The Tales of Beatrix Potter Guided Reading Part IV

The Tales of Beatrix Potter – adapted and revised, Part Four Tales 16 – 21
This is the fourth and final part of a four-part series of plays including:
The Tales of:
• Samuel Whiskers
• The Pie and the Patty Pan
• Ginger and Pickles
• Little Pig Robinson
&
The Story of A Fierce Bad Rabbit
and
The Story of Miss Moppet
The collection of twenty-one tales is available in four parts, Parts I, II, III and IV
Parts I, II and III have five scripts each; each of these scripts taking approximately five minutes to read, with six speakers each – the exception in Part III being The Tale of Mr Tod which is the longest script in the collection at 15 minutes.
These six scripts in Part IV are generally shorter than the scripts in the rest of the collection – especially the last two which hardly qualify as tales. There are a total number of 30 speakers. And unlike Parts I, II and III there are no question and answer sections.
These plays are simple adaptations/conversation pieces based on Beatrix Potter’s tales, for use within the class room. They can either be used as group readers or combined to create a whole class play/assembly.
The Tale of Samuel Whiskers (tale number 16)
Cast of 7
Narrator
Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit
Tom
Mrs. Ribby (Cousin and neighbour to Tabitha)
Old man rat (Samuel Whiskers)
Old woman rat (Anna Maria)
John Joiner (dog)
If only Tabitha had been a more disciplined parent! Easy enough to say after the event but nobody wants to end up as a dumpling! Not even the naughtiest of kittens – who probably deserved it!
Sample Text
Narrator: Cats, rats and a dog – this should be lively!
Mrs. Ribby: I blame the parents!
Tabitha: You would! So easy to judge others
Narrator: (Intervening) Ladies! Ladies!
Tabitha: (Petulantly) Well, it’s true! What would she know about bringing up three naughty kittens?
Mrs. Ribby: Try asking yourself why they were naughty?
Old woman rat: It’s very easy to find fault with others
Old man rat: We should know! We’re rats! Nobody ever gives us a second chance!
John Joiner: Well, you do come with something of a reputation!