A free ten-minute play script for children, taken from Aesop’s Fables on Stage by Julie Meighan. Town Mouse invites his friend to enjoy life in the town, but Country Mouse discovers that a feast is difficult to enjoy when danger is nearby.
Characters: Three storytellers, Town Mouse, Country Mouse, Country Mouse’s Wife, three trees, three flowers, Hedgehog, Squirrel, Worm, Mother, Father, Child, Cat and Dog.
Roles can be shared or doubled to suit your group. The storytellers can be played by children or an adult. Food, bags and the mouse hole can be mimed.
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
(Town Mouse is sitting on the stage. He is looking very bored.)
Storyteller 1: Once upon a time there was a mouse called Town Mouse.
Storyteller 2: One day he was bored and he decided to go and visit his friend Country Mouse.
(Town Mouse is in the centre of the stage packing his bag. He puts some cheese in it and then he starts to walk.)
Storyteller 3: Country Mouse was so happy to see him.
(Country Mouse and his wife walk on stage and give Town Mouse a big hug.)
Country Mouse: I’m so happy to see you. Welcome to the country.
Country Mouse’s Wife: You have had such a long journey, you must be hungry. Come and sit down and enjoy the feast I’ve made for you.
(They sit on the ground and the wife gives him some country food.)
Storyteller 1: Town Mouse didn’t like the food you get in the country.
Storyteller 2: It was far too plain for him.
(Town Mouse is sitting down, he eats the food but spits it out and makes a face.)
Country Mouse: I must show you around the beautiful countryside.
(The trees and flowers are scattered around the stage.)
Country Mouse: This is my friend the Town Mouse. He has come to visit the countryside.
Tree 1: Hello Town Mouse. Welcome to the countryside.
Tree 2: We are very pleased to meet you.
Tree 3: Are you having a good time?
Town Mouse: No, the food is not very nice. In the town you can eat any food you want.
(The two mice continue with their tour of the countryside and meet some flowers.)
Country Mouse: This is my friend the Town Mouse. He has come to visit the countryside.
Flower 1: Hello Town Mouse. Welcome to the countryside.
Flower 2: We are very pleased to meet you.
Flower 3: Are you having a good time?
Town Mouse: No, I’m bored. It is much more exciting in the town.
Storyteller 3: They continue on their way and they meet a hedgehog, squirrel and worm who are all playing together.
Country Mouse: This is my friend the Town Mouse. He has come to visit the countryside.
Hedgehog: Hello Town Mouse. Welcome to the countryside.
Squirrel: We are very pleased to meet you.
Worm: Are you having a good time?
Town Mouse: There is nothing to do here. The town is so much better than the country.
Storyteller 1: He continued boasting about how much better the town was to live in. Country Mouse listened very carefully.
(Town Mouse mimes telling Country Mouse about the town. He uses big gestures and Country Mouse listens very carefully.)
Town Mouse: I’m going home now; would you like to come with me?
Country Mouse: Oh, yes please.
Town Mouse: I’ll show you things you’ve never even dreamed of.
Storyteller 2: The Country Mouse packed his bags and said goodbye to his wife.
(Country Mouse hugs his wife and off he goes with the Town Mouse.)
Storyteller 3: The Country Mouse thought the town was amazing. He looked around at all the fabulous buildings and people.
Storyteller 1: When the mice arrived at Town Mouse’s house, the family had just finished their dinner.
(A family of three are sitting at a table filled with food.)
Father: Oh, thank you, Mother, for making such a delicious dinner.
Child: It was yummy but I can’t eat another bite because I’m so full.
Mother: I’m glad you enjoyed it. Let’s go and sit by the fire and relax.
(The family go off to sit by the fire. Town Mouse and Country Mouse start picking up the food.)
Storyteller 2: There were plenty of leftovers on the table.
Town Mouse: There is plenty here, help yourself.
Country Mouse: My friend you were right – the town is so much better than the country. This is the life.
(Cat arrives walking slowly and sniffing the air.)
Cat: What’s that smell? (He sniffs) I know – that’s the smell of little furry mice. Where are they? (He looks around and then he spots them. He pounces on them. The mice are terrified and start to run.)
Town Mouse: Quick, follow me.
(They run across the kitchen and into the mouse hole in the wall.)
(The cat yawns, stretches and falls asleep. Town Mouse looks out and sees him asleep.)
Town Mouse: Let’s go and finish our dinner.
Country Mouse: I’m scared.
Town Mouse: He is asleep and he won’t wake up.
(They creep out slowly and quietly and go back to finishing their food.)
Dog: Woof! Woof! I smell mice. There they are. Woof! Woof.
(A dog enters and chases the mice back into the hole.)
Country Mouse: I’m off. (He packs his bag.) You may have all the excitement in the town but I’m going back to the country for a quiet life.
(He walks off the stage leaving the Town Mouse by himself.)
Storytellers: The lesson of the story is … Better to have little and be safe than to have lots and be in danger.
Explore more scripts in Aesop’s Fables on Stage, or browse our free short plays for children.
