The Stinky Cheese Man.

Transcription

1 Welcome to the activity guide for The Kate Goldman Children s Theatre production of The Stinky Cheese Man. We know that the best trips are the ones that become a part of enhanced curriculum or part of your family stories; this is a dynamic way to build on the experience of seeing literature come to life. These pages are designed to help prepare a child for a visit to the theatre and to acquaint teachers and parents with the literature and author. There are exercises for before and after the show as well as a copy of P. Bill, Jr., a playbill with all the information kids need to think more about what they ve just seen. Thank you for making us an educational resource!

2 Please discuss theatre etiquette and theatre conventions with your young play-goers. The rules for going to a new place are not meant to be overly restrictive. We understand that everyone is more comfortable when they know what is expected of them! ETIQUETTE If your students are very young, it is interesting to begin by introducing the word, etiquette, and asking what they think it might mean. If your students are a bit more sophisticated, then you can ask for synonyms for etiquette which may include manners, rules, good behavior, conduct or even decorum, comportment, protocol and propriety. GOOD NEWS! Your students already know good theatre etiquette if they can sit still and listen to you read a story, or if they can go to an assembly and be attentive. When we go to the theatre, just use your story time manners, is a fine way to start. The Stinky Cheese Man is quickly paced and designed to keep the attention of our young patrons. In the theatre, there is no such thing as being fashionably late. Everyone should arrive at least minutes prior to curtain time. Curtain time is when the show starts, and we cannot rewind a performance if you arrive late. Trips to the bathroom and drinks of water is best taken care of before the show begins. You wouldn t want to miss anything. You could have heard a pin drop! Since a theatre is acoustically designed for sound to travel, audience members should turn off all cellular phones and pagers. Well, hush my mouth... Save your questions and observations for intermission or after the show. If you talk during the performance, you will miss part of it and could make it difficult for others around you to hear. This is strictly off the record. It is against copyright laws to record a play in any way. Please do not use cameras, video equipment or any other recording devices.

3 THEATRICAL CONVENTIONS Theatrical conventions are those common practices in the theatre that are accepted by all in attendance. Many of these customs are traditionally accepted by the audience, even by children, without request. However, some may need explaining or discussion. Performance space: Performers are physically separated from the audience. They perform on a stage or in a specifically defined area. The audience sits outside that area in seats that are collectively called the house. Patrons should not enter the stage area or handle anything they see on stage. Use of lights: The blinking of lights in the lobby is a signal for the audience members to take their seats and that the play will begin in about five minutes. Dimming of the house lights inside the theatre is a signal that the play is about to begin. Blackouts (all lights out briefly) are used as a special effect or to show the passing of time at the end of a scene. Playbill: A theatre program gives written information about the actors and the production. In the Kate Goldman Children s Theatre the children receive a special playbill, P. Bill, Jr. It also contains special activities for kids. Intermission: An intermission is a pause in the performance which lasts only about five minutes for school matinees at the Kate Goldman. It is a time when audience members can stand and stretch or talk quietly as the crew changes the set. Applause: In the theatre, the audience shows its appreciation of a performance by a polite clapping of hands. Usually applause comes at the end of a scene, an act or for a curtain call. If a particularly exciting moment, song, or special effect occurs during the play, an audience may spontaneously applaud. Curtain call: At the end of a performance, all the actors come back onto the stage to take a bow and acknowledge the audience s applause. TAKE TEN! Take ten minutes and stage your entrance. After discussing etiquette and theatrical conventions, practice coming to the Kate Goldman Children s Theatre by making your classroom into a theatre. As the class stands outside the classroom, blink the hallway lights as a non-verbal signal to come into the room. Have them take their seats and talk quietly until the lights in the room are turned off. Assign a couple of students to come in and take the stage (the front of the class) while the others settle in. Finish with a bow and appropriate applause!

