A couch-back puppet show
When the Rain Went Away
The Weather Crew must help three missing weathers return to the garden.
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Tonight’s cast & their voices
Nettlethe frog · any puppet can play this partleft hand
Voice: Very low, like words bubbling up from the bottom of a mug; a champion grumbler.
Beansthe duck · any puppet can play this partright hand
Voice: Perfectly even, like a lamp speaking from a shelf; nothing surprises Beans.
Resting tonight: Peony. 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 towel (the pond); without one, show its size with your hands (optional)
- A cotton ball or a scrap of paper (the dandelion seed) (optional)
Scene 1
Too Much Weather
🎭 Spread the towel behind the sofa as a pond. Hide Nettle below the sofa edge. Keep Beans nearby.
Action
Nettle pops up wearing the pond towel like an enormous cape.
Nettle(grandly)
Brrrup! Make way for my knees!
Action
Nettle bows. The towel slides over Nettle’s face.
Nettle(grumbling loudly)
Rain keeps drumming on my eyebrows.
Action
Place the pond behind Nettle. Nettle looks straight at the audience.
🎉 Everyone together
Weather Crew practice: shout “Behind you!” Pat knees “pat-pat,” say “whoosh,” then stretch tall and say “aaah.”
Nettle(puzzled)
Excellent weather. Also, behind whom?
Nettle(firmly)
Rain, go away. I have had enough.
Action
The pat-pat stops. Fold one side of the pond towel inward.
Nettle
Oh. The pond looks rather economical.
Beans(flatly)
Quack. I have arrived exactly here.
Beans
You sent away the rain. Now the pond is shrinking.
Nettle
I shall inspect everything except behind me.
Action
Nettle checks above, below, then inside an imaginary pocket.
Nettle(triumphantly)
No shrinking pond anywhere.
🎉 Everyone together
Weather Crew, warn Nettle now. Shout “Behind you!”
Nettle(slower)
Behind me? Again?
Action
Nettle freezes, then slowly turns to look at the audience, then the pond.
Nettle(in a whisper)
I sent away the thing that fills it.
Beans(dryly)
Yes. That was extremely efficient grumbling.
Scene 2
No Wind, No Sun
🎭 Rest Nettle on a chair arm. Beans stays beside the pond.
Action
Set Nettle down to rest. Place the dandelion seed beside Beans.
Beans
This dandelion seed has been waiting all morning.
Beans(loudly)
Wind, stop ruffling my tail. Go away.
Action
The whoosh stops. Drop the seed straight down. Fold the pond smaller.
Beans(flatly)
I have improved its sitting.
Action
Pick up Nettle during the quiet pause.
Nettle(grandly)
Brrrup! Make way for my knees!
Nettle
Sun, you are showing every wrinkle in my pond.
Nettle(sharply)
Go away too.
Action
The aaah stops. Fold the pond to its smallest size. Both puppets shiver.
Beans(quietly)
We have achieved indoors, outdoors.
Nettle(hopeful)
We can make our own weather.
Action
Nettle pats one knee, puffs once, then tips backward during “aaah.”
Nettle
Weather is harder than it looks.
Action
Beans flaps, blows, then holds up one wing like a tiny sun.
Beans(flatly)
My forecast is tired.
Nettle
We sent them away rain, wind, then sun.
Beans(gently)
Ask them back sun, wind, then rain.
Scene 3
The Weather Comes Back
🎭 Keep Nettle and Beans beside the tiny towel pond. The seed waits nearby.
Nettle(politely)
Weather, please come back.
🎉 Everyone together
Sun Crew, when Nettle nods, stretch tall and say one long “aaah.”
Nettle(sung badly)
Aaaah, thank you, sun!
Action
Nettle lifts the dandelion seed as if its flower has opened.
Beans(politely)
Weather, please come back.
🎉 Everyone together
Wind Crew, when Beans lifts one wing, say one long “whoosh.”
Beans(sung badly)
Whoooosh, thank you, wind!
Action
Float the seed across the sofa, all the way to the far cushion.
Nettle(very softly)
Weather, please come back.
🎉 Everyone together
Rain Crew, when Nettle raises both hands, pat knees “pat-pat” six times.
Nettle(sung badly)
Pat-pat, thank you, rain!
Action
Unfold the pond in three slow sections. Nettle and Beans watch it grow.
Beans(contentedly)
The pond fits the pond again.
Nettle(softly)
Weather, thank you. Please stay awhile.
Action
Both puppets settle beside the pond, pause, then make one slow bow.
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