Borja, the Most Powerful Witch, Or...She Thought So!
By
SOPHIA ZARAGAS
PUPPETS: WITCH, SPIDER, GOOSE, ROOSTER, CAT, FROG
SCENE ONE: Borja, the witch is walking along talking to herself. A spider is suspended on a web on one side of the stage.
B. (singing) “Oh what a beautiful morning , oh what a beautiful day, I got a wonderful feeling everything’s going my way.” And I mean everything! Everybody knows that I, Borja the Magnificent, am the most powerful witch in this kingdom. And today - the day of Halloween eve - is my most powerful. I can’t wait to use my evil power. It’s so good, good, good to be bad, bad bad!
S. (laughing hysterically from her web on the upper part of the stage)
B. Who’s there? Why are you laughing? Who dares to laugh at the all powerful Borja?
S. Look up here. It is I, Aranabelle, the Spider. I can prove that you are absolutely wrong. You are not the most powerful witch in this Kingdom. I am more powerful than you! and I can prove it!
B. You can prove it? Hah! I don’t believe you. Because I am the one, the only, Borja. I have more power in my scrawny little finger than you have those eight spindly legs of yours.
S. Like I believe that! (laughs)
B. I take that as a challenge. By this afternoon we will meet outside my house. We will see which one is the most powerful.
S. All right then. See you later. (exits laughing)
B. (talking to audience) Everybody knows that when I use my power that it lasts for a whole year. Just to show Aranabelle, I’ll do something super-powerful. Let’s see - I’ll just look over my book of spells and potions. Then I’ll be ready for the fun to begin! (laughs wickedly as she exits)
SCENE TWO: Outside Borja’s house (she’s stirring a black kettle)
B. Hee-hee-hee! I found just the right spell tucked away in granny’s cookbook. My granny won several awards for her witchcraft, but her famous soup won a blue ribbon. The ingredients were easy enough to find - had them laying around the house. Let’s see I added ground piggie snout, …a pinch of cheeky monkey, …a dollop of toe jam, …a whole bucket of sassafras tea. Why, all anyone has to do is eat this soup and…oh, I don’t have time to explain right now - someone is coming.
(Goose enters quacking)
B. Good day, Ms. Goose. How are you on this fine afternoon?
G. Honk-honk-honk! I am in a hurry Ms. Borja to get my costume for the masquerade party tonight. I don’t have time to talk to an evil, mean old witch like you.
B. Oh, no, Ms. Goose, I am not the same person. I have changed. Just to prove it, I will give you some of my delicious soup to eat. If you eat my soup, you will become the most powerful goose in the world. No one will ever call you Goosey-Lucy again.
G. The most powerful goose, hmm? That would really be something. Besides that soup smells soooo delicious that I simply can’t resist having some. (goes over to kettle to sip some out) Yum! I feel stronger already.
B. That’s right - but to keep your power you must waddle on over to my house tonight to practice the secret words of magic
G. I’ll be there! Honk-honk (exits).
B. I think someone else is coming.
(Rooster enters crowing)
B. Good evening, Mr. Rooster. How are you on this glorious afternoon?
R. (cockadoodledo) Sorry, Ms. Borja. I’m in a big hurry to go trick or treating. I don’t have time to talk to an evil old witch like you!
B. Now, now, Mr. Rooster. You must be thinking of the old Borja. This is the new - kinder, gentler Borja. And just to prove it to you, I have some soup that will make you the most powerful rooster in the world.
R. The most powerful rooster? Interesting - that would really be something to crow about. Besides that soup of yours smells delicious. I can’t resist having some. (goes over to kettle and takes some soup) Yum! Strange, but I already feel stronger. I feel on top of the world.
B. Yes, I bet you do. But in order to keep your power, you must strut on over to my house tonight to practice the secret words of magic.
R. (cock-a-doodle do!) See you tonight! (exits)
B. I think I hear another little visitor.
C. Meow!
B. Good day Miss Kitty. How are you on this fine Halloween Day?
C. Mee-ow! No time for you today. Besides I have a date with Witch Wanda to go riding on her broomstick. Now there’s a good witch. I don’t have time to talk to an evil, mean ole witch like you!
B. Now, now - such a sweet kitty with such a bad attitude. I’m not the same person. I have changed. And to prove it I will give you some of my soup. Then you will be the most powerful cat in the world.
C. I’ve always wanted to be the cat’s meow and I can’t resist having some of that delicious smelling soup. It smells better than my catnip. (goes over to kettle and takes a slurp) Yum! I feel stronger already.
