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BEHIND THE SCENES
Background
on stories & themes of ArtReach's plays |
Jack &
the Beanstalk: Fun with Giants!
Let's Talk About Famous Giants!
Get your kids talking about the
big stuff! Can they think of any other big characters/giants in
books, movies or TV? Discuss the personality of the most
well-known giants. If you were a giant, would you be good or bad?
Jacks Giant:
Often the first concept of a giant children are exposed to, nearly
everyone knows the tale of Jack
and the Beanstalk.
The storys origin is somewhat murky, with some scholars
pointing to early Norse tales. There are dozens of different versions
of the story, but most include Jack climbing a magic beanstalk to
steal golden treasure and, eventually, murder the giant that lives at
the top, thus living happily ever after.
Bigfoot:
The Bigfoot, or the Sasquatch, is an animal which might exist but for
which little to no scientific evidence exists. Described as
ape-like, this missing link stands well over
six feet tall, prowling the wilds of America, particularly the
Pacific Northwest. Often the only clue left behind by the Bigfoot are
the enormous impressions of his feet, many of which if they
are fake are extremely realistic hoaxes.
Fee! Fie!
Foe! FUN!
Jack
and the Beanstalk!
School Play Musical for Children to Perform!
Paul Bunyan: First
documented in the stories bandied about by French-Canadians, Paul
Bunyan is a giant lumberjack. A larger than life character in the
tradition of many such tall tales, Paul played a role in various
creation myths, such as dragging his axe behind him to cleave out the
Grand Canyon. Bunyan is always accompanied by his pet, a blue ox
named Babe, of equal enormity. Giant statues of Paul and Babe have
become a roadside staple in dozens of towns around America.
Frankenstein:
The monster, which remains nameless throughout Mary Shelleys
gothic masterpiece, is described as being eight feet tall and clad in
transparent yellow skin, hideous beyond comprehension. Victor
Frankenstein tacks his beast together out of spare parts taken from
graveyards and slaughterhouses, and he is forced to make it huge
because of the inherent difficulty of replicating the tiny, intricate
parts of the human body.
Jolly Green Giant:
The mascot of the Green Giant vegetable company (a subsidiary of
General Mills), the Jolly Green Giant has been the subject of
innumerable television commercials, concluding with his trademark
"Ho ho ho. Upon his debut in 1928, the giant was a
stooped, menacing creature, but subsequent versions have been
increasingly genial, adopting a frock of leaves and an always present grin.
Goliath:
Arguably the most famous of all giants, Goliath was a massive
Philistine warrior who faced off against the Israelite army in the
Valley of Elah. Offering to defeat any Israeli in one-on-one combat,
Goliath was rebuffed, until the challenge was taken up by young
David. Eschewing armor, the smaller combatant knocked Goliath down
with a stone hurled from his sling, securing victory for the
Israelites and proving himself, by his valor and faith in God, to be
the one true king.
The Legend
of Mulan Story
The young female warrior of
ancient China
The Legend
of Mulan is
based on an ancient Chinese poem that has been the inspiration for
countless films, books and television productions around the
world. It tells the story of a girl who wishes to save
her father from forced conscription in the Chinese army.
Dressed as a boy, she becomes a distinguished warrior and
heroine. Mulans spirit of adventure and courage
makes it a beloved story for children everywhere.
The play begins with the
Ancestors of the Fa family describing the country of China and its
philosophy of "Yin and Yang. The Chinese Emperor is
introduced and his assistant Momo instruct all in this presence to
offer "respect and honor. The Emperor says that he
has information that the country will be safe if they trust in him.
The Ancestors direct us to a
valley where Mulan and her Little Brother are playing at sword
fighting. Mulan is much better than her brother and dreams that one
day she could grow up to be a soldier. Father and family love
her but disapprove of her aspirations and wish that she conduct
herself with more feminine modesty that will lead to marriage.
Though she promises to do better, Mulan asks her father if her dream
will ever come true. Her father promises that it will.
But war is stirring up in the
country and the Emperor issues a decree that every family must send
one adult male to the army. Little Brother is too young and
Father is too old. Mulan begs the family to let her go but they
tell her it is against the law for a girl to serve. Father is
resolved to join, though the prospect of military life cannot be safe
for him since he is in a frail state of health.
Mulan begs the Fa Ancestors to
help her save her father. They tell her that she must go and
introduce her to the rabbit Pika, and the Dragon Imoogi, who will
help her on her journey. Imoogi tests the girl in martial arts
and determines that she is worthy of the task. In the morning,
the Fa family wakes to see that Mulan has taken the horse and fled to
take her place in the army.
Mulan, with Pike and Imoogi,
travel to the Imperial Army camp. Pika attempts to teach Mulan
how to be like a man but Imoogi objects. The dragon tells her
that the way to convey strength is to summon the spirit of the sword
within her own heart.
The army Captain Cheng attempts
to ready his men for war. Momo, the Emperors assistant is
with Captain Cheng and believes the soldiers are of poor
quality. Captain Cheng says his problem is that there are not
enough men. Mulan introduces herself and shows him her superior
ability to use a sword. She tells him her secret is that she
trusts in her heart as well as her head. Captain Cheng is
impressed and asks her to fight by his side in the coming battle.
The Huns are headed by General
Lu Bu who believes that Captain Cheng has secret plans and sends one
of his men to discover them. Captain Cheng has sent Momo with
orders to the Emperor to send more troops. The Hun soldier Yu
Fie stops Momo on his journey, takes the orders and reports back to
General Lu Bu. With this information, the Huns now feel
confident that they will win the battle.
But the Huns had not expected to
encounter one such as Mulan (going by the boys name Me
Lang). Imoogi helps her and the audience conjure a chaos
inducing storm. Captain Cheng despairs and believes the storm
will destroy his battalions chances. Mulan reminds him to
use his heart. With Mulans encouragement he wins a sword
fight with General Lu Bu. Then, Mulan commands the army
(audience) to rise and raise their weapons to the Huns, forcing a
retreat. Mulan is hailed as a hero.
However, Captain Cheng has been
injured by General Lu Bus sword. As Mulan nurses him to
health, the Imperial soldiers tell her that she has been summoned to
the Emperor, who wishes to honor her bravery. Terrified that
this event will reveal her secret, Mulan runs away.
