5-Act Tragedy of the French Revolution…
Characters:
 Narrator (1 student)
 First Estate (3 students)
 Second Estate (6 students)
 Third Estate (20 students)
o Bourgeoisie (3 student)
o Urban Workers (5 students)
o Peasant (12 students; 4 will be females)
 Louis XVI (1 student)
 Marie Antoinette (1 student)
Act 1: Background of the Revolution
This act will introduce you to the important causes of the revolution and the people who were involved.
 The Old Regime
 Enlightenment Ideas
 Economic Problems
 Weak Leadership
Narrator: In the 1700s, France was considered the most advanced country of Europe. However, the appearance of success was
deceiving. There was great unrest in France. This unrest was most visible in the social and political system called the Old Regime,
which had been around since the middle ages. Under this system, the people of France were divided into three large social classes,
or estates.
First Estate: <pompously> We’re the First Estate, and we are the clergy members. We own 10% of the land and pay 2% of our
income in taxes. Don’t hate on us; we work for God!
Second Estate: <arrogantly> We’re the Second Estate, and we are rich nobles. We own 20% of the land and pay almost NO taxes.
Yay for us!
Third Estate: We’re the Third Estate, and we make up 90% of the population!
Bourgeoisie: <jealously> We’re the bourgeoisie of the third estate. We’re wealthy and educated but still don’t have privileges.
What’s up with that?!
Urban Class: <frustratingly> We’re the urban lower class! We don’t get paid much, but we work hard ‘cuz we got mouths to feed!
Peasants: <angrily> We’re the peasants! We make up more than 80% of France’s population. Guess who pays most of the taxes? We
do!
Third Estate: <yelling/shouting> We’ve got to change things around here!
Bourgeoisie 1: Yeah! Like what those Americans are doing!
Bourgeoisie 2: I know! They fought for those natural rights that Locke talked about, and look at them now!
Bourgeoisie 3: Exactly! And they weren’t afraid to voice their opinions about that King of England, either! Just like what Voltaire was
saying! I ain’t scurred, you?
Noble 1: You best be scurred! Don’t go getting any ideas now forgetting who’s really in charge.
Clergy Member 1: Yeah! What he said!
Peasant 1: I don’t know what they’re talking about, but I know what I’m worried about…my harvest this year!
Peasant 2: Yeah! And how about the ridiculous price of bread! How am I supposed to feed my kids?!
Peasant 3: I know! Can’t feed my kids. Can’t pay my taxes…This king and his wife are out of control.
<end scene>
Narrator: Uh oh…they’re getting hostile around here. Let’s take a look at this so-called king and queen that they so much despise…
Marie Antoinette: Why are all these people complaining about food, dearest Louis? Why don’t they just eat cake?!
Louis XVI: Now, now, Marie…don’t rile them up too much. We need to be careful how we deal with these French people. You know
how I get nervous about these things. We still owe money for helping those Americans fight the British, and the people are unhappy
about that.
Marie Antoinette: Don’t worry, dear. I’ll make sure to win lots at tonight’s bridge game.
Louis XVI: That’s sweet of you, dear, but I don’t think it’ll cut it. We may have to reconsider our tax plans. By the way, is that a new
hat? It’s marvelous.
Marie Antoinette: Oh yes, darling! It was just imported from Italy this morning. I have a wonderful dressmaker that sought out this
design for me.
<End of Act 1>
Act 2: Estates General Meeting and the Rise of the National Assembly
 Estates-General Meeting
 Creation of the National Assembly
 Tennis Court Oath
Narrator: Louis did seriously begin to consider a new tax plan, but in order to this, he needed to call a meeting of the EstatesGeneral, which is where representatives from all three estates meet separately to make decisions such as this. Let’s listen in and find
out how these meetings went…
Louis: You all know that a meeting of the Estates General has not been called for 175 years. However, I’ve called you all here today
because there is an important matter that we desperately need to discuss. France’s debt has reached a boiling point, and today, I
propose we create a new tax plan. Due to poor harvests, the third estate will not be able to handle the taxes alone.
Noble 1: (to surrounding nobles) Is he going where I think he’s going? ‘Cuz I don’t think he wants to go there!
