Just So Stories

Adapted by Aurand Harris from three of Rudyard Kipling’s “Just So Stories.” Cast of 4 women, 5 men, extras if desired. Unit set. Primitive man and animal costumes. When the world was so new and all, man meets woman, invites her to share his cave, which she pretties up with her touches. She teaches him to tame the Dog and the Horse for his uses, but the Cat resists her charms, and when the baby comes, he tricks her into allowing him to sit by the fire and walk by himself. The Camel, with his grumbling “Humph,” is chastened, by severe punishment, into lightening man’s burden. And finally it’s Man-and-Woman’s Child who uses a crude drawing to send a message. This is widely misinterpreted, and nearly precipitates a war. But it was a good idea — wasn’t it?Each of these three stories may be presented independently, if desired.