At the golden Imperial Palace
the Emperor asks to meet Me Lang but is told that the heroic soldier
will not appear. At last, Mulan does appear and finally reveals
to all that she is not a male soldier named Me Lang, but a woman
named Mulan. Momo insists she be punished, but the Emperor
prefers to honor her anyway. He offers her gifts and honors but
Mulan says she just wants to go home.
After the painfully long
absence, Mulan returns to her beloved Father and the rest of her
family. They are overjoyed to see her again. After
greeting her they ask who is the person standing beside her. It
turns out that Captain Cheng has followed Mulan from the Imperial
Palace to her valley home. He asks her father for permission to
marry her but Mulan says she has made up her mind. Though she
respects her fathers wishes this is her own decision. She
has decided to marry Captain Cheng.
The Ancestors welcome the couple
into the Fa home and into the family that they represent. They
speak of the Chinese belief in yin and yang, offering their approval
of the couple to be wed.
"The
firm, the enduring, the simple, and the modest are near to virtue."
-- Confucius, The Confucian Analects
History
Comes Alive for School Students
Drama brings the lessons of
history into your heart
History is rich in drama and
intrigue perfect for childrens theatre scripts.
World famous playwrights, from Shakespeare to Arthur Miller, have
used the events of true stories as a basis for their most exciting plays.
ArtReachs plays AMELIA
EARHART, ANNIE
OAKLEY and LEWIS
AND CLARK are
just a few examples of plays that bring history alive for young
audiences. Very popular, reaching thousands of school students
throughout the country, are the Cherokee plays YOUNG
CHEROKEE and TRAIL
OF TEARS.
These plays bring to life the myths of the ancient tribe and tell the
tragic story of their removal from their native lands.
Western Carolina University
Theatre in Education, Cullowhee, NC
ArtReach plays are well
researched, fast paced, with exciting audience participation.
Many of the plays come complete with Study Guides to give teachers
the resources for meaningful classroom activities that give a deeper
understanding of history.
Looking for a subject for your
next school tour? Turn the pages of time and discover a world
of thrilling drama!
The Story
of Sadako
ArtReachs A Thousand
Cranes is based on a true story!
Sadako Sasaki was a Japanese
girl living in Hiroshima when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan
(August 6, 1945). In 1955, at age 11, Sadako was diagnosed with
leukemia, a type of cancer caused by the atomic bomb.
While in the hospital, Sadako
started to fold paper cranes. In Japan, there is a belief that if you
folded 1000 paper cranes, then your wish would come true. Sadako
spend 14 months in the hospital, folding paper cranes with whatever
paper she could get. Paper was scarce so she used the paper from
medicine bottles, candy wrappers, and left over gift wrap paper. Her
wish was that she would get well again, and to attain peace &
healing to the victims of the world.
Sadako died on October 25, 1955,
she was 12 years old and had folded over 1300 paper cranes.
Sadakos friends and classmates raised money to build a memorial
in honor of Sadako and other atomic bomb victims. The Hiroshima Peace
Memorial was completed in 1958 and has a statue of Sadako holding a
golden crane. At the base is a plaque that says:
This is
our cry
This is
our prayer
Peace in
the world
Fold A
Thousand Cranes for Sadako
John C. Fremont Charter School,
Merced, CA - Lansing Middle School, NY
Although Sadako died at a very
young age, her legacy continues. To this day, the paper crane is
probably the most recognized origami model. The paper crane is often
given as a wish for peace.
Sadako's brother (Masahiro
Sasaki), who is now over 70 years old, saved five of the original
paper cranes folded by his sister when she was in the hospital. He
hopes to donate the remaining 5 cranes to the the five continents of
the world.
1990: In Seattle, Washington,
USA, Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Dr. Floyd Schmoe, built a life-size
statue of Sadako. The statue was unveiled on August 6, 1990, 45 years
after the bombing of Hiroshima. The statue is in the Seattle Peace
Park and often has paper cranes draped over it. [Photo from
wikipedia.com] Unfortunately, not everyone is at peace; the statue
was vandalized in 2003 and again in 2012. The statue has been repaired.
Why School
Plays are Vital for Education
It's vitally important -- not an option
Almost every day we hear it from
one of our teachers my school is cutting back on the
arts! Now its your job to tell the powers that be
why you absolutely must produce a school play this year!
Creative Thinking and Useful
Play! Kids learn how to use their own imaginations to confront
daily issues and learning experiences. Learning how to perform
a fictional character and how to convey ideas on stage light a
kids mind on fire. An exciting rehearsal will spark
inspired participation in class.
Teaches Kids to Work
Together! Kids learn to take time and show patience and
cooperation with their classmates and friends that may never happen
in a classroom sitting at their desks. Students read, move and
think together. Rehearsing a play invites everyone to put down
their phones and really listen to and enjoy interaction with others.
Builds Confidence! Real
confidence comes from real accomplishments. Nothing is better
for a childs self-esteem than applause. During rehearsal,
otherwise shy kids may trigger positive reactions from fellow
classmates. Laughing, clapping, participating together helps
kids find self-assurance and acceptance.
Improves Reading Skills!
Some kids are never going to sit down a read a novel. But they
will read a script because the script includes them! Maybe a
child is not clever and witty in real life, but for a moment he can
be those things in front of an audience. Suddenly they love
good writing and reading.
School plays bring theatre into
kids lives and improve their ability to learn and enjoy
life. This is not an option. Its vitally important
to every childs successful education.
Jack and
the Beanstalk Play is Full of Folk Music
History of
the Songs in ArtReachs Jack
and the Beanstalk
Froggy Went a Courting: This
great old story song has quite a history. Some people claim that it
goes back 400 years to England, and that the frog is actually a
French Duke while the mouse is Queen Elizabeth I. It has been popular
in America since colonial times, and it seems to change a little with
each person who performs it. In some versions of the lyrics include
"uh-huh, some "mm-hmm, some "hey hey.
Look the song up and you will find there are so many versions with
so many verses you could sing this song all day!
Old Dan
Tucker was a Mean Old Man!
"Old Jack he went a running
and he did run, uh-huh!" - Tale Tellers!
Polly Wolly Doodle: This
familiar American song dates back to the Civil War where it was a
favorite in minstrel shows. It came to be used as a
"walk-around," often the finale of the show in which each
performer would step out to do a verse, answered by the cast and
audience, leading to a final verse with everyone joining in clapping
and dancing. Polly Wolly Doodle appears in the existing manuscript
for Laura Ingalls Wilder's These Happy Golden Years.
