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FULL LENGTH PLAYS
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TOM'S UNDERWATER ADVENTURES PLOT RESUME CAST MULTIPLE
Setting
The action of the play takes place in and around the West Saxony Town of Hamelin in the year 1284.
Script Sample - The chimney-sweep Three very dirty young boys enter through the audience and go to acting area playing a noisy game. They settle down to a game of marbles - squabble, and one boy chases the other two off. He guffaws then busies himself sorting through the pockets of his torn coat The "Irishwoman" has entered and looked on during all this Irishwoman (to audience) Well, there you are! Time to introduce myself. They call me the Irishwoman though I am not from Ireland. I am from everywhere you have ever known or seen. This is Tom. He's a chimney sweep and doesn't he look like one? There are plenty of chimneys to sweep around here. Tom's boss, Mr Grimes, makes sure Tom is inside them with his brush from dawn until dusk. (To Tom) Do you like being a chimney sweep, Tom?
Grimes comes out of the tavern, reeling, and sees Tom Grimes There you are, you good-for-nothing little tyke. Get you to bed. We've to be off at four in the morning, goin' over to Sir John Harthover's at Vendale Pike.
He grabs Tom and shoves his head between his own knees. Tom kicks at Grimes' shins as the man tries to get his belt off to beat Tom. Tom wriggles, escapes and hides Grimes reels off as he can't find Tom Whilst this is going on, the Irishwoman speaks to the audience Irishwoman This is Thomas Grimes, young Tom's boss and he treats him badly. Being beaten, being hungry and sweeping chimneys is the way of the world for Tom. He's known nothing else since Grimes took him from the orphanage two years ago.
Other boys and girls appear and he struts and addresses them - they lap it up, and there can be lots of business during the speech I'll sit in the tavern with a quart of beer in one hand, a long pipe in me mouth and play cards for silver money. I'll wear velvet breeches and a leather belt, and keep a white bull dog with one grey ear and I'll carry her puppies in my pocket - just like a man. I'll have apprentices; one, two, maybe three, to knock about just like old Grimes does me. I'll make them carry home the soot sacks while I ride ahead on my donkey with a pipe in my mouth and a flower in my buttonhole - just like a king at the head of my army. I'll be a real toff! Good times are coming! from Tom's Underwater Adventures
259 The Moorings, Dalgety Bay, Fife, KY11 9GX. ©
2001 Spotlight Publications.
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