4 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Whether it is your first time to the theatre, or you re an old pro, there are always more things to learn about being in a play or producing a play. Are the actors scared to perform? Some actors are a little nervous, but that feeling usually goes away once they walk out onto the stage. Where do the actors go when they walk off the stage? When an actor stands on the side of the stage where the audience cannot see him, but he can see the stage, he is standing in the wings. Some actors may have enough time to go their dressing rooms which are down the hall from the theatre or perhaps they wait in the Green Room which is a place for actors to relax. Who gives you your costumes? There is a costume designer who draws a picture or rendering of what she thinks the character should look like. The costume is then sewn, purchased, borrowed or pulled. We say that we pull a costume when we go into our huge storage room to find a costume that has already been used in another production. Why do you turn off all the lights sometimes? We turn off the lights at the start to let everyone know that the play is beginning. Sometimes, after a part of the story is finished, we turn off the lights to change the scenery; we re asking your imagination to take you to a different time or place. Is this the actors real job? All of the actors in The Stinky Cheese Man are volunteers. During the day they work at being teachers, students, bankers and many other professions. Our crew and ushers are also volunteers. How do I get involved in the theatre? Take classes! Audition for a role! Volunteer backstage or as an usher! There are brochures outside the box office that describe a variety of opportunities. Or visit us at We are very proud of our volunteer corps!

5 THE STINKY CHEESE MAN The script for this play is based on the popular picture book of the same name by Jon Scieszka. The Kate Goldman Children s Theatre will play host to The Little Red Hen, Cinderumplestiltskin, The Really Ugly Duckling and other characters from this contemporary romp through a jumble of fairy tales. And your guide through the story is none other than Jack, fresh back from his visit to the Giant via his backyard beanstalk! Of course, the best preparation is to read the original book aloud. Jon Scieszka books are school library staples and this one is even broken into chapters that are easily read in short sessions. There are many similarities between the books and the play plus a few differences, all of which will make for an animated discussion after the show! UNDERSTANDING A MUSICAL A musical tells a story through dialogue, song and dance. Characters in a play sing songs to tell what they want or how they feel. For instance, the Stinky Cheese Man sing one song called Run, Run, Run that uses teasing to get others to chase him. When no one will chase him, he sings a sad song about being all alone. Ask students to name a favorite song, tell who might sing such a song and what the person singing could want or feel. For example, Twinkle, Twinkle may be sung by a small child who has stayed up late for the first time and is fascinated with the night sky. However, what would the song sound like if it were sung by someone who is singing to keep herself from being afraid of the dark? Happy Birthday is usually sung in an upbeat way, but what if Cinderella had to sing it to one of her stepsisters? What if they had to sing it to her?

6 Now that you have seen The Stinky Cheese Man, here are some follow-up activities that will build on the enthusiasm with which your students left the theatre. WRITE AND DRAW A REVIEW A review is a way to tell others if we liked the play that we saw. We would like our elementary school friends to write a few sentences and draw a picture of the play that we can display in our lobby. Older elementary school and middle school students may prefer to write a more detailed response in paragraph form. In either case, a review contains a few key elements: A description of the plot: What happened in the play? Identification of a memorable moment within the play: What part did you like and why? A recommendation: Why should others attend this play? Then, if your children have questions they would like to ask either the cast or director, we would be happy to respond with a thank you note and answers to as many questions as possible. Mail all reviews to us at: The Des Moines Playhouse nd Street Des Moines, IA Please be sure to include your return address if you desire a response to your questions. Come back and see The Lion,The Witch and The Wardrobe November 10-26, 2006 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS These questions are designed to help students think about the play and the way the play is performed. A book and a play are two different ways of telling the same story. What stories from the original book are missing from the play? Why do you think the playwright chose to keep the stories that are in the play? Many of our performers must play several different roles. What did they do to make each role very different from the other? Is there a role that you would like to play? Why? Fairy tales always end with a lesson or moral. Even though The Stinky Cheese Man is silly, it still has a moral. What do you think it is? The giant did not appear on stage. What was done to make him appear as a character in your imagination? What did the giant look like to your imagination? TEST YOUR MEMORY David VanCleave is the prop designer for The Stinky Cheese Man. A prop is anything that an actor handles during the play. Including little things like kernel of wheat and larger things like the oven for the Stinky Cheese Man, there are well over 50 props in the play! Put on your thinking caps and make a list of all the props you remember. Can you also remember which character used each prop?

