Being Neighborly Drama from Little Women

Being Neighborly

A rearranged play by Esther Deborah K.

Taken from “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott

The following drama is rearranged according to the need of the players. A few missing dialogues in the Classic Starts version were mixed with the real ones taken from the Alddinn Classic. Another line of dialogues were made up when they had tea time, because the book didn't say anything what they say. It's just written "chatting like old friends" or some sort of that. So, enjoy this simplified and rearranged drama!

Casting:

1.      Jo: a temperamental, lively girl. She’s 15 years old and average sized.

2.      Laurie: a shy, good-natured boy that lives next door

3.      Mr. Laurence: Laurie’s grandpa. He had kind eyes and looked a little grim

4.      Laurie’s Maid

Act I

Setting

The stage is divided into two parts. The left side is Jo’s backyard with a background of her house. Jo is shoveling out the snow from her yard with a broom. The right part is Laurie’s room filled with bed, lampstand, bookshelf and sofa. The divider between the two parts is Laurie’s window so he can look  out to Jo’s yard.

Scene 1

(Jo is shoveling some snow and Laurie is sitting on his bed. While Laurie is sitting on his bed, she throw some snow on his window. Laurie looked out to the window)

Jo (waving her hand): Hello, Laurie! Are you sick?

Laurie (in a raspy voice): Yes, Jo. I’ve had a bad cold and have been inside all week.

Jo: what have you been doing to keep busy?

Laurie:  Nothing much.

Jo: How about reading?

Laurie: I’m not allowed.

Jo: Why don’t invite your friends to visit?

Laurie: They’re too noisy.

Jo: what about a girl then? Someone to play nurse and read to you?

Laurie: Don’t know any.

Jo (laughing): You know me.

Laurie: what a great idea!

Jo: then I’ll go ask mother’s permission (exits the stage)

(Laurie straightens his room and brushes his hair)

Act II

 (Jo enters Laurie’s room bringing a cake, flowers and kittens while Laurie lay on the sofa.)

Jo: these are from my sisters. The cake is from Meg, Amy gave the flowers and Beth sent her kittens.

(Jo sits on a big chair)

Laurie: Thank you. It’s just the right thing to help me relax.

Jo: Shall I read a book for you?

Laurie: No thank you, I rather talk.

Jo: I’ll talk all day if you’ll only set me going. Beth says I never know when how to stop.

Laurie: is Beth the rosy one, who stays at home a good deal, and sometimes go out with a little 

basket?

Jo: Yes, that’s Beth. She’s my girl, and a regular good one she is, too.

Laurie: the pretty one is Meg, and the curly-haired one is Amy, I believe?

Jo: How did you find that out?

Laurie (blushing): Why, you see, I often hear you calling to one another, and when I’m alone up here, I can’t help looking over at your house, you always seem to be having such good times. I beg your pardon for being so rude, but sometimes you forget to put down the curtain at the window where the flowers are;  and when the lamps are lighted, it’s like looking at a picture to see the fire, and you all around the table with your mother; her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can’t help watching it. I haven’t got any mother, you know.

Jo: we’ll never draw that curtain anymore, and I give you leave to look as much as you like. I just wish, though, instead of peeping, you’d come over and see us. Wouldn’t your grandpa let you?

Laurie: I think he would, if your mother asked him. He’s very kind, though he does not look so; and he lets me do what I like, pretty much, only he’s afraid I might be a bother to strangers.

Jo: We are not strangers, we are neighbors, and we want to know you for a long time.

Laurie: You see, Grandpa lives among his books, and doesn’t mind much what happens outside. Mr. Brooke, my tutor, doesn’t stay here, you know, and I have no one to go about with me, so I just stop at home and get on as I can.

Jo: that’s bad. You got to make an effort. Never mind being bashful; it won’t last long if you keep going.

Laurie: (blushing) Do you like your school?

Jo: I don’t go to school and worked for Aunt March.

Laurie: Then how about your liking of books?

Jo: Oh, I love books as much as you did.

Laurie: I’ll invite you to the tour of the spectacular house, and of course, to stop at the fabulous library.

Act III

Setting

The stage had a background of a big library. A few real shelves with books are displayed, and a big portrait of Laurie’s grandpa is hung on the middle of the stage.

