| by Evan Guilford-Blake |
| Done in a story-theatre format, the play consists of adaptations of three stories, and three poems, written by Beatrix Potter (and all in Public Domain), including two of her most famous tales, Peter Rabbit and The Tailor of Gloucester. |
Development and Production Status * Dialogue Sample * Specifications * Synopsis * Development and Production History * Short Bio * Special Audience Appeal * E-mail Specs
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| Development and Production Status |
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| One Production Only |
| Dialogue Sample |
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| POTTER (To audience) You can help us too. Would you like to? (Elicit response) Here's how you do it. You use your imagination. Imagination is wonderful thing. Why, with imagination, [ACTOR 2] can become Peter Rabbit right before your eyes. Watch. [ACTOR 2], please turn around. (ACTOR 2 does, immediately becoming PETER RABBIT.) There, you see. And [ACTOR 3] becomes Benjamin Bunny. (ACTOR 3 turns.) And [ACTOR 1] -- well, he becomes the gate to a very special vegetable garden. (ACTOR 1 turns with a creak.) And [ACTOR 4] becomes a wonderful scarecrow. (ACTOR 4 turns.) ACTOR 4 BBBBBBLLLLLLHHHHHH! POTTER My, she's fierce! ... Now as for me -- well, for now I shall remain Beatrix Potter. But now -- imagine. Imagine where I'm standing is a vegetable garden filled with -- let's see -- delicious carrots, of course, and lettuce and broccoli and -- what are these? oh -- perhaps not quite so delicious onions. Can you do that? (Elicit response) Good. Peter, Benjamin: Tell your story. BENJAMIN Peter, Peter Rabbit. Come out, Peter. Let's play hopscotch. (HE mimes a game.) Peter? PETER (Entering) Oh, hi, Benjamin. BENJAMIN Why, Peter. Why are you so glum on a fine Saturday morning? |
| Specifications |
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| Simple Unit Set |
| Synopsis |
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| This is a play for young audiences ages 4-10. It has a cast of five, one of whom must be female; all other roles may be played by either gender. It requires little or no set, has no complex technical requirements, may be presented with minimal costuming, and will tour easily. The approximate running time is 38 minutes. "Tales" uses short original songs, as well as songs with which the audience will be familiar (some with original lyrics), and extensive movement. Audience participation is used throughout, and the children are involved in solving the "problems" of the play. While highlighting Potter's familiar works, her adaptation of the Aesop fable The Grasshopper and the Ant, two of her Appy Dapply Rhymes, and an untitled poem are also included. |
| Development and Production History |
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| PRODUCTION: Discovery Arena, Decatur, GA (2001) READING: Chicago Dramatists Workshop (1995) |
| Short Bio |
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| EVAN GUILFORD-BLAKE (Distinguished Resident Playwright Alumnus) was a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists from 1992-2002, and now serves on the Advisory Board. What he learned about play development during his Residency continues to be put to use: He is Managing Director of Working Title Playwrights, Atlanta's premier play-development organisation. Among the two dozen plays Evan developed at Dramatists are "Nighthawks," (10 productions, Jeff nomination, Tennessee Williams Award), "Ceremonies of Prayer" (four productions, Utah Playfest winner), "Family Portrait" (a finalist in the current FutureFest competition), the Christmas a cappella musical farce "True Magic" (seven productions) and "Prelude to a Walk through the Snow" (six productions, including this year's Samuel French Festival). He moved to Atlanta in 2000, where to marry his wonderful wife, Roxanna. His current works in development include an evening of Oscar Wilde's fairy tales, a one-woman show on Kate Chopin and a trilogy of plays about the Negro Leagues. |
| Special Audience Appeal |
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| Children, |
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