7 Introducing P. Bill, Jr. The next seven pages contain the information that young play-goers will receive when they come to the theatre. The information is delivered in a playbill designed just for kids and they receive it right at the door. This is designed to get kids thinking and to get kids and adults talking about the show with one another. There s even a place for autographs for those attending weekend shows. It s called P. Bill, Jr. and this season there s a picture of P. Bill on the front cover. If you would like a sneak preview of what P. Bill, Jr. contains, just continue scrolling. However, you ll have to come to the theatre to see who P. Bill is.

8 THE STINKY CHEESE MAN: CAST AND STAFF The actors and production team were asked to describe the most creative things they did as children. Here s what they said: I was OBSESSED with the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. I didn t just pretend to be the Scarecrow; I was the Scarecrow. All I needed was my straw hat, which I still have. Mary Bricker (Little Red Hen) When I was a kid I wrote scripts, recorded the music and built a stage so I could perform for my stuffed animals. Brenton Brown (Music Director) I used to have an imaginary pink elephant that lived in a hole in my bedroom wall. I made my friends and family bend down and talk to him. Rusk Dorsett (Stepmother, Large Frog, Old Man, Farmhand) When I was little, I used to make characters out of clouds as I lay on my back in the grass in my backyard. Annette Duffy (Stage Manager) When I was a kid, my friend and I would host game shows from the top of her swing set. I was the host, of course! Anne Frett (Princess, Rumplestiltskin, Small Frog, Kid) My favorite game as a child was Capture the Flag... on bikes... with NERF balls! Susan Gulbranson (Cinderella, Ugly Duck, Kid, Farmhand) My brother and I would pretend we were astronauts and fly from galaxy to galaxy on carpet squares in our basement. Larry Lubinus (Assistant Director) Like a lot of folks in the theatre, my favorite thing to do as a kid was putting on plays in the backyard! Jim Morrill (Foxy Loxy, Gnome, Kid, Farmhand) Starting at the young age of five, I used to tell jokes and do magic tricks. I loved to entertain at the playground at school and at church after services. John Robinson (Stinky Cheese Man, Frog Prince) I liked to catch chickens at my Grandpa Rudy s farm using a cardboard box, twine and an ear of corn. Sorry, Little Red Hen! Alison Shafer (Choreographer) My friends and I would imagine that we had magical powers like witches and wizards. With our magic, we would play tricks on people or save the day! Vicente Vasquez (Jack) As kids, my brother and I pretended we were Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. We even built a raft to sail on a pond. Ron Ziegler (Director) As a young Giant, I eat everything and break bunch of stuff. Giant is so funny! Giant (Giant)

9 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: JON SCIESZKA JON WHAT? Scieszka is a Polish name. It is pronounced, Shess-ka. It rhymes with Fresca. HOW DOES HE GET ALL OF HIS NUTTY IDEAS? He gets his ideas from the kids he used to teach second graders! He also gets ideas from reading, from being a dad and from staring out the window. He s a daydreamer. WHY DOES HE WRITE FOR KIDS? Jon Scieszka says, Kids are the perfect audience. They are much more willing to be goofy and wonder what if. WHAT ARE HIS FAVORITE THINGS TO READ? He will read anything with writing on it: cereal boxes, comic books, newspapers, poems, encyclopedias, subway signs... anything! WHAT IS HIS FAVORITE THING TO READ? One of the first books he read was Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. It made him realize that books could be goofy. He says, It s the book that made Stinky Cheese Man possible. WHAT DOES HE EAT FOR BREAKFAST? STINKY CHEESE? No, he likes fruit and a cup of coffee for breakfast. (And sometimes he steals Honey Nut Cheerios from his son, Luke.) Discussion Questions When you daydream and wonder what if, what nutty ideas do you come up with? Jon Scieszka says he will read anything with writing on it. How many things can you name that have writing on them besides books? Can you come up with more than ten? More than twenty? What is your favorite book to read? Can you share an idea for a story that is like your favorite book?

