MOTHER GOOSE MEETS MOTHER EARTH scene 6 The New Cinderella--Reuse of Do Without

This is the sixth part of a children's play I wrote back in the 70's.  It has been performed at various times in the past 30 years and I would welcome any teacher or children's theater director using it.  Please be so kind as to let me know if you do choose to use it.

The New Cinderella

Reuse or Do Without

Gresmelda: Oh Mother, I can't wear this dress. It's what I wore last year. And the color is just out this year. It's going o have to be hot pink or else.

Matilda: Well, what do you think I'm going to do? Last year at the ball I had the best gown and of course, the most expensive. I'm just going to have to have you take me on that shopping trip to Chicago to get something to top that. I can't be seen in something used or made over.

Stepmother: (Hands on hips) Really, girls, you do go on. I don't know how I can afford to keep you in clothes. $70 for a pair of tennis shoes, $40 for the right sun glasses, everything in florescent, jeans for every occasion, and now you want to go to Chicago to buy a dress for the ball? Sometimes I wish you'd think a little more like Cinderella. She knows how to stretch a clothes budget.

Gres: Right, she wears things out. I can't believe it? Mother, how can you expect me to do that.

Step: She seems to look nice all the time, and she was voted most liked girl in her class.

Mat: But I can't be seen without a new outfit, and besides Cindy gets voted that because she goes around being nice to people.

Gres: She started this dumb group at school called the Recyclers. They're telling us things like "Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse. " What kind of people reuse things?

Step: Well, I do, for example, young lady. I reuse jars in the kitchen, worn-out clothes for rags, and boxes for packing. I've even started to make some of my clothes last long than one season.

Mat: Yuck!

Gres: She's really getting to you! Next thing I know, you'll be over at the recycling center helping to save all those plastic milk jugs and cans.

Step: (sweetly) You meet the nicest people there.

Cinderella bops in.

Cinderella: Hi, Stepmom, Hi, Grez, Hi Mattie. The most radical thing happened at school today. Our Save The Earth group finally convinced all the teachers to save the classroom and office paper. We're collecting it every day, and then at the end of the week, one of the classes is taking it over to the recycling center.

Mat: Why are you wasting your time? You should be out shopping for new clothes, spending money, living it up, girl.

Gres: Yeah, this is the throw-away age. We need to fit in!

(Cinder is looking over some dresses from Salvation Army that are in a bag)

Cinder: Oh, this dress is simply wonderful.

(In comes Fairy Godmother)

Godmother: Oh hello dears. I've just come back from the King's office. He's so worried about everyone spending too much money for the ball, dinner, and all. They've always used all those plastic spoons, cups, plates and other throwaway stuff. But now he says he's been hearing about recycling, reusing, and reducing. He and the Prince have decided to have a kingdom-wide campaign—whichever woman does the most to recycle, reduce, and reuse our resources, can marry the Prince.

Cinder: Well, isn't that great!

Stepmother: Cinderella, I hate to count my chickens before they hatch, but there's no one that will beat you in that area. Looks like we're going to have a new princess right here in our own family.

Cinder: Oh, do you really think so. I wasn't doing this for a prize.

Mat: What a bummer!

Gres: I'm going to have to rethink my position this whole matter.

Fairy Godmother: Girrrls, come with me. I think I know how we can fix up and remake your dresses for the ball Saturday night

Stepmother: It's so nice to have an extra pair of hand when you're a single parent.