Play Outline - The Wise Old Man

The Wise Old Man

Level 1 (3rd Grade Students)

Characters- Farmer 1, Farmer 1’s Wife, Farmer 2, Farmer 3, Sheep 1, Sheep 2, Sheep 3, Sheep 4, The Wolf, The Strong Man, The Wise Old Man

Synopsis- The small farming village of Derby is known for raising sheep.  One day a wolf starts to steal sheep from the surrounding fields.  The farmers travel to another village to seek help to fight the wolf.  The first man to volunteer is very strong.  The second volunteer is a wise old man.  The farmers ask both men to come help.  After a long battle between the wolf and the strong man the farmers learn that violence is not the answer.  The conflict is resolved by the old man using words and negotiation. 

Character Objectives

Farmer 1 and Wife - They raise sheep on their farm and are scared the wolf will ruin their flock. 

Farmer 2&3 - They share in Farmer 1’s fears and want to scare the wolf away. 

Sheep - They are owned by the farmers and live in the fields.

The Wolf - He steals sheep in order to feed his family and himself.

The Strong Man - Wants to prove that might makes right.

The Wise Old Man - Wants to show everyone that there is a nonviolent answer to all problems. 

Organization

Scene 1: In Derby Village (Just before lunch time)

The farmers are coming home to the village after a long day working on their farms and taking care of their flocks of sheep.  Farmer 1 comes into the village and tells the other farmers that one of his sheep is missing.  He meets his wife in the town square and tells her he is scared.  

Scene 2: In the pasture (At night fall)

The sheep are in the pasture at night and talking about what may have happened to the missing sheep.  The sheep are frightened when they hear something moving in the woods.  The wolf appears and chases the sheep until he catches one and carries it off the stage.

Scene 3: In Blandon

After the wolf steals the second sheep the farmers decide that they need help.  The farmers travel to the village of Blandon to ask for help.  There they encounter a strong man and an old man who would like to help.  They invite both men to Derby.

Scene 4: On the Farm

The strong man is asked to fight the wolf and scare him away from Derby.  The strong man and the wolf fight for a long time.  In the end the strong man loses.  The old man talks to the wolf to convince him to stop steeling the sheep.

Scene 5: In Derby Village

After the wolf accepts the offer from the old man, all the characters are in the Village to celebrate.  The wolf is proud to watch over the sheep.  The farmers are happy to have the wolf’s help.