Smith – English I
Drama Practice
Pinocchio
Prologue:
This scene is set in the evening and takes place in Pinocchio’s bedroom. Pinocchio is lying in
bed. He has the covers from his bed pulled up around his chin. A fairy enters the room from an
open window and she is carrying a small batch of medicine.
Act 1: Scene 1
Fairy: (handing a glass of water with medicine to Pinocchio) Take this, and in a few days you
will be feeling much better.
Pinocchio: (glancing at the medicine and making a terrible face) Is it sweet or tart?
Fairy: It is really tart, however you need to take it so you can get better.
Pinocchio: I don’t want it!
Fairy: Please drink it.
Pinocchio: I do not like anything that is tart, so NO!
Fairy: If you drink it I will give you a lump of sugar to take the sour taste from your mouth.
Pinocchio: Where’s the sugar?
Fairy: (taking a lump of sugar from her tiny pouch) Here it is.
Pinocchio: I want the sugar first, and then I will drink the bitter water.
Fairy: You promise?
Pinocchio: Yes
(The fairy gives Pinocchio the sugar. Pinocchio eats it quickly and grins)
Pinocchio: If only the sugar were the medicine! I would take it every day.
Fairy: Now keep your promise and drink these few drops of water and medicine. They will
help get you better.
(Pinocchio takes the glass in both hands and sticks his nose into it. He lifts it to his mouth and
sticks his nose into the glass for a second time.)
Pinocchio: This is much too tart and sour. I cannot drink this.
Fairy: How do you know when you haven’t even tasted it?
Pinocchio: I can only imagine what it tastes like. I can smell it. If you gave me another lump
of sugar then I could really drink it.
(The fairy hands Pinocchio another lump of sugar and the medicine)
Pinocchio: I can’t drink it like this.
Fairy: Why?
Pinocchio: It is too tart. If you read me a story I may be able to drink it.
Drama Practice
Smith – English I
(The fairy reads Pinocchio a story. He still will not drink his medicine. Pinocchio continues to
choose activities that will distract the Fairy so that he does not have to take his medicine.)
Fairy: Pinocchio, you are very sick and if you do not take your medicine you will be very sorry!
Please drink the medicine so that you do not get a fever that takes you to another world.
Pinocchio: Bring it on!
1. What does the prologue do for the reader?
A. The prologue describes the setting of the play and places the actors in a
scene.
B. The prologue defines all of the characters and their traits.
C. The prologue predicts the ending of the play.
D. The prologue outlines the playwright’s notes to the director.
2. The way Pinocchio keeps changing the subject and attempts to divert the Fairy’s attention
away from the medicine suggest thatA.
B.
C.
D.
He is tricking the fairy and he is not really sick.
He is worried that his sickness will only get worse.
He has made up his mind not to take the medicine.
He wants the fairy to give him more medicine.
3. What do the stage directions mean to the reader?
A. The stage directions are voiced by the actors in the play.
B. The stage directions tell the actors how to react or move in addition to the lines that are
voiced.
C. These are a soliloquy.
D. These are the director’s notes to the cast.
4. Which word best describes the fairy in this play?
A.
B.
C.
D.
childish
mean
patient
stern
5. What is the theme from this scene in the play?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Hard work pays off.
Be patient with the one’s you care about.
Friendships are hard to maintain.
Good will triumph over evil.