Chaplin in Wonderland

Everybody’s favorite silent clown, Charlie Chaplin, takes a trip down the rabbit hole, where he experiences a zany adventure in Wonderland while meeting its curiouser and curiouser cast of characters. A slapstick play blending pantomime and silent acting with dialogue and fast-paced drama. Perfect for older elementary through high school.

About the Playwright:

Novelist, poet, playwright, performer, and screenwriter, John Biscello, is the author of four novels, Broken Land, a Brooklyn Tale, Raking the Dust, Nocturne Variations, and No Man’s Brooklyn; a collection of stories, Freeze Tag, two poetry collections, Arclight and Moonglow on Mercy Street; and a fable, The Jackdaw and the Doll, illustrated by Izumi Yokoyama. He also adapted classic fables, which were paired with the vintage illustrations by artist, Paul Bransom, for the collection: Once Upon a Time, Classic Fables Reimagined. His produced, full-length plays include: LOBSTERS ON ICE, ADAGIO FOR STRAYS, THE BEST MEDICINE, ZEITGEIST, U.S.A., and WEREWOLVES DON’T WALTZ. He is the founder and director of the Taos Youth Ensemble, a theater collective, and as an independent drama educator, he has worked in various schools, creating plays with grades ranging from kindergarten through high school.

Excerpt from the play:

CHARACTERS:
Charlie Chaplin
Police Officer
White Rabbit
Umbrella Salesperson
Drink #1
Drink #2
Jazz Cat
Tweedledee
Tweedledum
Scare Hare
Mad Hatter
Jack of Hearts
Wild Deuce
Queen
Alice
*Add more playing cards to increase cast size or double up on characters for a smaller cast.

SETTING: Real World/Wonderland

AT RISE: CHARLIE CHAPLIN is walking around in the park, tired, yawning, and decides to take a little nap. POLICE OFFICER comes over.

OFFICER
Hey, buddy, no sleeping on the grass.

(CHAPLIN wakes up, rises, tips his hat, and walks away. Starts dozing off while standing up. OFFICER comes over.)

OFFICER
Hey, buddy, no sleeping standing up.

(CHAPLIN opens his eyes, tips his hat, and walks off to the side. OFFICER comes over.)

OFFICER
Hey, buddy, no standing quietly on the grass. This city has got laws, ya know?

(CHAPLIN looks confused. Wonders what to do. Silently mouths—You want noise? Someone will hold up a placard that says this.)

(CHAPLIN begins stomping his cane on the ground, and accidentally mashes the OFFICER’S foot.)

OFFICER
Owwww! Come here, you little tramp!

(OFFICER chases CHAPLIN around in circles. Eventually, CHAPLIN escapes, lies down on the grass, and begins to drift off. He is awakened by a WHITE RABBIT that hops over his body, nervously checking his stopwatch.)

RABBIT
Oh, I’m late, I’m late, I’m so very late!

(CHAPLIN awakens as the RABBIT hops over his body again, still looking at his stopwatch.)

RABBIT
Oh, time sure does fly! I’ve gotta hurry!

(CHAPLIN rises to standing and the RABBIT, not seeing CHAPLIN, bumps into him.)

RABBIT
Oh, pardon me, I’m so late!

(RABBIT checks his watch again.)

RABBIT
You know, I think my ticks have stopped tocking. Do you have the time?

(CHAPLIN shakes his head no.)

RABBIT
Oh, very well, I must be off.

(RABBIT begins to hop away, then stops, and turns around.)

RABBIT
Aren’t you supposed to be a young girl with blonde hair?

(CHAPLIN shakes his head no.)

RABBIT
Is your name Alice?

(CHAPLIN shakes his head no.)

RABBIT
I must have been dreaming. Ta-ta!

(RABBIT begins hopping away and CHAPLIN follows him. RABBIT stops. CHAPLIN bumps into him.)

RABBIT
Are you following me?

(CHAPLIN shakes his head no and smiles. RABBIT starts hopping away again, followed by CHAPLIN. RABBIT stops. CHAPLIN bumps into him so hard that they fall to the ground and roll down a rabbit hole.)

(RABBIT disappears as CHAPLIN falls, faster and faster, out of control. UMBRELLA SALESPERSON comes along, also falling.)

UMBRELLA SALESPERSON
(shouting)
Umbrellas, get your red-hot, fool-proof umbrellas here!

(CHAPLIN indicates that he wants one. SALESMAN hands him an umbrella.)

UMBRELLA SALESPERSON
Happy landings, chum!

(CHAPLIN opens the umbrella, which works like a parachute. CHAPLIN lands gently on the ground. Looking around, he sees two DRINKS on a table.)