Buckeye Jim: Made popular by
Burl Ives in the 1950s, Buckeye Jim was first recorded around
the time of the Civil War. There are many versions and some believe
it belongs in a category with "Limber Jim songs. It may
have come from the slave culture of the south since it expresses a
wish for escape and flight. It was heard most recently in the
animated film "Fantastic Mister Fox.
Old Dan Tucker: Published in
1843 by Dan Emmett (the author of "Dixie) who also claimed
authorship, Old Dan Tucker may have evolved from a popular slave song
about a part-time minister who lived near Elberton, Georgia. The song
was popular around Northern and Southern campfires during the Civil
War. In later years it became a standard for bluegrass and country
music with recordings by Pete Seeger and most recently, Bruce Springsteen.
On Top of Spaghetti: A
well-known parody of "On Top of Old Smoky deals with the
loss of a meatball "when somebody sneezed." It is a
well-known childrens song. The song appeals to kids because
its about an inanimate object that comes to life. A meatball
defies expectations, and defiancewithin reasonis usually
celebrated in childrens literature.
"All
music is folk music. I ain't never heard a horse sing a song."
-- Louis Armstrong
The Story
of ArtReachs Play The
Jungle Book
"Now this is the Law
of the Jungle
as old and as true as the sky;
And the Wolf that shall keep it
may prosper
but the Wolf that shall break it
must die.
As the creeper that girdles the
tree trunk,
the Law runneth forward and back;
For the strength of the Pack is
the Wolf,
and the strength of the Wolf is
the Pack.
Rudyard
Kiplings classic books, The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle
Book have been read and loved by generations of children and their
grownups. It can be argued that the main story is about a Mowgli, a
boy who was raised by wolves in the Indian Jungle. The greater
meaning of the story seems to be a call for peoples of every kind,
animal and human, to overcome lifes cruelties and work together
to order themselves and their actions in a way that serves the
greater good. ArtReachs new School Play version of the story
uses audience participation to bring everyone together to create
their own unique Jungle world.
The play begins with the
storytellers the Jungle-People reciting the law of the
Jungle. They then begin the story of how Mowgli was found one dark
night. A Man-Father was traveling through and was attacked by a
tiger, the legendary Shere Khan. Bagheera, the panther, witnessed the
attack and also saw that a human boy had been abandoned as a result.
Bagheera takes the baby to wolves Akela and Raksha to raise along
with their own four cubs. At first hesitant, Akela resolves to keep
the Man-Cub but must gain the permission of all of the pack at
Council Rock. At Council Rock, the wolves of the pack give permission
and Bagheera promises to educate the boy in the ways of the Jungle.
Years later Bagheera teaches
Mowgli the Master-Words and the Hunting Call. He also cautions Mowgli
against noticing the Bandar-log or Monkey-People. Though Mowgli is
interested in learning, he is a typical boy who loves to climb and
swim and doesnt take his lessons as seriously as his teacher
would like.
A bad time comes to the Jungle
in the form of drought. All of the animals are starving and Akela
calls everyone to the Peace Rock. This is a rock that is exposed in
the river when the waters dry up and leave only a little water for
the animals to drink. Because the animals are starving, Akela calls a
Water Truce, meaning that they may all drink from the small supply of
water but must not hunt each other during the time of the Truce. All
the kinds of animals agree and the Truce is sealed by a prayer from
Hathi the great elephant with a chant of "Peace, Peace, Peace!
None of the animals are happy to
see the great tiger Shere Khan arrive at Peace Rock because he seldom
cares about the greater good and acts only for himself.
Shere Kahn tells the group that
Mowgli the Man-Cub endangers all Jungle creatures because when he
grows up he will be a Man, the enemy of the Jungle. The animals see
the truth of Shere Khans words, even though Raksha begs them to
let her son stay. Finally, Bagheera says he will take the boy to the
Man-Village and Mowgli makes his tearful goodbyes.
On the journey, Mowgli defies
his teacher Bagheera and runs away from him.
Kaa, the Rock Python, appears
and uses her large, shining eyes to hypnotize Mowgli. The Man-Cub
falls for her charms and is almost eaten when Baloo, a big bear,
ambushes the snake chasing her off and saving Mowglis life.
Mowgli loves his new friend,
Baloo, who is easy going and funny. The two of them hit it off and
develop a friendship. Soon, Bagheera appears and convinces Baloo that
the boy must be taken to the Man-Village in order to save his life
and keep the Jungle safe from Man. Mowgli feels betrayed and leaves
them both, running off alone.
As he travels alone in the
Jungle, Mowgli is captured by the Monkey-People who swing him among
the treetops and have fun with him like a toy. They take him to their
leader, the Golden Queen of the Bandar-log. The Queen tells Mowgli
that she wants him to go to the Man-Village and bring her the Red
Flower, which is a word the animals use for fire. The Golden Queen
tells him that Akela, the boys wolf father, has been killed by
Shere Khan.
Coming to Mowglis aid, the
vulture Chil flies in and restrains the Monkey-People so that
Bagheera and Baloo may rescue the boy. They tell Mowgli the sad
truth, that Akela has indeed been defeated and killed by Shere Khan.
Once again the boy defies his friends and runs away. Only now Mowgli
runs straight for the Man-Village with the goal of securing the Red
Flower for his own use.
When Mowgli reaches the Village
he encounters a woman who seems to be the mother he left when he was
a baby. Mowgli begins to understand that he is not Wolf or Man, but
he is both, becoming another kind of Jungle-Creature. The Villagers
recognize the value of Mowglis mission and give him the Red Flower.
Mowgli runs back to the Peace
Rock in the Jungle and when he gets there, the tiger Shere Kahn is
waiting. Mowgli knows that he must fight the tiger in order to earn
his place in the Jungle. All the animals gather to see the struggle
between the two and recite the Law of the Jungle. Mowgli uses the
power that his human relations have given him, the Red Flower, to
defeat Shere Kahn. But unlike the tiger, Mowgli is generous and lets
the tiger live.
When they are free of Shere Khan
the animals realize that Mowgli has earned his place among them and
cry out "All hail, Mowgli! and again recite the Law:
"The strength of the Wolf is the Pack!
