Velveteen Rabbit Study Guide - Western Canada Theatre · The velveteen rabbit changes into a real rabbit and joins the other rabbits in the forest. The next spring, the rabbit returns

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By KEVIN DEL AGUILABased on the book by MARGARET WILLIAMS

MAY 14 • PAVILION THEATRE

STUDY GUIDE

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ThankyouforparticipatinginWesternCanadaTheatre’smatineeprogramming!Wewouldlikeyouandyourstudentstogetthemostoutofyourexperiencewithus.Includedinthispackageissomeinsideinformationexclusivetoteachersandstudents,discussionquestions,classroomactivities,andonlineresources.Wehopeyoufindthemusefulbeforeandafterseeingtheshow.

Pleasetakeafewminutestoreviewappropriatetheatreetiquettewithyourstudents.Whileclappingandlaughingaremostappropriateforthetheatre,whispering,talking,andexcessivemovementduringtheshowisdistractingtoothersintheaudienceandouractorsonstage.

Audiencemembersareencouragedtogetcomfortable,removecoats,usethewashroomandturnallelectronicdevicesOFFbeforeashowbegins.

Rememberingtheatreetiquettemakestheshowmoreenjoyableforeveryone!

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AStudyGuide

ProductionPersonnel.............................................................................................................4WesternCanadaTheatreStaff................................................................................................5BehindtheScenes……………………………………………………………………….………………………………………..5Author:MargeryWilliams….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5Playwright:KevinDelAguila…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….6Synopsis……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………...7Characters……….….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….…….…...8Vocabulary……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….9

WCT'sYoungCompany……………………………………………………………………………………………..…………………….…..10

ActivitiesintheClassroom....................................................................................................11Pre-ShowActivity#1:DiscoveringtheStory....................................................................................................11Pre-ShowActivity#2:CreatingYourOwnVelveteenRabbit...........................................................................12Pre-ShowActivity#3:Whatis"Real"?............................................................................................................13PostShowActivity#1:UseYourImagination!.................................................................................................15Post-ShowActivity#2:TheatreintheClassroom!...........................................................................................17Post-ShowActivity#3:Today'sVelveteenRabbit……………………………………………………………………………………..…19Post-ShowActivity#4:AClassroomDiscussion………………………………………...………………………………………………..20

ResourcesUsed....................................................................................................................21

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Cast Actor1 TaylorJamesMacCallumActor2 KrystineLucasActor3 MaddisonHartloff

Creative Team Director HeatherCant*StageManager CelineMajcherSetDesign HeatherCantCostumeDesign CindyWeibeLightingDesign GalMinnesSoundDesign GalMinnesScenicPainter AngelaFrye*TheparticipationofthisArtistisarrangedbypermissionofCanadianActors’EquityAssociationundertheprovisionsoftheDance-Opera-TheatrePolicy.

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DarylCloran ArtisticDirectorLoriMarchand GeneralManager

AdministrationRonThompson FinancialManagerSonyaRobson AccountingAssistantSuzanGoguen MarketingandCommunicationsDirectorLucyGearey GrowthandEngagementDirectorAnn-KathrinMcLean EventsandAdministrativeAssistantTerriRunnalls EducationCoordinator

ProductionGalMinnes ProductionManagerHeatherCant AssociateArtisticDirectorBillChabassol ProductionTechnicalDirectorBrianSt-Amand SagebrushTechnicalDirectorJohnPopkin HeadofCarpentryCindyWiebe HeadofWardrobeAngelaFrye HeadofPropertiesRoyaMole Technician

FrontofHouseHeatherRegan ClientandAudienceServicesManagerJeanChoi VolunteerCoordinatorJessicaBuchanan GuestServicesAllisonClow GuestServicesChristineLeroux GuestServicesCarlingRyan GuestServicesPhyllisMader GuestServices

BoxOfficeJanRiggs BoxOfficeManagerGeraldinePenny BoxOfficeStaffJudyDay BoxOfficeStaff

