
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES PANTOMIME SCRIPT
Ali Baba provides excellent roles for everyone! The Chorus are kept busy as both the citizens of Baghdad and as Sheikh Mustafa Leikh's dwindling band of thieves - easy to stage and a simple shadow puppet theatre device allows the bloodier aspects of the story to be told in a witty, unscary way.
11 – 14 Characters, plus 2 person Camel, plus Chorus Etc.
Run time approx: 2 hours plus interval
ALI BABA PANTO SCRIPT EXCERPT
MUSTAFA and his depleted band of Thieves have discovered the whereabouts of ALI BABA.
MUSTAFA knocks on the door…
MUSTAFA:
(checking his appearance and giving his hair a flick) And now for my fatal, fatal charm!
(The door is opened by Ali’s Mum, (the Dame) MUM BABA.)
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
(opening the door) Hellooo?
(seductively) Hello, little girl. Is your Daddy in?
(delightedly) Well, I don’t know about that. Maybe you’d like to talk to me!
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
Have we met before?
I don’t think so.
It’s just I was wondering if I’d come to the right door, or - knocked on the door to heaven?
(MUM looks delighted. MUSTAFA turns briefly to the Audience with a look of alarmed revulsion.)
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
Oh, no, I’m sure you’ve come to the right door!
I’m an oil merchant.
Are you?
Yes, I am.
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
That’s nice.
Yes, it is, and the thing is –
(getting very close) Yes?
I’ve got nowhere to stay. Baghdad’s full.
That’s terrible.
It’s awful, isn’t it?
Well, we were all going to a funeral today –
I thought you might be.
You read me so well… But –
Yes?
Our plans have changed.
No?
Yes!!! Would it just be the one of you?
Any more would be a crowd. Just me and my (counts on fingers) four jars of precious oil.
MUM:
Well, we do have very strong traditions of hospitality in these parts…
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
MUSTAFA:
MUM:
Of all the knockers in Baghdad, what made me choose yours?
I don’t know!
Rat-a-ta-tat. Maybe it was meant to be?
(grabbing MUSTAFA and bundling him in) Ali! We’ve got a visitor!
(BLACKOUT.)
ALI BABA CHARACTERS
-
Scheherazade, the storyteller
-
Ali Baba, principal boy
-
Mum Baba, Ali & Cassim’s Mum. The dame
-
Kamil, a camel
-
Safiya, principal girl
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Cassim, Ali’s richer brother
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Sharon, Cassim’s wife
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Huma, Safiya’s younger sister
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Sheikh Mustafa Leikh, the chief thief
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Yessah & Nossah, Mustafa’s inept lieutenants
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Fab Rick, a tailor
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Loonah, Moonah & Noonah, Mum's friends
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Chorus, as Citizens of Baghdad, Servants and Thieves

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