LIFE AT THE LIBRARYBy Emer Halpenny
This play is good for a mixed ability class as there are parts that are mimed.
AGE: 8 - 12
GENDER: mixed, change names as necessary
PARTS: 8 (or more if parts of Fantasy kids are shared)
RUNNING TIME: Just under 10 minutes
The fantasy children will interact with the other children during this play; scenes involving humour, mime and action adventure – something for everyone. Upstage is the area of the stage furthest away from the audience, while Downstage is the area closest.
MISS KRAWSS The head librarian
CASSIE Library assistant
SANDY school kid
JACK school kid
MARCO school kid
FANTASY KID 1
FANTASY KID 2
FANTASY KID 3
Afternoon in the Library. MISS KRAWSS, the head librarian is stamping books. She checks her watch.
MISS KRAWSS For goodness sake! Where is that girl?
A phone rings somewhere. MISS K looks around aghast.
MISS KRAWSS (announcing in as loud a shouted whisper as she dares) Patrons! Someone’s phone is breaking the silence! I say, there’s a phone going off and –
She stops suddenly because she realises it’s her own phone. Guiltily looking around she takes her phone out of her bag and switches it off. CASSIE, her young assistant emerges from the kitchen with two cups of tea.
CASSIE Was that someone’s phone?
MISS K Can you believe it?
CASSIE People never remember to switch them off.
MISS K I had to get the perpetrator to leave.
CASSIE Oh, that was a bit hard, wasn’t it? (MISS K gives her a hard look)…But then I don’t know what I’m talking about.
MISS K No you don’t Cassie. Running a library isn’t easy you know.
CASSIE Yes Miss Krawss.
MISS K I work my fingers to the bone in this place and no one appreciates it.
CASSIE There now, Miss Krawss, a nice cup of tea.
MISS K No sugar I hope?
CASSIE No sugar.
MISS K I’m sweet enough! (She tries to smile but her face isn’t used to it so it looks like a grimace. CASSIE smiles back.)
CASSIE Of course you are.
Enter three children, JACK, MARCO and SANDY. They are carrying heavy school bags and come in exhausted.
CASSIE Hi guys! Good to see you! How was school?
MISS K Shhhhhh!
CASSIE (quieter) How was school?
SANDY Hi Cassie. School was so-so. You know.
CASSIE Much homework?
JACK We never get homework on a Friday (JACK and MARCO give each other a high five).
MISS K Ahem ahem! (She points to the sign saying ‘silence’).
CASSIE So why are you here at the weekend? Thought you’d be off playing football or something like that.
MARCO We can’t- it’s raining.
CASSIE Again?
SANDY Yeah. And mum says no TV for the weekend since...
JACK …that episode with the vacuum cleaner and Mr Jackson’s hairpiece.
CASSIE (laughing) Oh yes, I remember. It was funny though.
JACK Yeah, it was worth it. (They all laugh and MISS K slams her book closed.)
MISS K Might I remind you Cassie, that this is a library and that people are trying to read?
MARCO But, there’s nobody else here.
MISS K I am here!
CASSIE Yes Miss Krawss.
(end of sample script)
This play is good for a mixed ability class as there are parts that are mimed.
AGE: 8 - 12
GENDER: mixed, change names as necessary
PARTS: 8 (or more if parts of Fantasy kids are shared)
RUNNING TIME: Just under 10 minutes
The fantasy children will interact with the other children during this play; scenes involving humour, mime and action adventure – something for everyone. Upstage is the area of the stage furthest away from the audience, while Downstage is the area closest.
MISS KRAWSS The head librarian
CASSIE Library assistant
SANDY school kid
JACK school kid
MARCO school kid
FANTASY KID 1
FANTASY KID 2
FANTASY KID 3
Afternoon in the Library. MISS KRAWSS, the head librarian is stamping books. She checks her watch.
MISS KRAWSS For goodness sake! Where is that girl?
A phone rings somewhere. MISS K looks around aghast.
MISS KRAWSS (announcing in as loud a shouted whisper as she dares) Patrons! Someone’s phone is breaking the silence! I say, there’s a phone going off and –
She stops suddenly because she realises it’s her own phone. Guiltily looking around she takes her phone out of her bag and switches it off. CASSIE, her young assistant emerges from the kitchen with two cups of tea.
CASSIE Was that someone’s phone?
MISS K Can you believe it?
CASSIE People never remember to switch them off.
MISS K I had to get the perpetrator to leave.
CASSIE Oh, that was a bit hard, wasn’t it? (MISS K gives her a hard look)…But then I don’t know what I’m talking about.
MISS K No you don’t Cassie. Running a library isn’t easy you know.
CASSIE Yes Miss Krawss.
MISS K I work my fingers to the bone in this place and no one appreciates it.
CASSIE There now, Miss Krawss, a nice cup of tea.
MISS K No sugar I hope?
CASSIE No sugar.
MISS K I’m sweet enough! (She tries to smile but her face isn’t used to it so it looks like a grimace. CASSIE smiles back.)
CASSIE Of course you are.
Enter three children, JACK, MARCO and SANDY. They are carrying heavy school bags and come in exhausted.
CASSIE Hi guys! Good to see you! How was school?
MISS K Shhhhhh!
CASSIE (quieter) How was school?
SANDY Hi Cassie. School was so-so. You know.
CASSIE Much homework?
JACK We never get homework on a Friday (JACK and MARCO give each other a high five).
MISS K Ahem ahem! (She points to the sign saying ‘silence’).
CASSIE So why are you here at the weekend? Thought you’d be off playing football or something like that.
MARCO We can’t- it’s raining.
CASSIE Again?
SANDY Yeah. And mum says no TV for the weekend since...
JACK …that episode with the vacuum cleaner and Mr Jackson’s hairpiece.
CASSIE (laughing) Oh yes, I remember. It was funny though.
JACK Yeah, it was worth it. (They all laugh and MISS K slams her book closed.)
MISS K Might I remind you Cassie, that this is a library and that people are trying to read?
MARCO But, there’s nobody else here.
MISS K I am here!
CASSIE Yes Miss Krawss.
(end of sample script)
