The Snow Kids
A Puppet Play by Karl A. Matz
Students can create puppets by drawing Snow Kids and pasting them onto sticks.
Characters:
Bobby
Sanford
Connie
Gina
(The four puppets are standing still and quiet as snow people do. Gradually, we hear a muffled whisper.)
Bobby: Hey! Hey! Can you guys hear me?
Connie: I hear you. Be quiet. You're a snowkid. You're not supposed to talk!
Bobby: Well, neither are you!
Sanford: You two quit arguing. Someone might hear!
Bobby: I don't care who hears. I'm sick and tired of standing around all day like . . . like . . .
Gina: Like a snowkid?
Bobby: Yeah! I want to be FREE ! I want adventure.
Gina: Adventure? Like what? You're made of snowballs!
Bobby: Well--Don't you ever wonder what's over there?
Sanford: You mean over that hill by that green house?
Bobby: Yeah! I've been standing here for days, freezing my carrot nose off, and just staring at that hill. I'm sick of it. I want to see what's on the other side.
Sanford: But what if it's something dangerous?
Connie: Yeah! There could be something hot that would melt you.
Sanford: Or maybe some water! If you fell in, you'd be slush!
Gina: Do you think you could do it, Bobby?
Bobby: If I could, would you come, too?
Gina: You bet! I'm sick ofjust standing here, too.
Connie: GINA! What are you saying?
Gina: Come on, Connie. Aren't you just a little curious?
Bobby: Well, if you want to go, then let's get started!
Gina: How can we?
Sanford and Connie: You can't!
Bobby: (groaning as if trying to lift something heavy ) UUUHHHHGGGG!
Gina: What are you doing?
Sanford: Stop it, man!
Connie: You're scaring me.
Bobby: UUUUUNNNNNGGGGG!
Gina: You moved, Bobby. I saw it!
Bobby: (working hard) You've got to get yourself rolling a little.
Connie: How do you know this?
Bobby: I've done it before!
Connie: (angry) When?
Gina: (thrilled) Yeah! When?
Sanford: I know. It was last night. I. saw you. You went out to the street and back.
Bobby: You could have told on me and you didn't! What a pal!
Sanford: Who would I tell? I'm a snowkid.
Bobby: You've got a point. Well, just a little more. (breaks free) THERE! Here I go! Who's coming?
Gina: ME! UUUUUNNNNNGGGG! 000WWWW! UMPH! I'm free! Bye, Connie! Bye, Sanford! (Bobby disappears)Wait, Bobby! Wait for me!
Connie: GINA Q. SNOWKID, YOU GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!
(Gina disappears following right behind Bobby.)
Sanford: Come on, Connie. Let's go with them.
Connie: But you never know what could happen over there!
Sanford: I know what's going to happen here. We'll stand here until March and turn into a pile of slush, then we'll be gone. That's if some kid doesn't kick us over first. No thanks! I'm leaving.
Connie: Sanford, NO!
Sanford: UUUUMMMMPH! Just -- got -- to -- get -- rolling! UMPH! THERE!
Connie: Sanford, STOP!
Sanford: Bye, Connie! I'm off to see what's on the other side of the hill.
Connie: But what if someone sees you? (Sanford is gone.) Sanford? (long silence). Sanford? Bobby? GINNNNNAAAAAA! Heey, you guys! Wait for me! UUUUUGGGHHHHHHH! How'd they do that? HEY? 00000FFFFFF! HERE I COME! (she disappears)
Excerpted from: Themes and Bulletin Boards Across the Curriculum.