The Turkey Day Parade
by
Marilyn A. Kinsella
PUPPETS: Tom Turkey, Shaggy dog (H.R.), Ladybug, Betty butterfly, Merlin Wizard, Vel-Crow, Santa
PROPS: The turkey needs to be a bird that you can add a tail to it - one plain turkey tail, one fancy turkey tail (I made these out of tissue paper), small flag, wand, marching band tape recording, tape player, microphone, speaker
ACT 1 - on Main Street, USA, the day before Thanksgiving.
T. I am so excited! Tomorrow is the big Turkey Day Parade. Just think of it - floats, balloons, clowns and the All- Animal Marching Drill Team. I wonder who will be lucky enough to lead the parade as the grand marshal. Here comes H.R. Fluff ‘n Stuff. Maybe he knows. Hey, H.R., are you ready for the big day tomorrow?
H. Sure am, Tom. I’ve been washing and combing and moussing my long beautiful hair. And now it’s soft and silky to the touch. Isn’t it lovely?
T. Yeah, sure wish I had something long and beautiful for the parade. That’s something the grand marshal would have to lead the parade. Well, see ya tomorrow.
H. I’ll throw you some candy, bye! (exits)
T. Bye. Well, here comes Lilly LadyBug. (enters) She’s such a lady. Hi, Lilly. Are you as excited as I am about the Turkey Day Parade?
L. I’ll say, Tom, I’ve been waxing and polishing my black spots until they became shiny and bright. You can even see your reflection in these dots. Go ahead look! Aren’t they dazzling?
T. Whoa! I’ll say they are. I’ll need sunglasses to look at them…they are so bright. Sure wish I had something shiny and bright for the parade.
L. Ooops, I have to go. I just saw a spot on one of my spots. I’ll wave to you at the parade, Tom. Bye! (exits)
T. That will be great, Lilly. (butterfly enters) Why Betty, fancy meeting you here. I thought you’d be out getting ready for the parade.
B. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I went to the butterfly house and had my wings clipped and dry cleaned. Aren’t they colorful?
T. Why Disney would be jealous of your wonderful wings of color. I sure wish I had something colorful to wear to the parade.
B. I hate to flutter and run, but I need to practice some maneuvers for the air show during the parade to show off my wings. I’ll see you tomorrow at 9:00 sharp. (exits)
T. Gosh! Everybody has something special for the parade. Maybe if I go see Merlin, the Wizard, he’ll have a magic spell so I can have something special, too. (exits)
ACT II - At Merlin’s castle (Merlin (right) on stage hears a knock at the door. Put Turkey on left hand)
M. Oh, good, I hope that’s the delivery boy with my new super-electronic hubble- bubble telescope. Come in!
T. Hello, Merwin. Glad I found you at home.
M. Why, hello, Tom. Say you’re looking a little down in the beak. You have a problem?
T. I sure do. Tomorrow is the Turkey Day Parade and I don’t have anything special about me to be a part of the All-Animal Marching Drill Team.
M. Special, eh? Like what kind of special did you have in mind?
T. Oh, like something long and beautiful, shiny and bright and very colorful.
M. Ah, yes, I see.
T. Do you have a magic spell that will help me out?
M. Why, yes, of course - few magic words; a wave of my trusty wand and voila! Ready?
T. Ready and willing.
M. Okay, here it goes:
Alla Ka Ba-ba/ Alla Ka Zeathers
Give this fowl bird/ Some gorgeous tail feathers!
T. Are they there? Did it work?
M. No, my fair-featherless friend. This is two-part magic. Now, you have to do your part.
T. Part? What part? You didn’t say anything about a part.
M. I just assumed that every one knows that true magic has two parts. All you need to do is perform some random act of kindness, some selfless, do-gooder deed, and the magic will happen.
T. A selfless, do-gooder deed! I don’t have time to do a selfless, do-gooder deed. The parade is less than 12 hours away.
M. Sorry, that’s the best I can do with magic. These things can’t be hurried. But, perhaps, just in case, you’d like to make yourself a set of tail feathers. There’s some scissors, glue and construction paper in the bottom right hand drawer. You’re welcome to it.
T. Thanks, Merlin, I can always count on you. (both exit)
ACT III - Back on Main Street before the big parade on Thanksgiving Day.
T. (Tom (right) enters wearing his hand-made tail feathers) Ah, the big day is finally here. Got these tail feathers done just in time. Not too shabby of a job either, if I do say so myself. Now I can proudly march with the All-Animal-Marching-Drill Team. I can hardly wait to show the others. Look, here comes my old pal, Vel-crow. Hey, Vel, how you doing?
