The Child’s Story (Adaptation)
Adapted from the short story by Charles Dickens
CHORUS
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a traveller who set out upon a magic journey.
He travelled along a dark path until at last he came to a beautiful child.
The traveller asked the child…
TRAVELLER
What do you do here?
CHILD
I am always at play. Come and play with me!
SAM
So they played the whole day long and were very merry.
The sky was blue, the sun was so bright.
LUCY
When it rained, they loved to watch the falling drops
and to smell the fresh scents.
JO
When it blew, it was delightful to listen to the wind
and fancy what it said.
ABBIE
But, when it snowed, that was best of all;
for, they liked nothing so well as to look up at the white flakes falling fast and thick.
BETH
They had the most astonishing picture-books:
all about dwarfs and giants
and blue- beards and bean-stalks
NICK
and riches and caverns
and forests and Valentines
CHORUS
But, one day, the traveller lost the child.
He called to him over and over again,
but got no answer.
So, he went upon his road,
until he came to a handsome boy. He asked him…
TRAVELLER
What do you do here?
BOY
I am always learning. Come and learn with me.
BETH
So he learned with that boy about Jupiter and Juno,
and the Greeks and the Romans
LUCY
They had holidays too, and Twelfth cakes,
and parties where they danced till midnight
ABBIE
And real theatres where they saw palaces of gold and silver
rise out of the earth.
End of Excerpt
(c) Fiona Harris 2016
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