Adapted from the poem
by Bruce Lansky in
If Pigs Could Fly… And Other Deep Thoughts, published by
Meadowbrook Press.
Summary: A remote control flips
through several TV stations.
Presentation Suggestions: Have the students read or perform the poem in front of the
class.
Props: A remote control would
make a great prop. If this is not available, the poem can be performed without
props.
Delivery: The lines of the poem need to be read with poetic rhythm.
For more information on poetic rhythm and how to perform poetry in classroom,
please read the Performing
Poetry section under the Teacher’s Resources.
Characters:
News
Anchor 1
News
Anchor 2
Actor
1
Actor
2
Salesperson
1
Actor
3
News
Anchor 3
News
Anchor 4
Weatherman
Salesperson
2
Narrator
Out of Control
News Anchor 1:
“The
president will come to town...”
News Anchor 2:
“The
price of gas is coming down...”
Actor 1:
“I’ll
love you till the end of time...”
Actor 2:
“But
shooting ducks should be a crime...”
Salesperson 1:
“We’ve
never had a better sale...”
Actor 3:
“We’ll
have to break them out of jail...”
News Anchor 3:
“The
Pope arrived to lead the prayers...”
News Anchor 4:
“The
Dallas Cowboys beat the Bears...”
Weatherman:
“The
temperature is three below...”
Salesperson 2:
“These
vitamins will help you grow...”
Narrator:
What’s
going on? Well, bless my soul!
Baby’s
got the remote control.
© 2000 by Bruce
Lansky. Adapted from the poem in If Pigs Could Fly... And Other Deep Thoughts published
by Meadowbrook Press. This classroom theater play version of “Out of Control”
is © 2008 by Meadowbrook Press.
Permission is given for individual
school classes to perform this play and to make as many copies of the play as
are needed for the students’ use. All other reproduction and performance is
prohibited under penalty of law. For use of this play outside individual
classes, please contact info@meadowbrookpress.com for permission.
Click on the book
below for more information about
“If Pigs Could Fly…
And Other Deep Thoughts”