Louis: We will need the second estate to begin paying taxes to lessen the burden of the taxes on the third estate. We will now
adjourn this session. You all are dismissed in order to attend your individual meetings to make a decision on this.
Bourgeoisie 1: <raises hand> Your majesty, before we adjourn, the Third Estate has a proposal to make regarding the decisionmaking process.
Louis XVI: Yes, sir. Let’s hear it.
Bourgeoisie 1: We understand it is the tradition of France to allow each estate one vote, but for the sake of fairness, we’d like to
propose that every member present here at this meeting be allowed one vote.
First & Second Estate: <to each other> Is this dude serious?!
Noble 2: <angrily> We object! This is NEVER how we’ve done it, and we propose we continue to the old tradition where each estate
gets ONE vote
Noble 3: <mumbles to Third Estate> That’s right. How dare you try to take our power away from us? You’ll always be nothing…
<end scene>
Narrator: Fearing the wrath of the nobility, Louis sided with the First and Second Estates. Angry at this decision, the Third Estate
decided to form their own law-making body.
Bourgeoisie 2: I guess it’s now up to us to make changes for the French people!
Urban Worker 1: Yes! This is the end for our useless king. Let’s start our own government!
Peasant 4: Absolute monarchies: EPIC FAIL!
Bourgeoisie 3: Let’s start a new law-making body and call it the National Assembly! We’ll pass laws and make reforms for our
people!
<everybody cheers>
<end scene>
Narrator: Three days later, the Third Estate found themselves locked out of their meeting room. They broke into a tennis court,
which is where we now find them.
Bourgeoisie 1: This makes me so angry! Do they really think they can stop us by locking us out of our meeting room?!
Bourgeoisie 3: Alright. Everyone here! Let’s make a pledge. We will not leave this tennis court until we’ve drawn up a new
constitution!
Noble 4/5/6 & Clergy 3: Hey guys! We think we’re on your side!
Narrator: This pledge became known as the Tennis Court Oath and was just the beginning of what would become a very frightful
time in France.
<End of Act 2>
Act 3: Revolution Rises
 Storming of the Bastille
 Great Fear
 Women’s March to Versailles
Peasant 5: The troops are coming! The troops are coming!
Peasant 6: Is that really true? Are they coming?!
Peasant 7: It’s been confirmed! Louis is sending troops to put down the National Assembly!
Bourgeoisie 1: We heard they’re coming to kill our French people!
Peasant 8: What a coward and a menace! How dare he use troops on his own people!
Peasant 9: What do we do?
Urban Worker 1: We fight back! That’s what we do!
Urban Worker 2: How do we do that?!
Bourgeoisie 2: We need weapons…
Bourgeoisie 3: To the Bastille!
All Third Estate: To the Bastille!
<end scene>
Narrator: To defend themselves, the Third Estate citizens stormed the Bastille, a prison in Paris, to get gunpowder and arms. The day
was July 14th, 1789. To many, this day marked the beginning of the revolution. In fact, July 14 th has become known as Bastille Day, a
day celebrated yearly by the French in a similar fashion to the United States’ Independence Day.
Peasant 10: Kill the guards!
Peasant 11: Take their weapons!
Peasant 12: Kill them all! We take no prisoners!
Urban Worker 3: Stake their heads! Let’s show Louis we’re not stopping until absolutism is DEAD!
All Third Estate: <excited shouts> Yeah!
Urban Worker 4: Take down the Bastille!
Urban Worker 5: Down with the Bastille!
Urban Worker 1: Down with this absolute monarchy!
Bourgeoisie 1: This is the dawn of a new era—“Crush the infamous thing!” Vive la France!!!
All Third Estate: <with energy> “Crush the infamous thing!” Vive la France!!!
<end scene>
Narrator: The Third Estate continued to rise with vigor and intensity. Their desire for change had grown from a flame to a roaring
and raging fire. Fear plagued the hearts of the nobility for they knew not whether they were safe in their own country. Let’s find out
what they will do…
Noble 1: It is no longer safe for us here, and Louis is powerless to stop the madness that burns in the hearts of the Third Estate.
Clergy 1: What will you do?
Noble 2: We are thinking the best thing to do right now is to leave France until the king can do something to stop the chaos that has
consumed France.
