© 2022 Stacey Lane
Synopsis
In
this
animal-filled
parody
of
Hans
Christian
Anderson's
The
Emperor's
New
Clothes
,
Emperor
Waddlesworth
is
a
vain
emperor
penguin
who
likes
to
dress
up.
When
a
shady
seal
and
a
slimy
squid
get
wind
of
the
emperor's
appetite
for
fine
cloaks,
they
decide
to
trick
him
into
fulfilling
their
appetite
for
fish.
With
no
sewing
skills
and
no
desire
to
gather
materials,
the
lazy
seal
and
squid
hatch
a
plot
to
convince
the
emperor
and
his
entire
colony
that
their
magical
fabric
can
only
be
seen
by
the
intellectually
superior
who
are
not
birdbrained
enough
to
think
that
penguins
can
fly.
When
their
cloth
creation
is
unveiled,
it
is
revealed
that
the
emperor
has
been
hiding
a
secret
under
his
robe;
an
egg.
When
the
egg
hatches,
the
new
chick
is
brave
enough
to
tell
it
like
she
sees
it.
The
casting
is
flexible,
calling
for
between
twelve
and
thirty-three
or
more
actors.
All
roles
in
the
script
are
gender
neutral,
making
this
comedic
play
well
suited
for
all
talent
pools,
including
all
girls
schools and all boys schools.
Production History
Moonlit Wings Productions
Top Ten Finalist
Washington, DC
Merlo Library
Workshop
Chicago, IL
Dandelion Theatre
The Make Ready
Chicago, IL
iO Theatre
Cold Reads, Hot Scripts
Chicago, IL
The Annoyance
Tuesdays at 9
Chicago, IL
Bryant Hayes and Divine Abizera in a workshop of The Emperor Penguin’s
New Clothes at iO Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Produced by Cold Reads,
Hot Scripts. Directed by Zak Kinnaird. Photographer: Stefan Carlson.
Character Descriptions
Sham
the squid
Flimflam
the seal
Scuttlebutt
the south polar skua
Prattler
the snow petrel
Scout
the albatross
Angler
the penguin fisherman
Sinker
the penguin fisherman
Trawler
the penguin fisherman
Bobber
the penguin fisherman
Piscator
the penguin fisherman
Fishermen
more penguin fisherman (optional)
Mod
the penguin fashion designer
Emperor
ruler of the emperor penguin colony
Waddlesworth
Dapper
the penguin butler
Fodder
the penguin cook
Vittles
the penguin assistant cook
Beck
the penguin servant
Call
the penguin servant
Squeaky
the penguin maid
Dusty
the penguin maid
Sully
the penguin maid
Frizzle
the penguin scullery maid
Ditto
the penguin page
Servants
more penguin servants (optional)
Running
Time:
40 minutes
Set:
Antarctica, can be a
bare stage
(exterior unit)
Cast:
33 any gender, plus
extras or 12 any
gender with double
casting
Wingding
the penguin herald
Sage
the penguin philosopher
Opus
the penguin poet
Bygone the penguin historiographer
Sanguine
the penguin physician Tally
the penguin mathematician
Zenith
the penguin astronomer Advisors
more penguin advisors (optional)
Penguin Colony
more penguins
Regal Rockhopper ruler of the rockhopper penguin
(optional)
colony
Serf
the rockhopper
Biddy
Emperor Waddlesworth’s penguin chick
penguin colony
(may be a puppet)
chamberlain
