CIRCUS IN THE CAN
By Emer Halpenny
AGE: 4 to 12 or for any group of mixed ability
GENDER: mixed – most parts can be played by male or female
PARTS: 15+
RUNNING TIME: 15 minutes approx
JAN TASTIC, famous director
BOB, the Cameraman
BILLY, the Soundman
JULIANNA DARLING, famous actress
MISTERIA, Circus Ring Mistress
DAAVID, Circus Trainer
FIFI, LULU, PIPPA & LILLY, tightrope-walkers & acrobats
SPIDERMAN, WOLVERINE and POWER RANGER, Circus Super Heroes
AUGUSTUS, the Roman Soldier & Lion Tame
BRUNO the clown
On the outdoor location of a film set : JAN TASTIC, the famous director, is sitting in her chair with loud speaker at the ready. Cameraman BOB and Soundman BILLY are standing by. Actress JULIANNA DARLING is getting the finishing touches to her make-up.
JAN : Lights! Camera! Action! (nothing happens) Action! Julianna Darling! What are you doing?
JULIANNA : (floating in) It’s alright everyone – I’m here! (she presents her lovely self, expecting applause. She gets it from the camera crew)
JAN : What are you two doing? You don’t applaud her just for turning up! Julianna! Take your position, please!
JULIANNA : Yes Jan, there’s no need to get all in a flap. I’m in position.
JAN : Good! Now, you know where you are?
JULIANNA : Yes, I’m outside Doctor Evil’s Mansion.
JAN : Yes, and you’ve just escaped. You’re weak, you’re tired, you’re terrified (JULIANNA reacts to all of these until she is almost slumped on the floor) But you’re also strong! Brave! You must get to the reactor in time! (JULIANNA straightens up, reacts to all the direction, very exaggerated)
JULIANNA : Must get to the reactor!
JAN : That’s it, Julianna, you’ve got it! (JULIANNA smiles and looks around for approval. The crew applaud again) No, no! You can’t keep doing that, especially not when she’s rehearsing. Let’s see if she can do it now while the camera is rolling….Ready?
BOB : Ready!
BILLY : Ready!
JAN : Good! Now, here we go, in three, two, -
Sudden noise of circus music as the circus people pile on to the stage, all over the film set: LILLY, PIPPA, FIFI and LULU, the acrobats, twirl and skip, and if possible, cartwheel or tumble. SPIDERMAN, WOLVERINE and POWER RANGER move around practicing their super power moves. AUGUSTUS, the Roman Soldier Lion Tamer flashes his whip. BRUNO the clown is juggling or some such clown-like behavior. MISTERIA, the RING MISTRESS is calling to everyone through her loudspeaker. DAAVID (pronounced DAH VID) is the circus trainer and he goes about telling everyone what to do.
JAN : Whoa! Wait! Time out! What’s going on here? (JULIANNA runs to BOB and BILLY, terrified. They look like they are enjoying the antics of the circus people though) STOP!!!
Everyone stops what they’re doing.
MISTERIA : (through her loudspeaker) Who said that? Who told my circus to stop?
JAN : (through her loudspeaker) I did. Who said you could come onto my set?
MISTERIA : (moving closer, but still through speaker) Who said you could film on my practice pitch?
JAN : (moving closer, through speaker) We are trying to make a film here!
MISTERIA : We are trying to rehearse for a Circus here!
(end of sample script)
By Emer Halpenny
AGE: 4 to 12 or for any group of mixed ability
GENDER: mixed – most parts can be played by male or female
PARTS: 15+
RUNNING TIME: 15 minutes approx
JAN TASTIC, famous director
BOB, the Cameraman
BILLY, the Soundman
JULIANNA DARLING, famous actress
MISTERIA, Circus Ring Mistress
DAAVID, Circus Trainer
FIFI, LULU, PIPPA & LILLY, tightrope-walkers & acrobats
SPIDERMAN, WOLVERINE and POWER RANGER, Circus Super Heroes
AUGUSTUS, the Roman Soldier & Lion Tame
BRUNO the clown
On the outdoor location of a film set : JAN TASTIC, the famous director, is sitting in her chair with loud speaker at the ready. Cameraman BOB and Soundman BILLY are standing by. Actress JULIANNA DARLING is getting the finishing touches to her make-up.
JAN : Lights! Camera! Action! (nothing happens) Action! Julianna Darling! What are you doing?
JULIANNA : (floating in) It’s alright everyone – I’m here! (she presents her lovely self, expecting applause. She gets it from the camera crew)
JAN : What are you two doing? You don’t applaud her just for turning up! Julianna! Take your position, please!
JULIANNA : Yes Jan, there’s no need to get all in a flap. I’m in position.
JAN : Good! Now, you know where you are?
JULIANNA : Yes, I’m outside Doctor Evil’s Mansion.
JAN : Yes, and you’ve just escaped. You’re weak, you’re tired, you’re terrified (JULIANNA reacts to all of these until she is almost slumped on the floor) But you’re also strong! Brave! You must get to the reactor in time! (JULIANNA straightens up, reacts to all the direction, very exaggerated)
JULIANNA : Must get to the reactor!
JAN : That’s it, Julianna, you’ve got it! (JULIANNA smiles and looks around for approval. The crew applaud again) No, no! You can’t keep doing that, especially not when she’s rehearsing. Let’s see if she can do it now while the camera is rolling….Ready?
BOB : Ready!
BILLY : Ready!
JAN : Good! Now, here we go, in three, two, -
Sudden noise of circus music as the circus people pile on to the stage, all over the film set: LILLY, PIPPA, FIFI and LULU, the acrobats, twirl and skip, and if possible, cartwheel or tumble. SPIDERMAN, WOLVERINE and POWER RANGER move around practicing their super power moves. AUGUSTUS, the Roman Soldier Lion Tamer flashes his whip. BRUNO the clown is juggling or some such clown-like behavior. MISTERIA, the RING MISTRESS is calling to everyone through her loudspeaker. DAAVID (pronounced DAH VID) is the circus trainer and he goes about telling everyone what to do.
JAN : Whoa! Wait! Time out! What’s going on here? (JULIANNA runs to BOB and BILLY, terrified. They look like they are enjoying the antics of the circus people though) STOP!!!
Everyone stops what they’re doing.
MISTERIA : (through her loudspeaker) Who said that? Who told my circus to stop?
JAN : (through her loudspeaker) I did. Who said you could come onto my set?
MISTERIA : (moving closer, but still through speaker) Who said you could film on my practice pitch?
JAN : (moving closer, through speaker) We are trying to make a film here!
MISTERIA : We are trying to rehearse for a Circus here!
(end of sample script)