Clergy 2: I think that is a good plan. Leave and wait for an all clear. When it is safe, then return to France.
Noble 3: <runs in panting and out of breath> They’re burning manors and estates! They’ve attacked several other nobles’ homes to
destroy feudal papers!
Clergy 2: There is a rumor circulating the villages that the nobility is terrorizing the peasants! These people are out of control!
Noble 1: We need to leave now. Gather your essential belongings and your family and get out of the country. God speed!
<end scene>
Narrator: As the nobility fled to country, the revolution continued to rage. In October, the revolution reached the women of France.
Peasant Woman 1: Our families are starving! It’s time for the National Assembly to do something!
Peasant Woman 2: Not only that! We’ve had enough of the king and queen living in their lush pad while the rest of us here in Paris
are barely able to get by!
Peasant Woman 3: I say we march to Versailles and force that miserable queen and her treacherous husband the king to come to
Paris to see for themselves what is happening here! “Let them eat cake!” She’s horrible!
Peasant Woman 4: Get your weapons, ladies! You’re going to need them!
Narrator: Armed with weapons in the form of knives, axes, and other weapons, the women marched to Versailles, broke into the
palace, and killed some of the guards. For Louis and Marie and their children, a horrible fate awaited them. They had no choice but
to leave for Paris only to NEVER see their palace again…
<End of Act 3>
Act 4: Assembly Reforms
 Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen
 Slogan
 Louis’s Escape
 Legislative Assembly (constitutional monarchy)
Narrator: As you can tell, times were scary in France. Even nobles were worried what would happen to the lives that they used to
have. Let’s pay attention to what the National Assembly wants to do next on their way towards liberty.
Urban Worker 5: I still feel like we need to make it known that we have rights.
Bourgeoisie 1: You’re sounding like those Enlightenment philosophers again…and I like it!
Bourgeoisie 2: Well, why don’t we make it official like those Americans? Let’s create a document that shows we have rights. What
was theirs called again? Declaration of Liberty?
Bourgeoisie 3: No – idiot! It was called the Declaration of Independence. So…how about we call ours the Declaration of the Rights of
Man and of the Citizen?
Urban Worker 4: That sounds so fancy! What is it going to say?
Bourgeoisie 3: It will say that men are born and remain free and equal in rights. It should also give us freedom of speech and
religion.
Peasant 11: Does that mean I can freely say that Louis XVI sucks?
Peasant 10: You know what – I think we need a slogan. Something that can get everybody excited and feel a part of something.
Peasant 9: You’re right. We’re a brotherhood that just wants some freedom. You feel me?
Bourgeoisie 2: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity.”
Third Estate: (Enthusiastically) “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!”
<end scene>
Narrator: While the peasants were gaining strength, another person became increasingly worried. Louis XVI and his wife Marie
Antoinette decided they needed to watch out for themselves.
Louis XVI: Marie, I’m getting very nervous about all of this. I’m not sure that we’re safe here in France anymore.
Marie Antoinette: I think you’re right. All those people are just so jealous of us. However, I did hear that many of the peasants were
frustrated with the National Assembly.
Louis XVI: I know. We are lucky that the Assembly tried to take control of the Catholic church. That’s one thing I know for sure – if
you mess with the church you can make a lot of people angry.
Marie Antoinette: Well, while the people are still angry at us, I think we need to seek safety in my homeland, Austria. I know they
would protect us.
Louis XVI: Pack your bags, honey. I don’t know if we can fit all your shoes this time around.
<end scene>
Narrator: Well, the story goes that they did try to escape. As they got closer to the border, however, they were caught! Someone
recognized Louis from the portrait on the French money. He was returned to Paris and his fate was almost sealed. But before we get
there, the National Assembly needed to show the king that his power was gone.
Bourgeoisie 1: It is time that we create a new constitution. One that ends the way of the past and begins a new chapter in France.
Noble 4: How will this constitution change things?
Bourgeoisie 2: This will create a limited constitutional monarchy. Do you know what that is, educated one?
Noble 5: Yes – of course I do. They had one in England when William and Mary took over. It will take away most of the king’s power
by making him subject to laws in the constitution.
Bourgeoisie 3: Correct! It will also create a new legislative body.