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Author: Margery Williams TheVelveteenRabbitwaswrittenbyMargeryWilliams.ShewasbornJuly22,1881inLondon,England.Herfatherwasalawyerandamanwholovedtoread.AsaresultMargerylearnedtolovetheworldofbooks.Shelearnedtoreadbeforeshewassixyearsold,thoughshedidn'tstartschooltillshewasten.In1902shewroteherfirstbook.Throughoutherlife,shewrotethreebooksforgrown-ups,twenty-fivebooksforchildrenandoneplay.Shewrotehermostpopularstory,TheVelveteenRabbit(orHowToysBecomeReal),in1922.In1904MargeryWilliamsmarriedanItalianmannamedFrancescoBianco.Helovedbookssomuchthatheboughtandoperatedaveryfinebookstore.Theyhadtwochildren,aboyandagirl,CeccoandPamela.LaterPameladrewpicturesfortwoofMargery'sbooks.MargeryWilliamslivedmostofhergrown-uplifeinNewYorkCity.Shealwaysthoughtofitasherfavouritecity.ItwasherethatshediedSeptember4,1944.

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Adaption: Kevin Del Aguila

KevinDelAguilaisanacclaimedactor,writeranddirectorinNewYorkCity.HeisanEmmyAward-winningwriteroftheanimatedPBSshowPeg+Cat,thebook-writerofthehitOff-BroadwaymusicalAltarBoyz,andrecipientoftheHeidemanAwardforhisplayTheGreekiestofTragedies.Otherworksincludehismiddle-agedsuperheromusicalTheAstonishingReturnoftheProtagonists,ATouchofRigorMortis,andhisstageadaptationsoftheDreamWorksfilmMadagascarandNickelodeon'sStorytimeLive.

Asabook-writerandlyricist,Kevinhasbeencommissionedtowritemanystageadaptationsofchildren'sbooksforTheatreworksUSAthathavepremieredOff-BroadwayincludingClickClackMooandSkippyJonJones.Kevinhaswrittenforseveralchildren'stelevisionshowsincludingPeg+Cat,HenryHugglemonster,ZackandQuackandTheWonderPetsandhascollaboratedonmanyfilmprojects.

HehasdirectedmanyproductionsforTheatreworksUSAincludingnationaltoursofDucksforPresident,AChristmasCarol,Charlotte’sWebandFlyGuy,aswellastheOff-BroadwayproductionsofIfyouGiveaMouseaCookieandhisownadaptationofTheVelveteenRabbit.

Kevinisalsoabusyactoranddirector.HehasactedintelevisionaswellasvoiceworkinthehitfilmFrozen.HehasbeeninvolvedinmajorBroadwayshows.

KevinholdsaBFAfromtheUniversityofCaliforniaatSantaBarbara,andanMFAfromTempleUniversityinPhiladelphia.HeisamemberoftheDramatistsGuild,theSocietyofStageDirectorsandChoreographers,andActors’Equity.

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Synopsis

AstuffedrabbitsewnfromvelveteenisgivenasaChristmaspresenttoasmallboy.Theboyplayswithhisothernewpresentsandforgetsthevelveteenrabbitforatime.Thesepresentsaremodernandmechanical,andtheysnubtheold-fashionedvelveteenrabbit.Thewisestandoldesttoyinthenursery,theSkinHorse,whowasownedbytheboy'suncle,tellstherabbitabouttoysmagicallybecoming‘real’duetolovefromchildren.Therabbitisawedbythisidea;however,hischancesofachievingthiswishareslight.

Onenight,theboy'sNanagivestherabbittotheboytosleepwith,inplaceofalosttoy.Therabbitbecomestheboy'sfavouritetoy,enjoyingpicnicswithhiminthespring;andtheboyregardstherabbitas'real'.Timepasses,andtherabbitbecomesshabbierbuthappy.Hemeetssomerealrabbitsinthesummer,andtheylearnthathecannothopastheydoandsaythatheisnotreal.

