Gloomy, Rainy Day-Play Script

Gloomy, Rainy Day is a short play for three children. It is a very rainy day and it has ruined the plans for the Queen and Princess to go outside. They don’t want to embroider, sing, draw, or play piano. The queen decides to call upon the court jester to make them laugh and forget the terrible weather. Armed with a load of very bad jokes, will he ever be able to make them smile?

This play is also included in Plays For You And A Friend Or Two, a compilation of twelve short plays, each with 2 or 3 characters, and simple staging. The plays are written for elementary school children and include: THREE STICKS; LOST AND FOUND; THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER; THE MAGIC HAT; PIRATE TREASURE; CALYPSO, THE ROYAL DRAGON; TWO FUSSY FROGS; IN THE CAVE; GLOOMY, RAINY DAY; NEVER EMPTY STEW POT; HICCUPS; and FOR YOU OR FOR ME?. These fun plays are full of friendship, humor, fantasy, and magic and children will love to perform them in class or on stage!

Phyllis J. Perry lives in Boulder, Colorado. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, holds a Masters Degree from San Francisco State, and a doctorate from the University of Colorado, Boulder. She has been active in three community theaters. Phyllis is a retired teacher who writes for children and adults. She writes fiction and nonfiction books, poetry and plays. A list of her 92 books can be found on her web site, www.phyllisjperry.com.

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

THE PLAYERS:
Three children – Queen Anne, Princess Rose, and Jack, the Court Jester.

THE SETTING:
In the throne room of the palace.

PROPS:
Chairs for a throne, something for the juggler to try to juggle, paper crowns for the queen and princess.

AT RISE: As the scene opens in late morning, the Queen and the Princess are sitting on their thrones. It is gloomy outside, and rain is falling.

PRINCESS
(Gives a deep sigh.) I hate rainy days! I wanted to go outside and play today.

QUEEN
(Also sighs.) I was planning on taking a walk and cutting some roses in the royal garden to put on our dining table tonight.

PRINCESS
Now there’s nothing to do but sit inside.

QUEEN
We could read a book.

PRINCESS   
I don’t feel like reading, do you?

QUEEN
No, I don’t.

PRINCESS
We could embroider.

QUEEN
I don’t feel like sewing, do you?

PRINCESS
No, and I don’t want to draw, or sing, or play the piano, either. It’s all so gloomy, and rainy, and sad. I want to be happy and laugh.

QUEEN
That’s it! We need to laugh. I’ll ring for the Court Jester. (She rings an imaginary pull-cord.)

(The Court Jester appears. He kneels in front of the Queen.)

JESTER
You rang, your Highness? What may I do for you and the Princess Rose?

PRINCESS
You can make us laugh, that’s what you could do!

QUEEN
Both of us are sad that it is raining when we were planning to enjoy ourselves outdoors. We need to be cheered up, and I think you are exactly the fellow to do it! (She claps her hands.) Make us laugh.

JESTER
Very well. I will do my best.