Anansi is based on a West
African tale. It's the story of a very tricky spider who discovers a magic rock which he
uses to steal food from all the jungle inhabitants. The last laugh is on Anansi, of
course, but not before everyone has a chance to sing some fun songs about yams, dancing
mangos, and Anansi's mischief. Anansi has always been one of our favorite and best-selling
shows. It can be used merely as part of a Folk Tale or Trickster component of the
curriculum, but it lends itself naturally to multicultural aspects of social studies.
CHARACTERS:
FLEXIBLE
CASTING:
From 8-40 students.
Use as many lions, rhinos, monkeys etc. as desired. |
Anansi
Zebras
Lions
Rhinos
Monkeys
Elephants
Little Bush Deer
Storytellers
Chorus (comprised of all animals except Anansi)
All the action of the play takes place in a jungle---a backdrop with jungle plants and
animals can be used (see "Set and Staging" in the Teacher's Guide). There is a
large "rock" in the middle of the stage. On the backdrop behind the stage there
is a sign:
| Warning! Magic
Rock! If ANYBODY says "Isn't this a strange moss-covered rock" they will fall
asleep for exactly one hour. |
ENTIRE CAST (sings as they march or dance up to stage):
It’s so hot
Song 1
It’s so hot
Hot in the jungle in July
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
It’s so hot under African skies.
The monkeys are sweating
MONKEYS: It’s so hot!
The rhinos are fretting
RHINOS: It’s so hot!
The lions are betting it’s hundred degrees.
The monkeys are sweating
MONKEYS: It’s so hot!
The rhinos are fretting
RHINOS: It’s so hot!
Gazelles are gazetting there under the trees.
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
Hot in the jungle in July
It’s so hot
It’s so hot
It’s so hot under African skies.
(soft)
It’s so hot under African skies.
(loud)
It’s so hot under African skies.
(Entire CAST freezes, looking at audience, with the last note of the song. It is important
that the audience knows the song is over and can now applaud. See "Turning on the
Applause Sign" in the Teacher’s Guide.)
STORYTELLER (spoken): Long ago, on a very hot summer day, Anansi the Spider was crawling
through the jungle when he spotted something very strange.
(ANANSI enters as STORYTELLER talks. ANANSI looks shocked when he notices the rock.)
ANANSI:
Song 2
I know every tree in the jungle
I know each lion by its roar
I know every nook of the jungle
But I’ve never seen this before.
(ANANSI points directly at the rock on the word "this")
I know every inch of the jungle
So that’s why this is such a shock
This is quite a change
This is very strange
Isn’t this a strange moss-covered rock!
(ANANSI falls down, instantly asleep)
CHORUS:
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Down he fell in sleep,
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Slumbering so deep.
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
One full hour went by,
He woke up some
His head was numb
And he was wondering why
He was wondering why.
ANANSI:
I wonder, I wonder what’s happening to me
I was just taking a short walk
This is quite a change
This is very strange
Isn’t this a strange moss-covered rock!
(ANANSI crashes down again in slumber)
CHORUS:
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Down he fell once more,
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
Sleeping like before.
Down down down down
Down fell Anansi
One full hour went by,
He woke up some
His head was numb
And he was wondering why
He was wondering why.
(As ANANSI wakes up, ZEBRAS dance in)
ZEBRAS:
Song 3
We are wise old Zebras
We’ve got wise old zebra stripes
You should listen to us
And take our wise advice.
CHORUS: Listen to them, listen to them!
We are wise old Zebras
We know wise old zebra stuff
If you listen to us
Then you’ll be wise enough.
It’s a magic rock, magic rock
We know it sounds absurd
CHORUS: Sounds absurd
Magical rock, watch your talk
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
ZEBRAS and CHORUS:
Don’t say those magical words!
ANANSI: You mean the words, "Isn’t this a strange moss-covered…?"
ZEBRAS (interrupting): SHHHHHH!
We are wise old Zebras
We’ve got wise old zebra stripes
You should listen to us
And take our wise advice.
CHORUS: Listen to them, listen to them!
It’s a magic rock, magic rock
We know it sounds absurd
CHORUS: Sounds absurd
Magical rock, watch your talk
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
CHORUS: Don’t say
Don’t say
ZEBRAS and CHORUS:
Don’t say those magical words!