ArtReach's
Version of Kid Frankenstein
Compare ArtReachs Kid
Frankenstein to Mary Shelleys Novel
Mary Shelley published her most
famous book name="ref163626">Frankenstein; or, The
Modern Prometheus in 1818 and it has been fascinating readers ever
since. The story of a scientist who created a living being from
inanimate tissue has inspired an unending parade of satires, movies,
novels, cartoons and comic books. ArtReachs play Kid
Frankenstein is a light-hearted satire, comedy and fantasy, very
loosely based on Shelleys novel, which is intended for kids to
enjoy and perform.
SYNOPSIS OF THE PLAY
The play begins with students,
Kidz, introducing the weird and spooky event that happened at their
school. They begin their story by explaining that the Science
Fair was coming up and their friends Frankie and Irving had big plans
for their project.
Frankie and Irving are regular
kids with very vivid imaginations. We see them in Frankies
basement, pretending to be scientist and assistant. It all
seems like a silly fantasy until a package arrives. The box has
been sent from Transylvania and contains a book by Dr. Frankenstein,
explaining how he accomplished the amazing feat of creating a living
being. Frankie is delighted to have a blueprint for his
extravagant science project.
Frankie and Irving are late for
school the next day and are presented by the principal Mr. Klondike
to Mrs. Newton, the science teacher. Troublemakers, T-Bone and
his Gang of Bonez make Mrs. Newtons job difficult. She
introduces two locals who are making donations for the science
lab: Mr. Spots brings a monkeys brain and the nearsighted
Mrs. Magillacutty brings her late dogs brain.
Mrs. Newton assigns Helga to be
partners with Frankie and Irving in their science project. The
three friends pretend that they are in the laboratory where Frankie
has assembled a being made from stuff he found in his moms
freezer. He directs Irving and Helga to get the monkeys
brain to complete the project.
At night, Irving and Helga
attempt to sneak into the school to get the brain but are caught by
the Gang of Bonez who try to disrupt their plans. In the comic
fracas, the monkeys brain is dropped. Irving and Helga
get the dogs brain and take it to Frankie but they
dont tell him that they had to switch the brains.
Frankie has rigged his
laboratory with everything needed to bring his creation to life.
They are very excited when they flip the switch to give the creature
a life inducing jolt of electricity. However, the creature does
not move. Frankie believes all is lost. The kids leave to
eat dinner feeling that their experiment is a failure.
But in their absence, slowly the
Monster comes to life, dances around the laboratory and escapes to
explore the world. The town is in an uproar as there are
several sightings of a creature that cannot be explained. The
Monster comes to Mrs. Magillacuttys house. She cannot see
him clearly and assumes he is a local school student who would like
some chicken soup. When she goes to light the pilot light on
her stove the Monster goes crazy at the sight of fire, and runs away.
Meanwhile, Frankie and his crew
find the Monster. As Helga distracts him by playing her violin,
the boys drop a net over him, capturing him. They take him back
to the laboratory where they prepare him for the Science Fair.
Principal Klondike is keen to
get the Science Fair underway to distract the frightened population
from the worry of a Monster running loose. T-Bone and his Gang
of Bonez present their less than impressive Volcano experiment which
fizzles. At last, Frankie is thrilled to present his creature
the Monster who makes a show of himself by dancing to
Helgas fiddle. Surprisingly, the Bonez volcano
erupts belatedly, scaring the Monster. The kids wrestle him to
the ground and bring him back to the laboratory.
Learning the brain he has used
is the dogs brain, Frankie decides he must perform brain
transference. He hooks his head up to the Monsters head
but at the last moment, Mrs. Newton appears and stops him. It
turns out, Mrs. Newton was much like Frankie in her youth and she
knows what Frankie is up to. She knows that he must stop
now. Finally, Mrs. Magillacutty arrives, insisting that the
Monster is really her late dog and insists on taking him home.
The Monster loves the idea and everyone agrees.
All are gathered in the
laboratory when Mrs. Newton gives a strong defense for kids who love
science as Frankie does. She shares old stories with Frankie as
they depart and Irving flips the electric switch one last time.
At last the town is safe and Kid
Frankenstein has ceased his experiment. The Kidz end their
spooky story with a happy: "The End.
"Imagination
does not become great until human beings,
given
the courage and the strength, use it to create.
-- Maria Montessori
A
Christmas Wish from Lewis Carroll
To All Child Readers of Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland
by Lewis Carroll, 1871
Dear Children,
At Christmas-time a few grave
words are not quite out of place, I hope, even at the end of a book
of nonsense - and I want to take this opportunity of thanking the
thousands of children who have read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,
for the kindly interest they have taken in my little dream-child.
ArtReachs
Alice
in Christmas Land
Golfshore Playhouse, FL -
Brandenburg Elementary School, Irving, TX
The thought of the many
English firesides where happy faces have smiled her a welcome, and of
the many English children to whom she has brought an hour of (I
trust) innocent amusement, is one of the brightest and pleasantest
thoughts of my life. I have a host of young friends already, whose
names and faces I know - but I cannot help feeling as if, through
"Alice's Adventures" I had made friends with many other
dear children, whose faces I shall never see.
To all my little friends,
known and unknown, I wish with all my heart, "A Merry Christmas
and a Happy New Year". May God bless you, dear children, and
make each Christmas-tide, as it comes round to you, more bright and
beautiful than the last - bright with the presence of that unseen
Friend, who once on earth blessed little children - and beautiful
with memories of a loving life, which has sought and found the truest
kind of happiness, the only kind that is really worth the having, the
happiness of making others happy too!
Your affectionate Friend,
Lewis Carroll
December 25, 1871
Love
Transforms: Beauty and the Beast
Lessons From a Story Old as Time
By Joseph Dispenza and Dr.
Beverly Nelson
The ageless children's story Beauty
and the Beast is
one of the finest parables we have about the transforming qualities
of love -- and about one of life's most important lessons: things are
not always what they seem.
Storybook
Magic for Your School
Dana Elementary School, Santa
Maria, CA - Solano Youth Theatre, CA
Here are some lessons from
Beauty and the Beast about choosing truth over appearances -- and
love over fear.
Avoid judging. Virtually all
spiritual literature warns us against judging people and conditions.
The reason is that when we judge someone or something, we immediately
put them in a kind of prison of our opinion -- a prison which they
cannot get out of and which we cannot get into. If you think of a
person as a thief, for instance, the person is labeled forever -- and
your judgment actually can make that person act like a thief. Stay
away from judgment: it limits perception and keeps you in fear.
