A Resource Guide for Teachers and Parents...l|:// $ $ — $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

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LEWIS FAMILY PLAYHOUSE | HTTP://WWW.LEWISFAMILYPLAYHOUSE.COM 12505 CULTURAL CENTER DRIVE, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA 91739 | 909.477.2775

B E H I N D T H E S C E N E S — The Prince and the Pauper

A Resource Guide for Teachers and Parents

Synopsis: The play begins with all of the actors on stage, who to tell the story of Edward and Tom’s births, and bring the audience up to the time the story begins, when both boys are 15 years old. First, we meet Tom Canty on the streets of London. He is pretending to be blind, then crippled, in order to beg from people on the street, and is doing pretty well. He’s interrupted by the priest, Father Andrew, who has been educating Tom – his mother’s dying wish. Tom is becoming pretty good at Latin, and he tells the priest that he has dreams of living in a grand palace. The priest tells him that he’s a bright boy and can achieve great things. They are interrupted by Tom’s alcoholic father, who doesn’t want Tom to learn anything. John takes all of Tom’s money, threatens to beat him, and makes him continue begging. Next, we meet Edward, Prince of Wales. He’s in the palace, trying to get out of doing his own lessons. The Lord Chamberlain is frustrated with Edward, who is playing with the Great Seal. He reminds Edward that his father, King Henry, is not well, and that Edward needs to learn so he can be prepared to rule. Edward throws and tantrum and tells the courtiers that all he wants is to be able to play with other boys. The scene changes and we find Tom begging outside of the Palace gates. Tom realizes where he is, and sees Edward in the Palace garden. The Guard begins to beat him for looking, but Edward intervenes and, to the Guard’s great dismay, invites Tom into the Palace. Tom tells Edward about life on “Beggar Street”, and Edward is fascinated to learn of the games Tom plays with the other boys. Edward decides it would be fun to change clothes, and so they do. Edward notices the bruise that Tom got from the Guard, and runs off to punish him for disobeying – leaving Tom alone in the grand room. Tom is tentatively enjoying this turn of events when Lady Jane enters the room. Tom is sure he’ll be found out and begs Jane to not turn him in for stealing the Prince’s clothes. Jane, of course, is confused, and tells everyone that the Prince has gone mad! Meanwhile, Edward, still wearing Tom’s rags, is confronting the Guard, who promptly throws him out into the street. Edward is outraged, and even more so when he meets John Canty, who drags him away. Back at the Palace, Tom has been brought before the dying King Henry VIII, who declares that his son is confused, but not mad. The Lord Chamberlain reminds the King that there are many men who are due for execution, but he hasn’t signed the orders because he gave the Great Seal to Edward. The King tells the Lord Chamberlain to find it, and tells Tom to “hide his affliction”. In the slums, John Canty is tormenting Edward, when he is stopped by Father Andrew. Canty and the Priest struggle, and the Priest is killed. Granny tells her son to run away to the moors – and to take the boy with him.

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SHOW TIMES: FEB 28 – MARCH 15TH, 2015 SATURDAYS 1 :00 PM & 4 :00 PM SUNDAYS 1 :00 PM SCHOOL PERFORMANCES (FEB 23 – MARCH13) : WEEK 1 : MONDAY & TUESDAY 10 :00 AM WEEKS 1 , 2 , & 3 : WEDNESDAY-‐FR IDAY 9 :15 AM & 11:15 AM

INSIDE THE GUIDE:

Synopsis ……………..…….…………………….…… 1 Author Bios …………………………………..….….. 4

Characters ……………………...………………….… 5 Discussion & Classroom Activities……....... 6 From the Library …………………….……….….… 7

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Synopsis (continued):