B. But to keep your power you must prowl on over to my house tonight to practice the secret words.
C. Okay, meow (exits)
B. This day just gets better and better. Oh wait I think I hear someone else.
F. (FROG ENTERS) Re-neep!
B. Good day, Mr. Frog. How are you on this fine day?
F. Re-neep! I was doing fine until I met up with you. I’m in a hurry. I have to hop on down to the swamp for the Halloween party tonight. And I don’t want to be late because I spent all my time talking to a mean, evil witch like you.
B. Oh, now, now –You know everyone can change. Why even that uncle of yours turned into a handsome prince - but that’s a different story. So if he can have a life changing experience - so can I. You see, I’ve gone to great lengths to make my granny’s soup. If you eat some, you will become the most powerful frog in the swamp. And because I like green slimy critters like you, I’m going to let you try some.
F. You know I’ve always wanted to be the most powerful frog - a big ole bull frog. The other frogs would have to give me the biggest lily pad and the biggest share of the skeetters. Besides that hot soup smells delicious. Let me take a taste. (hops over to kettle to take a slurp) Yum! Strange, but I feel stronger already.
B. But remember, Froggy - if you want to keep your powers you must hop on over to my house tonight to practice the secret words of magic.
F. Okay, Re-neep, I’ll see you tonight. (exit)
B. Heh-heh-heh! My plan is working perfectly. In just two short hours a most extraordinary thing will happen. What is it? - you ask. Well, you will just have to wait. All this magic has made me extremely sleepy. Heaven knows I need my beauty sleep. Just a little nap and the fun will begin. (yawns and exits)
SCENE THREE: Aranabelle is walking along. Goose enters.
G. Cock-a-doodle-doo; cock-a-doodle-doo! Cock-a-doodle-boo-hoo!
S. Why, Ms. Goose. Whatever is the matter? Are you learning a new language? You sound just like Mr. Rooster.
G. Two hours ago I ate some of Borja’s soup. My voice is not my voice. I sound like rooster. Isn’t that terrible? I’m so embarrassed that I’m going to hide under the porch. (exit)
S. Look, here comes Miss Kitty, Mr. Frog, and Mr. Rooster maybe they can shed some light on this situation. Happy Halloween good friends. Have you heard what happened to Ms. Goose?
(One at a time the animals try to talk but making sounds of another animal)
Cat - Re-neep
Rooster - me-ow
Frog - honk-honk (All exit)
S. This is all beginning to sound like the work of Borja. She said she was going to show me how powerful she was. But I never thought she’d stoop to this. Why, my friends will not be able to go trick or treating. No one will understand a word they say. There is only one thing to do. Everyone knows that if you want to break the spell of a witch you must hold her captive. There’s only one way to do that. And you know what that is. That’s right - just think about what I use to trap insects. Time for me to give Borja a little visit.
SCENE FOUR: Outside Borja’s house; (Borja is asleep while Spider approaches with a cup in her hand.)
S. Borja, oh Borja! Wake up.
B. What? Who? Where am I? Oh, that’s right, it’s Halloween night and soon the animals will arrive. (looks over and sees spider) But what are you doing here? You’re not suppose to be here until midnight. By the way, what are you drinking? Boy, am I thirsty. I feel like I’ve been licking frogs. I am so thirsty, let me have some.
S. I’m sorry Borja. I didn’t bring enough for you.
B. Oh yeah, well, what if I just help myself. (goes over and drinks from the glass) Slurp, slurp - ahhh! Now go away and come back tonight. I can still catch 40 winks. (lays back down and snores)
S. Nighty-night, Borja. Sweet dreams.
SCENE FIVE: Back at Borja’s house. (Borja is on stage with yarn wrapped around her.)
S. Nanny-nanny-boo-boo. I’m more powerful than yoo-hoo!
B. (Borja tries to get up) What’s this? What is happening to me? I can’t move. You tricked me, Aranabelle. Let me go!
S. Not until you give Ms. Goose, Mr. Rooster, Miss Kitty and Mr. Frog their normal voices back. They don’t want to miss out on Halloween and trick or treating. Do you know the magic words?
B. Of course I know the magic words: Hocus pocus - people’s choice
Give the animals their own voice.
S. Now all our animal friends and people friends can enjoy and a happy and safe Halloween.
Snip, Snap, Snout…
B and S. (together) This tale is out.
