51ºÚÁÏ

Included in The Birthday of the Infanta Readers’ Theatre Unit:
18 page script
16 characters
16 questions

The Birthday of the Infanta synopsis:
A short story about a princess’s birthday celebration where she is entertained with various performances, including one by a dwarf. During the dwarf’s dance, the Infanta throws a rose to him. The dwarf is then enamoured with the princess and is excited to dance for his new friend again. Behind the scenes, the Infanta and her friends laugh at the dwarf’s appearence. The dwarf is eager to see the Infanta again, so he sneaks into the casle with the rose. How will the Infanta react when she sees the dwarf again? Find out in the Birthday of the Infanta Readers’ Theatre Unit.
The story explores themes of vanity, cruelty, bullying, and the consequences of a sheltered and spoiled upbringing.

Mr. Marvel’s Musings:
This is a timeless story. The bullying I hear about and witness in school is always sad. At least the dwarf was not dancing during modern times. I could imagine the Infanta and everyone in attendance recording him on their devices and then making harsh commentaries when they upload the video, all for the sake of likes and followers. Beating down on a less fortunate person to boost their fragile egos. I gave the dwarf some poetic dialogue so that he is not just a mute wandering the forest after his performance. I wanted him to have strong inner beauty when he speaks of how the animals respect him in the forest. They do not judge him by his appearence, but by his actions.

I hope you, and your students enjoy reading The Birthday of the Infanta and continue to do so for many years.
Excelsior!
Mr. Marvel: The King of Reader’s Theatre