… I will help them get in, and I will even give them some of my treasure.

Narrator: The fairy used her magic to open up a hole, and a few minutes later three sweaty, dirty, and tired men entered the treasure mountain.

Man 1: Where are we? I can’t see anything!

Man 2: Me neither!

Man 3: Where’s that bright light come from? I can’t even open my eyes!

Narrator: Finally, the three men could open their eyes.

Three Men: This is wonderful!

Man 1: Come on… everything is ours!

Fairy: Stop where you are!

Man 2: Who are you?

Fairy: I live here… you don’t have to take anything… I give it to you.

Man 3: Are you sure?

Fairy: Yes, take everything you want.

Man 1: Thank you good fairy!

Man 2: I’ll fill my pockets with all these precious stones!

Man 3: You are so kind, really.

Fairy: Don’t say anything more, just take whatever you want to, and leave.

Narrator: The three men took everything they could, and left the mountain feeling satisfied. One day, one of them came back to the mountain.

Fairy: What did you come back? Didn’t you have enough? Is it possible that you don’t have anything I gave you?

Man 1: Oh, yes I do! I have everything you gave me! In fact, I hid the treasure in a safe place… not even my son knows where it is!

Fairy: You’re so greedy! You were not capable of sharing your treasure with anybody… not even your son. Get away from here! I will not give you more!

Man 1: No… listen to me… please.

Fairy: Get out!

Narrator: The man left, and after a few months another man came back to the mountain.

Fairy: What do you want?

Man 2: Please, help me! I have lost everything you gave me. I don’t have a single precious stone!

Fairy: What did you do with all the treasure I gave you?

Man 2: I used it to get to know people better. Money makes people betray each other, even an honest man can turn disrespectful and dishonest!

Fairy: So you used the treasure to turn people against each other…and you dare to come and ask for more… I don’t want to see you anymore… get out!

Narrator: The man left and a few months later the third man came back to the mountain.

Fairy: Now it’s you! I won’t give you anything… Get away from here!

Man 3: Wait… I don’t want anything else from you. I just came to give you back some of the treasure you gave me. I don’t want to be rich!

Fairy: You don’t want to be a wealthy man?

Man 3: No.

Fairy: why?

Man 3: Because money doesn’t make me happy. People came to me just because I was rich… they were not sincere… they were not my true friends.

Fairy: Oh, surely wealth is not a good thing! Go back to your own world. You are poor once again and you can now live in peace.

Narrator: The man left, and she forgot her dream of going out into the world. She forgot about the sun, the lakes, the rivers, and the flowers.

Fairy: I prefer to stay here, in my underground world with my treasure… men don’t understand that wealth doesn’t bring happiness. Wealth can also bring misfortune.

The End

Author:  Unknown

Adapted by K I D S I N C O

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Characters:

Narrator

Old Man

Fortune

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time there was an old man who always carried a big bag on his shoulders. Every day he would walk through the city streets begging for help. One day he thought.

Old Man: Rich men are never satisfied. They want more and more money! They want to own the whole world! … Oh… if I only had what`s necessary to live, like food and clothes, I would be satisfied.

Narrator: At that moment, Fortune was passing by. He saw the old man and said.

Fortune: I have heard what you just said, and I want to help you. Open your bag.

Old Man: What for?

Fortune: I am going to give you gold coins… but on one condition. You will get to keep all the coins that get into your bag. But the ones that fall to the ground, will become dust. Do you understand?

Old Man: Yes, I understand.

Fortune: Then be careful. Your bag is too old, and it get torn easily. Don`t carry too many coins.

Narrator: The old man immediately opened the bag, and a bunch of gold coins fell inside. Now the bag was very heavy.

Fortune: Isn`t it enough?

Old Man: No! No!

Fortune: Aren`t you afraid that the bag might get torn?

Old Man: No, it won`t.

Narrator: The old man`s hands started to shake.

Old man: There`s room for more!

Fortune: But you are now the richest man in the world.

Old Man: No! No! I want more!

Narrator: Some of the gold coins fell to the ground… and then the bag broke, and all the treasure fell to the ground and the coins became dust.

Fortune: It wasn`t enough, right? … Good-bye.

Old Man: No! No! Stay! Give me more!

Narrator: But Fortune left.

Old Man: Now, I´m as poor as I was before.

The End

Adapted by: K I D S I N C O based on a popular folktale.

Moral: If you’re too greedy you end up with nothing

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Characters:

Farmer

Elf

Woman 1

Woman 2

Man 1

Man 2

Man 3

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time there was a farmer who was very poor.  One day he was plowing the field and thought.

Farmer: I work too much… and all for nothing!  I am tired of coming here every day and just for a few cents.  I really have bad luck!

Narrator: Suddenly an elf appeared.

Farmer: Oh my!

Elf: Don’t be afraid.

Farmer: Who are you?

Elf: I have heard what you said, today your luck will change.  Take this hen.

Farmer: Thank you, I am so hungry!  I will cook it as soon as I get home.

Elf: No!  This is a very special hen.

Farmer: What makes it so special? …  Does it talk?

Elf: No!  Listen to me!  This hen is so wonderful that every day it lays a golden egg.

Farmer: A golden egg?

Narrator: The elf didn’t answer, and he just disappeared.

Farmer: I hope it’s true.  I will go home right away.

Narrator: The farmer went home and immediately put the hen in a cage.  Next day, as soon as he woke up, he went to the chicken house to see if the hen laid the golden egg.

Farmer: Oh… it is true!  It’s an egg of solid gold!