Oneday,theboybecomessickwithscarletfever,andtherabbitsitswithhimasherecovers.Thedoctorordersthattheboyshouldbetakentotheseasideandthathisroomshouldbedisinfected--allhisbooksandtoysburnt,includingthevelveteenrabbit.Therabbitisbundledintoasackandleftoutinthegardenovernight,wherehesadlyreflectsonhislifewithhisboy.Thetoyrabbitcries,arealteardropsontotheground,andamarvelousflowerappears.Afairystepsoutoftheflowerandcomfortsthevelveteenrabbit,introducingherselfastheNurseryMagicFairy.Shesaysthat,becauseheisoldandshabbyand‘real’,shewilltakehimawaywithherand"turn[him]intoReal"-toeveryone.

Thefairytakestherabbittotheforest,whereshemeetstheotherrabbitsandgivesthevelveteenrabbitakiss.Thevelveteenrabbitchangesintoarealrabbitandjoinstheotherrabbitsintheforest.Thenextspring,therabbitreturnstolookattheboy,andtheboyseesaresemblancetohisoldvelveteenrabbit.

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Characters

ThescriptfortheVelveteenRabbitisanadaptationbyKevinDelAguila.Thereareonly3actorsintheproductionandtheyplayavarietyofroles.Thesecharactersarebroughttolifeinavarietyofways!

Boy:TheowneroftheVelveteenRabbit.

Boat:AtoyintheBoy’splayroomwhomockstheRabbit.

Doctor:DiagnosestheBoywithScarletFeverandrecommendsthatheleavehisnurseryanddestroyalltoysthatresidewithinit.

Fairy:AnurseryfairywhograntstheVelveteenRabbittobecomereal.ShegrowsfromaflowerasaresultofateardropfromtheVelveteenRabbit.

Hoss:AbunnythattheVelveteenRabbitmeetsintheforest.WithPfeffer,hequestionstheVelveteenRabbitsrealnessandmockshimfornothavinghindlegs.

Lion:AboastfultoyintheBoy’splayroom.

Nana:TheBoy’sgrandmotherandhismaincaregiver.

Pfeffer:AbunnythattheVelveteenRabbitmeetsintheforest.WithHoss,hequestionstheVelveteenRabbitsrealnessandmockshimfornothavinghindlegs.

Rabbit:AtoygiventotheBoyatChristmastime,whosoonbecomesafavourite.MadeofVelveteen,thisrabbitstruggleswithhowheistreatedbytheothertoysanddreamsofbecomingReal.

SkinHorse:Thewisestandoldesttoyinthenursery,theSkinHorse,whowasownedbytheboy'suncle,tellstherabbitabouttoysmagicallybecomingRealduetolovefromchildren.

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Vocabulary Words

Belowaresomewordsyoumayencounterinthebookortheplaythatmayrequirefurtherexplanation.

Aviator:aPilot.

Bracken:atallfernwithcoarselobedfronds(leafs)thatoccursworldwideandcancoverlargeareas.Oranylargecoarsefernresemblingthis.

Clockwork:amechanismwithaspringandtoothedgearwheels,usedtodriveamechanicalclock,toy,orotherdevice.Mainsprings:theprincipalspringinawatch,clock,orothermechanismorsomethingthatplaysaprincipalpartinmotivatingormaintainingamovement,process,oractivity.Mechanical:workingorproducedbymachinesormachinery.Sawdust:powderyparticlesofwoodproducedbysawing.ScarletFever:aninfectiousbacterialdiseaseaffectingespeciallychildren,andcausingfeverandascarletrash.Itiscausedbystreptococci(abacteria).Sensitive:quicktodetectorrespondtoslightchanges,signals,orinfluences.Or(ofapersonoraperson'sbehavior)havingordisplayingaquickanddelicateappreciationofothers'feelings.Shabbier:inpoorconditionthroughlongorharduseorlackofcare.Splendid:magnificent;veryimpressive.Threadbare:(ofcloth,clothing,orsoftfurnishings)becomingthinandtatteredwithage.Twitched:giveorcausetogiveashort,suddenjerkingorconvulsivemovement.Velveteen:aclothingfabricusuallyofcottonintwillorplainweavesmadewithashortcloseweftpileinimitationofvelvet.

