Persuasion.

Description

Persuasion. This ‘Quickie Classic’ was written as a precis of the original book into a 30-minute reading/discussion session.  The principal characters, guided by a narrator, effectively talk us through the story – with, of course, a few of their own opinions thrown in!

This play can either be used for performance (Class Play or Assembly) Cast of 30 or as a set of guided reading scripts/readers theatre within the classroom- 5 scenes – 6 speakers each

Duration

Around 20 minutes of reading time. Inclusion of Discussion time will add on around another 10 minutes.

Sample Text

Scene I/Chapter I Background

Cast of 6

• • Narrator
  • Anne
  • Sir Elliot
  • Lady Russell
  • Mr. Shepherd
  • Captain Wentworth

Narrator:             So, let’s start with a little background to this story entitled

Lady Russell:       (Interrupting) Persuasion!

Narrator:             (Huffily) I’d appreciate you not interrupting me, madam.

Lady Russell:       Oh, but I can tell everyone all there is to know!

Narrator:             Undoubtedly, madam. But I don’t think anyone here will be in a hurry to take any advice from you.

Sir Elliot:              Whatever do you mean? I’ll have you know that Lady Russell was my late wife’s greatest friend and I would never hesitate to follow any advice she might give.

Narrator:             And therein lies the problem! We should always question other’s advice even when it’s totally well intentioned as in the case of Lady Russell here.

Anne:                    Well intentioned doesn’t make it right, as I discovered to my cost!

Capt. Wentworth:            But you were just nineteen years of age. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Anne:                    But taking that advice cost us seven years of being together!

Capt. Wentworth:            It’s true. We should never have let anything come between us. But that’s water under the bridge now, my dear.

Mr. Shepherd:                   And you weren’t to know you weren’t being given the very best of advice.