10 SAY CHEESE! Cheesy Facts The holes in Swiss cheese are called eyes. It takes about one gallon of milk to make one pound of cheese. Some cheeses can be kept for up to five years without ever being refrigerated. Cheese was first advertised on television in Stinky Cheese Man Pizza Be sure to get a parent or adult to help you! 1 store-bought pizza crust (about 10 wide) One-half cup tomato sauce 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese 1 piece of bacon for the Stinky Cheese Man s mouth 2 large olives for the eyes Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Lay the pizza crust on a pizza pan or cookie sheet. Spread the sauce evenly over the pizza crust, leaving a 1 border around the edge. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce. Arrange the olives and bacon on top of the cheese to create the Stinky Cheese Man s face. Bake until the bacon is crisp and cheese is melted, about 12 minutes. Cut pizza into slices and serve. Cheesy Grin A cheesy grin is the widest smile that you can manage. You have to make your eyes as big and round as possible or you could make your eyes all squinty instead. Show as many teeth as you can. Some people even open their mouths. You know you have a cheesy grin when your parents lower the camera and say, Okay, that s funny, but now you can smile nicely, please.

11 More Food For Thought Before the Show If you have read the book, it may be helpful to know that only some of the original stories will be in the play. Which ones do you think you will see? When a play is based on a picture book, the designers often use the book to inspire the look of the set or costumes or props. There are parts of the design that look a lot like the illustrations in the book. For example, can you find the giant s nose on the set? Can you find other examples? There are four entrances onto the stage. Which do you think will be the first used by the actors? Which will be the last? In the play there are several actors who perform more than one role. How do you think they will make each role different? After The Show If you were cast in the show, which character would you like to play? Can you remember any of that character s lines? Can you say a line just like the character? How might you change the line? During the play, the lights change many times. A change in lights can help us believe that we are in a new place or that time has passed. Lights can create a mood. How did lights help to tell the story in The Stinky Cheese Man? Near the end of the play Foxy Loxy says, This is the point that the Fox always offers something. NEVER ACCEPT! Can you think of stories with other foxes? What did they offer? Why are foxes and wolves the villains in fairy tales?

12 WORDPLAY We laugh about the idea of a man made entirely of cheese, but we use food to describe people all the time. Sure! Haven t you ever heard She s the apple of my eye, or He s like a fish out of water or What an egghead!? There s more. Try to fill in the blanks with the right food: You drive me! Don t try to me up. He doesn t amount to a hill of. That s a joke. He s in trouble. He s in a. You really take the. This isn t right. Something s. I m really about you. fishy cake butter jam bananas nuts beans corny There are many words that mean the same as stinky. Here is a list of words that describe the way something smells. Circle the ones that are synonyms (the same as stinky ) and underline the ones that are antonyms (opposites of stinky ). smelly off rank fresh fragrant putrid noxious sweet malodorous foul odorless reeking unscented pungent fetid Now, choose one of these words and say it as though you smell something good or bad. That s what actors do to help the audience understand what they are thinking!

13 MORE WORDPLAY The Giant in The Stinky Cheese Man could use some help with his rhymes. He knows that the last two words in each sentence should sound the same, but it always comes out silly. For example, he says Fee fi fo fum. I smell a guy who can t find his own thumb! Fill in the second line of each short poem: Fee Fi Fo Filly I smell a guy who. Fum Fo Fee Fister I smell a guy who. Fo Fi Fum Fad I smell a guy who. Fee Fi Fee Flop I smell a guy who.