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TheVelveteenRabbitisaspecialperformanceinourlineupthisyear!ItisoursecondproductionbeingperformedbyourYoungCompany!WesternCanadaTheatre’s,YoungCompanyisacombinedeffortbetweenWCTandThompsonRiversUniversity’sActorsWorkshop.Theshowwillenableactorsfromtheuniversityprogramtobeinvolvedinaprofessionalshowforyoungaudiences.TheconceptoftheYoungCompanyisexplainedbyourArtisticDirector,DarylCloran:

Ibelieveit’sourresponsibilityastheprofessionaltheatrefortheregion,toprovidetrainingopportunitiestoemergingartists.AndinparticularhereatWCT,whereit’sinourblood-westartedasaYouthTheatre!We’redoingagreatjobofferingtrainingtochildrenandteensthroughourStageOneprogram,andIwantedtoexpandthattoincludeopportunitiesforyoungartiststrainingatapost-secondarylevel.ThisisagreatwayforstudentswhoaregraduatingfromaUniversityDramaprogramtohavetheirfirstprofessionalexperience.It’sawaytoensuretheyhaveprofessionaltrainingandopportunitiestobuildonastheyentertheprofessionaltheatreindustry.YoungchildrenintheaudiencewillseetheproductionperformedbyemergingactorsfromthecommunityandunderstandthatinafewyearstheycouldparticipateintheYoungCompanyaswell.Itmakestheatreaccessible-notonlyassomethingtoseeandenjoy,butsomethingtoparticipatein.

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Pre-show Activity #1: Discovering the Story Curriculum Connections Drama ContextLanguageArts OralLanguage,Viewing,SpeakingandListening

Priortoseeingtheplay,locateacopyoftheoriginalbookbyMargeryWilliams.Thisscriptcanalsobefounddigitallyat:

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/williams/rabbit/rabbit.htmlReadthestoryaloudwithyourstudentsorshowthemthis6minutevideoofthestoryreadbyactor,MerylStreep:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_m054tLKvsSpeakwithyourstudentsabouttheelementsofthestory.Haveaclassroomdiscussionaboutthestory.Herearesomequestionstogetyoustarted.

1.Ifyouwereadoll,doyouthinkyouwouldwanttobecomearealboyorgirl?

2.Thinkaboutyourowntoys.Whichoneshaveyouhadthelongest?Doyouforgetaboutoldtoyswhenyougetnewones?Doyouhaveafavoritetoy?

3.Whatdoyouthinkthe“mainidea”ofthestoryis?

4.HowistheVelveteenRabbitdifferentfromtheothertoysinthenursery?Fromtheboy?Fromtherabbitsoutside?Describeatimewhenyoufeltdifferenttheneveryonearoundyou.

5.DescribetherelationshipbetweentheBoyandhisparents.BetweentheBoyandNana.BetweentheBoyandtheRabbit.BetweentheSkin-HorseandtheRabbit.Whatimpactdoeachoftheserelationshipshaveontheindividualswithinthem?

6.TheRabbitcomfortedandcaredfortheBoywhenhewassick.Youcanprobablythinkofatimewhenaparentorfamilymemberhascaredforyouwhenyouneeded

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help.Canyouthinkofatimewhenyoucaredforanolderpersonwhowasinasimilarsituation?

Pre-show Activity #2: Creating Your Own Velveteen Rabbit Curriculum Connections LanguageArts ReadingandViewing,WritingandRepresentingVisualArts CreativeProcess,ExhibitionandResponse

Onceyouhavereadthestory,oryourstudentshavehadtheopportunitytoreadthestory,havethemcompletethefollowingdrawings.Seeappendixforeasyprintout.

Ø DrawapictureofwhatyouenvisiontheVelveteenRabbittolooklikewhentheboyfirstreceivedhimatChristmastime.(Figure1)

Ø DrawapictureofwhatyouthinktheVelveteenRabbitlookedlikewhenhewastakenoutoftheboy’sroomandconsidered“loved”.(Figure1)

Ø DrawapictureoftheSkinHorseandtheboat.

