Mary the Hen and the Loaf of Reward is a delightful play for children based on the classic English folk tale The Little Red Hen. This adaptation teaches the value of hard work and responsibility through the charming story of Mary, a determined hen who never gives up, even when her lazy neighbors refuse to help. With her six chirping chicks by her side, Mary plants, harvests, and bakes her own bread — proving that effort and perseverance always bring the sweetest rewards.
CHARACTERS:
MARY THE HEN: The hardworking, persistent mother.
SIX CHICKS (or CHORUS OF CHICKS): Can be played by any number of actors.
CHICK 1 (The Bossy Chick)
CHICK 2 (The Curious Chick)
MR. CAT: A sleepy, self-important, and sluggish cat.
MRS. DUCK: A fussy, comfort-loving, and homebody duck.
SCRIPT:
(The stage is divided into three areas: Mary’s House (Stage Left), Mr. Cat’s Tree (Center), and Mrs. Duck’s House (Stage Right).)
SCENE 1: A Beautiful Day
(Mary is at the front door of her house waiting for her Six Chicks. She has her purse and the house keys in her hand.)
MARY: Are you ready, my little nuggets? We have a whole world to see today!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep!
CHICK 1: Don’t forget your hat, Mama!
MARY: Let’s go! (She and her Six Chicks go out. She closes the door with a click, and they start walking.) Let’s hurry up, it’s a beautiful day!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
CHICK 2: Where are we going today, Mama?
MARY: Today, we will go to the sparkling river!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep!
(They walk toward the river area. Mary sees Mr. Cat lying dramatically under a tree, stretching a long, slow yawn.)
MARY: Good morning, Mr. Cat. What a glorious morning!
MR. CAT: (Mumbling, barely opening one eye) Mmmm. Good morning, dear Mary. A little loud for a glorious morning, perhaps.
MARY: We are going to the river for a fun day out. Would you like to come with us?
MR. CAT: (Scoffs dramatically) No, thank you. I am far too dedicated to my work. My work is napping. I am conserving my energy.
MARY: (Hands on hips, a slight shake of her head) Very well. Don’t strain yourself. We’ll see you later.
MR. CAT: Good-bye.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep! Bye, Mr. Cat!
(Mary and the Chicks continue to Mrs. Duck’s House. Mary knocks on the door.)
MRS. DUCK: (A slightly muffled, fussy voice from inside) Who is it?
MARY: It’s me, Mary!
MRS. DUCK: Oh, dear! Come in! The door is open, but don’t track mud on my clean floor!
(Mary and her Six Chicks enter the house. Mrs. Duck is sitting on a cozy sofa, wearing a shawl.)
MARY: Mrs. Duck, would you like to come with us to the river?
MRS. DUCK: (Shivering dramatically) No, thank you, my dear friend Mary. It is a terribly drafty day outdoors! I simply couldn’t risk the chill. I prefer to stay here where I’m warm and dry.
MARY: (A slightly deflated sigh) No problem. We will go alone, then. Come on, my babies.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep!
(Mary and her Six Chicks leave the house and walk to the river area.)
MARY: This is a wonderful place for you to play! Splash your little feet!
(The Six Chicks play for a while. Sound of gentle splashing and cheerful ‘cheeps’.)
MARY: Now, come here. Time to read a short story while you drink some fresh water.
CHICK 1: Is it a long story?
CHICK 2: Cheep, cheep! I’m thirsty!
(The Six Chicks go to the river, drink water, and gather around Mary. Mary takes out a storybook from her purse and starts reading.)
MARY: Once upon a time, there was a little cat who lived in the… (She looks at her watch, suddenly alarmed.) Oh my goodness! It’s late and you have to go to school! We must hurry back to the farm!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
SCENE 2: The Found Grain
(They rush back to their house.)
MARY: Hurry up! Pick up your backpacks! (The Six Chicks take their backpacks, and they go out. Mary closes the door with the keys.) Oh, I can’t waste any more time!
(In her rush, Mary drops the keys. She bends down to pick them up, but notices something small and brown on the ground.)
MARY: Look! Wheat grains! This is wonderful! Today is my lucky day! I will plant them right now… but first I have to take my babies to school!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
(Mary takes the chicks off stage. She returns alone and goes to see Mr. Cat, who is again lounging under the tree.)
MARY: Mr. Cat! Mr. Cat! I have a wonderful new task!
MR. CAT: (Annoyed) Mmm. What is it now, Mary? I was just about to find the perfect cloud shape.
MARY: I found these wheat grains! They will grow into beautiful wheat! Would you like to help me plant them?
MR. CAT: (Stretching one leg out lazily) Plant? Not right now. I am tired! And besides, that sounds like a job that requires dirty paws. I simply can’t do it.
MARY: (Resigned) Very well. I’ll just see if Mrs. Duck will help me, then.
(Mary goes to Mrs. Duck’s House. She knocks at the door.)
MRS. DUCK: Who is it?
MARY: It’s me, Mary!
MRS. DUCK: Come in, the door is open.
(Mary enters the house. Mrs. Duck is sitting on the sofa, polishing her beak.)
MARY: Mrs. Duck, I just found these wheat grains, and I would like you to help me plant them in my garden.
