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ANANSI THE SPIDER AND THE MISSING MELODIES

Anansi, a cunning spider whose tricks and schemes are as intricate as the webs he spins, lives beneath the canopy of verdant leaves and amongst the towering trees. In a vibrant jungle, where the air hums with the buzz of insects and the scent of exotic flowers hangs heavy, every creature’s song contributes to the symphony of life. Harmony reigns supreme.

 One day, the jungle falls silent—its melodies mysteriously vanished, leaving an eerie stillness in place of the once lively chorus. Join us in the heart of this jungle clearing, where Anansi, with his quick wit and clever tricks, must embark on an unexpected journey to restore the forest’s missing melodies. Amidst the whispers of ancient trees and the wisdom of old friends, Anansi will discover that sometimes, the greatest tricks come not from deception, but from unity and cooperation.

CHARACTERS:

Anansi – A Cunning Spider, Full of Tricks.

Nyame (Voice Only) – The Wise and Powerful Sky God.

Turtle – A Slow but Steady Friend of Anansi.

Lion – The Boastful King of the Jungle.

Antelope – A Graceful and Swift Creature.

Owl – A Wise Observer of the Forest.

Weaver Bird – A Skilled Weaver and Keeper of Stories.

Chorus (Optional) – A Group of Animals

PROPS:

• A large circular web made of white yarn or string can be hung in the background or used as a set piece.

• Anansi can carry a small pouch or satchel to hold his trickster tools.

• Turtle can carry a walking stick and perhaps a small, leafy plant.

• Lion can have a large paw print painted on a piece of cardboard to use as a prop during his story.

• Antelope can have a handful of fake leaves or flowers to hold during her story.

• Owl can carry a small, hollow log decorated with leaves and twigs to represent her nest.

• Weaver Bird carries a large basket filled with colorful threads and a wooden needle or crochet hook (oversized for comedic effect).

SETTING: A vibrant jungle clearing.

SCRIPT:

(The play opens with Anansi spinning a web in the clearing. He hums a cheerful tune.)

ANANSI: (Singing) A sticky web, a cunning plan, Anansi’s the trickster, the cleverest man!

(Turtle enters slowly, munching on a leaf.)

TURTLE: Easy there, Anansi. Don’t get ahead of yourself.

ANANSI: (Stops singing) Ah, Turtle! You wouldn’t understand. There’s mischief afoot, and a good trickster thrives on a challenge.

TURTLE: What is it this time? Stole the Lion’s mane again?

ANANSI: Not this time, my friend. The forest has fallen silent! No birdsong, no crickets chirping, not even the rustle of leaves in the wind. All the melodies have vanished!

TURTLE: (Scratches his head) Vanished? How peculiar.

(A booming voice echoes from above.)

NYAME (Voice): Anansi, you troublemaker!

ANANSI: (Jumps) Great Nyame! Is that truly you?

NYAME (Voice): Indeed, it is. You see, your constant trickery has upset the balance. The melodies are a gift, a harmony that keeps the forest alive.

ANANSI: Me? But I haven’t done anything!

NYAME (Voice): Only a cunning trickster could disrupt such a delicate balance. Restore the melodies, Anansi, or the forest will wither.

ANANSI: (Groans) But how?

(Lion enters, roaring.)

LION: Did someone say “balance?” The forest needs a strong leader, not a web-slinging spider!

ANANSI: (Scoffs) Easy for you to say, Mr. “Can’t-catch-the-Antelope.”

(Antelope rushes past, graceful and fast.)

ANTELOPE: (Calling back) Not today, Lion!

LION: Hmph! That doesn’t mean I can’t restore order!

(Owl swoops down from a branch.)

OWL: Order comes from understanding, Lion. We need wisdom, not just strength.

ANANSI: (Snaps his fingers) Wisdom! That’s it!

(He scurries away. The other animals watch curiously. Anansi returns with Weaver Bird, who carries a large basket.)

WEAVER BIRD: Greetings everyone. I am Weaver Bird, keeper of stories, and Anansi tells me the forest needs its melodies back.

ANANSI: You see, Weaver Bird can weave anything. Maybe she can weave us some new songs!

WEAVER BIRD: (Shakes her head) Songs are not simply woven, Anansi. They come from the heart of the forest.

(She opens the basket, revealing an assortment of colorful threads.)

WEAVER BIRD: But perhaps, with your help, we can remind the forest of its music.  (She hands each animal a thread.) Don’t be shy, everyone. Share a memory that brings you joy. Let the feeling flow into the thread.

(Lion puffs out his chest.)

LION: A memory, eh? Nothing brings me more joy than a good hunt! Remember that time, gazelles? The sun was just rising, painting the savannah gold… (He roars with gusto) The scent of prey filled the air, and I, the mighty Lion, led the chase! (He lets out another, shorter roar) We sprinted across the plains, a blur of brown and gold. The gazelles scattered, but none could outrun me! (He lets out a final, triumphant roar) With a mighty leap, I brought down the strongest one! It was a glorious victory!

(Antelope rolls her eyes playfully.)

ANTELOPE: (Smiling) A glorious victory for you, perhaps, Lion. But for us gazelles, it’s a memory of the wind whipping through our fur, the pounding of hooves, the thrill of the escape! (She closes her eyes for a moment) Ah, the feeling of freedom as we outmaneuvered your mighty paws… that’s a joy I can weave into this tapestry.

(Owl swoops down silently and perches on a branch.)

OWL: Memories of joy, you say? I have many of those. But the one that brings a certain peace is gazing at the night sky. Millions of stars, each a tiny flicker of light, scattered across the vast canvas of darkness. (She dips her head) It’s a humbling sight, a reminder of the mysteries that surround us.

(Turtle munches on a leaf thoughtfully.)

TURTLE: Joy, for me, is a simpler thing. It’s the steady flow of the stream, gurgling over smooth stones, carrying me along on its journey. (He closes his eyes) The rhythm of the water, the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves, the quiet companionship of the fish… that’s a memory that brings me peace, and perhaps, a steady beat for our melody.

WEAVER BIRD: (Smiling) Together, we weave a song of the forest!

(The animals hold up their threads, their stories woven into them. As they touch the threads together, a beautiful melody fills the air. Birdsong, crickets chirping, and the rustling of leaves return.)

(The animals sing a song together, celebrating the return of the melodies.)

The forest whispers, the creatures sing,

Harmony found, a joyous thing.

Stories shared, a bond so strong,

Anansi’s trickery, is no longer wrong!

(Nyame’s voice booms from above.)

NYAME (Voice): Well done, Anansi. You have learned that true balance comes from cooperation, not just cleverness.

ANANSI: Thank you, Nyame! And thank you, everyone. Perhaps this trickster can learn a thing or two after all.

(The animals celebrate the return of the melodies, dancing and singing together. The forest is alive with sound once more.)

THE END

AUTHOR: K I D S I N C O

Moral of the Story: In “Anansi the Spider and the Missing Melodies,” we learn that true harmony isn’t about a single voice, but the beautiful chorus created by cooperation and understanding. Every creature, big or small, contributes a unique note to the symphony of life. By valuing each other’s stories and working together, we can overcome challenges and create something far greater than any individual could achieve alone.

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