V. Not so good, Tom. I was practicing for the air show over the parade. I was doing my famous double, loop-de-loop, triple by-pass, when I was caught in a sudden downdraft. All my feathers were sheared off, and I crashed landed. Luckily, I didn’t break anything but my pride. Looks like I won’t be a part of the air show this year.
T. Not part of the air show. But you’re a one-of-a-kind crowd pleaser. All the boys and girls look forward to your daring-do. They will be so disappointed.
V. Yes, I know. But no feathers…no show.
T. Well, I have some feathers. You can use mine.
V. Are you sure, Tom? You’d save the day, if you gave me those feathers.
T. Yeah, well, there’s always next year for me to be in the parade. Let’s go down to the hangar, and I’ll fit these feathers to your wings. (both exit)
V. (flies across the stage with new wings) Caw! Caw! Thank you, Tom Turkey!!
ACT IV (right before the parade - Tom (left) - with his beautiful tail feathers on - is off to the left side with his head down gobbling and crying)
T. There’s always next year. There’s always next year. If I keep saying it, I’ll believe it - There’s always next year to be in the parade. (As animals come in Tom is still whimpering - oblivious to them)
L. (Ladybug (right) enters and looks at audience) Who is that gorgeous creature? Why I have never seen anyone with such spectacular spots. I need to get H.R. Fluff ‘n Stuff to see this. (exits calling “H.R. come here look at this?” Be putting on H.R. - right)
H. (walks over to Tom ) Lilly was right. This gorgeous creature is shiny and bright and just look at those long and beautiful feathers. I think I’ll go tell Betty. She won’t believe it. (exits calling “Betty, Betty come down here for a minute. I’ve got something to tell you.” take off dog and put on Butterfly - right)
B. (Butterfly enters and hovers over Tom) H.R. and Lilly are right. I ‘ve never seen such a colorful creature in my life. I wonder what this animal is. Excuse me, who are you?
T. What? Oh, hi Betty.
B. Tom? Is that you?
T. Yes, of course it’s me. Who did you think it was?
B. Well, Lilly, H.R. and I weren’t sure. We’ve never seen anyone with such long and beautiful, bright and shiny and super-techni-colored tailfeathers.
T. What! Tailfeathers did you say? (turns to look at feathers) Oh, my goodness. How did they get there? Was it the wizard? What did he say about a selfless, do-gooder deed? Was giving my tailfeathers to Vel-Crow my random act of kindness?
B. Whatever, Tom. The animals have already voted, and we want you to be the Grand Marshal of the Turkey Day Parade. What do say, Tom?
T. Why I’d be honored. The parade starts in just a few minutes. I’ll see you there.
ACT V - the parade - (announcer on microphone is not seen; play Sousa music on tape. Put flag on Tom on left hand and Ladybug on right hand)
A. (off stage - on mic) Welcome, welcome to the annual Turkey Day Parade. The weather is just perfect. We have giant balloons and fantastic floats to show you. But as an added surprise, this year we have leading our parade none other than that famous gobbler of yore - Tom Turkey (enter) Let’s have a great big cheer for Tom. And following Tom in the world renown All Animal Marching Drill Team is Lilly Ladybug. A nice round of applause for Lilly (both exit- put on H.R.) And right behind Ladybug is that furry, lovable bag of fluff, H.R. Fluff ‘n Stuff. (enters) Let’s put our paws together for a warm and fuzzy welcome for H.R. (exits - put on Butterfly and Crow) And now, as part of the air show, here come Betty and Vel-Crow (enter and fly around). Wow, look at the stunts they learned this year. Such a colorful display. I do believe that Vel-Crow has…yes he does… a new set of wings. Way to go… Vel-Crow! (both exit - put Santa on right and turkey on left) And now for our traditional ending of the Turkey Day Parade, we are proud to bring you the jolly old man in the red suit…Santa Claus! (enters with a “ho-ho-ho”) Do you have a couple of words for the boys and girls watching our parade? (turn off tape)
S. Ho, ho, ho…Yes, I do. You know at Christmas I’ll be back with a bag full of toys and treats for all you good boys and girls. But for now my bag is full of the spirit of the holidays - the spirit of giving. My good friend, Tom Turkey, understood that when he gave away his feathers to help others. That kind of gift can only come from the heart. Come out here, Tom (Tom enters) Let’s wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.
T. Gobble-gobble-gobble HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
S. Ho, ho, ho And Tom, thanks for giving! The end.