Followingtheviewingoftheplay,besuretorevisitthesedrawingstoseewhatsomesimilaritiesanddifferenceswerefromthebook,totheplay,totheirdrawingsofthecharacters.

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Pre-show Activity #3: What is Real? Curriculum Connections LanguageArts OralLanguage,SpeakingandListeningVisualArts ExhibitionandResponseDrama ExploringandCreating,PresentingandPerforming

“Real isn't how you are made”, said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you.

When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real."

TheVelveteenRabbithasanextendedtitle:TheVelveteenRabbitor,HowToysBecomeReal.Whatistheconceptofreality?Thisistheprincipalthemewithinthebook.Anditisabigquestiontotacklewithyourstudents!Afterreadingthestory,discussthisquestionwithyourclass.Herearesomeplacestobegin:

o Have any of you have/ had imaginary friends or toys that you thought were real? o Why did you think they were real? o What made them real? o Why did you stop thinking they were real? o Why did the model trains think they were real? o If you think of something that does not exist, does that mean it is not real? o If something exists, but you don’t know about it, does that mean it is not real? Why? o When in the story does the Rabbit become real? o Is the Rabbit real from the very beginning? Why? o What makes you real? And does the Rabbit have those traits? (ie. Emotions?)

Tofurtherthisdiscussion,askyourstudentstobringafavouritetoyforshowandtell.Askthemifitisrealtothem.Doesittalktothem?Engagewiththem?Comfortthem?Askeachstudenttodothefollowingwiththeirshowandtellpiece:

Doesthetoyhaveaname?Tellthehistoryofthetoy:howlonghaveyouhadit,wherediditcomefrom?Whyisityourfavoritetoy?

Ifyourtoycametolife,whatwouldhappen?

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Haveyourstudentsthinkupafunadventurethattheirspecifictoymightgooniftheywerereal!Cantheytellittotheotherboysandgirls?Couldthetoysallgoonanadventuretogether?Takeapictureofallofthetoystogetherandprintitforyourclassroomwall.Thestudentswilllovetolookbackonthephotowhenevertheycan!

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Post Show Activity #1: Use Your Imagination! Curriculum Connections LanguageArts OralLanguage,SpeakingandListeningArtsEducation ExploringandCreating,PresentingandPerformingDrama Context

Thebook,TheVelveteenRabbitencouragesustouseourimaginations.Everybookdoes!WeimaginetheBoy’snurserywithhisbedandtoys,weimaginetheforesthelovestoplayin,andweimaginethecharacterswithinthestory.Nowthatyourclasshasseentheplay,wecantalkabouttheimaginationusedintheproduction!Talktoyourclassabouthowthecharacterswithintheplaybecamethetoys.Thedirector,HeatherCant,madespecificchoicesabouttheplaytoencouragetheuseofimagination.Theplayroomisconstructedbymanybigandcolourfulshapes.Theactorsusetheseshapesinavarietyofways.Askyourstudentsiftheynoticedthis.Charactersarealsocreatedbywhatisavailableintheactor’senvironment.Didyourstudentsnoticethatcharactersdidnothavefullcostumes,butrathertheygrabbedwhatwasclosetothemtocreatetheillusionofacharacter?Forexample,thelioncharacteriscreatedbyanactorputtingatutuontheirheadandtherockinghorseiscreatedbyasemi-circlebeingusedasarockerandtheactorputtingonacowboyhat.Thebutterflyisapuppetandthecaterpillarismanipulatedbytheactors.Theactorscreatethecharacters(andtoys)andasktheaudiencetomaketheleap,usingtheirimaginationstoseethestoryanditscharacterscometolife.Askyourstudentsiftheynoticedtheabovementionedideasregardingsetandcharacters.Didtheynoticeanyotherusesofthingsinthebedroom?Didtheylikethem?Whywouldthedirectordecidedtocreatetheplayinthismanner?Wasitfuntowatchtheactorsbecomethetoys?Usingimaginationandcreativity(alsoknownaspretendplayormakebelieveplay)helpschildrengrowsociallyandemotionally.Throughimaginarygamesandstorytellingchildrenaremorelikelytoadaptlearninghabits,developtheircommunicationskillsandimprovetheirvocabulary.Byusingtheirsensesandbodies,theycanmovearoundanddeveloptheirmusclesaswellastheneurologicalconnectionsintheirbrains.Itisanintegralpartoftheircognitiveandsocialdevelopment.

