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ANANSI AND THE POT OF WISDOM

CHARACTERS:

ANANSI

MRS. ANANSI

HARE

SCRIPT:

ACT 1 – IN THE LIVING ROOM

ANANSI: It’s not fair!.

MRS. ANANSI: What are you talking about?.

ANANSI: Why do men have to be wise?.

MRS. ANANSI: There is nothing you can do about it.  So, get over it.

ANANSI: Of course not!.  Where’s the clay pot that was given to me by Nyame, the sky god?.

MRS. ANANSI: It’s in a safe place.  You know that it means a lot to us!.

ANANSI: I know, that’s why I’ll use it to store in it all the world’s wisdom.

MRS. ANANSI: How are you going to do that?.

ANANSI: I’ll ask questions to everybody, and when someone tells me a wise answer, I’ll come home, open the pot,  and I will repeat the answer inside the pot, and then I’ll cover the pot again.

MRS. ANANSI: It sounds like a good idea… but what are you going to do when the pot is completely full?.

ANANSI: I haven’t thought about it.  First things first!. (he heads to the door)

MRS. ANANSI: Where are you going?.

ANANSI: I’m starting right now.  See you tonight.

MRS. ANANSI: Good luck!.

(Anansi leaves the stage)

ACT 2 – IN THE KITCHEN

(A year later.  The clay pot is on the table.  Anansi and his wife stare at the pot)

ANANSI: It’s completely full!.

MRS. ANANSI: What are you going to do?.

ANANSI: I still don’t know.

MRS. ANANSI: I think you should share it with every one in the village.

ANANSI: No!.

MRS. ANANSI: The pot is full of wonderful ideas and skills.   You have learned many things.  It’s time for you to share it with the world.

ANANSI: I said no!.   I will not share the treasure of knowledge with anybody.   I will keep all the wisdom for myself. (looks around the room)

MRS. ANANSI: What are you looking for?.

ANANSI: I need a safe place to hide the pot, somebody can come and steal it from me.

MRS. ANANSI: Don’t be afraid, no one will steal your pot of wisdom.

ANANSI: Yes, they will.  I really need to hide it somewhere!.  I know!  I’ll hide on top of a tall tree!.  (takes the pot in his hands and runs away)

MRS. ANANSI: Where are you going Anansi!.

ANANSI: To the forest!.  To the forest!.

MRS. ANANSI: Do you need help?.

ANANSI: No!.  Remember that I have the pot of wisdom, I’ll know exactly what to do!.  (leaves the stage)

MRS. ANANSI: I hope so, Anansi!.

(Mrs. Anansi leaves the stage)

ACT 3 – IN THE FOREST

ANANSI:  (looking at a tall tree) This is what I was looking for!.  This is the perfect tree to hide the pot of wisdom.  (Takes some vines and makes some strong string and ties it firmly around the pot, leaving one end free. He then ties it to his tummy and starts to climb the tree) Oh, I never thought the pot would be so heavy!. (He tries to climb the tree) It’s impossible!.  The pot gets on my way!.

(The Hare enters the stage and looks at Anansi)

HARE: What do you have on that pot?.

ANANSI: I can’t tell you.  If I tell you, something bad could happen to us.

HARE: Then, don’t tell me.  I see that you want to climb the tree with that pot tied to your tummy.

ANANSI: Soooo.  What is the problem?.

HARE: It would be better if you tie the pot to your back, then it will be easier to cling to the tree and climb.

ANANSI: What?.   I thought I had gathered inside this pot all the wisdom in the world, and there is still some one who knows things I don’t!.  How do you know more than I, if I have the pot of wisdom?.

HARE: It’s just common sense.

(Anansi gets angry.  Unties the pot from his body and throws it to the ground.  The pot breaks and pieces of wisdom fly out in every direction)

ANANSI: It’s better if all the world have a piece of wisdom.  I am going home!.  (leaves the stage)

THE END

Author:  West African Folktale

Adapted by: K I D S I N C O

Moral:  We shouldn’t be greedy.  We should share with other our knowledge and skills, that way we all together may be wiser and generous.

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