Play-The Island Of Bani

The Island Of Bani

Conventions

Text in quotes are to be said by the actor.

Text in italics are an instruction

Normal text are scene setting descriptions that the actors should base their performances on.

Characters

Poppy: clever, kind, nerdy

Kathleen: shopaholic, fashionable, girly

Amy: brave, bossy, excitable

Max: kind, a bit vain, can be silly

Uncle Sebastian: old, friendly, loves tea

Scene 1

Narrator: “Scene 1:  The heirs alight the island.  The 2 sisters, Kathleen and Poppy, and their cousins, Amy, and Max, are climbing clumsily out of a tiny rowing boat. They have been rowing a long way, and are at last on Bani Island to visit their Uncle Sebastian”

Kathleen: “I hope the market here is worth the effort of this tiresome boat trip”

Poppy: “I don’t know where you get the energy from to go shopping after this. I’m whacked.”

Kathleen: “Believe me, I’m running on reserve but you know shopping and me - one has to find meaning to life where one can”

Poppy: “I hope the beds work”

Amy: “Come on people, this is really exciting, you should be buzzing”

Max: “Girls, girls, girls, just wake me when something happens. It’s just an island - that means it can be as crap as anywhere else but smaller AND you can’t leave when you want”

Amy: “Wow! Look up there. That’s Uncle’s house. I didn’t think it would be so big. I hate to say this but when Uncle dies some lucky niece is going to very happy - hold on, that’s me”.

Smirks and runs off stage as if to go to the house.

Kathleen, Poppy, Max:Run off stage after Amy.

Scene 2

Narrator: “Scene 2: Meeting Uncle Sebastian. Hewn of stone from the cliffs a large house sits upon the hill that is the heart of the island. The cliffs have  survived many storms, and so has the house. Some say the house is merely the gateway over the entrance to vast catacombs dug into the hill many centuries ago. There is always a reason a thing is buried and best  forgotten. Old Uncle Sebastian knows better than to try and open rusted locks.

Instructions to actors:

Kids: Wait outside sitting room door.

Uncle Sebastian: Enter through the conservatory doors, and busy yourself humming/singing while you make a cup of tea.

Kids: Knock on door.

Uncle Sebastian: “Visitors, visitors!” Hurry to let them in

Kids: Enter, and look around the room, amazed by it’s splendour.

Uncle Sebastian: “Welcome everyone. It been such a long time since I’ve had such young and beautiful visitors. What lovelies you’ve grown into. Truly a cup of tea must be in order. Who can I tempt?”

Poppy: “Perhaps a hug first Uncle and then tea”

Kids: All greet Uncle with a hug and take a cup of tea.

Poppy: Examine the books on his table, and pick them up. “Uncle? Would it be OK to borrow some of your books? They look most interesting”

Uncle Sebastian:”Of course my dear. What is a book if not for reading?”

Poppy:”Very true Uncle”

Amy: “Wow, I never realised Uncle that you were so …. rich. I thought you’d be living in a shack or something.

Uncle Sebastian:”Everything has its price and some debts are never truly paid. Let your youth be your wealth, spend it wisely and perhaps you won’t need things to make you happy”

Max: “Even so, nice stuff” - pick things up and examine them.

Kathleen: “Uncle? When does the market open?”

Uncle Sebastian:”Most days, but tomorrow is the best. Traders from the island are here and some of the wares may interest you”

Uncle Sebastian: “Well I expect everyone is tired after your long journey. Finish up your drinks and I’ll take you to your rooms.”

Kids: Exit with Uncle Sebastian.

Scene 3

Narrator: “Scene 3: Tales of Death. Up in the attic, the kids delight in telling each other stories about the island”

Amy: Max: Kathleen: Sit in a circle.

Poppy: Sit elsewhere and read your book.

Max: “Spooky old place this?”

Kathleen:”I’ve heard that there used to be cannibals here. And some say that there are still special secret island ceremonies  where they eat humans - giant kebab style. And that’s why there no fat people on the island. Watch out for natives carrying buckets of barbecue sauce if I were you”

Amy: “That’s not right - the real horrors of this island were the mad priests that lived in the caves of the cliffs. They had a prophecy that the devil would arrive on the island disguised  as a young woman and so they tortured any unfortunate traveller  who set foot on the island until they admitted they were the devil - and then ripped their heads off. And some say the ghosts of those priests are still vigilant”

Max: “What rubbish, the real story concerns a pirate ship that wrecked here hundreds of years ago. The pirates had no wives so they ended up mating with the wild dogs on the island and they gave birth to these horrible werewolf like beasts, who in turn ate the pirates in punishment for creating them as monsters. But the wolf people didn’t die off. They just went into hibernation and one day they will emerge from their sleep and feast again on the island’s visitors.”