See the beauty. Beauty is all
around us, everywhere and at all times. But it is up to us to
actually see and appreciate beauty. Many people go through life
choosing to regard their reality as ugly and unsatisfying. They look
at the half-full glass and see it as half-empty. When all of life is
seen only as an opportunity to confirm the human experience as a vale
of tears and troubles, then it certainly becomes that! See life for
the beautiful journey it truly is, and watch miracles happen.
Stop complaining. Complaining is
another form of judging. When you complain, you are automatically
saying that people and situations are imperfect, defective, and even
ugly. Try to head off a complaint by taking a second to question and
reconsider your initial response. Even a brief moment will give you
the chance to see things in a different way. A complaint is a comment
that comes from a willful ego. Life will go much smoother if you
trade a complaint for a compliment.
Move beyond the appearance.
Things are not always what they seem. In fact, things are almost
always different from how they appear to the eyes and how they sound
to the ears. If you will find the truth about people and things, move
beyond appearances -- entertain exactly the opposite of what you are
seeing and hearing. The truth, like the prince, lies behind the wall
of the physical senses, in a place where only the heart can discern.
Choose love. When given the
choice between fear and love, choose love every time. If the culture
is presenting you with fearful visions, you can personally dispel
them by deciding to leave fear behind and go toward love. In this
way, by raising your own consciousness into a loving place, you are
lifting all of Consciousness with you. This is how wars are stopped
or prevented -- and how people and situations in 'terminal'
conditions are healed unconditionally.
The lessons of The Beauty and
the Beast are everywhere in this enchanting fairy tale. We encourage
you to surround yourself this month with the energy of its
transformative teachings: love transforms everything, elevates
everything, and reveals your life as the truly beautiful experience
it is.
ArtReachs
Cinderella is an Ageless Classic
Charles Perrault The
Classic Cinderella
Charles Perrault was born in
Paris in 1628 to a wealthy bourgeois family. He attended the best
schools and studied law before embarking on a career in government
service. He took part in the creation of the Academy of Sciences as
well as the restoration of the Academy of Painting. When the Academy
of Inscriptions and Belles-Lettres was founded in 1663, Perrault was
made secretary for life.
Storybook
Magic for Children to Perform
Solano Youth Theatre, Fairfield, CA
At the age of 55 Perrault tried
his hand at children's literature and in 1697 he wrote his famous
Contes de ma Mere L'Oye Tales of Mother Goose. Its publication
made him very popular and marked the beginnings of a new literary
genre, the fairy tale. He used images from around him such as the Chatename
au Ussé
for Sleeping Beauty and in Puss-in-Boots, the Marquis of the Chateau
d'Oiron.
Perhaps because of his age,
Perrault did not sign his own name to the collection, but published
under the name of his 17-year-old son. Ever since, there has been
some dispute whether father or son wrote it, but the tendency of
scholarly opinion is to attribute it to the father.
The Contes were instantly
successful on their first publication and have remained enormously
popular ever since. Although the style of the tales in the
original French suggests the sophistication of the courtly audience,
by the time the tales were translated into English (by Robert Samber
in 1729), they were clearly directed toward a child audience.
In England, the fairy tales
became widely available through chapbooks (cheap, inexpensive books
sold by traveling peddlers) as well as other, more reputable
publications. The first American edition was not published until
1794, although the tales may have been available to colonial readers
through imported books.
Perrault's most famous stories
are still in print today and have been made into operas, plays,
movies and animated films. Some of Perrault's best known
stories are:
-
Blue Beard
- Sleeping Beauty
- Little Red
Riding Hood
- Puss in Boots
- Cinderella
- Little Thumb
- Donkey Skin
Charles Perrault died in Paris
in 1703.
Frankenstein
is 200 Years Old!
The world's
most famous monster's birthday
Even National Public Radio is
celebrating the worlds most famous monsters
birthday! Frankenstein still fascinates kids of every age!
Today on NPR: "Two
hundred years ago, a 20-year-old English author anonymously published
the tale of a scientist obsessed with the impossible
creating life. The story evolved into a classic. A masterpiece.
Revered alongside Shakespeare. Byron. Melville. The book was decades
centuries, even ahead of its time. Raising deep,
existential questions about who we are, our responsibility in
science, and our ethical obligations. This hour, On Point:
Frankenstein rises again 200 years on. -- Jane Clayson
Welcome to
My La-bor-ra-tory! Ha-ha!
Three friends try to follow
Doctor Frankenstein's instructions!
Frankenstein was written by Mary
Wollstonecraft Shelley. She started writing the story
when she was 18, and the first edition of the novel was published
anonymously in London on 1 January 1818: It is still available
for kids today: Frankenstein (Junior Classics for Young
Readers) Discover Books, Dalmatian Press.
Critics have responded
positively to Frankenstein positive since the mid-20th century.
Director Guillermo del Toro describes Frankenstein as "the
quintessential teenage book", adding "You don't belong. You
were brought to this world by people that don't care for you and you
are thrown into a world of pain and suffering, and tears and hunger.
It's an amazing book written by a teenage girl. It's mind blowing."
Frankenstein200 is a transmedia
project, studying the learning that occurs when people participate in
a combination of hands-on activities and immersive digital
experiences. The Frankenstein200 kit includes seven hands-on
activities that encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation.
Check it out here: https://frankenstein.life/
The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow Script is Kid-Friendly
Halloween Script is Full of
Hilarious Comedy
You might be surprised during
the first few minutes of ArtReachs The Legend of Sleepy
Hollow. Rather than recoiling in horror, youll be
laughing your socks off!
ArtReachs The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
has been adapted especially for kids and family audiences.
Irving Washingtons famous American tale takes center stage,
with his story and language in tact. The bumbling school
teacher Ichabod Crane woos his hearts desire, the plumb and
blushing Katrina, never suspecting that he is the butt of his rival
Brom Bones practical joke. Katrina has no intention of
dropping her brawny beau for the school teacher, she just plays coy
until Brom wins the match.
The Ride of the Headless
Horseman! Great Roles for Middle, Jr/ High School.
Never too scary for the little ones!
ArtReachs THE
LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW
Laughs and audience
participation make this a great play for Halloween
entertainment. Clearly drawn instructions for building a
Headless Horseman costume are included in the Teachers Guide, making
it easier for you concentrate on comic timing. Dont
hesitate to assure your young audiences that, though there will be
moments of thrilling fright, theyll leave the theatre laughing.
Mark Twain
Loved Childrens Theatre
Every Child Deserves Theatre in School
"Children's
Theatre is a great educational feature. The time ought to come
when a child's theatre will be a part of every public school in the land.