(ZEBRAS dance off)
STORYTELLER (spoken): Anansi was delighted to learn of the magic rock, and he came up with
a clever trick. You see, Anansi loved the food of the jungle, but he did not want to do
any work to get it. He’d rather take somebody else’s, so he went to the home of
the Lions.
ANANSI: Good afternoon, Lions. What are you doing on this hot day?
LIONS:
Song 4
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
We like to roar
We like to stretch
We like leg of lamb
We like the sun
We like to have fun
But we’d rather have a yam.
Anansi the Spider
Your tricks are well-known
You’d rather steal our yams
than find some on your own.
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
(spoken): This is our yam-digging music! Oh we like this!
(LIONS dig and dance as the CHORUS sings)
CHORUS:
They like the yams
They like the yams
That’s all they can say
They work so hard
Out in their backyard
Digging yams all day.
Anansi the Spider
Your tricks are well-known
You’d rather steal their yams than find some on your own.
LIONS:
We like the yams
We like the yams
That’s all we can say
We work so hard
Out in our backyard
Digging yams all day.
LIONS and CHORUS:
We work so hard
Out in our backyard . . .
LIONS:
. . . digging yams all day.
Song List
Click on the song name to
hear samples in mp3 format. Please note that internet song samples have low fidelity and
rest assured that the CDs we sell sound much better. Problems hearing the music? Visit our
Audio Help page.
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| Vocabulary
Terms from Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock |
fretting
degrees
gazelles
nook
slumbering
numb
absurd
yam |
stroll
mango
polka
jig
appeal
woe
mongoose
shrewd |
Vocabulary
From Stage Directions
backdrop
shocked
instantly
pantomime
parenthesis
intentionally |
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Teacher Reviews:
To submit your own review, just e-mail it to ron@badwolfpress.com
Be sure to include your school name and what grade you teach.
"The music tape was fantastic---so easy
to learn from and then perform with! And the teacher guide really helped with play
production, costumes, and sets. The children gained immensely in self-confidence, poise,
and self-awareness. It was truly remarkable. Parents were so impressed at the level of
quality we achieved in the performance. Some children said that doing the play was the
highlight of their school year!"
---Linda Turnbull, Teacher, (K-2nd grades), Ho'ala School, Wahiawa, HI
"I used grades K, 1, and 2 (about 40 students in
all.) They loved the music. Everyone came that day and night (we did two performances)
expecting to see your average 'cute' early primary show. Instead they saw 'the best show
ever.' I heard that over and over. The next day students began asking when our next show
was and what grades would be doing it. That was wonderful. Your shows have become a
tradition at our school."
---Judy Colligan, Teacher (Music), St. Joseph Catholic School, Farmington, MO
"The kids loved it! I used two classes
and everyone had a part. It was so easy to organize. The kids had so much fun. All the
students feel so successful when everyone is clapping for them. My second graders were
exposed to a variety of vocabulary that they may not otherwise have been interested
in."
---Buffy Esquibel, Teacher (2nd grade), Preston School, Rialto, CA
"I liked the catchy tunes, easy to learn songs, and the literature-based
cross-curricular connections. The show involved everyone, form the shy one to the star.
We're still singing those tunes."
---Jane Bishop, Teacher, (1st-2nd grades), Broadwater School, Helena, MT
"It was a unique experience that cleverly wove the messages and concepts through word
and song. You would have been so proud of our children as they worked with me during
recess to develop the unique choreography that added to the splendor of your creation.
Children realized it was OK to let their inhibitions go. Many discovered a hidden talent
for song, acting and dance. Everyone had so much fun working in the multilevel experience.
We all laughed a great deal!"
---Jane Aikens, Teacher, (5th-8th grade), St. Maria Goretti School, Schiller Park, IL
"My class's final performance of Anansi
is tonight. They are dynamite! With my experience, their talent, and a fantastic musical
to do the whole show was really brought to life!...Thank you so much and keep writing
because what you've done is exactly what I've been looking for."
---Justin Hoffman, Teacher (2nd grade), Wagon Wheel Elementary, Trabuco Canyon, CA
"It was adorable! The children really
enjoyed performing the play for the entire school."
---Jackie Brondstater, Teacher (2nd grade), Powhatan School, Boyce, VA
"This happens to be one of my favorite
storybooks and it came to life beautifully in the genius songwriting and play formatting.
The kids had fun and learned some great lessons too."
---Kim Chase, Volunteer Parent/Teacher (2nd/3rd grade) Concord School, Oak Grove, OR
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