Ruby Stew by Linda A. Copp

Characters: Cat, Witch, Wizard, Black Cat.
Props: cauldron, 2 bottles, spoon, tree.

Scene  I

Forest
Props: none in this scene
(Witch enters from the left side of the stage turning her head from side to side and  calling out in a loud voice)

What makes you think you are going to win this year? (says more softly, shaking his head) You never win! The wizard always wins! Everyone knows that, I don't even know why anyone even enters this stupid contest!

Well, smartie pants, I just heard the wizard has dropped out of the contest and is being a judge instead to give us all a crack at it. So, the field is wide open, I tell you, wide open! And I want to make a stew so spook-tacular and raven-dishes that no one can beat, Ruby's Roiling, Boiling Stew!

Humph! I myself have never tasted your stew without thinking, why in the world would anyone want anyone to know they made this cruel drool!

Cruel Drool! Grimace is this some sort of insult? Are you saying my stew is not tasty? (turns to audience) What do you think my little trick or treaters is this a big thumbs down or what? (turns back to cat)

I am saying your stew tastes best when it does, on those rare occasions, too rare really, well when it is tasteless and thank goodness once in awhile that happens! So much better than when it is just ROTTEN!

No! What does this mean? Are you dropping out? I hope! I hope!

No! I am not quitting over a silly little thing like that! But this does mean, I definitely need a new recipe and fast because Halloween is almost here. So, I am assigning you the responsibility of  finding one!

Me! Why? I 'm no cook! I'm a cat, we eat and sleep, we play and we cuddle but that's the whole ball of yarn in Catdom!

Listen, you are the cat behind this witch and I want you to be to me and do for me, as Midnight Cat does for his wizard! I know he is a big part of the Wizard's success! He and that Owl of his!

Midnight, Smidnight, here we go again Midnight the Magnificent! Midnight The Marvelous! Listen if I were you, I would bet on the owl as I refuse to believe that Midnight Cat is anymore special than me!

Good then we agree, you are equals and that in my eyes means you are equally gifted! Now get me the ingredients for a fabulous or should I say, Cat-tabulous stew! And be quick about it! I need to get back to my shack and get spruced up for the Hallow's Eve Bash!

(turning to audience) Great did you hear that? This is all up to me, and I am no more magically gifted, than that overrated black cat! Well I better come up with something or it will break Ruby's big old heart! (turns and walks from the stage)

CURTAIN

Scene II

Forest

(WIZARD, is standing by a cauldron and is speaking. BLACK CAT, is stirring the cauldron.)
Props: cauldron, spoon, bottle

Abracadabra! Moonbeams of night,
spill into my elixir, make it lunar bright
fill it with good wishes, wonders, delights
till dreams and believing are woven, take flight!
Abracadabra! To all a goodnight!

(nodding head and stirring cauldron)

Ah! Midnight, my Moon Dance Elixir is almost ready! Another hour of moonlight spilling into it and it will be perfect. (cat stops stirring) Then I will have another years worth of the stuff that dreams are made of.  It is just the best thing for a perfect nights rest, so refreshing and yet, I always wake up ready to move mountains! It is just the best night cap before bed. And all I need is a teaspoon of it in milk!

Sorry to interrupt Wizard but, shouldn't you be running along? You need to help Owl finish the guest list for the after midnight Hallow's Eve Party!

Yes, yes, I best hurry, thank you for reminding me. Will you finish up and put this elixir into bottles?

(ENTER GRIMACE)

Grimace Cat, Ruby Witch's cat. Who are you?

I am Midnight, the Wizard's cat!

Midnight the Magnificent, I don't believe this, at last we meet!

Your famous! Ruby Witch, my owner, thinks you are a big part of the wizards success! She believes you know magic?

Know Magic! Now, that is funny! The most I know of the Wizards magic is stirring his pots for him! Listen! I am just a cat like you! (midnight shakes his head)

If only Ruby believed that! She expects me to get her a delicious recipe for stew so, she can win the Golden Cauldron award!  I have been gathering all kinds of things, pumpkin, squash, potatoes, broccoli and corn cobs. She usually makes her stews with bats and bugs and icky stuff like that yuck. Though I did think hard about adding a mouse or two, you know? Still, I think my stew will be much healthier and tastier than anything she ever brewed!

You know though I don't know magic, the wizard sure does! Why don't I give you a bottle of his "stuff that dreams are made of" elixir that might add something magically to the mix. Who knows it might get you off the hook if she wins!