ROBINSON CRUSOE
The Lad from Largo
By Brian Freeland

Based on the Alexander Selkirk story via Daniel Defoe, the show has settings on the village green and at the harbour in Lower Largo, and in Barbados, under the sea.

Plot Summary
Young Robinson Crusoe competes in the local Highland Games in Largo, and his prize winnings enable his mother to pay off the rent arrears demanded by villainous landlord the Laird of Lundy. He leaves Largo on Captain Cockle’s ship the “Saucy Sue” to seek his fortune, but is shipwrecked on a desert island. After close encounters with Man Friday and Blackpatch the King of the Pirates, he finally makes good (of course!).

Originally written for a professional production at the Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy, this script has been specially adapted for the amateur stage.
ISBN 1 904930 64 6

CAST 4 MALE 3 FEMALE 1 M/F PARTS
Robinson Crusoe Enrico Crusoe Mrs Crusoe Jeannie	The Laird o' Lundy Captain Cockle, elderly and kind Hamish Gordon, narrator and bit player Friday, native islander

4 MAIN SETS
Production notes inc FX and musical numbers suggested.

Sample Script - The Laird o' Lundy

Laird That boy's getting too big for his boots. I must find a way to cut him down to size. But first, it's time to throw his mother out of the cottage.

Hamish enters as the fairy, in a white tutu

Hamish Hold on a minute, wicked man,
I will protect her if I can.
Although I'm not a genuine fairy,
Laird I know, your chest is much too hairy! Who are you supposed to be, anyway, you scrawny scribbler?
Hamish Fairy Snow.
Laird Fairy Snow? You look more like Fairy Soot.
Hamish I'm here to help the Crusoe clan,
And foil your wicked evil plan,
This tale will have a happy ending -
Laird Watch out - your fairy wand is bending! (Knocks on door) Mrs Crusoe, can I have a word?
Mrs Crusoe What is it?
Laird The rent.
Mrs Crusoe That's two words.
Laird And you've got two minutes. Two minutes to pack up and get out of this cottage, my cottage, unless you pay every penny that you owe me.
Mrs Crusoe Well, that's nice, isn't it. (Hearts and flowers) After all these years working my fingers to the bone, and what have I got to show for it?
Laird Bony fingers! Now get out.
Mrs Crusoe And you Fairy Liquid - you're not doing much to help.
Hamish I'm really sorry Mrs Crusoe,
If I could help you I would do so.
There's no reward for all my labour,
Laird Oh push off ! (Shoves her)
Mrs Crusoe ...look out, mind that caber!
Audience Robbie!

Robbie arrives, carried on the shoulders of villagers

Robbie Hello kids. Mother, what's going on?
Mrs Crusoe Oh, nothing important. We're just being thrown out of house and home by the caped cucumber here, that's all. Nothing for you to worry about.
Robbie Or you either, mother. Here (throws bags of money to her) my prize money from the Games. That should keep this Wolf from our door for a week or two.
Laird Curses, foiled again!
Mrs Crusoe Take the money. And never darken my doorstep again.
Hamish My magic worked, things turned out fine,
Robbie arrived in the nick of time.
The Laird is skunnered, there's no more debt.
Laird You watch out fairy, I'm not done yet. (Exits)
Robbie That's got rid of him.
Captain But not for long. He'll be back next week, and the week after, looking for his money. You need a proper job - do you still want to go to sea?
Robbie Do I!
Captain I need a bosun for my next trip.
Mrs Crusoe Hey, you're not going to be a sailor: it's cold, it's wet, it's dangerous. You might get drowned.
Captain You might make your fortune.
Mrs Crusoe I'll help you pack.
Captain That's settled then. We sail tomorrow. See you at the harbour. (Exits)
Hamish So everything ends on a happy note,
Robinson's got a job on a boat.
I got Mrs Crusoe out of a mess -
Mrs Crusoe And you, you big fairy, get outta that dress! You cut that a bit fine, young Robinson. Another minute and we'd have lost our home.
Robbie No problem, mother. We'd have built you another one.
Mrs Crusoe And how, may I ask, would you have done that?
Robbie Easy, eh Ricky? One brick at a time - let's show her.

Song 6

from Robinson Crusoe, Act 1 Scene 1

Script details

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