Noble 6: Let me guess…you’re going to call it the Legislative Assembly?
Bourgeoisie 3: Why of course! Through the Legislative Assembly, we will have the power to create laws. Plus – we can approve or
reject declarations of war if we don’t think it is right for our country.
Noble 4: So, the king won’t have any power left?
Bourgeoisie 2: Well…he’ll still have the power to enforce the laws on the people. We figured we’d better give him some power.
Urban Worker 4: Oh you guys are just too smart for your own good. I just say kill ‘em all! “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!”
3rd Estate: “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity!”
<end of Act 4>
Act 5: Reign of Terror
 Execution of the Monarchs
 Robespierre
 End of Terror
Narrator: That urban worker had to know what was coming. In 1793, King Louis XVI had been tried and convicted for treason against
the nation of France. His punishment was to face the latest invention of Dr. Guillotine—an incredibly effective and efficient killing
machine.
Clergy 1: Oh my goodness! Is this really going to happen?
Peasant 7: There he goes, our weak and powerless king walking up the scaffold to his death. I don’t know if I like this.
Noble 6: This is such a cruel way to die: being publicly humiliated while facing such a painful death. I can’t bear to watch his head
being cut off so violently!
Urban Worker 3: The only cruel thing about it is that it occurs much too quickly for us to enjoy!
<end scene>
Narrator: The machine was cranked to the top. Silence came across the crowd with a few people crying, yelling, and gasping.
Suddenly the blade was dropped and the king’s head was severed from the body. However, this wouldn’t be the last time this
machine would be used. One man was gaining power during this time, Maximillien Robespierre.
Robespierre: Now that the king is gone, we need to get rid of everything that reminds me of France’s past: the calendar, the
churches, and the people.
Clergy member 2: You want to close all the churches in Paris? Who are you? This is NOT a good idea.
Robespierre: I am the leader of the Committee of Public Safety. It is my duty to keep Paris and France safe.
Clergy member 3: And how do you plan on keeping France safe?
Robespierre: OH IT WILL BE SAFE! Trust me when I say that I will get rid of my enemies.
<end scene>
Narrator: Robespierre was true to that promise. The period of his rule became known as The “Reign of Terror.”
Noble 4: This man has gone crazy. He puts one of his “enemies” on trial in the morning and then has them guillotined by night.
Bourgeoisie 1: He has frightened everyone in this city. He says that he is protecting the Revolution from its enemies, but he is just
killing anyone who challenges his leadership. He has become a dictator.
Bourgeoisie 2: I heard that when the radical Georges Danton was found guilty, he told the executioner, “Don’t forget to show my
head to the people. It’s well worth seeing.”
Noble 5: I know the people didn’t like Marie Antoinette, but did she have to be guillotined as well?
Peasant 5: I wonder if she wore one of her hats when she got guillotined.
Peasant 3: Don’t be so unrefined. I heard an 18 year old was killed for cutting down a tree that had been planted as a symbol of
liberty.
Clergy 3: You people certainly got a revolution, if that’s what you were looking for. Did you know that as many as 40,000 people
were executed during the Terror. 40,000!!!
Peasant 10: You don’t need to tell us. About 85% of those 40,000 people were our people: peasants and the urban poor.
Urban Worker 1: Yeah – I thought this was supposed to be for US?
Noble 5: I’m worried for my own safety. I think something has to be done about Robespierre before he kills all of us.
Bourgeoisie 1: Amen to that.
<end scene>
Narrator: Something was done about Robespierre. Members of the National Convention turned on Robespierre and demanded his
arrest and execution. The fitting way for him to die was, of course, by the instrument he used to kill thousands of people: the
guillotine. The Reign of Terror ended on July 28, 1794.
Peasant 11: I’m tired of all of this death and destruction.
Bourgeoisie 2: I agree – we need some order.
Noble 6: Why don’t we just elect another king?
EVERYONE: NO!!!
Noble 6: Well we need some kind of government that can bring France back from this chaos.
<end scene>
Narrator: The third type of new government since 1789 was drafted and had two parts to it: the legislative branch (laws) and the
executive body. The executive branch was called the Directory and was made up of five men. Some were corrupt, but even so, they
gave their troubled country a period of order…..
…for now.
End of Skit