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Howcanwefosterthiscreativeplay? Readbooks! Makeupstories!

Usepropsandtoystocreatenewthoughtsandideas(boxesbecomefortsorcars,blocksbecomecastlesandhatscreatecharacterswecanplay!)Gototheatre!(Thankyouforcoming!!)Usedramainyourclassroom!(agreatwarmupgamecanbefoundinthefollowingActivity!)

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Post-Show Activity #2: Theatre in the Classroom! Curriculum Connections LanguageArts OralLanguage,SpeakingandListeningArtsEducation ExploringandCreating,PresentingandPerformingDailyPhysicalActivity Contributestorequired30minutes

OneofthemostlovedgamesthatIhaveusedovertheyearsforages3-8,isToyShop.Thisgamereallyspeakstokids,usestheirimagination,boostscreativityandconnectswonderfullytostoryofTheVelveteenRabbit.Youcanclearthedeskstothesideorhavethechildrenstandbesidetheirdesks.Anopenroomisbest.

Askeverychildtoimaginethattheclassroomhasjustchangedintoahugetoystore.Itisthebiggestoneintheworldanditisfilledwithtonsoftoysofallkinds!(Feelfreetoembellishasmuchasyoucantoboosttheirexcitement)Theirjobistothinkupatoythattheycanbecomewithinthetoystore.Havethemimagineitfirst.Theycouldbeanythingfromarobot,toadoll,toapuppy,tothehottestthingonthemarkettoday.Itisanindividualexercisetobekepttothemselves.Posesomeofthefollowingquestionstothem.Donothavethemyellitout,butratherthinkoftheanswersintheirownheads.

Whatisthenameofyourtoy? Howdoesitoperate?Whathappenswhenitgetsturnedon?

Howdoesitmove?Whatsortofthingsdoesthetoydo?Canyouuseyourbodytoshowthat?

Tellthemtobecomethetoyisitsfrozenposition.Thereshouldbenomovementbecausetoysdon’tmoveunlesstheyareturnedonActasthetoyshopowner.Walkaroundtheclasslookingatyour“toys”.Commentonhowamazingyourshopisandhowpeoplefromallovertheworldcometovisitit.Beveryproudandcommentonsometoysyoucanidentify.Youcanasksomechildrenwhattoytheyare.Thencommentthatyouaregladthatyourtoysarewellbehaved.Theynevermove,nevertalk,andtheyalways,ALWAYSareinthesameplacewhenyoureturninthemorning.Yawn,tellthetoysthatyoulovethemandappreciatethem,butyouaretiredanditisclosingtime.Leavetheroom.Ifyouhaveanaidoranotheradultintheclass,theycanencouragethekidstomoveastheirtoy.(Sometimesclasseswillfigurethisoutontheirown,other’swillneedalittlepromptingfromyou.Youcantellthemthatyouknowtheymovealittleinthenightassometimesthetoysareinadifferentspotinthemorning.Youdon’tmindthoughbecausethey

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aresowellbehaved.Infact,youlovethatthetoysplaytogetherwhenyouarenotaround!Itmakesthemhappiertoysandthosetoysgetboughtbythecustomers!)Openthedoorabruptly.Allthetoysshouldfreeze.Youcanhavesomefunwiththis.Youcanpointoutthatyouaresurethatsomemovedwhenyouwalkedin,thatsomeswitchedpositions,thatsomelookliketheyhavecrazysmilesontheirfaces.Remarkonthingsthatchanged.Ifyouheargiggles,swivelyourheadaroundinsurprise!“What?!Thesetoysaren’tREAL!”Youcanchooseacoupleofstudentstoenterascustomers.Theycanpressthe“ON”switchonsometoystoseethemcometolife.Thentheycanturnthemoff.Youcanoffertoystothecustomersbyturningthemonandoffyourself.Thecustomerscanbuysometoysandleavetheroom(orstandinacorner)andbecomethenextgroupofbuyers.Youcanleavetheshopseveraltimesallowingthetoystobecomerealagain.Noisecanbecomeafactor,soyoucanaskstudentstokeepittosoundeffects.

