“Perfect, Proper Panto” - The Times
ALI BABA AND THE FORTY THIEVES PANTOMIME SCRIPT
This very funny Ali Baba panto script provides excellent roles for everyone!
The Chorus are kept busy as both the citizens of Baghdad and as Sheikh Mustafa Leikh's hilariously 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, amidst the panto comedy mayhem.
And a camel is always comedy gold!
CAST SIZE: 11-14 Characters, plus 2 person Camel, plus Chorus etc.
RUN TIME: 2 hrs plus Interval
EXCERPT - ALI BABA PANTO SCRIPT
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.)
LIST OF CHARACTERS
-
Scheherazade (The Storyteller)
- Ali Baba (Principal Boy)
-
Mum Baba (Dame. Ali & Cassim’s Mum)
-
Kamil (A Camel)
-
Safiya (Principal Girl)
-
Cassim (Ali’s richer brother)
-
Sharon (Cassim’s wife)
-
Huma (Safiya’s younger sister)
-
Sheikh Mustafa Leikh (The Chief Thief)
-
Yessah (Mustafa’s inept lieutenant)
-
Nossah (Mustafa’s equally inept lieutenant)
-
Fab Rick (A Tailor)
-
Loonah, Moonah & Noonah (Mum’s friends)
-
Chorus, as Citizens of Baghdad, Servants and Thieves
LIST OF SCENES
PART 1.
PRE-SHOW/PROLOGUE
SCENE 1. The City of Baghdad
SCENE 2. The Forest Outside the Cave
SCENE 3. The City of Baghdad
SCENE 4. A Rocky Cliff
SCENE 5. The Secret Cave
PART 2.
SCENE 6. The Baba’s House
SCENE 7. The Thieves’ Lair/Outside the Baba’s House
SCENE 8. Up on the Roof
SCENE 9. The Street Outside the Baba’s House
SCENE 10. The Baba’s House
SCENE 11. A Little Light Music
SCENE 12. The Biggest Bash in Baghdad
A NOTE ON THE SHADOW PUPPET THEATRE
This is very simple. The ‘screen’ can be a bit of white cotton sheet stretched tight within in an aperture created in a flat. A standard overhead projector 2 or 3 metres behind provides an ideal light source. Where necessary, the script allows time to set or strike the flat, with the tabs either opening or closing to reveal it or conceal it.
A shallow shelf on the upstage side at the bottom of the aperture is helpful for the puppet operators.
A quick internet search of ‘shadow puppetry’ or ‘shadow puppets’ will provide a wealth of handy hints on puppet making etc.
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