Mark Twain (The New York Times)
August 10, 1909
The occasion of Mark Twains
quote was the closing of East Side Playhouse due to lack of
funds. Just one year earlier Mr. Twain had delighted in a
performance of an adaptation of his book, The Prince and the Pauper,
produced for a young audience. Our most beloved American
author knew more than a century ago what we all know now,
childrens theatre should and must be a staple of feature of education.
For many years, we would hear
from teachers who lamented the fact that there could be no drama club
at their schools because they had no stage. Sometimes they
would say their school could only afford a few dollars toward the
expense of a theatrical production. Without sewing
machines there could be no costumes. Without a work shop there
could be no scenery. But anyone who has read or seen an
ArtReach play knows that none of these things are needed to put on a
wonderful show that will light kids imaginations and make their
parents fairly burst with pride!
Librarian Nancy Hammer, Peter
Pan Cast,
Shoultes Elementary School (WA)
At ArtReach we encourage
educators to concentrate not on what they dont have, but what
they do have in abundance! Every teacher and every student has
a deep well of imagination that can be called on to delight, dazzle
and enchant. ArtReachs plays are designed to coax
out the treasures that already exist in the hearts and minds of every
student, young or old.
One of ArtReachs biggest
fans, Sarah Ackerman-Hale writes:
"Directing
plays inspired me to go back to school to become an elementary
teacher. As I've completed my schooling, I've come to really
understand and appreciate your philosophies about the emphasis being
on the process, not so much the completed product.
As you might have guessed,
Sarahs recent production of ArtReachs TREASURE
ISLAND was huge
hit. Mark Twain would have loved it!
The
Importance of Being Tinker Bell
Why is Tinker Bell one of
childrens theatres most beloved characters?
In the play PETER
PAN, Tinker Bell
is Peters best friend and constant companion. She tags
along with him to the Darling house, helps Peter find his shadow and
sprinkles pixie dust on the children to help them fly. She may
even be in love with Peter though he doesnt know that since
hes only a little boy. Before its all over Tinker
Bell has saved Peters life by drinking the poison that was
meant for him. And in a way, she has saved us -- the audience,
by inspiring us to "believe.
Tinker Bell is a childs
ultimate imaginary friend. One who loves Peter no matter what
and will help him in lifes struggles and even save him from death.
Tinker Bell from Shoultes Elem
(WA) & Welsh Hills Granville (OH)
In the original production of PETER
PAN, Tinker Bell
is seen only as a reflected light and heard only as the tinkling of
bells. ArtReachs production allows the Tinker Bell to
come fully alive onstage. Instead of a light, a real performer
uses only a kazoo and body language to communicate, which retains the
effect of her original otherworldliness while allowing the young
actor to fully embrace and enjoy Tinker Bells unique
fairy/pixie character.
At ArtReach we often point out
that Tinker Bell is a great role for kids who love to act but have
trouble learning lines. That doesnt mean that this is a
simple role to perform -- only that a playful, imaginative child can
truly convey Tinker Bells rare and magical gifts.
Why is
ArtReachs Wizard of Oz so popular?
Its not hard to understand
why teachers all over the world recommend ArtReachs version of WIZARD
OF OZ over all others.
This script is one of the most
beloved because it stays true to L. Frank Baums original
book. This no need for gimmicks, stage tricks or elaborate
effects. There are no long speeches or complicated
sequences. Just as Baum gave kids a safe place for dreaming in
his classic book -- this version uses the written word as a structure
for kids to hang their dreams on. It uses the childs
innate impulse to play and invent the essential elements that
make the story so endearing. Using creative play as its base,
kids are allowed to be silly, to day dream, to explore a land of Oz
that is distinctly their own. Why just watch a storm
appear? Why not become the storm yourself? Why should
Toto stay in his basket when he has so much to do and say? Why
does there have to be just one Dorothy? Why cant everyone
who wants to play the girl from Kansas have her own special moment?
Creative
Script Sparks Kids' Imaginations!
Stage Kids (CA) & Shoultes
Elem (WA) - Up to 4 Scarecrows!
ArtReachs version of THE
WIZARD OF OZ was
written just for kids. Fun, freedom and creative joy are
infused in every page of this script, inviting children and directors
to create a play that is meaningful for their special kids. No
hassle, no fuss and no demands. Whether you are a professional
or a first time director, you cant go wrong with ArtReachs
WIZARD
OF OZ. The
script takes you by the hand and lets you and your kids find your own
yellow brick road.
Peter Pan
is Theatre Not TV
So you didnt like the TV
Special PETER PAN LIVE? Almost nobody did. Heres why.
The TV Special Peter Pan Live!
had hardly begun before twittering folks all over the country were
sharing their displeasure. It seemed everyone was disappointed
in this most anticipated production. Why?
Allison Williams and Christopher
Walken gave heartfelt performances. The scenery and costumes
were unique, colorful and imaginative. The songs were the same
great songs we remembered. So why did so many folks feel let down
when they watched this beautiful and exciting TV event?
At ArtReach, we realized long
ago that a live performance never translates to video or TV.
Television productions are written, acted and edited for
televisions unique platform a screen. A stage
performance is a once in a life-time event, and its magic depends
entirely on the interaction and participation of a live
audience. When we watch live people pouring their hearts out on
stage we engage, sympathize and feel invested in the success of the
performance and performers we are watching. We are as
exhilarated as the performers because for just a short while we are
sharing an extraordinary moment of human connection.
ArtReachs Peter
Pan, North Shore
Children's Theatre, Salem, MA
J. M. Barrie wrote PETER PAN
specifically for the stage. He didnt write his novel
PETER AND WENDY (which is now in the public domain) until long after
the stage plays spectacular success. Never was there a
story that depended more on the delicate interaction between actor
and audience. Try as they might, the best actors directors and
designers in the world cannot save PETER PAN from looking bland and
lifeless on a TV screen.
People reacted negatively to the
TV Special Peter Pan Live! simply because they instinctively wanted
more. They could feel in their bones that this would be
terrific if only they were actually there to expereince it.
Thats why no matter how many media screens we own on our TVs or
our phones; we will still seek out live theatre performances.
Peter Pan will always fly into our hearts, as long as theatre lives.
The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow: Scary story or practical joke?
Washington Irvings classic
story is just a fun, practical joke!