Poppy: After all the other Kids have had a chance at making up a story, turn to page 24.

Read the piece of paper inside, but pretend you are reading from the book.

“Forget your silly stories - listen to this:

Read message in page 24........

Amy: “And?”

Poppy: “Sorry, that’s it. The last bit of the page has been torn out”

Max:”Come on, you're making it up?”

Poppy: “No I’m not. Look for yourself”  Hand over the book

Max: “Grim. Do you think its real?”

Kathleen: “It could be, do you think we’re safe here?”

Amy: “Don’t be daft. It is just another silly story like the ones you’ve just made up”.

Poppy: “Here, you read the book. All rest of it appears to be true.”

Uncle Sebastian: Knock loudly on the door.

Kids: Jump in fright “Ahhh!”

Uncle Sebastian: Outside door, “Children?”

Uncle Sebastian: Enter the room, “I am walking  down to the village tonight, to the bar . I’ll trust you’ll be OK on your own.”

Scene 4

Stage: Uncle Seb take torch.

********************************************************************************************

** Uncle Sebastian: WHEN the lights go out act as if someone is dragging you out

** of the room. You may scream (note: you’re an old man), and shout. You are

** helpless, and are ‘dragged’ out the room.

********************************************************************************************

Narrator: “Scene 4: Under the veil of night. Uncle Sebastian set off on the track leading to the village”

Uncle Sebastian: Pretend to walk down the road

Narrator: “It is very dark, and Uncle Sebastian is already finding it hard to spot the track in the gloom, when his torch lights fails. He finds himself immersed in darkness”

Narrator: Turn off the lights.

Uncle Sebastian: From off stage scream and shout, as if someone is biting you. Then fall silent.

Scene 5

Stage: Turn on the lights fully.

Narrator: “Scene 5: Missing Uncle. The kids have woken up, and are gathered in the kitchen, eating their breakfast”

Poppy:”I wonder where Uncle is?”

Max:”Perhaps he’s sleeping off a hangover somewhere”

Amy:”Maybe he’s got a secret lover?”

Kathleen, Max: “Owww”

Poppy:”We shouldn’t joke, he might have hurt himself”

Kathleen:”It could be that Amy sneaked out in the night and murdered him for the inheritance?”

Amy:”Oh yes, or maybe he just got eaten by werewolves …”

Max: “Or mad monk ghosts …”

Kathleen: “Or Zombies?”

Poppy: “You are all so mean - I’m going to look for him” - leave the stage

Max: “I better go with her”  follow Poppy off stage

Kathleen: “Amy do you want to investigate the market?”

Amy: “Yeah, sure!”

Kathleen, Amy: Exit stage, arm in arm.

Scene 6

Narrator: “Scene 6: Finding your heart. Max has caught up with Poppy”

Max: “Slow down!”

Poppy: “Oh, hi. I thought you were sticking with the girls”

Max:”Nah, sorry if I upset you back there. I was only joking with the others. Anyway I much prefer to be with you”

Poppy: “Thank you Max.”

Max: “Poppy, there’s something I want to tell you...”

Poppy: “Yes Max?”

Max: “I love you” blush.

Poppy: “Oh Max, me too!”

Poppy, Max: Hug (kiss), and run off together.

Scene 7

Stage: Amy, Kathleen remain off stage holding shopping bags

Poppy and Max: Holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes, on two chairs by the side of the room.

Uncle Sebastian: Wait outside the door, wearing the large zombie mask. Enter the stage 5 ‘hippopotamuses’ after Max exits.

Narrator: “Scene 7: Love and loss”

Amy and Kathleen: Walk into the kitchen carrying shopping bags to find Max and Poppy holding hands, and gazing into each other's eyes

Kathleen: (Angry) “What have we here?”

Amy: “Wow, look at the little love birds! Aren't they cute!”

Max: “Hey”

Poppy: “We’re officially boyfriend and girlfriend now!” Massive smile.

