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THE SWORD IN THE STONE
One Act Play for Schools and Theatres

Soundtrack Cues ............ Script Sample


CAST LIST
Small Cast (Touring) Version

Running Time: About 45-50 minutes
Flexible cast of 4, 1 Male, 1 Female, 2 M/F
Easily adapted for larger cast

ARTHUR (M)
A boy, 12 years old. Also plays NEUTRAL CHARACTER

MERLIN (M/F)
A magician. Also plays SPIKE, a feisty fish

KAI (M/F)
Arthur's foster brother, 15 years old. Also plays DRAGON, KNIGHT, HAWK and NEUTRAL CHARACTER

GUENEVER (F)
Princess of the Cameliard. Also plays WOMAN

 

CAST LIST
Medium Cast Version

Running Time: About 40-45 minutes
Flexible cast of 6, 1 Male, 1 Female, 4 M/F
Easily adapted for larger/smaller cast.

ARTHUR (M, 311 lines)
A Boy, 12 years old.

MERLIN (M/F, 140 lines)
A Magician. Also plays PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE.

KAI (M/F, 69 lines)
ARTHUR'S Half-brother, 15 years old.

GUENEVER (F, 21 lines)
Arthur's future bride.

SQUIRE 1 (M/F, 25 lines)
Also plays SQUIRE, KNIGHT, SPIKE.

SQUIRE 2 (M/F, 7 lines + action)
Also plays SQUIRE, HAWK, DRAGON.

(SQUIRES also facilitate scene changes and make sound effects with percussion instruments.)


THE SWORD IN THE STONE
CD SOUNDTRACK CUES
Cues, sound effects, original background music

The CD Soundtrack contains special sound effects and background music (original music written for the play) that may be used to greatly enhance the performance. It does not contain music for the performers to sing along with. Cues have 10 seconds of silence at the end - times shown below include silence.
[ Click on [sample] to hear a short sample of the indicated cues ]

 1.  OPENING, DRUMS, EERIE, THUNDER  (2:59) [sample]

2.  SWORD SOUND, (SILENCE), MUSIC  (1:19)

3.  SOARING, MUSIC (LONG)  (4:40) [sample]

4.  WATER, SWIMMING (LONG)  (3:37) [sample]

5.  SUSPENSEFUL DRUMMING  (2:17)

6.  DULCIMER, SCENE CHANGE  (0:58)

7.  FLUTE, DRUM  (1:28) [sample]

8.  DRUM, BATTLE SOUNDS  (1:20) [sample]

9.  WEIRD VIOLIN SAWING  (1:17) 

10.  MAGICAL, DREAMY  (1:12) [sample]

11.  SWORD SOUND  (0:18)

12.  PROCESSION, CURTAIN CALL  (3:37) [sample]

Note: Some teachers choose familiar songs, obtain sheet music and insert these songs into the play.  We recognize that each school has a wide variety of educational needs to fulfill and we invite you to be creative in your use of our scripts; including changes or additions that are appropriate for your students. As author/publisher of our own creative works, we do ask that you obtain proper copyright permission for any additions you might make - that responsibility is up to you.

Music & Sound Resources Available on the Internet
( Sheet Music, Song Books, CDs, DVDs, Sing-along, Karaoke, Sound Effects )


Merlin! Swordplay! Magic! Camelot!
Small Cast Children's Plays - The Sword in the Stone King Arthur Children's Plays - The Sword in the Stone
Audience helps Arthur pull the Sword from the Stone!
Take a Bow Productions - Medium Cast Play for Children


THE SWORD IN THE STONE
SCRIPT SAMPLE

MERLIN has given ARTHUR his first lesson by turning him into a bird.  After a harrowing flight, MERLIN proposes the second lesson.  The AUDIENCE participates by helping to fill Sir Ector's Moat with water.

MERLIN:  Do you think you might be up to just one more adventure for the day?  You have three choices left. Earth, Fire and Water.

ARTHUR:  Well, after what we just went through, I surely don't want to get involved with any Fire. And Earth, well, Earth is just a lot of dirt, after all, isn't it?

MERLIN:  Choose.

ARTHUR:  (Indifferent.) Water, I choose Water.

MERLIN:  Splendid.

(To audience.)

Consider the real magic of water.

(HE encourages participation.)

First, it rains.