Hollywood and many contemporary
storytellers like to link The
Legend of Sleepy Hollow
to stories like the contemporary Friday the Thirteenth or The Walking
Dead, with lots of terrifying ghosts and gory un-headings. In
fact, Washington Irvings story is about nothing more than a
practical joke played by one man upon his rival; an attempt to secure
his intended ladys hand.
The
Headless Horseman!
( Instructions for Headless
Horseman Costume in Teacher's
Guide )
Katrina is wise to Brom
Bones joke. She knows that the hills of Sleepy Hollow are
not haunted any more any other place in the new republic. She
enjoys watching as participating as Ichabod Crane is scared into
believing in ancient haunts. He is nothing more than an
unwitting participant in her dance of courtship with the brawny Bones.
Brom Bones, sensing that
Katrinas head is momentarily turned by the
"sophisticated school teacher from Connecticut, attempts
to show her what a coward he really is. Katrina plays along,
seeming to be convinced of Ichabods superiority, until at last
she gets "her man.
Though Johnny Depp and the
producers of the movie, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, want to offer a
scary Halloween thrill, Washington Irvings original story is
considerably less bloody. Irvings character Brom Bones is
successful in scaring his rival Ichabod Crane from the Hollow,
securing his pact with the lovely Katrina who happily joins her
darling Brom in an enthusiastic trip down the chapel aisle.
What Can
Dragons Teach Us About Bullying?
The Reluctant Dragon Takes on
the Bullies
Kenneth Grahames classic
story strikes a chord with contemporary readers because it stirs in
us a natural compassion for others. In The
Reluctant Dragon
we meet a dragon who is a misfit among mythical beasts a
peaceful soul who just wants to enjoy life with friends.
Similarly, the boy who meets the dragon is misunderstood and longing
for excitement. We cheer at the end because we are pleased to
see the underdog triumph.
Train Your
Dragon in Three Easy Steps!
In ArtReachs version of The
Reluctant Dragon,
Widget and Hairytoes are plagued by the neighborhood bullies, the
Grody Gobsters. As members of a group who consider themselves
superior to others, the Gobsters have none of Widgets
insecurities or yearnings. As a result they tease and pester
our heroes and even call for the destruction of their beloved
dragon. Though this play is set in a fairytale world with
lots of laughs and a satisfying final solution, we know that similar
stories in life do not always end so happily.
Have your students read
Grahames classic short story. Then read the first in the
popular series of books How to Train Your Dragon, which was inspired
by the classic. Have them discuss the similarities and
differences in the stories. How is the theme of bullying used
in order to make the story more contemporary? Then use the
discussion of this literature to launch a deeper discussion on
bullying in your school.
Broadway
Plays v. ArtReach Plays: Whats the Difference?
Are ArtReachs plays better
than a Broadway Musicals for kids?
Broadway plays are written for
professional adult actors who have spent long years studying their
craft and have already proven their exceeding talent.
Professional actors have trained to deliver long, difficult speeches
and have spent years learning the most advanced vocal and physical
moves. Broadway plays also rely on expensive and
state-of-the-art technical stagecraft. These scripts are
usually quite long with elaborate scene changes and an
intermission. Also, since big productions are star vehicles,
the spotlight will always linger on the star of the show rather than
the team of performers who support the project as a whole.
Though some of your most talented kids may clamor to do the original,
is it really the best choice for your school?
Everyone
has a Role in ArtReachs Peter Pan
Peter
Pan -- Shoultes
Elementary School, Marysville, WA
ArtReachs School Plays are
written just for kids to perform. There are no long speeches or
difficult scenery requirements. Peter
Pan, for
instance, allows up to four kids play the coveted role of Peter Pan
so that not one child is the star. Even better, each and every
other role has a distinct name and at least a few lines to give them
their big moment to shine. Special kids and kids in
wheelchairs may be cast and given the chance to fit right in with the
team of performers. No one is discouraged, no one dreads
rehearsals. Best of all, you have the right and ability to
change the play write lines, characters, songs in order
to serve your unique group of superstars!
Ask yourself, do you want
to start out with a script that may be too difficult for many
kids? Do you want to encourage only the brightest talents, or
do you want to allow everyone to have the most positive
experience? Do you want to bring out the best in each
every child in your cast? Check out any of ArtReachs
School Plays and youll soon see the difference.
Theatre is
Daydreaming in Motion
Any child can ride a giant crane
or become a princess!
Like all artistic expression,
theatre is a celebration of lifes experiences. For
children it is even more. It is a reaching for the future, an
exploration of what is to come, a lovely excuse to dream about the
path that lies ahead. Any child can ride a giant crane or
become a princess, a wizard or a knight in shining armor. Any
child can kick around all the reasons why princesses do what they do;
experience all the obstacles and triumphs involved in slaying that
pesky dragon. Navigating through a theatre world is daydreaming
in motion. And it can be a wondrous and nurturing place to grow.
ArtReach Plays offers lots of
information and suggestions to enhance the learning experience and
many tips on directing. You can pick and choose what makes the
most sense for you and your students. You know what to do with
it youre the teacher!
Our children have a long dream
ahead of them. This is the place for them to test their
creativity, explore their farthest limits, and to begin to understand
the place they will take in the real world. All the
things that might worry you, the things you might think are important
costumes, scenery, learning lines, getting it right, making it
"good have very little to do with the blossoming
that is going on in a young players mind.
Every ArtReach school play has
been written to take the emphasis off of all that, leaving you to
concentrate on what really matters. Its the process -
that feeling around in the dark - that means the most.
Place your emphasis on the joy of creation. At every bump in
the road choose the path of fun and exploration. Give your
young friends a safe place to "play and imagine.
Give them roots and wings&ldots;
And guess what? I promise
you the play will be better than your wildest dreams!
The
Velveteen Rabbit: The Power of Love
What does Margery Williams tell
us about love in her wonderful Christmas Classic?
Margery Williams beloved
classic seems to tell us that love makes us Real. Since The
Velveteen Rabbit
longs to be Real and eventually becomes a wild bunny, its easy
to miss the deeper meaning.
The Boy loves his toy rabbit so
much that the toy shows its age and becomes shabby. But is
Williams really talking about how much a Boy loves a toy?
"Real
isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a
thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long
time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."
As we age we become shabbier
just like the Velveteen Rabbit and his mentor the Skin Horse.
We may suffer a few bumps and scrapes along the way, but sooner or
later we go out of doors and find our own path in a wild new world.