Kathleen: “No! It’s unfair! My younger sister gets Max!! Poppy how could you!! I hate you. What’s wrong with you Max” Run off stage, sobbing loudly.

Amy: “Oopsie” run off stage after Kathleen.

Max: To Poppy: “I’d better go and sort this out” smile encouragingly, and exit.

Poppy: Play with your hair, and look at your feet, and read the script. Do NOT notice the ‘Uncle Sebastian-Zombie’ enter the room.

Uncle Sebastian: Creep behind Poppy. Then leap out and grab Poppy. Mime hitting her and kicking her. Drag her off stage, and make sure it looks like you have killed her when she falls silent.

Poppy: Scream, and wriggle, but you are weak, so let the Zombie pull you off stage. Remember to scream a lot, then fall silent as you are pulled off stage (you are dead). When you are off stage put on the red Zombie mask.

Max, Kathleen, Amy: Run on stage, panting.

Amy: “I definitely heard Poppy scream”

Max: “Me too. Oh, Poppy”

Kathleen: Stand to the side, sulking.

Amy: Walk over to the chair which Poppy was sitting in, “Max?” shaking in horror, “There’s blood. What happened to Poppy?”

Max: In terror and fear, call out, “Poppy?! Where are you?! I need you here with me!” Sink to the floor in despair.

Kathleen: Cross your arms, “Great acting pretty boy”

Max: Look up, “What?”

Kathleen: “We all know you’re the one who killed Uncle, and now Poppy. You just faked loving her so she would trust you”

Max: “Are you mad? We don’t know that either of them are dead.”

Kathleen: “Oh yeah? So when you ran out of the room, leaving Poppy, so you could ‘sort things out’, you didn’t come to us, because you went to grab your knife?”

Max: “I didn’t know where you were!”

Amy: “Guys-”

Kathleen: “You’re such a liar Max! I hate you, you’ve killed my Uncle, and my sister!” Cry and sit on the floor.

Amy: “I’ll go and look for Poppy” Exits.

Kathleen: Whisper, “No, Amy, don’t leave me alone with Max. Amy-”

Max: “Why do you think I killed them? I love Poppy. I’m going to find her” - leave

Kathleen: “I hate you Max” Flop, lying down on the floor (face on the floor).

Uncle Sebastian, Poppy: Run over to Kathleen, kick and punch, and start to drag her off stage.

Kathleen: Scream and shout, and then fall silent, as you are dragged off stage.

Scene 8

Narrator: “Scene 8: Wiggle away. Max and Amy have found Kathleen is missing from the kitchen and there is more blood. Tension is growing between them”

Instruction to actors:

Max, Amy: Sad, and look as if they’ve been crying.

Uncle Sebastian, Poppy: Wear the masks, start off stage.

Kathleen: Wear your zombie custume, you start off stage

Amy: “You did it, didn’t you? Killed them”

Max: “No!! Of course not!”

Amy: “You killed Kathleen cause she hated you. And I’m next aren’t I? Is it so you can get this house?”

Max: “No! I promise you that I didn’t! I am just as upset as you!”

Uncle Sebastian, Poppy, Kathleen: Start banging on the door, from off stage. Roar, and growl (like zombies).

Max and Amy: Hug each other in fear, Scream

Narrator: Throw piece of paper on stage.

Amy: Pick up scrap “I’ve found something”

Max: “I don’t think this is the time for tidying up a bit of paper”

Amy: Unfold it: “It is the last page of the book Poppy was reading!!”

Max:”What does it say?”

Amy: “It says ….

Read message................

Max: “That the most ridiculous thing  ever, ever! ever!!! Who writes this rubbish?”

Amy: “Oh no, the zombies are getting in!”

Uncle Sebastian, Poppy, Kathleen: Bang louder, and roar.

Amy: “It’s our only chance! DJ: put on the music! It’s boogie time!!!”

Max: “You can’t be serious!”

Amy: Nod

Narrator: Put on music

Amy: “Dance Max - our lives depend on it, DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Amy, Max: Dance like mad.

Uncle Sebastian, Poppy, Kathleen: Break in (open the door and enter), charge toward Amy and Max, but then stop and start to dance!! After a bit take off your mask (or pull off your hood), and become your previous, un-zombie character. Keep dancing!!!!!! Dance till end of song.

Narrator: “The rest of the village come up to join the dancing” Beckon the audience to join in

All: When song has finished bow.

All: “THE END!!!”