In The Mirror and the Clever Cat, an artist’s simple mirror becomes the center of curiosity, confusion, and discovery. One by one, a group of animals sets out to uncover the truth about a mysterious “hole in the wall,” only to find something shocking. The Mirror and the Clever Cat reminds us that what we see is not always the whole truth—and that sometimes, we are only looking at ourselves. With humor, imagination, and a gentle lesson, this short play is perfect for classroom performances and group readings.
CHARACTERS:
NARRATOR
ARTIST
CAT
FOX
SQUIRREL
BEAR
COW
DONKEY
ELEPHANT
TIGER
LION
LEOPARD
CAMEL
SCRIPT:
NARRATOR: Once upon a time, an artist painted a small and beautiful picture. He liked it so much that he placed it in front of a mirror so that he could admire it every single day.
ARTIST: The reflection softens the image and makes it twice as lovely as before.
NARRATOR: The artist had a very clever cat, who overheard him.
CAT (to himself): Oh! I must let my friends know about this fascinating discovery.
NARRATOR: The animals admired the Cat for being clever and well-educated. When he spoke, they listened carefully.
FOX: What is a picture, Cat?
CAT (proudly): It is a flat thing—wonderfully flat, marvelously flat, enchantingly flat! And oh, how beautiful it is!
SQUIRREL: We want to see it!
BEAR: Yes, but what makes it so beautiful?
CAT: It is how it looks—so elegant and delicate!
FOX, SQUIRREL, BEAR: Ohhh!
COW: And what is a mirror?
CAT (dramatically): A mirror is a hole in the wall. You look inside, and there you see the picture—dainty, charming, and so inspiring that your head might spin!
DONKEY (skeptical): I have my doubts. Nothing could be that beautiful.
CAT (annoyed): If you don’t believe me, then see for yourselves! Goodbye!
NARRATOR: The animals soon forgot about the mirror—but not for long. Curiosity returned.
BEAR: What if the Cat was telling the truth?
FOX: We have no proof either way.
DONKEY: There is only one way to know. I will look into the hole.
NARRATOR: The Donkey went first. Not knowing where to stand, he stood between the picture and the mirror. He saw only his own reflection.
DONKEY (returning): The Cat lied! There was nothing there but a donkey. A very handsome donkey—but still just a donkey.
ELEPHANT: It’s very strange. Bear, you go next.
NARRATOR: One by one, each animal went and returned with the same story.
BEAR: I saw only a bear.
COW: Only a cow.
TIGER: Just a tiger.
LION: A lion—and nothing else!
LEOPARD: Only a leopard.
CAMEL: A camel, and nothing more.
NARRATOR: At last, the Elephant went.
ELEPHANT (furious): You are all mistaken! There was nothing in that hole but a magnificent elephant!
NARRATOR: And so, the animals realized that each one had seen only themselves reflected in the mirror. Far away, the clever Cat chuckled softly.
CAT (to himself): A picture, a mirror… and a lesson in vanity.
Author: Mark Twain
Adapted by: K I D S I N C O
Moral of the story: Sometimes, what we see is only a reflection of ourselves.
Moral Values:
1. Self-awareness: The animals believe they are seeing something new, but they only see themselves. This teaches children the importance of recognizing their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.
2. Humility: Each animal believes what it sees is important and magnificent. The story gently reminds us not to be overly proud or vain.
3. Perspective: Everyone looks at the same mirror, yet each one experiences something different. What we see depends on where we stand and how we look.
4. Critical Thinking: The animals accept descriptions without fully understanding them. Children learn not to believe everything they hear without carefully observing.
5. Curiosity (with caution): Curiosity leads the animals to explore—but rushing to conclusions leads to confusion. Curiosity is good, but reflection and patience matter too.
6. Appearance vs. Reality: The mirror shows something that feels real, but isn’t what the animals expect. Things are not always what they appear.
👉 Explore our full collection of free play scripts for kids, perfect for classroom performances.
👉 External Resources:
- Mark Twain Biography – Britannica
- What Is a Fable? – Britannica Kids
- Short Moral Stories for Children – American Literature
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