(Jo and Laurie enter the stage, talking while walking. A bell rang)

Jo: It must be your grandfather!

Laurie: Don’t tell me you’re afraid of him?

Jo: Maybe a little, but I don’t know why.

(A maid enters the stage and talked to Laurie.)

 Maid: The doctor had arrived, sir.

Laurie : I’ll be examined in another room just for a while. Enjoy yourself, Jo.

(Laurie exits with the maid, leaving Jo standing in front of Mr. Laurence’s portrait.)

Jo: (staring at the portrait of Mr. Laurence)

(Mr. Laurence came in quietly and stood behind Jo a bit far.)

Jo (whispering aloud): I shouldn’t be scared of him, for he’s got kind eyes, though his mouth is a little grim and he looks like he must have tremendous will. He isn’t as handsome as my grandfather, but I like him.

Mr. Laurence: Well, thank you young lady.

(Jo turned around with a startled face and blushed.)

Mr. Laurence: So you’re not afraid of me?

Jo (softly): Not much, sir.

Mr. Laurence: But you do like me despite my bad features?

Jo: Oh yes, sir!

Mr. Laurence: You have your grandfather’s spirit.

Jo: Thank you, sir. I came here to be neighborly, because I think Laurie needs cheering up.

Mr. Laurence: Yes, I agree with you.  Now, how about joining us in the parlor for tea?

Jo: I will be glad to, sir!

(Both of them exit the stage while Jo put her arms into Mr.Laurence’s.)

Act IV

Setting

The parlor had a background of a regular cozy parlor with windows. There is a real set of table furniture plus a couple of chairs for Jo, Mr. Laurence and Laurie. On the table, there is three cups of tea and a teapot. Biscuits and small cakes are served. A flower vase decorated the center of the table. On the far right side of the stage, there is a grand piano. On the far left, there is a door  facing the exit.

(All three of them sat on each chair. Sometimes they sip their tea a few times or stir it while listening to each person who talks.)

Jo: Laurie, did you know that our neighbor, Mr. Douglas that lives in the end of the street, keeps a huge canary with unusual blue eyes?

Laurie: Yes, the news was spread over the entire neighborhood.  I once saw him carried a lavish cage with the canary inside.

Jo: Really? How did it looked like? I never saw it before.

Laurie: Oh, it was a regular pretty bird with unusual blue eyes like you described. But I think the owner rarely teach the birds manners; it bite Mr. Douglas’ finger that held the cage!

Jo (laughs): What a sight you saw, Laurie!

(They both laughed and Mr. Laurence look at both of them contently)

Mr. Laurence: I think you have a good influence over my boy, Ms. Jo.

Jo (still laughing): Why, thank you, sir.

(Jo looked around and caught the sight of the piano.)

Jo: Laurie, do you play?

Laurie: Sometimes.

Jo: Please do now. I want to hear it so I can tell Beth.

Laurie: Won’t you first?

Jo: Don’t know how; too stupid to learn, but I love music dearly.

(Both approach the piano. Laurie sits and Jo stands. He played the piano and then finishes.)

Jo: Laurie, that’s so beautiful!

Laurie (bashfully): Thank you for the compliment, Jo.

Mr. Laurence (approaches them): That will do, that will do, young lady. Too many sugarplums are not good for him. His music isn’t bad, but I hope he will do as well in more important things. Going? Well, I’m much obliged to you, and I hope you’ll come again. My respects to your mother. Good night, Doctor Jo.

(Mr. Laurence shook Jo’s hand gruffly and looked something did not please him. He walks away to the right exit.)

(Jo and Laurie walk to the door. They stood in front of the door.)

Jo: Did I say something wrong? Your grandfather looked a bit displeased.

Laurie (shook his head): No, it was me; he doesn’t like to hear me play.

Jo: Why not?

Laurie: I’ll tell you someday. John, my tutor, is going with you as I can’t.

Jo: No need of that; I am not a young lady, and it’s only a step. Take care of yourself, won’t you?

Laurie: Yes; but you will come again. I hope?

Jo: If you promise to come and see us after you are well.

Laurie: I will.

Jo: Good night, Laurie! (went out of the door and waves her hand)

Laurie: Good night, Jo, good night! (stood in front of the door and waved back)

(Jo exits the stage. The lights went dark and the curtains closed.)

-END-