In the Palace, Tom is getting anxious that the Prince has not returned, while the Lord Chamberlain looks for the Great Seal. Since Tom has no idea what it looks like, he’s no help at all. Lady Jane comes in to play with him, and tells Tom that King Henry can’t make any laws without the Seal. She offers to help the “Prince” get his memory back – especially when he tells her his “memory” walked out the door wearing rags. While Tom goes to get a bath, Lady Jane convinces the Lord Chamberlain that even though it seems crazy, this must be the Prince – why would an imposter insist that he’s a beggar? After she leaves, the King arrives, and the Lord Chamberlain remarks that one of the symptoms of the Prince’s memory loss is that he’s become pleasant. This is very surprising! Edward and John Canty are now out of the City and on the Moors. Edward is still trying to convince Tom that he’s the Prince, when they’re met by The Ruffler and Black Bess, a couple of outlaws who know John Canty. To Edward’s surprise, the thieves tell him that because the King’s men took their land, many people like them who used to be honest had to turn to crime in order to live. Edward cannot believe his father would be so cruel, and they all taunt him mercilessly. Suddenly Miles Hendon appears. He is clearly of a noble family, but his good clothes are faded and threadbare. He asks them to stop being so rough – but instead of listening, they fight him. Miles is clearly the better fighter, and with Edward’s help, defeats the outlaws. Miles doesn’t believe that Edward is the Prince, but decides to protect him anyway, and takes him with him. Miles tells Edward that he’s on his way to London from France, where he has been in prison. In the Palace, Tom is learning about etiquette in preparation for a ball. We then find Miles and Edward at an Inn, where Edward is still having a hard time convincing Miles of his true identity. Miles humors him by helping him to wash and dress, and tells Edward that he’s on his way to the Palace to petition for the inheritance stolen from him by his younger brother. In the morning, Miles tells Edward to stay in the room while he goes out to find him some decent clothes. While he’s out, Edward is tricked into believing Miles wants to meet him, and is captured once again by John Canty. Meanwhile, Tom is ecstatic that he was such a great success at the Royal Ball, and Lady Jane tells him it was because he was honest and sincere. Tom is about to tell her his secret, when they learn that the King has died. Edward is now the King! Tom is stunned as he’s taken away by the Lord Chamberlain to prepare… John Canty is trying to make Edward beg when they learn that the King has died. The Outlaws rush to get to London since there’ll be plenty of people celebrating that they can steal from. Edward is alone and dejected when Miles appears with some new clothes for him. Edward doesn’t understand why the country is rejoicing at his father’s death – but Miles explains that Henry had little regard for justice or the needs of his people. He thinks his petition will go over better with the new King, and tells Edward the coronation will be in three days. Edward vows to be there as well, and…hard as it is… thanks Miles. Back at the Palace, The Lord Chamberlain wants Tom to practice for the Coronation, but Tom insists on hearing the petitions from the people. He listens to them and rules fairly, which impresses the Lord Chamberlain. Miles and Edward are on the road – and Miles tells Edward that if he wins his petition, that Edward can come and live on his estate. Edward is touched that Miles would be so generous to a stranger. The day of the Coronation arrives, and Tom decides to try again and tell the Lord Chamberlain that he is not the Prince. Lady Jane admits that she had figured it out, but that she had come to like him and couldn’t betray him. As the courtiers are trying to figure out what to do, Edward arrives!

(Continued on next page)

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A Novel vs. a Play Mark Twain used his imagination to bring his 1880 American readers into the world of Tudor England. This book was a departure from his usual comedic fare – and in fact it was published before his masterpiece, “Huckleberry Finn”. While many critics of the time didn’t understand why he would be interested in writing a “historical” novel, one of his daughters said that it was her favorite of all of his books! Twain was certainly no expert on England in the 1500’s. He mistakenly calls Edward the Prince of Wales, even though as a child, he didn’t actually have that title yet. The real Edward VI became King at the age of 9, with the death of Henry VIII. Because he was so young, members of the Council served as Protectors. Edward reigned only 6 years before he died of tuberculosis. After his death, his cousin Jane Grey ruled for 9 days before Edward’s half-sister Mary overthrew her and became England’s Queen. By using bits of real history, Mark Twain was able to capture the flavor of the era, and the book is still a great read! In order to make his dialogue sound more authentic, Twain read a great deal of Shakespeare to get a feel for the language of the time. In adapting the novel for the stage, playwright Jonathan Bolt also used Shakespeare as a model – by writing scenes that move from location to location quickly – with only the dialogue to let the audience know where each scene takes place. In order to create a 1 hour version of the novel, he took some liberties with Twain’s narrative, as well. For example, in the novel, Tom’s mother and two sisters love and try to protect him from his father and grandmother; in the play, he is an only child and his mother is dead. In a similar fashion, Lady Jane appears as a character in the play, while the novel includes the Princesses Elizabeth and Mary as well. In fact, many more people appear in the novel than in the play, but we think the ones that we meet on stage help to tell the story in important ways. The play uses a very clever prop – The Great Seal – to finally convince the courtiers that Edward is the true Prince. Tom uses it to crack nuts, which reflects a very poignant scene in the book where Tom loads his pockets with nuts from the dinner table in order to eat them in privacy. In streamlining the story, Mr. Bolt was able to take a long novel and condense it to one, fast paced hour that keeps the most important elements of the story front and center! We hope that this shorter version will compel our young audiences to want to read the novel – we’d love to know what they think of the changes that Jonathan Bolt came up with!

