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