The Three Sillies

                                                                                            

                                                                       adapted for shadow puppetry by Marilyn A. Kinsella

Once upon a time there was a farmer and his wife.  A certain gentleman from town, James, was courting their only daughter. Every evening he stopped over to have supper with the family.  One time the daughter was sent downstairs to bring up some cider for dinner. She had just turned the tap on full force, when she began thinking some terrible thoughts.  And the more she thought the more terrible they became. I guess you can imagine the cider pouring out onto the floor as she stood there. What happens next is one of the silliest folk tales you have ever heard. If you like this story, you can find a version in Steven Kellogg’s The Three Sillies.  Now “Me and My Shadows” presents our version of The Three Sillies.

 

SCENE 1 (keg of cider, mallet, yellow cellophane, Daughter, Mother, Father and James)

(Daughter – facing left, on left panel with the cider barrel.)

  1. Ahh, James is such a gentleman.  I’m lucky to be seeing such a fine man as he.  But, suppose that some day him and me was to be married.  And we was to have a teeny tiny son.  And he was to grow up to be a fine young man.  And just suppose our son was to come down into the cellar to draw the cider.  And this mallet that is sitting right here was to fall on his head.  What a dreadful thing it would be.  So dreadful, dreadful indeed!  Why I can scarcely think about such a sad, sad thing.  It makes me…it makes me…(boo-hooo)  (LIGHTS OFF)

(Daughter(l) and Mother(r) on main panel. Add yellow to left scene.

M.    Daughter, what was keepin’ you so long in the cellar? And where is the cider?

  1. It was on a count of that horrid mallet that I have no cider! For I been thinking - just supposin’ I was to marry James and we have a teeny tiny son, and once’d he was all growed up and he was drawin’ cider when that horrid mallet fell on his head, and he would be done for this world, he would.

M.    Dear, dear.  What a terrible thing.  Why I can scarcely think about such a sad, sad thing. It makes me..it makes me…(both boo-hooo). (LIGHTS OFF)

(Add more yellow to left screen)

 F. (facing right) Now, James and I have been waiting a long time for some cider.  What might be keepin’ ya?

  1. Oh, it is on a count of that horrid mallet that I have no cider!  For I’ve been thinking – just supposin’ I was to marry James, and we have a teeny tiny son, and once’d he was all growed up and he was drawin’ cider when that horrid mallet fell on his head, and he would be done for this world, he would.

F.  Dear, dear.  What a terrible thing.  Why I can scarcely think about such a sad, sad thing. It makes me…it makes me…(all boo –hoo)  (LIGHTS OFF)  (ALL EXIT)

(Add more yellow to left screen)

J.       (facing right) Now, all I wanted was a little sip of cider to quench my thirst.  I waited and waited.  And what should I find, but three of the silliest people I have ever met and a cellar full of cider.  Those sillies were crying and carrying on because a mallet might fall.  Now, the cellar is full of cider and not a bit to quench me thirst. I shall not marry their daughter until I find three sillies - sillier than they are.

(All cry - LIGHTS OUT)

SCENE 2 – House with chimney – Old Woman, Cow, and James

      O. (facing left) Pay attention, Molly Moo.  I want you to go up on my thatched roof. There are some nice weeds growing up there for you to chew on.  So go on – leap on up there.

  1. (facing right) MOOOO!

J.       (facing right) Madam, whatever are you trying to do.  This is a cow.

O.    Yes, I know.  Now, up to the rooftop. (cow is on top of woman) This is not working.  I’ll try pushing the cow – ooph!  There just has to be a way.  Wait a minute I’ve got it. I’ll tie a rope around this cow’s neck and the other around me. Then I’ll pull her up through the chimney. (LIGHTS OFF)

(Old woman and cow are see-sawing in and out of the chimney)

      O. and C.  Oooch, Ow, MOOO!  (really play this up)

  1. Well, that’s the first big silly – sillier than I’ve ever seen.  (LIGHTS OFF)

SCENE 3 – (Scene 3 is at a roadside inn) Bed, Trouser Man, and James

Before the lights go on, pound on the table like someone running then go “ooph!” 3x.

  1. Excuse me, my good man.  But I can’t get a wink of sleep with all this commotion.  What seems to be your problem.

    T.  (on floor) I’m having a terrible time getting my trousers on.  I keep running off the edge the bed and jumping into my pants, but I can’t seem to get them on.  I almost broke my leg trying.

J.       Running off the bed and into your trousers? – ha, ha, ha.  That is the silliest thing I’ve ever heard.  Hasn’t it ever occurred to you to put your trousers on one leg at a time.

  1. Wow! One leg at a time?  Is that how it’s done?  Oh, thank you kind sir.  I’m off to share my talent with the world. When it comes to getting dressed, I’m the champion – I’m the best. (exit)

       J.  Methinks, I just met the second biggest silly. (LIGHTS OFF)

      SCENE 4 - Millpond, moon, Villager, and James

     V.  (facing left) Oh, woe is me.  What will we ever do?  How will I break the news to  the villagers.  They will be so upset. (keep crying)

  1.  Excuse me.  But I couldn’t help but notice that you are crying on this beautiful evening.  What on earth is the matter?

      V.  Just look for yourself.  There, in the pond.

J.       Yes, I see the pond.  Looks perfectly calm to me.

      V.  Calm, you say!  But don’t you see what has happened?

J.       I guess not.

V.  Why, it’s as plain as the nose on your face.  The moon has slip right out of the sky and fallen into our pond.  How will I ever explain this to my family and friends.

J.       Ho, ho, ho – no, no, no my good man.  The moon has not fallen into the water.  That is only the reflection of the moon that you see.  

      V.  What?!  A reflection, you say.  Sir, you are sadly mistaken.  The moon has fallen  into the pond and now I must go and tell everyone!  The moon has fallen, the moon has fallen! (exits)

  1. Quite unbelievable.  Yet another silly.  Sillier than all the others. I must go tell my own true love about the sillies that I found – even sillier than that silly family of hers. (LIGHTS OFF)

SCENE 5 – Daughter and James.

  1. (facing left) Oh, James.  You have come home at last.  Did you find those sillies?

   J.    Yes, and they were sillier than anyone I’ve ever met – including you!

  1. James, does that means you will marry me?

    J.    Indeed it does!  But, I’ve been thinking – Just suppose that you and me were to be married…and just suppose that we didn’t live happily ever after.  Wouldn’t that be dreadful?  Why it’s a sad, sad thing. It makes me want to..to..(boo-hoo)

D.     Why, James that is just plain silly.  The silliest thing I’ve ever heard.  Because as everyone knows, our story ends…happily ever after!

And that was just the beginning.  Those two set off around the world in search of silly adventures, and they lived forever afterward in blissful silliness. The end.

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