Details 

City Mouse & Country Mouse 

 

City Mouse & Country Mouse

by Kevin M Reese]

Video Promo Available Soon

Detailed Plot:
We meet Anastasia, the pretentious City Mouse and her cousin, Cindy Lou, the laid-back Country Mouse (CITY MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE). Anastasia has just received an invitation from Cindy Lou to pay her a visit. After a visit from a VERY persistent door-to-door salesman, she starts packing for her visit to the country. Cindy Lou receives a visit from one of her neighbors, the silly Mr. Barker. He and his wife just had a little of puppies– but he’s having trouble telling his two boys apart, they’re so much alike. Meanwhile, Anastasia finishes packing and starts off for her visit, leaving her familiar neighborhood behind. (THE NEIGHBORHOOD SONG). When she arrives, she is surprised by the backwards lifestyle in which her cousin lives. They are again paid a visit by Mr. Barker who rejoices that he can now tell his two boys apart. After dinner (A MEAL FIT FOR A KING), the mice are visited by the door-to-door salesman. Much to Anastasia’s bewilderment, he keeps coming back in different silly disguises until he finally makes a sale. Anastasia has finally had enough of the country life and talks Cindy Lou into coming with her to the City. After a short trip (WALKING THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD), they arrive at Anastasia’s apartment. Just as they are taking tour of her home, they are paid a visit by one of Anastasia’s neighbors– a cat (ALLEY CAT RAP)! Even though she has nothing to fear in the cat (he’s on a strict diet) Cindy Lou decides that city life is not for her. She soon returns to her familiar country home, but not before the cousins agree that both neighborhoods have their advantages and though they may not want to live there– it’s nice to visit. (CITY MOUSE, COUNTRY MOUSE - FINALE)

Sets:
All the action takes place in the homes of the City Mouse and the Country Mouse. City Mouse's set was of an upper class apartment living room; Country Mouse's set was of an lower middle class country dinning room. The original production was staged in a pseudo-arena space. The two acting areas were on opposite sides of a room with a center aisle connecting the two. The audience sat in the middle, between the two areas.

Original Cast: 3:   1 Man, 2 Women played 5 characters
(you may certainly use more actors and not double-up)

Theme:
Family, Tolerance, Peer Pressure.

Running Time:  35 Min.  

Target Audience: Ages 2 and up.

Characters:  5 (Doubling possible)
Anastasia
Cindy Lou
Mr. Barker
Traveling Salesman
Alley Cat

Short Description:
Some mice say "the grass is always greener on the other side," and some say "there's no place like home." With the help of a silly door-to-door salesman and an even sillier dog next door and a cool cat, these two mice learn that some places are nice to visit, but you may not want to live there.

MUSIC:
1 City Mouse, Country Mouse - Anastasia & Cindy Lou
2 The Neighborhood Song -Anastasia
3 Meal Fit for a King - Cindy Lou & Anastasia
4 Walking Through the Neighborhood - Anast & Cindy Lou
5 Alley Cat Rap - Cat
6 City Mouse, Country Mouse (Finale) - Anastasia & Cindy Lou

Original Production
First presented by the Wichita Children's Theatre for the Picnic Theatre Series. It opened July 20, 1995 and played for 10 performances. It was directed by Kevin Reese and the cast was:

Anastasia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cara Statham
Cindy Lou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelly Wonsetler
Mr. Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Mitchell
Traveling Salesman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Mitchell
Alley Cat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wayne Mitchell