A couch-back puppet show
Professor Hoot’s Missing Glasses
The Lookout Crew can see Professor Hattie Hoot’s glasses, but can they help her hear where they are?
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Tonight’s cast & their voices
Professor Hattie Hootthe owlleft hand
Voice: High and precise, like a tiny bell ringing between your eyebrows; grand even when wrong.
Dillthe frog · any puppet can play this partright hand
Voice: Very quiet, like the words are tucked in a pocket; never a flicker of surprise.
Props (raid the kitchen)
- Glasses, or a loop of pipe cleaner, that sit on top of the owl’s head
- A leaf, or a scrap of green paper (optional)
- A cup (the pond) (optional)
Scene 1
The Search
🎭 Sit behind a couch or table. Place the cup and leaf nearby. Begin with the glasses clearly visible.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot pops up, wearing her glasses on her head and reading a leaf.
Professor Hattie Hoot(grandly)
Hoo-hoo! Night class is nearly in session!
Professor Hattie Hoot(with sudden alarm)
My glasses are missing, so the Night Lesson cannot start.
Action
Dill rises beside the cup, perfectly still.
Dill(quietly)
Plip. Assistant present.
Dill(deadpan)
Your glasses are visible from here.
Professor Hattie Hoot
Splendid. You may assist with the search.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot looks directly at the audience.
Professor Hattie Hoot(brightly)
Lookout Crew, your job is spotting what I miss.
🎉 Everyone together
Lookout Crew, at “Lookouts, where are they?” point and shout, “ON YOUR HEAD!”
Professor Hattie Hoot
Excellent. The Lookout Crew is ready.
Dill(deadpan)
Extremely ready.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot lifts the leaf and peers beneath it.
Professor Hattie Hoot(loudly)
Lookouts, where are they?
🎉 Everyone together
Lookout Crew, point to her head and shout, “ON YOUR HEAD!”
Professor Hattie Hoot(confidently)
On the SHED? Of course!
Action
She checks behind the couch as if it were a shed.
Dill
That is not what they said.
Professor Hattie Hoot
No glasses. Very suspicious shed.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot peers into the cup, nearly dipping in her beak.
Professor Hattie Hoot(loudly)
Lookouts, where are they?
🎉 Everyone together
Lookout Crew, point to her head and shout, “ON YOUR HEAD!”
Professor Hattie Hoot(delighted)
On my BED? Excellent thinking!
Action
She checks atop a cushion, beneath it, then inside the cushion seam.
Dill(deadpan)
The bed remains innocent.
Professor Hattie Hoot(quietly)
No glasses. Only one place remains.
Action
Dill opens his mouth. Professor Hattie Hoot studies it from a polite distance.
Professor Hattie Hoot
Dill, may I inspect your mouth?
Dill
Briefly.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot peers inside. Dill’s eyes slowly cross.
Professor Hattie Hoot(loudly)
Lookouts, where are they?
🎉 Everyone together
Lookout Crew, stand, tap your heads, and shout, “ON YOUR HEAD!”
Professor Hattie Hoot(slowing down)
On my BREAD? No. Wait. That sounded closer.
Dill(in a whisper)
Keep that sound. Give it time.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot freezes, then slowly turns to look at the audience.
Professor Hattie Hoot(in a whisper)
On my… head?
Action
She pats one ear, the other, then the middle. The glasses wobble.
Professor Hattie Hoot(joyfully)
Found them!
Dill(deadpan)
I knew all along.
Professor Hattie Hoot
You did?
Dill
Yes.
Professor Hattie Hoot(with dignity)
My ears took the scenic route.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot settles the glasses over her eyes. Dill closes his mouth.
Scene 2
The Night Lesson
🎭 Keep both puppets still above the couch. Bring the leaf and cup back for three quiet observations.
Professor Hattie Hoot(carefully)
A leaf. Not a shed.
Action
Dill holds up the cup.
Professor Hattie Hoot
A cup-pond. Not my bed.
Action
Dill opens his mouth once more.
Professor Hattie Hoot
A frog mouth. Definitely not bread.
Dill(deadpan)
Correct on all three counts.
Professor Hattie Hoot(in a whisper)
Night Lesson: Look closely. Then look once more.
Action
Both puppets pause and look at the audience.
Professor Hattie Hoot(gently)
Lookout Crew, thank you for your patient eyes and kind voices.
Professor Hattie Hoot(softly)
Lookouts, where were they?
🎉 Everyone together
Lookout Crew, point to her head and shout, “ON YOUR HEAD!”
Professor Hattie Hoot(fondly)
Precisely. At last.
Dill(quietly)
Lesson complete.
Action
Professor Hattie Hoot bows slowly. Dill sinks behind the couch with one soft plip.
Want one written for YOUR puppets?
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