THE WILD AND WACKY RHYMING STORIES OF MISS HENRIETTA HUMPLEDOWNING
by Tom Smith

 

Characters:
Actor 1 (F)      Frankie's Mom, Madison, Gnome, Glory
Actor 2 (F)      Dori, Madison's Mom, Earl's Mom, Girl, Gnome, Zach's Mom, Zach's Granny
Actor 3 (M)     Trevor, Frankie's Dad, Zachary
Actor 4 (M)     Frankie, Earl Greene, Earl's Dad, Storeowner
(If single cast, 13W, 9M)

Time/Place:    
The time is present day in multiple, simple locations.

Running time:
45 minutes.

Summary:
THE WILD AND WACKY RHYMING STORIES OF MISS HENRIETTA HUMPLEDOWNING is a short play for young audiences comprised of four distinct stories.The entire piece is written in rhyming couplets.

DORI LEE, the first story, explores a young girl obsessed with her looks.  Nervous that she might not win a local beauty contest, Dori Lee piles on more and more makeup and flashier clothing until she has transformed herself into a clown.  Unable to remove the makeup, she runs away, never to be seen again.

THE BOY WHO GREW A TAIL is about Frankie O'Leary O'Scott, who refuses to eat his vegetables despite warnings from his parents that if he doesn't, something "bad" will happen to him. Frankie awakes one morning and finds himself changing into a kangaroo: an animal that only eats greens.

THE BULLY, EARL GREENE looks at Madison Tunney's confrontation with Earl Greene, a local bully.  When she finds herself living Earl's life for a day, Madison begins to understand Earl's mean ways.

THE GIANT GNOME follows gnome Zachary Taylor, who, tired of being so short, ventures out to find a magical potion that will make him grow taller.  He finds it, but drinks too much and becomes a giant, unable to live among the other gnomes.

THE WILD AND WACKY RHYMING STORIES OF MISS HENRIETTA HUMPLEDOWNING is reminiscent of the poetry of Shel Silverstein and offers insights against vanity, not listening to your parents, not judging others and being happy with yourself.  It also reiterates the importance of storytelling.