Magic Casket. «Волшебная шкатулка». Пьесы для детей на английском языке

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MR.MCGREGOR

CAT

SCENE I

SETTING. A little tidy house where the rabbits’ family lives.

MOTHER. And now, my little children I should go out. I have a lot of work to do: to see a dentist, to meet your aunt Betty, to go to the fair and – last but not least – to do shopping. Would you like to have tasty buns for tea?

PETER. May I go for a walk?

MOTHER. Sure. You can either pick up flowers or play leapfrog with your brother and sister. I don’t mind.

TOPSY. Can I have two buns, Mummy if you have an extra bun?

MOTHER. You’re too fat, my dear. The fewer buns you’ll eat, the better! But why should I have an extra bun I wonder?

MOPSY. Peter won’t follow your advice. He is going to McGregor’s garden to pick up cabbages and carrots.

PETER. You are fools! I’ve told about lettuce! Nobody will take his cabbages because they are small and insipid. Only fools can eat the carrots in May.

MOTHER. You ought not to attend Mr. McGregor’s garden. It’s an unhappy place for our family. My poor husband who was a father of yours – went to the garden to pick up onions and didn’t come back. He ended his life in the cake baked by Mrs. McGregor!

MOPSY (crying). My poor father will never return! We shall never see him again!

PETER. He didn’t bring onions!

MOTHER. I suppose picking up blackberries will be safer. (Comes out).

MOPSY. Have you heard, Peter, what mother has told you? Will you go to eat blackberries with us?

PETER. Only fools eat blackberries hen they can help themselves with lettuce!

TOPSY. Can I join you, Peter?

PETER. You’re too fat for the hole in the fence. See you later!

SCENE II.

SCENERY: Mr. McGregor’s garden. A scarecrow and a small hut for garden tools.

PETER. Let me have a look. It is a lettuce bed, isn’t it? Carrots are over there. They are too small but I can try them. They are insipid! But where are the onions I wonder? (He picks up some lettuce and a few carrots).

CAT. What are you doing, sir?

PETER. It doesn’t matter. As far as I know this is neither Mr. McGregor nor his dog.

CAT. They have gone to the fair. Mrs. McGregor joins them too. Do you know this old lady? She can bake cakes well. I prefer her rabbit pies.

PETER. I have no time to chatter to you, lady. Can you tell me the way to the onion bed?

CAT. With pleasure, sir! Go straight on, then turn to the left and take the second turning to the right.

PETER. Thanks. I’m glad to have met you. Bye! I’m too busy.

CAT. Are you leaving? You can’t leave! Master, master! He’s come. He is over there! Catch him!

MR. MCGREGOR. Who? Where? What’s the matter? Who is making noise? (Takes a stick and began beating poor Peter). Let me watch you better! Are you a relative of the rabbit who came here a year ago? Did you come to eat my cabbage either?

PETER. It’s lettuce. Your cabbage is small and insipid.

MR.MCGREGOR. My cabbages are the best in the area and not only! Every year I win prizes at the fairs!

PETER. In my opinion the lettuce is better. I can’t say anything about your onions, sir. I haven’t tasted them.

MR.MCGREGOR. I suppose I’ll taste you with onions soon! (Catches Peter’s jacket but he jumps out of the jacket and off he goes).

Peter meets his mother.

MOTHER. I wonder where your new jacket is saying nothing of a pair of new boots?

PETER. They are at Mr. McGregor’s garden.

MOTHER. I think you wouldn’t have a tasty bun today. Herb tea will be enough. Have tea and go to bed!

SCENE III

SETTING. A fence at the McGregor’s garden.

PETER. I look funny in this red handkerchief, don’t I?

TOPSY. Never mind. We’ll get back your clothes soon.

MOPSY. Who is that terrible guard in front of us? He is standing just behind the fence and waves his hand so fearfully.

PETER. It’s McGregor’s scarecrow. It is wearing my jacket and boots. Take the stick, the strong stick and beat the scarecrow!

TOPSY(beats the scarecrow and laughs). It’s great.

Peter’s jacket and boots are falling down. The noise awakes Cat and she appears.

MOPSY. Who is that smart lady over there? She is looking at us? Shall I tell her good morning?

PETER. Never talk to the cat. They always lie and can fool you. How do you do, madam?

CAT. How do you do, a piece of pie? Mr. McGregor is over here. I can call him if you want.

PETER. As far as I know your master has left for the fair. An hour ago we saw him doing in a carriage. Do you always lie or only sometimes?

TOPSY. Beat the cats!

All rabbits take the sticks and drive Cat into the hut for tools. Then Peter locks the door.

PETER. Let’s look for the onions. We should bring some home.

MOPSY. I would like to pick up some cabbages. They seem to be tasty.

PETER. Certainly. It’s the best cabbage in the area. Every year McGregor wins the prizes at the fair.