Narrator: He took the egg, went to town and tried to sell it.  He stood in the middle of the street and shouted.

Farmer: Golden egg for sale!  Golden egg for sale!

Narrator: Soon a crowd gathered around him amazed at the golden egg.

Woman 1: How much do you want?

Woman 2: Is it really a golden egg?

Farmer: Sure, it is!

Man 1: I want it!

Man 2: No, it’s mine!

Man 3:I’ll buy it!  Sell it to me!

Farmer: It’s your then!… And don’t worry… I will bring another one tomorrow.  There are enough for everybody!

Narrator: The farmer sold the egg.  Next day when he woke up he went straight to see if there was another golden egg.

Farmer: Good… another golden egg!  I’ll sell it right away.

Narrator: And once again he went to town and sold the egg.  After that day, every day, the hen gave him a beautiful golden egg.

Farmer: I am getting richer and richer every day.  I am the richest man in town!  I have everything a man could want… but… I wonder how I could get more eggs from my hen…

Narrator: As the farmer grew richer, he also became greedy and stingy.

Farmer: I want to have more and more money!  I am tired of waiting every day just for one  golden egg.

Narrator: And he thought and thought…

Farmer: I am going to kill the hen and I’ll find the gold mine she has inside.   I will have all her treasure at once!

Narrator: So he cut her open and found nothing at all.

Farmer: This can’t be!  Where’s the gold mine?  Where’s her treasure? Now I don’t have the hen and its golden eggs!

The End

Author:  Aesop Fable

Adapted by K I D S I N C O

Moral:  Ambition can makes us do thing that we can regret later.  Don`t be impatient and greedy.

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Characters:

Jairo  (man)

Cynthia  (greedy sister)

Karla

Genesis  (good sister)

Fairy

SCRIPT:

Narrator: Once upon a time there was a man who had three nieces. They were Cynthia, Karla, and Genesis. The old man was very sick, and before dying he wanted to talk to the three of them.

Jairo: Before I leave this world, I want to give each one of you a bag of gold coins.

Cynthia: Oh, uncle, please… don`t say that.

Karla: Come on, Cynthia! We will be fine.

Genesis: That`s for sure!

Narrator: Soon the old man died, and as soon as he was buried, Karla went shopping.

Karla: I´m so happy now. With all this money I will buy all those wonderful dresses I always wanted to have… and fine jewelry, and plenty of shoes!  Oh, I will have so much fun!

Narrator: While Karla was shopping, Genesis who was a greed girl, put her gold coins inside a box.

Genesis: I will not spend my money… I will keep it inside the box!

Narrator: But Cynthia, who was not ambitious, spent her money helping orphan kids, and the poor and the sick people.

Cynthia: There`s a lot of people who need help, and I like to help everybody.

Narrator: One day Karla didn`t have any money. So he went to talk to Genesis.

Karla: Genesis, my dear sister, please help me. I haven`t eaten in days… and I don`t have any money.

Genesis: It´s your fault! You spent all your money in dresses, jewelry, and shoes… why don`t you eat them?

Karla: Genesis how can you be so mean to me!

Genesis: Now it`s time for you to die of hunger!

Karla:  What am I going to do now?

Genesis: Come on… let’s see if Cynthia can help you… because I wont!

Karla: But Genesis… you still have all your money… why can’t you help me?

Genesis: Because…. it’s my money!

Narrator: So Karla and Genesis went to see their other sister, Cynthia.

Karla: Oh, sister…I don`t even have a piece of bread to eat. I beg you to please help me.

Cynthia: I will, dear sister.

Narrator: Cynthia opened her bag of coins.

Cynthia: Don’t worry Karla…I will give you three gold coins.

Karla: Oh, thank you!

Narrator: As Genesis was watching Cynthia’s bag of gold coins, she thought.

Genesis: Cynthia is a fool… now she is also spending her money. I know that one day she will come to me asking for help.… and I will not give her anything! She should have kept her money… just like I do!

Narrator: But Cynthia, kept helping people, her sister, and her poor friends.  One day, Genesis thought.

Genesis: I wonder if Cynthia still has all her gold coins. Tomorrow when she goes out, I will take a look at her bag.

Narrator: Next day she took Cynthias bag and she was surprised.

Genesis: It`s impossible! She still has all her money! … Oh… now I understand… she stole my money!

Narrator: Then she took out her bag from the box where she had put it, and opened it.

Genesis: No! No! Where are my gold coins! I only have iron coins! Cynthia stole my money…

she stole my gold coins!

Narrator: Then a fairy appearead and said.

Fairy: Why are you accusing an innocent girl?

Genesis: Who are you?

Fairy: You must know… you evil creature, that you have been greedy.

Genesis: I just wanted to keep my money for myself!

Fairy: Well, that is why your money disappeared… as well as all the money from people who like to throw it away, and spend it all.

Genesis: You mean…like my sister Karla!

Fairy: Only the fortune of people who know how to spend it by helping others, is multiplied, and they keep it forever.

Genesis: What about mine?  I didn’t spend it!

Fairy: You’re right…you wanted to keep it for yourself…. isn’t that true?

Genesis: Yes, that’s true!

Fairy: Well… your money isn’t worth anything…. so it’s yours… you will keep it in the box… forever.

Genesis: Oh, no!

Narrator: The fairy disssappeared leaving Genesis crying over her iron coins.

The End

Author:  Folktale from Spain

Adapted by K I D S I N C O

Moral Value:  Love.  Generosity

What is Greedy?: Excessively desirous of acquiring or possessing, especially wishing to possess more than what one needs or deserves.

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