(HE briskly rubs palms together to indicate the sound of rain. HE may have to add [to audience] "Can you do this?" The rain falls to earth and makes a stream. HE snaps his fingers.)

The stream flows into a river.

(HE crosses arms over his chest and quickly pats his upper arms.)

The river flows into the ocean.

(HE pounds his hands upon his thighs.) 

And crashes on the shore.

(HE pounds his thighs harder.)

Then the sun comes out and draws the water to the sky.

(Hands and fingers move upwards.)

Until a big cloud is formed.

(Makes clouds above his head with hands.)

Then down pours the rain...

(ALL rub hands briskly together again.) 

... which turns into a stream and, in this case, flows into the moat of Sir Ector's castle.  Let's visit that old moat, shall we?

(SQUIRE 1 & 2 enter with silks. THEY and MERLIN manipulate them to indicate a moat.)

Now, Arthur, take a deep breath and hold your nose.

(ARTHUR jumps. THEY lift silks, ARTHUR runs through, then right back out again.)

Jump, boy, jump!

(MUSIC CUE #4. ARTHUR tries again, this time getting caught up in the whirling silks. Then we hear odd, lilting music as ARTHUR enters another element. Water background sound continues through this scene.)

ARTHUR:  (Tries to talk, but can only gulp.) Mer-glup-lin-glug! Blop! Blop!

MERLIN:  Hold on, lad. Wait for me. Don't float away.

(SQUIRE 1 & 2 stretch silks across the stage. ARTHUR is caught between them. We see his head, then his feet, and other ridiculous positions as he is swirled about by the water.)

ARTHUR:  Mer-glug! Lin-glug!

MERLIN:  Now, now, set yourself straight!

ARTHUR:  I-glug, can't-glug, glug, breathe-glug!

MERLIN:  What's that, boy?

ARTHUR:  I-glug, can't-glug, breathe-glug!

MERLIN:  You must speak slower, child.  Fish talk is slower than human talk, you know.  Try again.

ARTHUR:  Glug, glug, glug!

MERLIN:  Enunciation, Arthur!  It sounded like you said, "Glug, glug, glug".

ARTHUR:  (Frantic.) Glug!  Glug!  Glug!

MERLIN:  For heaven's sake, stop breathing through your nose.

ARTHUR:  Glug? Glug? Glug?

MERLIN:  The ears, old boy, the ears! For heaven's sake, don't you know a blasted thing? Breathe through your ears, Arthur!

ARTHUR:  Glug? (Breathes, as he stands among the swirling silks.) My-glug, ears-glug, Merlin? Merlin! I'm breathing through my ears!

MERLIN:  Yes, yes, now come along.

(ARTHUR follows thoroughly enjoying the breathing. SQUIRE 1 & 2 lay silks on the ground diagonally across the stage and exit.)

The world is full of invisible lines, Arthur. Do you know the borders of Sir Ector's castle?

ARTHUR:  Of course, everyone knows Sir Ector's property. It's two miles wide and one mile deep and there's a big stone fence all around.

MERLIN:  But I bet you never guessed that there are kingdoms upon kingdoms within Sir Ector's kingdom.

ARTHUR:  What do you mean?

MERLIN:  (Indicating silks.) Why, right here inside this moat, for example. Everything on that side of the line belongs to the King Fish.  He's a Pike named Spike.

ARTHUR:  Oh!

MERLIN:  But there's freedom on this side. Freedom, boy! Such a beautiful word!

(MERLIN grabs the silks and moves them in a huge circle. KAI comes floating by - he's also a fish who has not learned to breathe through his ears and is floating with his cheeks puffed up. HE gets caught up in the silks.)

ARTHUR:  Merlin!  Look, it's Kai! And he's a fish too!

MERLIN:  Oh, dear. He must have been swimming when we called the Water Magic.  Sometimes things get a bit jumbled.

ARTHUR:  Close your nose and open your ears.  Breathe through your ears, Kai!

KAI:  Glug?

(Breathes, then coughs and gulps.)

Hickkk! Arthur? Arthur? Is that you? What's going on?

ARTHUR:  Oh, Kai, Kai, it's the real magic. Merlin did it! He turned us into fish. What kind of fish are we. Merlin?

MERLIN:  Carp.

ARTHUR:  Carp!  We're carp, Kai! Isn't that wonderful?!

Note: This is a sample from the actual script.  To review the entire play, order the PERUSAL SCRIPT (online instant download).

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