By Dave Buchanan
The plot follows fairly traditional lines: the adventures in London and Morocco of Dick and Tommy the cat, where the latter makes the former's fortune. And all this despite the efforts of a delightfully fiendish King Rat.
PLOT RESUME
Dick Whittington comes to London with his cat Tommy to seek his fortune. He is employed by Alderman Fitzwarren, and falls in love with the Alderman's daughter Alice. Dick is given the chance of organising a trading expedition to Morocco, but is prevented from doing so by the evil schemes of King Rat. However he manages to join the expedition and with the helpof Fairy Snow, Tommy, and cook Dolly Doolittle he makes good and returns in triumph to London and Alice.
A fresh version of the classic adventure story with the added ingredients of comedy and spectacle.
| CAST 7 MALE 6 FEMALE 1 M/F PARTS |
| MAJOR |
|
Dick Whittington (PB)
Alice Fitzwarren (PG)
Alderman Fitzwarren
Percy Partridge (wimp) |
Walter Winkle (definitely not a wally!)
Dolly Doolittle (Dame)
King Rat
Captain Bilge |
| MINOR |
|
Tommy the cat
Fairy Snow
Mate |
Princess Taffeta
Selima & Cremona (dancing girls) |
5 MAIN SETS
Production notes include details of the ship and shipwreck; FX and musical numbers suggested.
SET PIECES
Haunted bedroom
Ship scenes including a shipwreck
London songs and dances
Arabian dances including a belly dance
Script Sample - King Rat
King Rat emerges from the trapdoor
King Rat Fellow rats! The Rat Creed!
Rats All for one and one for all,
Baddies rise and goodies fall!
We arise to greet our King,
His word is law in everything.
He brings them forward as the tabs close
King Rat (To audience) Hello, kiddiwinks! I am his Imperial Majesty, King Rat. The most powerful being in the Underworld. Leader of a great international brotherhood - and sisterhood. Would you like to join us? Here. Have some toffees.
He tosses toffees into the audience
They’re lovely and gooey and bad for your teeth but who cares? Join the brotherhood and be a rat. It means - going to bed late, leaving your room untidy, never saying please or thank you. It means being noisy and scruffy and cheeky and playing pop music loud!
The rats cheer every one of these
In short, to be a rat is to be FREE! Kids of (local town) - throw off your shackles and LIVE! Relax -
Have a badge - they’re free.
A leaflet - join me!
The rats distribute rat badges and leaflets
Enter R, Fairy Snow
Fairy Snow No children! Don’t do it!
Or one day you’ll rue it!
Don’t listen to his wiles
Or be fooled by his smiles.
He’s evil - an out-and-out cad.
A monster - thoroughly bad.
King Rat Absolute piffle!
Don’t listen to that
Sanctimonious old bat.
Her words are old hat
And worse - anti-rat.
Fairy Snow I’d like you to know
My name’s Fairy Snow.
For Truth and Honesty I stand,
And all that’s Good in this land.
King Rat Have some more toffees,
I’ve got plenty more.
Treacle and liquorice,
Sweets by the score.
Fairy Snow No! Hear what I say,
Think of tooth decay.
King Rat Don’t listen to her.
She’s boring - yessir.
Fairy Snow I’ll fight you tooth and nail,
So goodness can prevail.
By hook or by crook I intend
To give this play a happy end.
King Rat Humbug! You’ll come a cropper
(To audience) Care for a gobstopper?
I’ll win - any bets?
Auf wiedersehen, pets!
He begins to exit L
Fairy Snow Kindly wait for a mo,
You unprincipled so-and-so!
I’ve got a surprise,
To cut you down to size.
The one thing you fear -
I’ve got one right here.
She gives a loud whistle. The kids shout, "Rock on, Tommy!" Tommy appears and chases King Rat and the rats off through the auditorium
from Dick Whittington, Act 1 Scene 2
Script details
259 The Moorings, Dalgety Bay, Fife, KY11 9GX.
Tel: (01383) 825737 E-mail: enquiries@spotlightpublications.com
© 2001 Spotlight Publications.
Web Site Design by kirkmoor.com
DICK WHITTINGTON