Just as Michael (The Boy in
ArtReachs version of The
Velveteen Rabbit)
recovers from illness and begins to pursue his dreams, so do we all
break free of the trappings of childhood and find strength in the
past to begin a new future. Although, Margery Williams
story will bring a tear to your eye, it is really a very hopeful
story about a Boy who is stepping out into his own new world and
finding the courage to pursue a happy adulthood.
As the play ends, everyone
gathers around the Christmas tree. Michael realizes that love
of family and friends (real and imagined) has carried him through the
difficulties of childhood and he is now prepared to face the future.
Alice in
Wonderland is a Christmas Play?
Read The Story of Alice in
Christmas Land
"Curiouser
and curiouser!
-- Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
If you thought Wonderland was
curious, wait until you visit Christmas Land! Alice in
Wonderland is one of the worlds most famous and beloved
classics for children. Alice
in Christmas Land
gives the familiar story a musical holiday twist.
The play begins as Lewis Carroll
calls for Alice who must be hiding. While he looks the
Storytellers begin the story describing merry old England at
Christmas time. When Alice finally presents herself Lewis sees
that there are not 1 but 6 Alices! He asks 5 of them to sit
down and wait their turn to play the part as the play progresses.
Lewis Carroll is determined to
take photographs of Alice with his fancy camera. But Alice is
reluctant because she would rather decorate the Christmas tree.
Mr. Carroll agrees and Alice unpacks the ornaments. To her
surprise each ornament represents characters in the stories that Mr.
Carroll has told her. She discovers the Queen of Hearts
heart ornament and Mr. Carroll tells her that this is the most
important ornament of all because it represents the spirit of love
and kindness which is the center of holiday spirit.
At
last Alice poses for a picture but as she does she becomes sleepy
and drifts into a dream. The next thing she knows, a White
Rabbit has entered and wakes her up. But this not the White
Rabbit she remembers from the story, this rabbit is dressed in a
Santa costume and carries a great sack on his back. However,
the White Rabbit seems to have no understanding of who Santa is and
what Christmas is all about. The Christmas White Rabbit
says "Mustnt be late! and disappears down his rabbit hole.
Alice follows the rabbit and
finds herself in a very unusual place. Little does she know
that she has fallen into Christmas Land where every inhabitant has a
very strange idea of Christmas. She finds a bottle that says
"drink me. When she drinks from the bottle she grows
very small, as small as a cupcake. A Caterpillar comes along
and tells her that tasting the cupcake will make her grow. One
taste of the icing and Alices head is in the clouds!
Along
come Tweedledum and Tweedledee, two little boys who are flying
through the air, lofted up by the propellers on their hats.
Alice asks them to take her flying and together they soar up so high
they see the Christmas star! Alice then asks them to help her
become the right size for a little girl again. They give her a
gingerbread man and tell her to eat part of it to grow down.
Next
Alice meets the grinning Cheshire Cat who is now a Christmas Cat
with green and red stripes. The Cat has the habit of
disappearing and reappearing during their conversation. The Cat
sings a version of "Deck the Halls that seems crazy to
Alice. The Cat tells her, "Were all mad here,
and sends her along to the Mad Hatters tea party.
But
the Mad Hatter refuses to serve tea, claiming his party is really a
tree decorating party. But Alice doesnt see any tree and
has an absurd exchange with the Hatter about his tree that isnt
there. Dormouse sings a Christmas carol that is just as silly
as the Cats song. Alice declares, "No one here knows
anything about Christmas at all!
The Mad Hatter sends Alice along
to the garden of the Queen of Hearts where Alice finds decorators
throwing away yesterdays Christmas tree ornaments and putting
up new ones. Everyone seems terrified of the Queen and indeed
when the Queen appears everyone runs away.
The Queen asks Alice to play
croquet and Alice agrees. But this is not like any croquet game
Alice has played before. The mallets are flamingos, the arches
are people from the audience and the balls are hedgehogs.
After an attempt to play the game, Alice tells the Queen that she
cheats. This prompts the Queen to sing of her own virtues and
call for Alices head. Alice calmly informs the Queen that
there must be trial first.
At
the trial the Queen accuses Alice of sending a Christmas card,
claiming the fact establishes Alices guilt. At last,
Alice pulls the heart ornament that Mr. Carroll has given her and
presents it to the Queen. Alice tells the Queen that she should
represent love and kindness, symbolized by the heart, because
thats what Christmas is all about. If she did, Alice
tells her, "All of your subjects would understand Christmas a
great deal more than they do now!
The Queen is outraged and cries
"Off with her head! All the Alices appear together
and demand that they should like to see the Queens head
off. All Alices ask for the audiences help and
together they drive the Queen away.
Soon Alice is sleeping as before
and awakens to hear Mr. Carroll and everyone singing "We Wish
You a Merry Christmas. As Alice tells Mr. Carroll about
her dream, each of the characters appears before her. The Queen
appears, demanding her heart. Alice says "With this, you
can be the very best Queen there ever was. When the Queen
wishes everyone a Merry Christmas, the crowd shouts, "All hail
the Queen of Hearts!
Mr. Carroll tells Alice to keep
each Christmas in her heart for all are precious, prompting everyone
to join in singing, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year!
"If
I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense.
-- Lewis Carroll, Alices
Adventures in Wonderland
A
Christmas Carol, the Worlds Favorite Holiday Story
About A
Christmas Carol
by Charles Diskens
PREFACE
I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little
book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers
out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or
with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish
to lay it.
Their faithful Friend and Servant, C.D.
December, 1843 |
Already the successful author of
Sketches by Boz, Pickwick Papers, Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby,
The Old Curiosity Shop, Barnaby Rudge and American Notes, Charles
Dickens (1812-1870) was one of the best-loved novelists of the time
when he wrote this short novel, which was completed in a mere six
weeks in tandem with the production of the eleventh episode of the
serially published Martin Chuzzlewit.
Originally published on December
17, 1843, the book was rapturously reviewed and became an instant
success, the first 6,000 copies of its initial print-run being sold
out by Christmas, with 2,000 further copies from the second printing
snapped up by the 6th of January. While obviously enormously popular
from the outset, it has remained Dickens most widely enjoyed
work, with hundreds of further reprints and adaptations.
Dickens was completely
responsible for the entire production of the book, and he
commissioned John Leech (1817-1864) to produce a series of hand
colored etchings and wood engravings to illustrate the volume (six
shown below).
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