Sarah Plain and Tall Chapter 1
Reader’s Theater Literature, level: all
Posted Wed Sep 24 11:18:08 PDT 2003 by Deidre Travis (dtravis@rockhill.org).
Rock Hill Elementary , Ironton, USA
Materials Required: script
Activity Time: 15-20 minutes plus practice time
Characters:
Anna - a girl of about 10
Caleb - Anna’s brother of about 5
Jacob - Anna and Caleb’s father
Sarah - a young woman from Maine
Narrators 1, 2 and 3
Narrator 1:
The story takes place in the kitchen of a farmhouse
in Kansas during the westward expansion. Anna is stirring stew
and watching her younger brother, Caleb.
Caleb:
Did Mama sing every day? Every single day?
Anna:
(wearily) Every single day.
Caleb:
And did Papa sing too?
Anna:
Yes, Papa sang too. (with authority) Don’t get so close,
Caleb. You’ll heat up.
Caleb:
(softly and sadly) Well, Papa doesn’t sing anymore.
Caleb:
What did I look like when I was born?
Anna:
(giggling) You didn’t have any clothes on.
Caleb:
I know that!
Anna:
You looked like a round ball of dough.
Caleb:
(disgusted) I had hair!
Anna:
Not enough to talk about!
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Caleb:
(dramatically) And she named me Caleb.
Anna:
(laughing) I would have named you troublesome!
Caleb: And Mama handed me to you in the yellow blanket
and said?……(waiting)….And said…..?
Anna:
(sighing) Isn’t he beautiful, Anna?
Caleb:
AND I WAS!
Narrator 2:
Caleb doesn’t know what Anna really thinks. Anna
remembers that Mama died the morning after Caleb was born.
She didn’t even say good night to Mama. She didn’t think Caleb
was beautiful. She didn’t even love Caleb for three whole days
after Mama died until she saw him smile for the first time. Anna
misses Mama.
Caleb:
Can you remember her songs? Mama’s songs?
Anna:
(thoughtfully)No. Only that she sang about flowers and
birds. Sometimes about the moon and nighttime.
Caleb: (softly) Maybe if you remember the songs, then I might
remember her too.
Narrator 3:
Anna has tears in her eyes.
Narrator 1:
Papa comes in and hugs Anna.
Papa:
Nice soapy smell, that stew.
Anna:
(Laughing) That’s my hair!
Papa:
Cold in town. And Jack was feisty……..(smiling) Rascal!
Caleb:
(harshly) You don’t sing anymore. (gently) Why?
Papa:
(quietly) I’ve forgotten the old songs. But maybe there’s
a way to remember them.
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Caleb: (eagerly) How?
Papa: I’ve place an advertisement in the newspaper. For Help.
Anna:
(surprised)You mean a housekeeper?
Caleb and Anna: burst out laughing
Papa:
No…not a housekeeper. A wife.
Caleb:
A wife? You mean a mother?
Papa:
That too…..like Maggie.
Narrator 2:
Maggie had come to be a wife their neighbor,
Matthew, and to be a mother for his children.
Papa:
And I have received an answer.
Sarah: (in the background) Dear Mr. Jacob Witting, I am Sarah
Wheaton from Maine as you will see from my letter. I am
answering your advertisement. I have never been married,
though I have been asked. I have lived with an older brother
William, who is about to be married. His wife-to-be is young and
energetic. I have always loved to live by the sea, but at this time
I feel a move is necessary. And the truth is, the sea is as far east
as I can go. My choice, as you can see, is limited. This should not
be taken as an insult. I am strong and I work hard and I am
willing to travel. But I am not mild-mannered. If you should care
to write, I would be interested in your children and about where
you live. And you.
Very truly yours, Sarah Elisabeth Wheaton.
P.S. Do you have opinions on cats? I have one.
Narrator 3:
Anna:
Caleb and Anna smile.
One thing, Papa.
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Papa:
what’s that?
Anna:
Ask her if she sings.
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Choral Reading – “Lonely”
(Adapted by Georgette Haverluk from Sarah, Plain, and Tall)
Are you lonely - yes?
You are lonely?
I miss the hills of Tennessee
Sometimes I miss those hills
Do not miss the hills – Maggie
Do not miss the hills
I miss the sea sometimes
The clear blue-green sea
Do not miss the sea – Sarah
Do not miss the sea
I miss my brother William
But he is married
He is married
I miss my brother William and
The three old aunts who squawk . . .
Squawk like crows at dawn
I miss them too
I miss them too
There are always things to miss, Sarah
There are always things to miss
No matter where you are . . .
No matter where you are
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