Synopsis (continued): They are stunned, and Tom falls to his knees. Then Miles arrives, and falls to his knees, in front of Tom. As the Lords try to figure out what’s happening, Miles tries to explain that Edward is harmless, while Tom insists that Edward is the rightful King. Finally, someone asks Edward where the Great Seal is – and of course Edward remembers that he’d put it in the fruit bowl. Tom, not knowing what it was, had been using it to crack nuts! Everyone finally realizes that the boys are telling the truth, and they change clothes again. Edward asks Miles to kneel, and restores his land and title to him. He also makes Miles a knight, and the King’s Protector. As for Tom…Edward gives him the title of The King’s Ward, and asks him to stay and advise him, so that he will always be fair to the people of England. Everything in order at last, the procession begins for the King’s coronation.

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About the Authors…

Mark Twain (Author) Samuel Langhorne Clemens was welcomed into the world as the sixth child of John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. Little did John and Jane know, their son Samuel would one day be known as Mark Twain - America's most famous literary icon. Approximately four years after his birth, in 1839, the Clemens family moved 35 miles east to the town of Hannibal. A growing port city that lay along the banks of the Mississippi, Hannibal was a frequent stop for steam boats arriving by both day and night from St. Louis and New Orleans. Samuel's father was a judge, and he built a two-story frame house at 206 Hill Street in 1844. As a youngster, Samuel was kept indoors because of poor health. However, by age nine, he seemed to recover from his ailments and joined the rest of the town's children outside. He then attended a private school in Hannibal. When Samuel was 12, his father died of pneumonia, and at 13, Samuel left school to become a printer's apprentice. After two short years, he joined his brother Orion's newspaper as a printer and editorial assistant. It was here that young Samuel found he enjoyed writing. At 17, he left Hannibal behind for a printer's job in St. Louis. While in St. Louis, Clemens became a river pilot's apprentice. He became a licensed river pilot in 1858. Clemens' pseudonym, Mark Twain, comes from his days as a river pilot. It is a river term which means two fathoms or 12-feet when the depth of water for a boat is being sounded. "Mark twain" means that is safe to navigate. Because the river trade was brought to a standstill by the Civil War in 1861, Clemens began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the United States. In 1870, Clemens married Olivia Langdon, and they had four children. Twain began to gain fame when his story,

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" appeared in the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1865. Twain's first book, "The Innocents Abroad," was published in 1869, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in 1876, and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" in 1885. In the end, Twain wrote fifteen novels, ten short story collections, three essay collections, nine works of non-fiction, a play, a children’s book, and much more. Found at: http://www.cmgww.com/historic/twain/about/bio.htm

Jonathan Bolt (Adaptor) Jonathan Bolt is a writer, director and actor. He is the book author of the musical Glimmerglass, produced at the Goodspeed Opera House and of six plays and musicals produced by Theatreworks USA, America’s largest producer of theatre for young audiences. He made his professional acting debut in the Broadway production of Look Homeward, Angel and has since appeared on and off-Broadway, on television and in films. In addition, he has worked extensively at major regional theaters around the country, playing leading roles in more than 100 productions and directing over 30, including premieres by Arthur Miller, Edward Bond and Paul Zindel. In addition, he is a principal director at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and head of the third year production company. He is a recipient of grants from the New York State Creative Artist, Program, the Pilgrim Project, the Berilla Kerr Award and a New York Drama League Award for Playwriting. Found at http://www.rnh.com/bio/85/Bolt-Jonathan

What is a Pseudonym?