MRS. DUCK: (Waving a dismissive wing) Oh, Mary, dear. I already told you I’m cold. It’s far too much work for a delicate bird like me. I prefer to stay here and keep warm.
MARY: (A bit more firmly this time) Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Duck.
MRS. DUCK: Good-bye. Try to keep that door shut tightly!
(Mary leaves. She goes to her house and plants the grains in her backyard. The Six Chicks return home from school.)
MARY: Come quickly! Come to see where I planted the wheat grains!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
(She takes them outside and shows them the planted area.)
MARY: All we have to do is water the grains every day!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep!
(Mary and the Chicks mime watering the plants. They look excited. After a brief pause, the wheat is now tall and ripe.)
MARY: (Beaming) Look, my little ones! Our daily work has paid off! The wheat is ripe and golden! Now, I’ll cut it and take it to the mill. Come on, my babies, let’s ask my neighbors one last time.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
SCENE 3: The Mill and the Bread
(Mary finds Mr. Cat lying under the tree, this time apparently asleep.)
MARY: Mr. Cat! Mr. Cat! Wake up!
MR. CAT: (Waking with a start, eyes narrowed) What can I do for you, Mary? I was having a dream.
MARY: I have cut the wheat, and now I have to take it to the mill to be ground into flour. Will you help me carry it to the mill?
MR. CAT: (Yawning an enormous, dramatic yawn) My dear Mary, I told you! My arms are tired! I am simply exhausted from all my resting. I can’t go with you.
(Mary leaves, showing her disappointment.)
MARY: (To herself) Maybe Mrs. Duck will help me.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep.
(She goes to Mrs. Duck’s house. She knocks at the door.)
MRS. DUCK: Who is it?
MARY: It’s me, Mary.
MRS. DUCK: Come in, the door is open.
(Mary and her Six Chicks enter the house. Mrs. Duck is sitting on the sofa, knitting a tiny shawl.)
MARY: Mrs. Duck, would you like to come with me to the mill? It’s time to grind the wheat.
MRS. DUCK: Dear Mary, it’s far too cold for an excursion! My feathers might get ruffled, and it would spoil my entire afternoon. I prefer to stay here. Maybe some other time, dear.
MARY: (Firmly) Good-bye, Mrs. Duck. Come on, my babies, we will go to the mill ourselves.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
(Mary and her Six Chicks leave the house and go to the mill. They return home with a bag of flour. Mary sets to work, dramatically miming the kneading and baking of the bread. She checks her oven.)
MARY: (Taking a loaf of bread out, inhaling deeply) Ah! This bread is cooked! It smells absolutely delicious!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep, cheep!
MARY: Now, we will go to see Mr. Cat and Mrs. Duck.
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
SCENE 4: The Just Reward
(Mary finds Mr. Cat lying under the tree, looking bored.)
MARY: Mr. Cat! Mr. Cat!
MR. CAT: (Perking up immediately, sniffing the air wildly) Now what, Mary? Wait… what is that marvelous smell?
MARY: (Holding the bread aloft) Would you like to eat some of this delicious bread?
MR. CAT: (Leaping to his feet, tail twitching) Oh, yes, Mary! A thousand times, yes! I’ve been dreaming of fresh-baked goods all day!
MARY: (Pauses, a beat of satisfying silence, then a triumphant look) Oh no, you won’t. Because when I needed your help to plant the wheat, you were too tired. And when I needed your help to carry it, you were also tired!
MR. CAT: (Whining) But… it smells so good! I’ll help you with the dishes! I promise!
MARY: (Shaking her head) No. You must be far too tired to hold a slice! Only my chicks and I will eat the bread. Good-bye!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
(Mary and her chicks go to Mrs. Duck’s House. She knocks at the door.)
MRS. DUCK: Who is it?
MARY: It’s me, Mary.
MRS. DUCK: Come in, the door is open.
(Mary and her Six Chicks enter the house. Mrs. Duck is sitting on the sofa.)
MARY: Mrs. Duck, would you like to eat some of this delicious bread?
MRS. DUCK: (Eyes wide with eagerness) Oh, absolutely! It smells divine, Mary! So warm and lovely!
MARY: (Pauses, a look of vindication) Well, no, you won’t have some. When I needed your help to plant the wheat, you were too cold. And when I needed your help to go to the mill, you were also too cold!
MRS. DUCK: (Gasping) But Mary! It’s so unfair!
MARY: (Smiling confidently) It isn’t unfair, Mrs. Duck. Those who do the work get to eat the bread! Only my chicks and I will eat it! Good-bye!
CHORUS OF CHICKS: Cheep, cheep, cheep!
(Mary and her Six Chicks leave the house. They go home, happily tear the bread, and eat it.)
At the end of Mary the Hen and the Loaf of Reward, Mary enjoys the fruits of her own labor with her little chicks. The lazy Mr. Cat and Mrs. Duck learn that those who do not work should not expect to share the rewards. Through this lighthearted yet meaningful story, children learn that teamwork and effort are the true ingredients for success.
The End
Author: An Old English Folk Tale
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Moral of the Story: Those who do the work deserve the reward.
Moral Values:
- Hard work
- Responsibility
- Perseverance
- Fairness
- Independence
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