A couch-back puppet show
Jasper’s Big Jump
Three jumps, two surprising landings, and one mighty Jump Squad.
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Tonight’s cast & their voices
Jasperthe frogleft hand
Voice: High and bright, like a bubble floating above your head; every line ends with a little bounce.
Coach Birchthe duck · any puppet can play this partright hand
Voice: Booming, like a whistle at the very front of your mouth; a coach who has never once been quiet.
Resting tonight: Twig. Their lines are out of the script and the show still works. Add them back in Tonight’s cast above.
Props (raid the kitchen)
- A blue towel (the river) (optional)
- A cushion (the reeds) (optional)
Scene 1
The River Challenge
🎭 Lay a blue towel between two chairs. Put a cushion beside it for reeds. The couch is the audience bank.
Action
Jasper hops one finger-width, lands grandly, and poses.
Jasper(very proudly)
Boing. I cleared a whole carpet bump!
Jasper(peering at the towel)
I’ve never jumped this river.
Jasper(suddenly grand)
Today, I’m jumping all the way across.
Action
Coach Birch pops up beside Jasper.
Coach Birch(booming)
PHEE-weet! From the top!
Coach Birch
Three training jumps. I coach. You leap.
Jasper
What if my knees forget?
Coach Birch(grandly)
The Jump Squad will remind them.
Action
Both puppets look at the audience. Birch raises one wing.
🎉 Everyone together
Practice now, Jump Squad. Count and jump: “One, two, THREE… JUMP!”
Jasper(delighted)
My knees heard you! They’re standing extra froggy.
Scene 2
Two Unexpected Landings
🎭 Keep Jasper on the starting chair. Leave the cushion beside the towel as the reeds.
Coach Birch(loudly)
First jump. Give it a powerful wind-up.
Action
Jasper winds once, twice, three times, slowly turning away from the river.
Action
Birch studies the far bank and misses Jasper’s turn.
🎉 Everyone together
Jump Squad, Jasper faces you! Shout: “River’s behind you! River’s behind you!”
Jasper
Good catch, Jump Squad! I nearly jumped into tomorrow.
Action
Jasper turns back toward the river, still tightly wound.
Action
Birch looks at the audience, then raises one wing.
🎉 Everyone together
Jump Squad, wing up! Count and jump: “One, two, THREE… JUMP!”
Jasper(while rising)
I felt that mighty THREE!
Action
Bounce Jasper backward once, twice, then gently onto the couch edge.
Jasper(dizzily)
I wound up more than I jumped.
Coach Birch
Useful training! Next time, a smaller wind-up.
Coach Birch
Second jump. Keep your eyes on the far bank.
Jasper
I’ll close them extra hard for courage.
Action
Birch freezes, then slowly turns to look at the audience.
Coach Birch(hushed)
My coaching feathers are concerned.
Action
Jasper closes his eyes and points slightly toward the cushion.
Action
Birch winces, looks at the audience, and raises one wing.
🎉 Everyone together
Jump Squad, wing up! Count and jump: “One, two, THREE… JUMP!”
Jasper(hopefully)
Your jump is carrying me!
Action
Jasper leaps sideways, taps the cushion, wobbles, then slowly sinks.
Jasper
I found the reeds. With my face.
Coach Birch
Useful training! Next time, open eyes.
Action
Everything grows quiet. Jasper peeks over the cushion at the far bank.
Jasper(with a slowing voice)
What if my best jump is sideways?
Coach Birch(in a whisper)
One, two, THREE… together.
Scene 3
The Jump That Lands
🎭 Place Jasper at the starting bank again. Leave a clear landing spot across the towel.
Action
A quiet pause. Jasper looks at the far bank.
Jasper
This time: small wind-up, open eyes, everyone together.
Coach Birch(booming)
PHEE-weet! From the top!
Coach Birch
Small wind-up. Open eyes. Find the far bank.
Jasper(to the audience)
Jump Squad, I need every pair of legs.
Action
Both puppets look at the audience. Birch slowly raises one wing.
🎉 Everyone together
Jump Squad, wing up! Count and jump: “One, two, THREE… JUMP!”
Jasper(joyfully)
Jump Squad, I can feel your THREE!
Action
Jasper makes one small dip, looks ahead, and sails across the towel.
Jasper(loudly)
I jumped the river!
Coach Birch(magnificently)
Behold! My coaching has feathers of genius!
Action
Jasper freezes, then slowly turns to look at the audience.
Jasper(quietly)
Funny. My legs jumped when your legs jumped.
Jasper(softly)
One, two, THREE… together.
Action
Jasper and Birch take a slow bow.
Want one written for YOUR puppets?
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