Mark Twain is not the author’s real name! Rather is it a pseudonym, or a pen name, which Samuel Clemens used in order to conceal his identity as an author. Samuels’s first pen name, used in newspapers, was Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass.

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Write a review of the play, describing the scenery, lighting, sound, costumes, and performers. If you send it to us – we may feature it on our website or Facebook page!

• How did the design elements help you to know which location each scene took place? Describe how the costumes and the sound defined each location.

• Who was your favorite character and why? What traits did this character have that made him or her stand out to you? • What was your favorite part of the play and why? • Is there anything that surprised you?

Main Characters in the Play

EDWARD, the Prince of Wales: Heir to the throne of England, but bored because he has no friends and can’t leave the palace. When he meets Tom, he thinks it will be a great adventure to see the world outside the palace, but doesn’t realize how hard it is to be poor. Being out in the world teaches him valuable lessons about how to behave as a human being, and not just a ruler.

TOM CANTY: Born in a rough part of London (Offal Court in the book – called Beggar Street in the play), and used by his family to beg in order to make money. Tom is made fun of for wanting to learn. He dreams of someday living in a palace, but when the opportunity arises, he realizes it’s not as easy as it looks. Tom’s common sense and natural wisdom wins over Lady Jane and shows the court how a ruler can be benevolent and fair.

JOHN CANTY: Tom’s cruel, alcoholic father, who sends his son out to beg in order to bring in money.

KING HENRY VIII: The ailing father of Edward, Prince of Wales, who entrusts him with the great seal.

MILES HENDON: The noble, disinherited son of a baronet. He befriends the homeless Edward and becomes his guide and protector as they wander throughout the English countryside. Miles is surprised to learn that the boy he had felt sorry for is really the Prince.

LADY JANE: Edward’s cousin and friend in the Palace.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN: Edward’s long suffering tutor and advisor.

FATHER ANDREW: The benevolent priest who rescues Tom from his drunken father and introduces him to books.

LORD HERTFORD: A Foppish Courtier

GRANNY: The mean-‐spirited mother of John Canty, who treats Tom cruelly.

THE RUFFLER: The chief of the vagabond gang to which John Canty belongs.

BLACK BESS: Part of a gang of thieves who capture Edward thinking he’s Tom Canty.

A PALACE GUARD: Mistreats both Tom and Edward

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Discussion Questions: 1. Though this story takes place in Tudor England, a lot of the social problems still exist today – including poverty, child abuse, and government corruption. What lessons can be learned from Tom and Edward’s discoveries that might be used to tackle those issues today? 2. Tom reads books and dreams of having a better life. His mother’s last wish was for him to be educated, and he secretly has lessons with Father Andrew. Because he can speak a little Latin, the Courtiers are convinced that he’s the Prince. What does having an education mean to you? 3. Prince Edward is pampered and has servants to do things for him – even things as simple as dressing and washing! Because of this, he’s at a complete loss when he’s suddenly out in the real world. Why is it important to learn to do things for yourself? 4. Edward is shocked to hear how much the common people hate his father – and how they blame him for their own suffering. Because he’s never allowed outside of the palace, he has a very different perception of his father. He learns valuable lessons about compassion and about how people should be treated. Have you ever had misconceptions about someone before you meet them? Have you ever had to defend someone who people think are different than they really are? 5. Both boys are unhappy with their lives, and think it would be much more fun to be the other. Once they change places, they discover that it’s not always easier or better to be in someone else’s shoes. Have you ever wished your life was different? What would you change if you could – and what are you grateful that you have already?

Classroom Activities 1. Understanding other perspectives and cultures. (Common Core Standards) – by reading classic works of literature representative of a variety of periods, cultures and worldviews, students can vicariously inhabit worlds and have experiences much different than their own. THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER is a great jumping off point for discussing different points of view. Divide the class into people who live on Beggars Street and those who live at Court. Bring up a variety of topics and have each “team” talk about it from their point of view. As an example, have them discuss what they think of Henry VIII. Is he a good king? Are his laws fair? You can also use this exercise to talk about different topics in the news today.