Youcanalsoplayuptheideathattoysonlymovewhenyouarenotlookingatthem.Thisbecomesadifferentpartofthegamesothatwhenyouenter,allthosethataretoysbehindyoubecomemoveableandreal,whilethetoysinyoureyesightmustremainstatues.Asyouswivelonyourfeet,itbecomesagameoffreeze.Remindthemtostayincharacter.Thisversionworkswellinagymnasiumsettingallowingthetoystobefast,slow,big,goofy,etc.

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Post-Show Activity #3: Today’s Velveteen Rabbit Curriculum Connections LanguageArts OralLanguage,SpeakingandListeningArtsEducation ContextCommunications ComprehendandRespond

ThebookandtheplayofTheVelveteenRabbitbothspeaktotheideaoftoyscomingtolife.TheVelveteenRabbit(andvariousotherstoriesbyMargeryWilliams)wasoneofthefirststoriesthatdealtwithtoysbecomingreal.Youwillnoticethatinthebookthetoysareolderversionsofwhatweseeintheplay.Thereisaboat,alionandsoldiersmentionedinthebook.Intheplayweseeupdatedcharacterswhospeakofbeinginanimatedmovies.Theybragabouttheirbuttonsandremotecontrols.Theyteasetherabbitforbeingfullofsawdustandhavingnolightsandnotbeingelectronic.Theplayshowstheadvancementmadeintoysandhowchildrenhavegrowntolovethetoysthatdomoreandshowmore.Intheplay,theRabbitisconsideredplainbecauseheisnot“technical”.

Discusstheaboveideawithyourstudents.Whatseemedtobethedifferentbetweenthetoysinthebookversusthetoysintheplay?Whichtoysdoyouprefer?

Askyourclasswhatothermoviesalsorepresenttheideaoftoyscomingtolife.Somepossibilitiesmayinclude:WinniethePooh,Pinocchio,TheIndianintheCupboard,RudolftheRedNosedReindeer(theislandofmisfittoys),Mr.Magorium’sWonderEmporium,andmostrecently,TheLegoMovieorToyStory.

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Post-Show Activity #4: Classroom Discussion Curriculum Connections Drama Defining,RecognizingandAnalysing,Reflection,DiscussionandCriticalAnalysisCommunications ComprehendandRespond,EngagementandPersonalResponseLanguageArts WritingandRepresenting,OralLanguage,SpeakingandListening

1. Discusstheplaywithyourclass.Whatdidtheylike,whatdidtheydislike?Why?Besure

tohavethemaddressthecharactersandstoryaswellasthetheatricalelementsoftheplay;theset,thecostumesandthelighting.Whatdidtheythinkofthesetwhentheyfirstwalkedintothetheatre?

2. Whatcharacterwasyourfavouriteandwhy?3. Whichdidyouenjoymore,thebookortheplay?Discussthedifferencesbetweenthe

twoandwhatmayhaveswayedyourchoice.4. Wasthisyourfirstexperienceseeingaliveplay?Whatdidyouthink?Wouldyouliketo

seeanother?Howdidyoulikelisteningtotheactorsattheendoftheplay?Whatdoyouwishyouwouldhaveaskedthem?

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DelAguila,Kevin.TheVelveteenRabbit,anadaptation.Theatreworks,USA,2012.

www.1stplace.uk.com

www.bced.gov.bc.ca/curriculum

www.digital_library.upenn.edu

www.enchantmenttheatre.org

www.merriamwebster.com

www.psychologytoday.com

www.rabbitears.com

www.sampsoncenterstage.com

www.theatreworksusa.org

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Velveteen_Rabbit

www.youtube.com