2. Geography: Map Miles’ Journey from France to London. Miles has come back to England after being in a prison in France. Find a map and see if you can trace his journey from France to London. There were no cars, airplanes or trains in the 1580’s. How would he have traveled? Given the distance, how long would his journey be? Younger children can make simple maps of their own neighborhoods – what is the path from their homes to school? How long does it take to get there?

3. Research and Writing Project When Tom is mistakenly made the King, he hears petitions from people who are condemned to die. He recognizes an accused man and realizes that he’s not guilty – and changes a very barbaric law in the process! With older children, you can use this as an opportunity to talk about rulers and the laws they pass. Do some research on how Kings governed in Tudor England. Contrast this with America in the 1880’s, when Mark Twain wrote the novel. How is it different than how England and the U.S. are governed today?

4. Language & Costumes a. The people in the Court speak very differently than the people of the lower classes. Tom learns to “fit in” because he’s been educated by Father Andrew. Is it still possible to tell where people are from by their accents and the language they use? Have the students record each other, their families, and people in their neighborhoods. See how many different accents they can find. Play them for the class and see if they can guess where each person is from. b. Edward and Tom are mistaken for each other mostly because of the way they are dressed. Could that still happen today? Find pictures on-‐line or in magazines of people of different cultures. How are they different? How are they the same?

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Mark Twain based his Prince on the real Edward VI, who ruled from the age of 10 until his death at 16. Here’s a Tudor family tree to put it all in context!

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This Curriculum guide was prepared by the staff of the Lewis Family Playhouse. Library information compiled by Library staff. For questions, comments, or suggestions, please contact Mireya “Murry” Hepner at (909) 477-2775 ext. 3734.

LIBRARY TOUR INFORMATION As part of your class visit to the Lewis Family Playhouse, why not take a tour of the Victoria Gardens Cultural Center Library? Show your students about the wonderful, free resources they have access too and exciting library programming. The Paul A. Biane Library facility has over 100,000 volumes housed in a beautiful, 23,000 square foot facility. Among the facility’s unique features: a story theater with a star ceiling made of fiber optic lights, 20 seat technology center, teen study area, and a special performing arts collection. The Paul A. Biane Library at Victoria Gardens has over 1000 books and media in the Performing Arts collections for Adults and Children.

Pre- and post- show tours last approximately 15 minutes and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. To arrange a tour, please call Lorena Paz, Library Assistant, at (909) 477-2720 ext. 5059.

FROM THE STAGE TO THE PAGE … @ THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA LIBRARIES

Books serve as inspiration for our imagination, hearts, and for this theater performance! The library is great place for families to continue their theater experience. Families can choose from all kinds of materials including: books, audio books, CDs, magazines, and other materials. Come visit the award winning Rancho Cucamonga Libraries for all your learning and entertainment needs!

PROGRAMS AND FAMILY FUN @ THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA LIBRARIES

The Rancho Cucamonga Libraries offer a full calendar of entertaining, enriching and informative programs for the whole family.

• Weekly story times • Family Events

o “Seuss on the Loose” Thurs. Mar. 5th Biane Library, 4 pm

o “Earth Day” Sat. Mar. 28th Biane Library, 10am – 1 pm

• Cultural Arts Nights • Technology classes

BOOKS @ THE LIBRARY If you liked The Prince and the Pauper,

then you’ll love these!

Historical Adventure England

Raleigh’s Page Shelved under J Fic Armstrong

The Copper Treasure Shelved under J Fic Burgess

Isabel: Taking Wing Shelved under J Fic Dalton

The Devil and His Boy Shelved under J Fic Horowitz

Great Britain – King Edward VI

Beware, Princess Elizabeth Shelved under Teen Fic Meyer

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If you have any questions about finding these books or about the library, please call

the reference desk at 909.477.2720.

A Resource Guide for Teachers and Parents...l|:// $ $ — $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $

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